U.S. Pat. No. 11,587,106

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates a system10that provides virtual items to users of a virtual space. Providing virtual items to users of an online game may include providing the virtual items to a first set of users only after at least a threshold number of a first set of users satisfy one or more conditions. Such conditions, for example, may be that a threshold number of users have purchased the virtual item in a virtual shop associated with a virtual space. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to providing virtual items that increase in potency with an increase in the number of users of the set of users that satisfy one or more conditions. Such conditions, for example, may be that the users have exchanged virtual currency for the virtual item, and each time a user from the set of users obtains the virtual item, the potency of that virtual item increases, such that all the users of the set of users who have purchased the virtual item receive the same higher potency virtual item.

The virtual space may be hosted over a network. Providing the virtual space may include hosting the virtual space over a network. In some implementations, system10may include a server12. The server12may be configured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms14according to a client/server architecture. The users may access system10and/or the virtual space via client computing platforms14.

The server12may be configured to execute one or more computer program components. The computer program components may include one or more of a game component20, a user component22, a relationship component24, a shop component26, a distribution component28, an offer configuration component30, and/or other components.

The game component20may be configured to facilitate participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms14associated with the users. The online game may be implemented within a virtual space. As used herein, virtual space and online game may be synonymous. The game component20may be configured to implement the instance of the virtual space executed by the computer components to determine state of the virtual space. The state may then be communicated (e.g., via streaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or other state information) from server12to client computing platforms14for presentation to users. The state determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform16may correspond to a view for a user character being controlled by a user via the given client computing platform16. The state determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform16may correspond to a location in the virtual space. The view described by the state for the given client computing platform may correspond, for example, to the location from which the view is taken, the location the view depicts, and/or other locations, a zoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or view parameters of the view. One or more of the view parameters may be selectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that is accessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms14) that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulated space may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction by one or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned within the topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. In some instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. In other instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. The topography may include dimensions of the space, and/or surface features of a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In some instances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a ground surface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space. In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or more bodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived space with one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instance executed by the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous, and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which state of the virtual space is determined by game component20is not intended to be limiting. The game component20may be configured to express the virtual space in a more limited or more rich, manner. For example, views determined for the virtual space representing the state of the instance of the virtual space may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an event in a given place within the virtual space. The views may include additional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/or other content) that describes particulars of the current state of the place, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view may include a generic battle graphic with a textual description of the opponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual places within the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by game component20, users may control characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena (e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or other elements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual space and/or each other. The user characters may include avatars. As used herein, the term “user character” may refer to an object (or group of objects) present in the virtual space that represents an individual user. The user character may be controlled by the user with which it is associated. The user controlled element(s) may move through and interact with the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space, other objects in the virtual space). The user controlled elements controlled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/or customized by the given user. The user may have an “inventory” of virtual goods and/or currency that the user can use (e.g., by manipulation of a user character or other user controlled element, and/or other items) within the virtual space.

The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space by controlling one or more of the available user controlled elements in the virtual space. Control may be exercised through control inputs and/or commands input by the users through client computing platforms14. The users may interact with each other through communications exchanged within the virtual space. Such communications may include one or more of textual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications, and/or other communications. Communications may be received and entered by the users via their respective client computing platforms14. Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users through server12(e.g., through game component20).

The instance of the virtual space and/or the game that takes place therein may be persistent. That is, the virtual space and/or the game may continue on whether or not individual players are currently logged in and/or participating in the game. A user and/or player that logs out of the virtual space and then logs back in some time later may find the virtual space has been changed through the interactions of other players with the virtual space during the time the user and/or player was logged out. These changes may include changes to the simulated physical space, changes in the player's inventory, changes in other player's inventories, changes experienced by non-player characters, and/or other changes.

Processors may be configured by machine-readable instructions to manage user accounts, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users. For example, user component22may be configured to manage user accounts, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users. The user accounts of the users may include indications of one or more affiliations having a functional significance between users. For example, the accounts of users may include a first user account for a first user having an indication that the first user is associated with a first affiliation, and may have a second user account for a second user having an indication that the second user is associated with the first affiliation.

