U.S. Pat. No. 9,511,280

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a system10configured to host a virtual space that includes virtual items that transcend multiple deaths of virtual characters controlled by the users within the virtual space. The virtual space may include an online game taking place in the virtual space. Users may participate with the virtual space and/or the online game by controlling virtual characters in the virtual space and/or online game. The online game may be a permanent death online game. The virtual characters controlled by the users may be associated with a health parameter. When the health parameter reaches a threshold level, the virtual character may be considered dead in the virtual space such that the users must take on new characters to control in the virtual space to participate in the online game.

The users may acquire virtual items and/or goods that are usable with the virtual characters in the virtual space and/or online game. The virtual items and/or goods may be managed, stored, and/or otherwise included in virtual item inventories associated with the users. One or more virtual items may be configured to transcend multiple character deaths (e.g., character generations), such that the one or more virtual items are made available to the users even if a character dies and a new character is taken on. Such virtual items may be termed “user-level” virtual items and may be included in “user-level” inventories.

One or more virtual items may be associated only with a virtual character the user is controlling when the virtual item is acquired (e.g., purchased and/or acquired during gameplay). These one or more virtual items may be made available to the users only during the lifespan of the associated virtual character (e.g., the generation of the associated virtual character). Such virtual items may be included in “character-level” inventories.

Virtual items and/or goods may include one or more of a virtual weapon, a tool, a food, a currency, a reward, a bonus, health, a potion, an enhancement, a mount, a power-up, a speed-up, clothing, a vehicle, an anatomical feature of a character or game entity, a troop or troop type, a pet, a virtual resource, and/or other virtual items and/or goods. Virtual items and/or virtual goods may be usable within the virtual space and/or an online game that takes place in the virtual space.

InFIG. 1, providing the virtual space may include hosting the virtual space over a network32, such as the Internet. A host server may include one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer components for implementing an instance of a virtual space and/or an online game taking place within the virtual space and to facilitate the participation of one or more users in virtual space and/or the online game. The host server may be a game server12. The server12may include processor(s)14.

The computer program components may include one or more of a game component16, a user component18, a shop component20, a user-level items component22, a lifespan parameters component24, a gameplay parameters component26, and/or other components. The server12may be configured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms34, according to client/server architecture. The client computing platforms34can include, for example, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a television set-top box, smart TV, a gaming console, and/or other device suitable for the intended purposes as described herein and/or other considerations. The users36may access system10and/or the virtual space via client computing platforms34.

The game component16may be configured to implement an 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 platforms34for presentation to users36. The state determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform34may correspond to a view for a user character being controlled by a user36via input devices (e.g., a controller) at the given client computing platform34. The state determined and presented to a given client computing platform34may correspond to a location in the virtual space (e.g., location in the game). The view described by the state for the given client computing platform34may 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 users36.

An instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that is accessible by users36via clients (e.g., client computing platforms34) 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). An 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 component16is not intended to be limiting. The game component16may be configured to express the virtual space in a more limited, or richer, 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 component16, users36may 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 user36with 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 user36may be created and/or customized by the given user. The user may have one or more “inventories” of virtual items 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 platforms34. 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 users36via their respective client computing platforms34. Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users through server12(e.g., through game component16) and/or through communications which are external to the system10(e.g., text messaging services associated with the client computing platforms34).

The instance of the virtual space and/or the online 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 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 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, changes to the virtual items available for use in the online game, and/or other changes.

The instance of the virtual space and/or the online game may include “permanent death” rules and/or restriction. Permanent death may refer to gameplay modes and/or instances of gameplay in which characters controlled by users to interact within the virtual space permanently die within the virtual space and are thereafter removed from the virtual space. Users may then take on new characters to interact with the virtual space. Thus, characters taken on by the users may be associated with a lifespan (e.g., the time between the characters being taken on until the time of permanent death of the character). The game component16(and/or other components) may be configured to implement penalties for each instance of character death.

