System and method for providing branded virtual objects in a virtual environment

1. A computer-implemented method for providing branded virtual objects in a virtual environment, the method comprising:

causing a graphical user interface to be provided to an advertising entity via an advertising campaign device, the advertising entity being associated with a real-world company;

receiving via the graphical user interface,

a selection of a game from a plurality of multiplayer online games identified in the graphical user interface;

a selection of a category from a plurality of categories of virtual objects that are related to the selected game, the plurality of categories being identified in the graphical user interface; and

a plurality of parameters that define an advertising campaign in the selected game;

receiving from the advertising campaign device a branded virtual object associated with the selected game and the selected category;

receiving a request from the advertising campaign device to present the branded virtual object to a player of the selected game; and

during rendering of the selected game,

receiving a request from a player device, the request being from the player to locate a virtual object of the selected category in a virtual environment of the player in the selected game;

presenting the player with an option, via the player device, to select the branded virtual object for placement in the virtual environment;

responsive to the player selecting the branded virtual object, inserting the branded virtual object in the virtual environment at a placement position in the virtual environment selected by the player; and

updating a selection count associated with the branded virtual object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving a plurality of bids from a plurality of advertising campaign devices for an advertising opportunity to present a branded virtual object in the selected game; and

presenting the player with an option to select the branded virtual object of an advertising campaign device from which the highest bid is received.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

causing a plurality of graphical user interfaces to be provided to a plurality of advertising entities, each graphical user interface providing a plurality of categories of virtual objects;

for each category of the plurality of categories, receiving bids to brand a virtual object in that category; and

updating a database to present a branded virtual object associated with a winning bid to the player when the player requests placement of a virtual object in a corresponding category in the virtual environment.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of categories include a virtual building category including virtual buildings for placement in the virtual environment, each virtual building being branded with a real-world brand.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , comprising receiving placement parameters that determine a presentation opportunity for when the branded virtual object is to be presented to the player.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the placement parameters are selected from the group consisting of virtual geographic limitations, player age limitations and placement restrictions within the virtual environment.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , comprising receiving a branded virtual object from a requesting device that presents the highest bid to present a branded virtual object to the player.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising presenting a plurality of branded virtual objects to the player, each branded virtual object corresponding to a different real-world brand.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein at least two branded virtual object correspond to virtual structures that correspond to vendors of similar goods or services.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

accessing a database including a plurality of branded virtual objects;

retrieving a branded virtual object corresponding to a successful bidder bidding in an auction for presentment of the branded virtual object to the player in the selected game; and

causing the branded virtual object to be presented to the player for selection and placement in the virtual environment.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the branded virtual object corresponds to a virtual building for placement in the virtual environment.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the branded virtual object corresponds to a virtual vehicle to traverse virtual roads of the virtual environment.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the selected game includes a plurality of un-branded virtual objects each having a predefined shape and dimension for selective placement in the virtual environment, each virtual object having associated object parameters and each branded virtual object having associated parameters corresponding to an-unbranded virtual object.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

monitoring selection of the branded virtual object presented to the player: and

updating a branded object selection count in the event of the player selecting the branded virtual object.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

monitoring viewing of a branded virtual object by a guest player viewing the virtual environment of the player; and

updating a branded object view count.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring interaction between a guest player and the branded virtual object; and

updating a branded object engagement count in a database.

17. A system to provide branded virtual objects in a virtual environment, the system comprising:

a processor-implemented advertising engine configured to:

cause a graphical user interface to be provided to an advertising entity via an advertising campaign device, the advertising entity being associated with a real-world company;

receive via the graphical user interface,

a selection of a game from a plurality of multiplayer online games identified in the graphical user interface;

a selection of a category from a plurality of categories of virtual objects that are related to the selected game, the plurality of categories being identified in the graphical user interface; and

a plurality of parameters that define an advertising campaign in the selected game, wherein the advertising campaign device provides a branded virtual object associated with the selected game and the selected category;

a processor-implemented game engine configured to:

receive a request from the advertising campaign device to present the branded virtual object to a player of the selected game; and

during rendering of the online selected game,

receive a request from a player device, the request being from the player to locate a virtual object of the selected category in a virtual environment of the player in the selected game;

present the player with an option, via the player device, to select the branded virtual object for placement in the virtual environment;

responsive to the player selecting the branded virtual object, insert the branded virtual object in the virtual environment at a placement position in the virtual environment selected by the player; and

update a selection count associated of the branded virtual object.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to:

cause a graphical user interface to be provided to an advertising entity via advertising campaign device, the advertising entity being associated with a real-world company;

receive via the graphical user interface,

a selection of a game from a plurality of multiplayer online games identified in the graphical user interface;

a selection of a category from a plurality of categories of virtual objects that are related to the selected game, the plurality of categories being identified in the graphical user interface; and

a plurality of parameters that define an advertising campaign in the selected game;

receive from the advertising campaign device a branded virtual object associated with the selected game and the selected category;

receive a request from the advertising campaign device to present the branded virtual object to a player in the selected game; and

during rendering of the selected game,

receive a request from a player device, the request being from the player to locate a virtual object in a virtual environment of the player in the selected game;

present the player with an option, via the player device, to select the branded virtual object for placement in the virtual environment;

responsive to the player selecting the branded virtual object, insert the branded virtual object in the virtual environment at a placement position in the virtual environment selected by the player; and

update a selection count associated of the branded virtual object.