The user component22may be configured to access and/or manage one or more user profiles and/or user information associated with users of the system12. The one or more user profiles and/or user information may include information stored by server12, one or more of the client computing platforms14, and/or other storage locations. The user profiles may include, for example, information identifying users (e.g., a username or handle, a number, an identifier, and/or other identifying information) within the virtual space, security login information (e.g., a login code or password), virtual space account information, subscription information, virtual currency account information (e.g., related to currency held in credit for a user), relationship information (e.g., information related to relationships between users in the virtual space), virtual space usage information, demographic information associated with users, interaction history among users in the virtual space, information stated by users, purchase information of users, browsing history of users, a client computing platform identification associated with a user, a phone number associated with a user, and/or other information related to users.

An interaction component and/or the user component22, may be configured to monitor interactions of the users with the virtual space and/or each other within the virtual space. This may include monitoring for a given user, one or more of times at which the given user is logged in to the virtual space, areas of the virtual space the given user views or interacts with or in, other users the given user interacts with, the nature and/or content of interactions of the given user with other users, activities participated in within the virtual space, level, powers, or skill attained in the virtual space, inventory items obtained in the virtual space, and/or other interactions of the given user with the virtual space and/or other users. Some or all of the information generated by interaction component in monitoring the interactions of the users may be stored to the user profiles managed by user component.

At a given time, the interaction component may determine a set of users that are currently engaged with the virtual space and/or a set of users that are currently not engaged with the virtual space. Being engaged with the virtual space may refer to being logged in to the virtual space, performing some action or interaction within the virtual space within some period of time (e.g., the last 2 minutes), and/or other taking some other action indicating ongoing and contemporaneous engagement with the virtual space.

The interaction component may be configured to determine, for individual users, an activity metric that indicates an activity level within the virtual space. The activity metric may be determined based on one or more of log in frequency, amount of time logged in to the virtual space within a rolling time period (e.g., over the last day, week, month, or other rolling time period), average amount of time logged in to the virtual space over some length of time (e.g., per day, per week, and/or other length of time), average log in session time over a rolling time period, number of inter-user communications over a length of time, number of inter-user communications per log in, number of relationships with other users in the virtual space, number of new relationships with other users in the virtual space within a rolling time period, amount of real world money spent in the virtual space and/or other activity parameters.

The relationship component24may be configured to establish relationships and/or affiliations between users within the virtual space. Such affiliations may include one or more of friendships, guilds (with guild-mates), alliances, connections, followers, and/or other relationships. The relationship component24may establish relationships based on relationship requests and acceptances received from users. Establishment of an affiliation may be initiated by a single communication (e.g., a request) initiated by a given user requesting an affiliation between the given user and one or more other users. Establishment of an affiliation may require a first communication from the given user to be approved by the one or more other users. Affiliations may include one or more types of affiliations that have a functional purpose or impact within the virtual space, and/or one or more types of affiliations that a social construct within the virtual space that does not have a functional result.

The user accounts of the users may include indications of one or more affiliations having a functional significance between users. For example, the accounts of users may include a first user account for a first user having an indication that the first user is associated with a first affiliation, and may have a second user account for a second user having an indication that the second user is associated with the first affiliation.

The first user and the second user may be members of the same affiliation having a functional significance within the online game. Users belonging to an affiliation may have relationships with some or no functional significance, purpose, and/or impact within a given virtual space. Such relationships within the affiliation may include a leadership structure, a role structure, and/or other relationships within the affiliation. The functional significance of an affiliation and/or relationship between users may vary across different virtual spaces. For example, a relationship between the first user and the second user in the first affiliation within the first virtual space may have a different functional significance than a relationship between the first user and the second user in a second affiliation in a second virtual space. By way of non-limiting example of the functional significance of an affiliation within an exemplary virtual space, affiliates within a virtual space may have certain capabilities among each other that are not available to non-affiliates such as obtaining, acquiring, sharing, and/or trading goods, services, player characters, and/or items in the virtual space; and/or other capabilities among users belonging to an affiliation.

The shop component26may be configured to effectuate presentation of offers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computing platforms associated with users. The shop component26may be configured to facilitate selection and/or entry by the users of an acceptance of the offer.

FIG.2illustrates a user interface40presented to users on one or more client computing platforms14(as shown inFIG.1). The shop component26may be configured to cause the user interface40to facilitate the presentation of views of a virtual shop42to users of the virtual space. The user interface40may provide a representation of an online game to the user. Within the representation of the online game a user may cause entry and/or selection of an indication of a desire to enter the virtual shop interface42. In response to an interaction by the user of the online game, the shop component26may be configured to effectuate presentation of a shop interface42to users in conjunction with presentation of views of the online game, wherein the shop interface42is configured to facilitate presentations to users of offers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computing platforms14associated with the users, wherein the virtual items are usable within the game. The presentation to users of an offer to sell virtual items may comprise an indication of the virtual item associated with the offer and an indication of the associated user cost, such that a first offer60to sell virtual items includes a first associated user cost62, and a second offer66includes a second associated user cost68. The associated user cost, may be an amount of virtual currency, real currency, one or more virtual items, and/or other items available to the user to exchange for the offer. Virtual currency may take any form, for example, virtual currency may be in the form of gems, stones, metals, credits, dollars, and/or any other representation of a virtual currency.