Permanent death of a virtual character may be determined by a heath parameter of the characters, and/or other measure configured to determine the lifespan of the character. Health parameters may be considered in a variety of ways. As a first example, a heath parameter may be a time-dependent parameter such as a timer or “count down” which when a threshold is met (e.g., the end of the count down), the player character experiences permanent death. The time-dependent health parameter may refer to real time (e.g., in seconds, minutes, hours, etc.), virtual time (which is slower or faster than real time), and/or other time-dependent measure. The health parameter “count down” may run during times of gameplay only (e.g., only when the user is logged in), and/or during all time (e.g., whether or not the user is logged-in). For example, a given virtual character may have a pre-determined real time lifespan, such as 10 weeks (or other amount), which may run all the time, or only when the user is logged into the virtual space, and/or other considerations.

In some implementations, the health parameter may be a quantitative and/or qualitative value which is changed (e.g., decremented and/or incremented) until the value reaches a threshold value (e.g., “0”) which may trigger permanent death. For example, the health parameter may be a number value on a sliding scale (e.g., “0” to “100”). The health parameter may have an initial value when the player character is taken on (e.g., 100 or other amount) which reduces (or increases) during gameplay. For example, if the character is injured, the user is inactive within the virtual space, the user fails to achieve an objective, etc., the health parameter may decrease accordingly. When the health parameter reaches a threshold value (e.g., 0), permanent death may occur.

In some implementations, the game component16may be configured such that users may increase their character health parameter. Health parameter increases may be accomplished in a variety of ways, for example, through exchange of consideration, performing in game tasks, acquiring virtual items (e.g., medicine), and/or other considerations. Health parameters and/or changes to the health parameters associated with the virtual characters played by users in the virtual space may be considered in other ways.

As an illustrative example inFIG. 2, the game component16may be configured to implement an instance of an online game within a virtual space. Users may participate with the online game by controlling virtual characters in the virtual space. The virtual characters may include a first virtual character (not shown) controlled by a first user40, and/or other virtual characters controlled by other users. A health parameter of the characters in the online game may be determined as described herein and/or by other considerations. In some implementations, responsive to the health parameter for the first character reaching a threshold level, the first character is considered dead in the online game and is no longer available to the first user40. Subsequent to such death of the first character, the first user40must control a second character (not shown) in the virtual space to participate in the online game.

Returning toFIG. 1, the user component18may be configured to access and/or manage one or more user profiles and/or user information associated with users of the system10. The one or more user profiles and/or user information may include information stored by server12, one or more of the client computing platforms34, 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 (or real) 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 (e.g., a log-in history indicating the frequency and/or amount of times the user logs-in to the user accounts, information related to the current log-in state of the user, and/or other information), demographic information associated with users, interaction history among users in the virtual space, information stated by 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.

The user component18may be configured to manage one or more user inventories of virtual items and/or currency that the users can use within the virtual space. A user may have one or more game inventories of one or more virtual items and/or currency that the user can use (e.g., by manipulation of one or more user characters or other user controlled element, and/or other items) to perform in-game actions within the virtual space. The inventories can be determined on a game-to-game basis for one or more games available within the virtual space, or for one or more games in one or more other virtual spaces. The inventories may encompass multiple inventories of virtual items across multiple games played by the user.

Virtual items may be acquired by the user in one or more of a variety of ways. For example, virtual items may be acquired through gameplay, purchased by the user in a virtual shop, received from another user, bestowed on the user as a part of a promotion, and/or acquired in other ways.

Acquiring virtual items through gameplay may include completing tasks such as finishing levels, defeating enemies, obtaining status, and/or other tasks, and/or by other gameplay mechanisms. Users may decide to complete certain tasks in order to acquire and/or upgrade to virtual items which are the result of completing the task. Users may receive items from one or more other users. Users may receive items from interaction with objects positioned within the virtual space capable of real-time interaction, and/or other mechanisms. Bestowing of items as part of a promotion may include promotions implemented by the game components16to reward the user, and/or other mechanism implemented by the game component16.

Acquiring items from a virtual shop may include purchasing items from a virtual shop within the virtual space. Purchase may include purchasing items using virtual currency, real currency, and/or other consideration. An instance of a virtual shop may be provided through the execution of a shop component20, described in more detail herein.

