| Method of facilitating participation in on-line, multi-player role playing games -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method of facilitating participation in on-line, multi-player role playing gamesRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Access Or Authorization (e.g., Game Selection, Security, Etc.)Method of facilitating participation in on-line, multi-player role playing games description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070225070, Method of facilitating participation in on-line, multi-player role playing games. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to role-playing games and more particularly to a methodology for encouraging individuals to enroll at an online role-playing gaming website and for permitting virtual participation in a tabletop game being conducted at a location remote from a player. Most particularly, the methodology for encouraging individuals to enroll at an online role-playing gaming website employs multi-level techniques to attract and retain participants in order to enhance the virtual world in which the role-playing games are conducted. [0002] The online, multiplayer gaming industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. These are role-playing games ("RPG") in which players take on specialized roles or virtual personas (referred to as "avatars") and interact via the Internet with other players in simulated environments or imaginary worlds. Traditionally, a role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of characters and collaboratively create narratives. Gameplay progresses according to a predetermined system of rules and guidelines, within which players may improvise freely. Player choices shape the direction and outcome of role-playing games. [0003] While "tabletop" RPG's such as Dungeons and Dragons have been around for decades, it was not until the mid-1990s that game play was significantly altered by incorporating computers and the Internet. Essentially, computer role-playing games are a genre within the console game and computer game markets. They develop character and plot more than other computer games, and implement game mechanics derived from tabletop RPGs. Computer RPGs can be solely text based or may include graphics such as the graphical representation of a character, the environment or other elements within the environment. One significant factor in the growth of computer RPGs has been the advancements in computing technology and the ability to run more and more intricate and detailed graphical interfaces, which significantly enhance the gaming experience. Further, computer RPGs can be single player or multiplayer, often utilizing networks to allow players to participate with separate computers or consoles, either at remote locations or on a local area network or via the Internet. The Internet has resulted in what are known as massively multiplayer online role-playing games ("MMORPGs"), wherein a single game at any given time may have hundreds or thousands of players, thus providing a more complex game world in which to interact. Today, it is estimated that each day, millions of people participate in online RPGs. Because of this, the online RPG industry is generating hundreds of millions of dollars a year in revenue, and as such, competition between online RPG vendors to attract and retain players is fierce. [0004] One primary goal in an RPG is to increase the "power" or significance of your character. It can take months of playing time to become a powerful character. The power of a character is measured by the character's "level". Higher levels are more powerful than lower levels. To achieve these higher power levels, an avatar must accumulate various attributes or assets, i.e., virtual property or character qualities, related to the game. Examples of such property may include both personal property, such as a cup, a plate, a potion, a ring, a weapon or the like, and real property, such as virtual real estate. Property may also include value items such as a quantity of gold, silver or money. Examples of such character qualities may include strength, knowledge, skill, problem solving or similar qualities or abilities. Since one goal of the game is to increase the significance of a character or achieve higher power levels, it is highly desirable to quickly accumulate such assets. In this regard, the quest to obtain such assets has recently reached new plateaus as various virtual property is sold in the real world for real money. For example, in 2005, a gamer spent tens of thousands of U.S. dollars to purchase virtual property that exists in the RPG game Project Entropia. Likewise, it is well known that gamers will spend real currency to purchase virtual personas owned or developed by others. Companies dedicated to farming or acquiring the virtual property of players and then selling them to other players have blossomed. In this same vein, gamers will pay real money to individuals who participate in the virtual world and function solely to collect in-game items or assets for their employer. In other words, it is becoming an increasingly popular practice to use real-world money to acquire virtual gold pieces, goods, property or more powerful characters. [0005] Notwithstanding the qualities of one's character or the accumulation of assets, the experience one has in a RPG is due in large part to the size of the virtual community in which one interacts. The larger the community, the greater the opportunity to delineate one's virtual character from others and to advance. Thus, there is a need to provide a system that will attract new players and encourage existing players to participate. [0006] While there are various systems available to reward consumers for various activities they perform on the Internet related to the sale of products, none of the systems are applicable to promotion of an gaming website in order to build a larger base of players, thereby enhancing the experience of the existing players and promoting growth of the game and the virtual world. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention provides a method for driving players to online gaming web sites such as an online RPG and retaining those players once they have enrolled or registered to participate in an online RPG. The present invention also encourages on-going participation in online RPGs by registered players. All of the foregoing thereby enhance the size of the virtual world in which the RPG is conducted, and thus the potential experience of participants of the PRG. The method contemplates the encouragement of individuals to participate in building the size of a virtual universe by increasing the number of participants in the virtual universe. Under the method, an individual must generally register with an ORPG administrator prior to participating in ORPG's virtual world. Upon registration, the individual (referred to as a "Gamer") is assigned or selects a character or avatar to represent the person in the virtual world. Typically, a newly created or assigned avatar starts out at a low or base level and has a predetermined amount of virtual "power" represented by the skills and virtual property possessed by the avatar. For example, a level 1 avatar in a game may be assigned a drinking cup, a spear, flint, a stone, three gold pieces and low hunting skill. With this virtual property and skill, the avatar ventures out into the game space or virtual world. Under the system of the invention, while a Gamer can add to his virtual property and skill by participating in the virtual world, the Gamer can also add to his virtual property and otherwise enhance his skill, thereby increasing his "strength" and overall level, by performing various activities in the real world ("Qualified Activities"). [0008] As used herein, Qualified Activities are activities by the Gamer that enhance the virtual world, such as for example (i) encouraging new individuals to register with an MMORPG, (ii) encouraging existing Gamers to actively participate in the virtual world, (iii) encouraging individuals to participate in other activities outside the game space which enhances the virtual world ("External Activities"), such as participation in seminars, (iv) hosting portals through which Gamers can enter and participate in the virtual world; (v) hosting online RPG tournaments, (vi) hosing websites that promote the PRG, such as web sites with game chat, strategy information, forums, blogs or the like, participation in off-line tournaments, such as are becoming more popular in college settings. In other words, by performing various Qualified Activities, a Gamer can "power-level" a character in the virtual world. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an online game having registered players represented by avatars which have certain accumulated attributes for enhancing the virtual game. [0010] FIG. 2 illustrates the possible accumulation of assets by a gamer by virtue of participation in various qualified activities. [0011] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a referral method that leverages a gamers accumulation of attributes for an online game through a referral system. [0012] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a referral method that leverages a gamers accumulation of attributes for an online game through a referral system. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] In FIG. 1, a standard Internet network 8 is shown through which is operated a gaming website 10 for conducting various games such as an on-line role playing game ("ORPG") 12. Website 10 and ORPG 12 is operated by an administrator 14. Individuals who register with administrator 14 in order to participate in ORPG 12 are generally referred to as Gamers 16. Each Gamer is assigned an identity, character or avatar 18 which functions in the virtual world 20 defined within the ORPG 12. Each avatar 18 is provided with certain attributes or assets 22 for use at website 10. While assets 22 may be anything that enhances an avatar's relative strength or standing or level in virtual world 20, in once preferred embodiment, assets 22 are property or character qualities. Property may include both personal property, such as a cup, a plate, a potion, a ring, a weapon or the like, and real property, such as virtual real estate. Property may also include value items such as a quantity of gold, silver or money. Character qualities may include strength, knowledge, skill, problem solving or similar qualities or abilities. The foregoing are examples only and are not intended to limit the definition of assets. [0014] In order to cause growth of the virtual world 20, it is desirable to increase the number of Gamers 16 who participate in the ORPG 12. The foregoing method of the invention provides multi-level marketing incentives for Gamers 16 to encourage others to register to become Gamers 16 and to actively participate at website 10 and virtual world 20. [0015] FIG. 2 illustrates one of the basic methods of the present invention, the crediting of assets 22 to a Gamer 16 as the Gamer 16 performs a Qualified Activity, namely a certain activity in either the real world or the virtual world that enhances game 12 in some way, such as for example (i) encouraging new individuals to register with an administrator 14, (ii) encouraging existing Gamers 16 to actively participate in game 12, (iii) encouraging individuals to participate in other external activities outside game 12 which enhance game 12 or one's experience in game 12, such as participation in seminars, (iv) hosting portals through which Gamers 16 can enter and participate in game 12; (v) hosting online RPG tournaments, (vi) hosing websites that promote the RPGs, such as web sites with game chat, strategy information, forums, blogs or the like, or (v) participation in off-line, real word, i.e., tabletop, tournaments, such as are becoming more popular in college settings. While those skilled in the art will understand that any number of actions may included as a Qualified Activity, the most desirable Qualified Activities are those that encourage unregistered third parties to