A first offer60to sell virtual items may be presented to the first user and the second user through the shop interface40, and the first user and the second user may select and/or enter their desire to accept the first offer60in exchange for an associated user cost62. The accounts of users may include a third user account for a third user having an indication that the third user is associated with a second affiliation. Presentation of the first offer60to sell virtual items to the third user may be effectuated through the shop interface42. The first user and second user may be a member of a first affiliation, and the third user may be a member of a second affiliation different from the first affiliation. All of the users may be presented the same offer to purchase virtual items, such that the first and second users, and the third user may be presented the first offer60to purchase virtual items. The first and second users, and the third user may be presented the first offer60having a first associated user cost62, alternatively, the first and second users may be presented the first offer60having a first associated user cost62, and the third user may be presented the first offer60having a different associated user cost.

The distribution component28may be configured to effectuate distribution of the virtual items of the selected offer to the users having one or more affiliations in response to an indication that a threshold number of users associated with one or more affiliations have accepted the offer. For example, the virtual items associated with the first offer60may be provided to the first user and the second user in response to an indication that a threshold number of users associated with the first affiliation, of which the first user and the second user are members, have accepted the first offer60. The third user, being associated with a second affiliation, different from the first affiliation, may not receive the virtual items associated with the first offer60, if a threshold number of members associated with the second affiliation failed to accept the first offer.

Distributing virtual items to users of an affiliation only when a threshold number of users have accepted the first offer, and having a user cost associated with the offer, will increase revenue and encourage conversion of users through social pressure to accept the offer, thereby increasing revenue for the provider of the virtual space.

A threshold number of members of an affiliation may be a specified number of users of an affiliation, a percentage of members of the affiliation, a specified number of a particular sub-class of users, a rate of acceptance by users in an affiliation, and/or other numbers of users within the affiliation. Sub-classes of users within an affiliation may be users that are leaders, members with a particular role, and/or other relationship within the affiliation. A rate of acceptance by users of an offer may include a requirement that users of an affiliation accept offers at a defined rate, such as 10 per minute, 100 per hour, or other rate of acceptance.

Distribution of the virtual items associated with offers may be effectuated to the users having one or more affiliations in response to an indication that the users of the one or more affiliations have accepted the offers at a defined rate of acceptance. For example, in order to receive the virtual items, the offers may have to be accepted at a rate of one per minute, ten per five minutes, one per ten seconds, etc., over a defined period of time.

The presentation of offers to sell virtual items to users on client computing platforms14associated with users may include a notification of the threshold number of users having an affiliation required to accept the offer before the virtual items associated with the offer are distributed to the users. Such that a first user, having a first affiliation, is offered a first offer60to sell virtual items that includes a threshold indication64notifying the first user of the threshold number of users having the first affiliation that are required to accept the first offer60before the virtual items associated with the first offer60are distributed to the users.

In some instances, when a threshold number of users of an affiliation have failed to accept the offer to purchase virtual items, those users who have accepted the offer in exchange for, say, virtual currency, may forfeit the virtual currency exchanged. Forfeiting the virtual currency incentivizes those users associated with an affiliation who have accepted the offer to pressure the users of an affiliation who have not accepted the offer to do so. In other instances, the users who have accepted the offer may not forfeit the virtual currency exchanged, either by receiving a refund of the virtual currency, or by it not being taken from accounts associated with the users until the occurrence of an event determining that a threshold number of users of an affiliation have, or have not, accepted the offer.

The virtual items associated with the offers to sell virtual items may be distributed to only those users having an affiliation who have accepted the offer. The virtual items associated with the offers to sell virtual items may be distributed to all users having an affiliation upon an indication that the threshold has been satisfied.