In some implementations, user inventories may include user-level inventories, character-level inventories, and/or other inventories including one or more virtual items. User-level inventories may include one or more virtual items that transcend multiple deaths of virtual characters controlled by the users in the virtual space (described in more detail herein with reference made to the user-level items component22, lifespan parameters component24, and gameplay parameters component26). Character-level inventories may include one or more virtual items associated with the individual virtual characters controlled by the users in the online game. In some implementations, the character-level inventories themselves may be associated with the individual virtual characters such that any items included in the character level inventories are only available to the associated character.

Transcending multiple character death may refer to virtual items being made available to the users after the permanent death of one or more virtual characters controlled by the users. For example, virtual items included in the user-level inventories may be available for use by a user with a subsequent character after the death of the character which was used when the virtual item was acquired. Such virtual items may be termed “user-level virtual items”, “heirloom virtual items”, and/or other term which distinguishes the items from other times which do not transcend multiple character death (described in more detail herein).

Prior to, during, and/or after acquisition of virtual items, the users may be informed of whether or not the virtual item is of the type which transcends multiple character deaths. In some implementation, user-level virtual items which transcend multiple character death may include a name, visual indicator displayed in-game, and/or other identifier which distinguishes the item as such.

The virtual items included in the user-level inventories may be characterized by gameplay parameters that impact gameplay in the online game (described in more detail herein with reference to the gameplay parameters component26), lifespan parameters that determine the number of characters over which the virtual items will be available (described in more detail herein with reference to the lifespan parameters component24), and/or other considerations of characterization of the user-level virtual items.

Character-level inventories may include virtual items which are associated with the individual characters controlled by the users. Virtual items may be associated with the individual characters by virtue of the virtual items being acquired when the user is controlling the given character. Virtual items associated with characters may only be usable by the characters which were controlled by the users when the items were acquired. Therefore, after a given character dies, the virtual items included in the character-level inventory associated with the given character may be removed and/or otherwise made unavailable to the user when a subsequent character is taken on (e.g., virtual items must be acquired again).

By way of illustration inFIG. 2, the user component18may be configured to manage a first user-level inventory42including a first user-level virtual item44(and/or other items) available for use by a first user40of the virtual space. The first user-level virtual item44and/or other items included in the first user-level inventory42may be virtual items which transcend multiple character deaths, as described herein. Any virtual items included in a first user-level inventory42for the first user40may be usable, for example, with both the first character and the second character (and/or other characters) subsequent to the death of the first character (e.g., or other characters).

The user component18may be configured to manage a first character-level inventory46including a first character-level virtual item48(and/or other virtual items) available for use by the first user40. The first character-level inventory46may be associated with the first character such that any of the virtual items included in the first character-level inventory46for the first user40are usable with the first character and not the second character (or other characters) subsequent to the death of the first character.

Returning toFIG. 1, the shop component20may be configured to effectuate presentation of a virtual shop to the users of the virtual space and/or online game taking place within the virtual space. The virtual shop may be a simulated environment within the virtual space which is accessible by users and presents the views of the virtual shop to the users. Users may access the virtual shop through one of a variety of ways. Users may access the virtual shop through the manipulation of one or more user characters associated with the user within the virtual space using control inputs and/or commands input by the users through client computing platforms, and/or other way of access.

Manipulation of a character may include moving the one or more user characters through the virtual space using control inputs and/or commands input by the users through client computing platforms, to move the one or more characters to the simulated environment designating the location of the virtual shop within the virtual space.

Users may use control inputs and/or commands not associated with the one or more user characters to access the virtual shop. Control inputs and/or commands may automatically present the instance of the game shop on the clients computing platforms (e.g., user selects a virtual shop button to automatically be taken to the virtual shop).

The instance of the virtual shop may be presented to users through a shop interface. The shop interface may be configured to present the offers to sell virtual items to users. The shop interface may be configured to receive entry and/or selection of individual offers by the users to effectuate acceptance and/or purchase of the offers at a virtual (or real) currency purchase price.

