VIDEOGAME WITH E-COMMERCE TRANSACTION SUPPORT
The present invention provides methods and system relating to videogames with improved e-commerce features. In some aspects of the invention, the improved e-commerce features include allowing players to purchase virtual goods from within gameplay without interrupting gameplay.
1 . A computer-implemented method of executing an online multiplayer gaming session, comprising:
commencing the online multiplayer gaming session, said online multiplayer gaming session comprising a plurality of players in competition against each other in real-time gaming sequences;
determining the occurrence of a predefined gameplay event;
in response to the determining and without interruption to the online multiplayer gaming session, providing to a player an opportunity to purchase a virtual good, wherein the virtual good provides a primary benefit usable during the online multiplayer gameplay session and a secondary benefit usable in a subsequent online multiplayer gaming session, and wherein the virtual good is selected based at least in part on predefined gameplay event;
receiving an indication that the player has requested to purchase the virtual good; and
in response to receiving the indication that the player has requested to purchase the virtual good, activating the primary benefit.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the player requests to purchase the virtual good using a single button click.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the player requests to purchase the virtual good using a voice command.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an audiovisual cue in response to activating the primary benefit.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined gameplay event is the player's virtual character's health reaching a threshold level.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary benefit is one of a health bonus or an armor bonus.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined gameplay event is the death of the player's virtual character.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary benefit reduces the respawn time of the player's virtual character.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary benefit is a permanent increase to at least one of the player's virtual character's attributes.
10 . A computer-implemented method useful in provision of videogame play, comprising:
presenting a real-time gameplay sequence in a session of play of a videogame to a player controlling a character engaged in the gameplay sequence;
during presentation of the gameplay sequence, and without delaying course of execution of the gameplay sequence, presenting an opportunity to purchase a virtual good to the player, the virtual good being helpful to the character during the gameplay sequence;
during presentation of the gameplay sequence, and without delaying course of execution of the gameplay sequence, receiving a request to purchase the virtual good; and
during presentation of the gameplay sequence, activating the virtual good for use.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the virtual good has at least a component available to and helpful to the character in a further session of play of the videogame.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the videogame is a first person shooter videogame.