The amount of the associated user cost of the offer to sell virtual items may vary with the amount of users having a common affiliation that accept the offer, such that the first associated user cost62for the first offer60may vary with the amount of users having the first affiliation whom accept the first offer60. In some implementations, the more users who accept the offer, the lower the associated user cost of the offer, thereby incentivizing users having a common affiliation to accept the offer. For example, each time a set of users comprising one or more users having a first affiliation accept the first offer60the first associated user cost62may reduce. In such implementations, users who have accepted the offer at the higher associated user cost may, or may not, receive the offer at the reduced associated user cost, as desired by the provider of the virtual space.

Within the presentation of the virtual shop interface42, user information may be provided such a representation of the user's avatar44and/or identifying information46of the user which may include one or more attributes and/or game play metrics48of the user. For example, one or more attributes and/or game play metrics48of the user may comprise an indication of the amount of virtual currency held in credit for the user, an indication of the inventory of the user, an indication of levels of one or more parameters of the user, such as strength, speed, skill, power, special abilities and/or other parameters. The shop interface42may comprise one or more tabs. Tabs may be panels, views, control buttons, and/or other graphical representation of one or more groupings within the virtual shop. One tab may be a virtual currency tab54indicating that the user may obtain virtual currency for using in the online game. Other tabs may include a virtual items tab56indicating offers to sell virtual items to users wherein the virtual items are usable in the online game by the user. Virtual items usable in the online game may be broken down further by category or type, such as weapons, tools, clothing, food, resources, buildings, and/or other virtual item categories within the virtual space and/or online game. Another tab may be an inventory tab58providing an indication of the virtual items the user has in their inventory. An inventory associated with a user may be stored in a user account for the user managed by the user component22. When the shop component28is causing the virtual shop interface42to present offers to users to sell virtual currency in exchange for consideration, wherein the consideration is an amount of real currency, the shop component26may be supported by an e-commerce component configured to facilitate obtaining real world currency from the users for the online game provider.

The virtual items associated with the offers to sell virtual items may have one or more benefit levels associated with a benefit provided to users. A benefit provided to users by one or more virtual items may be an increase in the user's and/or a user character's strength, power, skill, and/or abilities compared to other users of the virtual space. For example, a user may have one or more associated troop units with the benefit provided to the user being a defensive benefit, an offensive benefit, and/or other military benefits within the game. As another example, a user may be one or more resource gathering units with the benefit provided to the user being a resource gathering benefit, and/or other benefits provided within the game.

The benefit level associated with a benefit provided by the virtual items of the offer to sell virtual items may vary with the amount of users having a common affiliation that have accepted the offer. The virtual items of the first offer to sell virtual items may include a first benefit level associated with a first benefit provided to a first user. The first benefit level of the first offer may vary with the amount of users having the first affiliation whom accept the first offer. In some instances, the more users having a first affiliation that accept the offer, the higher the benefit level of the virtual item associated with the offer. In such implementations, every time a user from a first affiliation accepts an offer to purchase, say, troops, the number of troops received increases by a defined amount, such that all users of the first affiliation who have accepted the offer to purchase troops receive the increased number of troops. An increase in the number of troops may increase the benefit provided to the user, wherein the benefit may be a defensive benefit, an offensive benefit, and/or other military benefits within the game. As another example, where the virtual item is a resource gathering unit, the greater the number of users of an affiliation that accept the offer the greater the ability of the resource gathering to gather resources, thereby increasing the benefit to the user.

With reference toFIG.2, the shop component26may be configured to cause the shop interface42to present a second offer66to sell virtual items having a second associated user cost68and a benefit level indication70associated with the virtual items of the second offer70. The benefit level indication70may provide an indication to the first user and second user of a benefit level provided by the virtual items for the first and second users in the virtual space. The benefit level indication70may provide an indication to the first user and the second user of an increased benefit provided to the users in the virtual space should the first or second user accept the second offer66. In response to the first user accepting the second offer66, the shop component26may be configured to cause the benefit level notification70to update to indicate to the second user an increased benefit provided to the users in the virtual space should the second user accept the second offer66.

Presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computing platforms may be effectuated during a defined period, thereby giving users belonging to an affiliation a defined period of time to accept the offer and secure it for their co-affiliation users. Individual ones of users of an affiliation may have relationships with some or no functional significance, purpose, and/or impact within a given virtual space. Such relationships within the affiliation may include a leadership structure, a role structure, and/or other relationships within the affiliation. Individual ones of such users may have control over the parameters of the defined period that the offers to sell virtual items are presented to users having an affiliation. Such individual users may be the owner, controller, leader, commander, and/or have another position within the affiliation. A first user having a first affiliation and a first relationship within the first affiliation may define the period of time during which presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to users having the first affiliation is effectuated. Before the start of the period to accept the virtual offers begins, the first user may notify all other members of the affiliation when the period is scheduled to begin and end, thereby incentivizing users having the affiliation to access the virtual space and the virtual shop interface42during that period. As a result the likelihood that a threshold number of affiliation members accept the offer is increased, thereby allowing the affiliation members to benefit from the offer.