The simulated environment of the virtual shop may have topography. The virtual shop may express ongoing real-time interaction by one or more users (e.g., may have limited stock of virtual items for sale which can be purchased by one or more users within the virtual space which can be depleted), and/or include one or more objects (e.g., one or more virtual items, a virtual teller, and/or other objects) positioned within the topography that may be capable of locomotion within the topography. The virtual shop may display virtual items available for purchase by the users. Users may view the virtual items available for purchase. Users may purchase the virtual items using virtual currency, real currency, and/or other consideration. Transactions may take place with the virtual teller, through various other actions of the user within the instance of the virtual shop, and/or other transaction mechanisms.

The user-level items component22may be configured to maintain the lifespan parameters (determined by the lifespan parameters component24), gameplay parameters (determined by the gameplay parameters component26) and/or other parameters of the user-level items included in the user-level inventories. As described in more details herein, the lifespan parameters, gameplay parameters, and/or other parameters of the user-level virtual items may change during gameplay.

By way of illustration inFIG. 2, the user-level items component22may be configured to manage the gameplay parameters50, lifespan parameters52, and/or other parameters of the first user-level virtual item44.

Returning toFIG. 1, the lifespan parameters component24may be configured to determine the lifespan parameters of the user-level virtual items included in the user-level inventories. Lifespan parameters may determine the number of characters (e.g., character deaths) over which the virtual items will be available. In some implementations, a character death may be considered a character “generation”. Therefore, in some implementations, the lifespan parameters may be expressed as a number of characters and/or character generations over which the virtual items will be available. In some implementations, the lifespan parameters may change during gameplay.

In some implementation, the lifespan parameters component24may be configured such that determining lifespan parameters of user-level virtual items includes one or more of determining an initial number of characters over which the user-level virtual items will be available, decrementing the lifespan parameters, incrementing the lifespan parameters, and/or other operations. When the lifespan parameter reaches a threshold level, the lifespan of the user-level virtual items may end such that the user-level virtual items are no longer made available to the user. This may include the user-level virtual item being removed from the user-level inventory, the user-level virtual item being deactivated, and/or other considerations.

The lifespan parameters component24may be configured such that the initial number of characters over which the virtual items will be available may be a number which may be determined randomly, based on a pre-determined number, and/or by other considerations. In some implementations, the initial number of characters over which the virtual items will be available may be pre-determined based on the type of virtual items, the attributers of the item, the cost and/or value of the item, and/or based on other measures. For example, high value items may be determined to have lower lifespan parameters than lower value items. The initial number of characters of which the user-level virtual items are made available may be determined in other ways.

The lifespan parameters component24may be configured such that decrementing the lifespan parameters of any of the items included in the user-level inventories is performed responsive to the death of a virtual character. In some implementations, the lifespan parameter may be decremented by a unit amount (or other amount) in response to the death of an individual character. For example, a user may acquired a user-level virtual item having an initial lifespan parameter of 3 character generations, and subsequent to the death of the character controlled by the user, the lifespan parameter of the virtual item may be decremented by 1 character generation (or other amount) to 2 character generations. When the lifespan parameter reaches a threshold value (e.g., “0” character generations), the user-level virtual item may be removed from the user-level inventory, the benefits of the virtual item may be deactivated, and/or the virtual item may otherwise become unusable by the user for any character.

The lifespan parameters component24may be configured such that incrementing the lifespan parameters may be performed responsive to receiving consideration from the users. Consideration received from the users to increment the lifespan parameters may be satisfied in an exchange of virtual items, virtual currency, real currency, and/or other consideration (e.g., via a virtual shop). The amount the lifespan parameter is incremented may be based on the amount of consideration received from the users. In some implementations, the amount to increment the lifespan parameters by a unit amount may be pre-determined, may vary depending on the type of virtual item, and/or may be based on other considerations (e.g., the player ranking).

In some implementations, the lifespan parameter component24may be restricted to incrementing the lifespan parameters to a threshold value (e.g., up to 10 character generations or other threshold amount). In some implementations, the lifespan parameters component may be configured such that the lifespan parameters can be incremented without limitation. Incrementing the lifespan parameters may be considered in other ways and/or in accordance with other restrictions (e.g., based on in-game performance, ranking, completion of in-game tasks, and/or other considerations).