register and participate in game 12 and virtual world 20. [0016] In any event, prior to becoming eligible to receive assets 22 for Qualified Activities, Gamer 16 must registered with administrator 14 in order to participate in game 12 or virtual world 20. For purposes of the description, this first Gamer 16 to register will be referred to as a first level Gamer 16a. During this registration (enrollment) process, Gamer 16a is assigned a unique character 18. Along with the assignment of the character 18, the Gamer 16a may also receive certain entry level assets 22. [0017] While various Qualified Activities will be described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that one of the most desirable Qualified Activities for enhancing game 12 and virtual world 20 is the referral of unregistered parties 28. Thus, in the most general aspect of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 3, once a Gamer 16a has registered with administrator 14, Gamer 16a can increase the assets 22 of character 18 by encouraging other unregistered parties 28 to also register with administrator 14. If such an unregistered party 28 does register with administrator 14 for participation in virtual world 20, the newly registered party becomes a Gamer 16, is assigned a unique character 18 and certain entry level assets 22. For purposes of the description, a Gamer 16 who has been referred or otherwise encouraged to register with administrator 14 by first level Gamer 16a will be referred to as a downline or lower level Gamer 16, such as for example, second level Gamer 16b. More significantly, Gamer 16a then begins to accrue assets 22 based on the registration and activities of downline gamers 16 that are directly or indirectly registered as a result of Gamer 16a. In this same vein, a Gamer 16 who has been referred or otherwise encouraged to register with administrator 14 by second level Gamer 16b will be referred to as a third level Gamer 16c. This progression continues in various downline arrangements well known in the multi-level marketing industry. [0018] FIG. 4 illustrates one such method of the invention, wherein a distribution tree 48 is illustrated and attributes 22 are accumulated as gamers 16 are added to the distribution tree 48. The distribution tree 48 is comprised of multiple networks 50, each comprised of gamers 16 in adjacent levels 52. As shown, first level gamer 16a is positioned at the top of the tree 48 in the top level network 50a. Each network 50 is comprised of three gamers 16, namely an upper level gamer 16 and two gamers in the adjacent lower level. For example, network 50 is comprised of gamer 16a who is in level 52a and two gamers 16b who are in level 52b. Each network 50 has a left side 54 and a right side 56. New gamers 16 are only added in the distribution tree 48 in networks 50 downline from the top level network 52a, thereby benefiting all gamers 16 in a particular branch of the distribution tree 48. In this same vein, new gamers 16 are only added in the next available level 52 until all networks 50 encompassed by that level 52 are full. In this way, each referring gamer 16 can only receive attributes 22 directly from the addition of the two other gamers 16 in the referring gamers network 52. A gamer, such as gamer 16d, at the bottom of the tree 48 will receive attributes 22 to the extent a referral gamer from another existing gamer is added to the downline gamer's network 50. For example, in the illustration, there are five open spots in level 52e. Each of these must be filled before new gamers will be added to the next lower level. In other words, new referrals from the first level gamer 16a (or any upstream gamer who has already referred two gamers) are added to a lower level network as the networks are created. Furthermore, networks are balanced on each left and right side so that the overall distribution grid remains balanced. The foregoing benefits downline gamers 16 in the distribution grid as well as upline gamers such as gamer 16a. [0019] The benefits to the original Gamer 16a are two-fold. First Gamer 16a receives additional assets 22, thereby enhancing the associated avatar's 18 ability to advance to the next power level or otherwise participate in game 12 or virtual world 20. Second, by increasing the number of participant's in game 12 or virtual world 20, Gamer 16a enhances the overall community, and hence, potential "experiences" in game 12. Of course, one benefit to the administrator 14 is the additional revenue from the monthly fees generated from registration of the new gamer 16b. In one aspect of the invention, new gamer 16b is also provided with additional assets 22 upon registration by identifying a referring gamer 16a. The benefit to the new gamer 16b is that new gamer 16b receives more assets 22 then new gamer 16b would have if new gamer 16b had registered without identifying a referring gamer 16a. In other words, all parties benefit from the system of the present invention. [0020] In one embodiment of the invention, during the enrollment of the unregistered party 28, the unregistered party 28 will be asked to identify Gamer 16a who referred the unregistered party 28 to the game 12. Upon such registration, for example, Gamer 16a will receive certain additional predefined assets 22 that will enhance the character 18 of Gamer 16a. To encourage an unregistered party 28 to list the Gamer 16a, a newly registered Gamer 16b will receive a lesser amount of entry level assets if they register without identifying a referring Gamer 16a and a greater amount of entry level assets if they identify a referring Gamer 16a. The referral of gamer 16b by gamer 16a is considered a direct referral. It is also contemplated in one embodiment of the invention that gamer 16a will receive will receive certain additional predefined assets 22 when a downline gamer 16, such as gamer 16b, refers another gamer 16, such as downline gamer 16c. Continue reading about Method of facilitating participation in on-line, multi-player role playing games... 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