The shop component26may be configured to effectuate presentation to users of a notification of the period during which the offer to sell virtual items must be accepted in order to receive the virtual items associated with the offer. Other components may facilitate the notification of users that such a period to accept an offer has been arranged, is pending, and/or has ended.

Allowing a user having an affiliation to control the period that the offer is available to the users belonging to the affiliation imparts control and structure into the affiliation, thereby increasing the social pressure on users of the affiliation to accept the offer and thereby increase revenue for the provider of the virtual space.

The virtual items in the offers to sell virtual items may include a set of potential awards having a set of award probabilities. The system may stochastically or quasi-stochastically select a first potential award from the set of potential awards as an actual award for distribution to users who have accepted the offer. The set of potential awards may include a desired award, such as a rare virtual item, or a virtual item having a usually high associated user cost. The probability of selecting the desired award as the actual award, for distribution to individual ones of the users who have accepted the offer, may increase with the number of users of the first set of users who have accepted the offer.

The shop component26may be configured to effectuate presentation of a set of potential awards associated with an offer to sell virtual items. Within the set of potential awards there may be virtual items which have varying degrees of variability. For example, one of the virtual items may be a rare item providing a benefit to users of the online game. Another item may be a common virtual item that is easily obtained by users without having to make purchases through the virtual shop interface42. By accepting the offer, users may increase the probability that they will receive the rare virtual item and decrease the probability that they will receive the common virtual item. Each time a user having an affiliation accepts the offer, the probability of receiving the rare virtual item may increase for all members of the affiliation who have accepted the offer.

FIG.3illustrates a user interface80configured to facilitate providing offers88to sell virtual items to users. The offer88to sell virtual items is presented to users through a communication interface82configured to facilitate communication between users of a virtual space. Such communication interface80may comprise separate communication tabs, a general communication tab84and an affiliation communication tab86. When the user interacts with the interface80to select the general communication tab84, the user may communicate with all users of the virtual space. When the user interacts with the interface80to select the affiliation communication tab86, the user may communicate only with users associated with that affiliation.

An offer88to sell virtual items to users having a common affiliation may be presented through the affiliation communication chat interface82associated with that common affiliation. The communications interface80may be configured to allow users having the common affiliation to accept the offer through the communications interface80by interacting with the communications interface80indicating a desire to accept the offer. The communications interface80may be configured to allow users having a common affiliation to interface with the communications interface80indicating that the users desire to accept the offer and the shop component26may be configured to effectuate presentation of the shop interface42to the users.

The offer configuration component30may be configured to facilitate the entry and/or selection of parameters associated with the offers to sell virtual items to multiple users of system10. Such parameters may include an indication of the identity of the virtual items to be offered, an associated user cost for the offer, a threshold number of users required to accept the offer before the associated virtual items are distributed to the users, the type of threshold (e.g., a percentage, a number, a subset of users), a time period during which the offer may be offered, a required rate of acceptance, an indication whether a user having an affiliation may determine one or more parameters of the offer, an indication of where in the virtual space the offer will be presented to users having an affiliation, and/or other parameters associated with the affiliation.

The server12, client computing platforms14, and/or external resources32may be operatively linked via one or more electronic communication links. For example, such electronic communication links may be established, at least in part, via a network such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementations in which servers12, client computing platforms14, and/or external resources32may be operatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform14may include one or more processors configured to execute computer program components. The computer program components may be configured to enable an expert or user associated with the given client computing platform14to interface with system10and/or external resources32, and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computing platforms14. By way of non-limiting example, the given client computing platform14may include one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gaming console, and/or other computing platforms.

The external resources32may include sources of information, hosts and/or providers of virtual environments outside of system10, external entities participating with system10, and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources32may be provided by resources included in system10.

The server12may include electronic storage34, one or more processors16and/or other components. The server12may include communication lines or ports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server12inFIG.1is not intended to be limiting. The server12may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together to provide the functionality attributed herein to server12. For example, server12may be implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together as server12.