By way of illustration inFIG. 2, the lifespan parameters component24may be configured to determine the lifespan parameter52for the first virtual item44included in the first user-level inventory42. Such determining may include determining an initial number (e.g., initial lifespan54) of characters over which the first virtual item44will be available, e.g., 5 character generations (and/or other amount). Such determining may also include decrementing58the lifespan parameter52(e.g., the initial lifespan54) of the first virtual item44(and/or any virtual items) included in the first user-level inventory42responsive to the death of the first character. Decrementing58the first number of characters (e.g., initial lifespan54) may include decrementing the number (e.g., 5 character generations) by a unit amount (e.g., 1 character generation) responsive to the death of the first character. The lifespan parameter52may be further decremented responsive to the death of subsequent characters, such as the second character.

The lifespan parameters component24may be configured such that the lifespan parameter52of the first user-level virtual item44may be incremented62responsive to receiving first consideration60from the first user40. The amount that the lifespan parameter is incremented62may be based on the amount of the first consideration60received from the first user40.

Returning toFIG. 1, the gameplay parameters component26may be configured to determine the gameplay parameters of the user-level virtual items. Gameplay parameters of the user-level virtual items included in the user-level inventories may include different benefits that the user-level virtual items provide the users during gameplay in the online game when the different benefits are activated. The different benefits may correspond to different attributes of the virtual items being implemented when the benefit is activated and the virtual item is used. Attributes may include one or more of damage amount, strength, speed, agility, power, health, and/or other attribute related to an enhancement provide by the use of the item. In some embodiments, the attributes of the virtual items may be determined randomly and/or by other considerations.

For example, a user may acquired a given user-level virtual item. The gameplay parameters of the given item may include benefits such as 5× damage to opponents, 2× increase in character agility, 2× increase in player speed, and/or other benefits. The benefits may be activated (individually or in groups) such that one or more of the benefits may be made available to the user when the virtual item is used.

In some implementations, the benefits included in the gameplay parameters of the user-level virtual items may be activated such that the benefit(s) are made available to the user using the virtual item. The activation of benefits may be considered in a variety of ways. The gameplay parameters component26may determine to activate one or more benefits based on one or more of consideration being received from the users, users completing in-game tasks, and/or by other considerations.

In some implementations the gameplay parameters component26may determine to activate one or more benefits based on consideration received by the users. Consideration received from the users to activate different benefit may be satisfied in an exchange of virtual items, virtual currency, or real currency. For example, users may exchange virtual, real, and/or other currency consideration (e.g., via a virtual shop) to activate one or more benefits of a user-level virtual item included in their user-level inventory. The activation of more then one benefit may require a higher consideration amount to be exchanged than the activation of a single benefit. Once activated, the user-level virtual item may maintain the activated benefit, may “time-out” the benefit and become de-activated after a period of time, and/or other considerations.

In some implementations, users may exchange virtual items to activate the benefits of the user-level virtual items. An exchange of virtual items may include forfeiting the virtual item to activate one or more benefits (e.g., via virtual shop), combining a virtual item with the user-level virtual items to “unlock” one or more benefits (e.g., referred to as “socketing”), and/or other consideration. Virtual items which may be socketed in the user-level virtual items may activate one or more benefits based on the the “level” of the socketable virtual item. For example a “level 1” socketable virtual item may activate one benefit of the user-level virtual items, a “level 2” socketable virtual item may activate two benefits of the user-level virtual items, a “level 3” socketable virtual item may activate three benefits of the user-level virtual items, and so forth. The level of the socketable virtual items may be known to the users when the socketable virtual items are acquired by the users. In some implementations, the level of the socketable virtual items may be unknown to the users until the virtual item is socketed to the user-level virtual item.

In some implementations different benefits may be activated based the users completing in-game tasks and/or actions. For example, a user may acquire a user-level virtual item (e.g., via purchase through a virtual shop), and may be prompted (e.g., via a pop-up window, notification, message, etc.) to complete an in-game tasks and/or action (e.g., complete a level, defeat an enemy, etc.) to activate one or more of the benefits thereof. Activation of different benefits may be considered in other ways.

In some implementations, the user-level virtual items may initially (e.g., at the time of acquisition of the user-level virtual item) be unusable (e.g., no benefits activated) until the user activates one or more of the benefit levels as described herein. In some implementations, the user-level virtual items may initially be activated with one benefit wherein users may choose to activate additional benefits accordingly.

In some implementations, the benefits associated with the user-level virtual items may be upgraded. Users may acquire “upgrades” for the user-level virtual item benefits via purchase and/or other acquisition technique. An “upgrade” may be applied to one or more of the benefits. For example, following the above example, a user may upgrade the gameplay parameters of the given item to 10× damage to opponents, 4× increase in character agility, 6× increase in player speed, and/or more or less upgrades.

By way of illustration inFIG. 2, the gameplay parameters component26may be configured to activate one benefit66of the first user-level virtual item44responsive to receiving second consideration64from the first user40. The gameplay parameters component26may be configured to activate two benefits70of the first user-level virtual item44responsive to receiving third consideration68from the first user40. The third consideration68may be more than the second consideration64.

The above examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. It is to be understood that the determination of gameplay parameters, benefits, benefit activation, and/or upgrades associated therewith may be considered in other ways.

Returning toFIG. 1, the server12, client computing platforms34, and/or external resources38may 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 network32such 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 platforms34, and/or external resources38may be operatively linked via some other communication media.

The external resources38may include sources of information, hosts and/or providers of virtual spaces outside of system10, external entities participating with system10, external entities for player-to-player communications, and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources38may be provided by resources included in system10.

The server12may include electronic storage30, one or more processors14, and/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 storage30may comprise electronic storage media that electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage30may 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 or a drive. A port may include a USB port, a firewire port, and/or other port. A drive may include a disk drive and/or other drive. Electronic storage30may 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 storage30may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage30may store software algorithms, information determined by processor14, information received from server12, information received from client computing platforms34, and/or other information that enables server12to function as described herein.

Processor(s)14is configured to provide information processing capabilities in server12. As such, processor14may 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 processor14is shown inFIG. 1as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor14may include one or more processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processor14may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor14may be configured to execute components16,18,20,22,24,26,28. Processor14may be configured to execute components16,18,20,22,24,26,28by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor14.

It should be appreciated that although components16,18,20,22,24,26,28are illustrated inFIG. 1as being co-located within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor14includes multiple processing units, one or more of components16,18,20,22,24,26,28may be located remotely from the other components. The description of the functionality provided by the different components16,18,20,22,24,26,28described above is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of components16,18,20,22,24,26,28may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, one or more of components16,18,20,22,24,26,28may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of components16,18,20,22,24,26, and/or28and/or other components. As another example, processor14may be configured to execute one or more additional components that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed below to one of components16,18,20,22,24,26,28.

FIG. 3illustrates a method100of online gaming including virtual items that transcend multiple character deaths. The operations of method100presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method100may 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 method100are illustrated inFIG. 3and described below are not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, method100may be implemented in one or more 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 method100in 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 method100.

Referring now to method100inFIG. 3, at an operation102an instance of a online game taking place within a virtual space may be executed. The instance of the online game may be implemented to facilitate user participation in the online game. Users may participate with the online game by controlling virtual characters in the virtual space. Health parameters of the characters in the online game may be determined wherein responsive to the health parameter for the individual characters reaching a threshold level; the characters may be considered dead in the online game. In some implementations, operation102may be performed by a game component the same as or similar to game component16(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation104, virtual item inventories associated with the users in the online game may be managed. The inventories may include one or more virtual items available for use with characters controlled by the users in the online game. The inventories may include user-level inventories that include one or more virtual items that transcend multiple deaths of virtual characters. The virtual items included in the user-level inventories may be characterized by gameplay parameters that impact gameplay in the online game, and lifespan parameters that determine the number of characters over which the virtual items will be available. In some implementations, operation104may be performed by a user component the same as or similar to user component18(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation106, the lifespan parameters for the virtual items included in the user-level inventories may be determined. Such determining may include decrementing the lifespan parameter of any virtual items included in the user-level inventories responsive to the death of a player character. In some implementations, operation106may be performed by a lifespan parameters component the same as or similar to lifespan parameters component24(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

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.