Electronic storage34may comprise electronic storage media that electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage34may include one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server12and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server12via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage34may include one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronic storage34may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage34may store software algorithms, information determined by processor16, information received from server12, information received from client computing platforms14, and/or other information that enables server12to function as described herein.

Processor(s)16is configured to provide information processing capabilities in server12. As such, processor16may include one or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. Although processor16is shown inFIG.1as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor16may include a plurality of processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processor16may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor16may be configured to execute components20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components. Processor16may be configured to execute components20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor16.

It should be appreciated that although components20,22,24,26,28,30are illustrated inFIG.1as being co-located within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor16includes multiple processing units, one or more of components20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components may be located remotely from the other components. The description of the functionality provided by the different components20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components described below is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of components20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, one or more of components20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components. As another example, processor16may be configured to execute one or more additional components that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed herein to one of components20,22,24,26,28,30, and/or other components.

FIG.4illustrates a method90of providing virtual items to users of a virtual space. The operations of method90presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method90may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method90are illustrated inFIG.4and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method90may be implemented in one or more physical processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method90in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method90.

At an operation92, participation by multiple users in an online game is facilitated through client computing platforms associated with the users. Such operations may be performed by a game component, such as game component20, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation94, user accounts are managed wherein the user accounts are associated with the users and include indications of one or more affiliations having a functional significance between users, such that the accounts of users include a first user account for a first user having an indication that the first user is associated with a first affiliation, and a second user account for a second user having an indication that the second user is associated with the first affiliation. The accounts of users may include a third user account for a third user having an indication that the third user is associated with a second affiliation. Such operations may be performed by a user component, such as user component22, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation96, a presentation of offers to sell virtual items to users on the client computing platforms may be effectuated. At an operation96selection and/or entry by the users of an acceptance of the offer may be facilitated, such that a first offer to sell virtual items is presented to the first user and the second user. Presentation of the first offer to sell virtual items to the third user may be effectuated. Presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computing platforms during a defined period may be effectuated. Such operations may be performed by a shop component, such as shop component26, in accordance with one or more implementations.

The offers to sell virtual items include an associated user cost, such that the first offer to sell virtual items includes a first associated user cost. The amount of the associated user cost of the offer to sell virtual items varies with the amount of users having a common affiliation that accept the offer, such that the first associated user cost for the first offer varies with the amount of users having the first affiliation whom accept the first offer.

The virtual items of the offers to sell virtual items has one or more benefit levels associated with a benefit provided to users, such that the virtual items of the first offer to sell virtual items includes a first benefit level associated with the first benefit provided to user. The benefit level associated with a benefit provided by the virtual items of the offer to sell virtual items varies with the amount of users having a common affiliation that accept the offer, such that the first benefit level of the first offer varies with the amount of users having the first affiliation whom accept the first offer.

The virtual items in the offers to sell virtual items includes a set of potential awards having a set of award probabilities, and wherein the one or more physical processors is configured to stochastically or quasi-stochastically select a first potential award from the set of potential awards as an actual award for distribution to users who have accepted the offer. The set of potential awards includes a desired award wherein the probability of selecting the desired award as the actual award, for distribution to individual ones of the users who have accepted the offer, increases with the number of users of the first set of users who have accepted the offer.

At an operation98, a determination of whether an offer expiration event has occurred is made. Such an offer expiration event may be expiration of the period of time that the offer is made available to the users having an affiliation, a failure to comply with the threshold requirements of the offer, and/or other offer expiration events. Such operations may be performed by a distribution component, such as distribution component28, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation100, a determination of whether a threshold number of users having an affiliation have accepted an offer is made. Such operations may be performed by a distribution component, such as distribution component28, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation102, in response to a determination that a threshold number of users having an affiliation have accepted the offer, distribution of the virtual items to the users having one or more affiliations in response to an indication, at operation100, that a threshold number of users associated with one or more affiliations have accepted the offer is made, such that the virtual items associated with the first offer are provided to the first user and the second user in response to an indication that a threshold number of users associated with the first affiliation have accepted the first offer. Distribution of the virtual items of the offers to the users having one or more affiliations may be effectuated in response to an indication that the users of the one or more affiliations have accepted the offers at a defined rate of acceptance. Such operations may be performed by a distribution component, such as distribution component28, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At other operations, control by individual ones of users having an affiliation of the parameters of the defined period may be facilitated, such that the first user having the first affiliation defines the period during which presentation of the offers to sell virtual items to users having the first affiliation is effectuated.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.