Method and apparatus for providing battle pass item

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for providing a battle pass item. The method for providing a battle pass item, according to an aspect of the present invention, comprises the operations of: providing a game user with an opportunity to obtain at least one game item, among a plurality of game items, for free as a reward for an achievement the game user has accomplished; providing a game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items to an account of the game user; and providing a store service enabling the purchase of the rest of the game items, excluding the game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items, to the game user for a predetermined period of time.

Description

Method and device for providing Battle Pass items

[0001] It is related to the technology that provides Battle Pass items.

[0002] Battle Passes are a monetization method that has been prevalent in free-to-play games since the late 2010s. They allow players to level up through gameplay or complete daily / weekly tasks within a specific period, earning various items and other rewards. While players can earn rewards by completing progress bars without spending money, paying allows players to unlock even more rewards in addition to the free rewards.

[0003] Items provided as Battle Pass rewards are generally not sold in the in-game store, and existing games do not provide a function that allows game users to purchase items not selected from the items provided as Battle Pass rewards through the in-game store.

[0004] The purpose is to provide a method and device for providing Battle Pass items.

[0005] According to one aspect, a method for providing a battle pass item performed by a computing device may include an operation of providing a game user with an opportunity to acquire at least one game item from among a plurality of game items for free as a reward for the game user's achievement; an operation of providing a game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items to the game user's account; and an operation of providing a store service for purchasing game items remaining from among the plurality of game items except for the game item selected by the game user to the game user for a predetermined period of time.

[0006] The action of providing the above store service to the above game user may provide the above store service only to the above game user for the above specified period of time.

[0007] The action of providing the above store service to the game user may provide the game user with a store service that allows the purchase of the remaining game items at a discounted price.

[0008] The operation of providing the above store service to the game user may include an operation of providing the game user with a store service for a first period of time, which allows the game user to purchase the remaining game items at a discounted price with a first discount rate; and an operation of providing the game user with an additional store service, which allows the game user to purchase game items not purchased by the game user among the remaining game items at a discounted price with a second discount rate, if the game user purchases one of the remaining game items within the first period of time.

[0009] The action of providing the above additional store service to the game user may provide the above additional store service to the game user for the remaining period of the first period.

[0010] The action of providing the above additional store service to the game user may provide the above additional store service to the game user for a second period from the time of purchase of the game item.

[0011] The above second discount rate may be greater than the above first discount rate.

[0012] The above multiple game items may be battle pass items provided as rewards for achieving achievements.

[0013] The above battle pass item provision method may further include an operation of monitoring the game play of the game user to determine whether the game user achieves the achievement.

[0014] A battle pass item providing device according to another aspect may include an item providing unit that provides a game user with an opportunity to acquire at least one game item from among a plurality of game items for free as a reward for the game user's achievement, and provides a game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items to the game user's account; and a store service providing unit that provides a store service for a predetermined period of time for the game user to purchase game items remaining from among the plurality of game items except for the game item selected by the game user.

[0015] The above store service provider can provide the above store service only to the game users during the specified period.

[0016] The above store service provider can provide the game user with a store service that allows the purchase of the remaining game items at a discounted price.

[0017] The above store service provider may provide the game user with a store service that allows the game user to purchase the remaining game items at a discounted price using a first discount rate for a first period, and when the game user purchases one of the remaining game items within the first period, the game user may provide the game user with an additional store service that allows the game user to purchase game items not purchased by the game user among the remaining game items at a discounted price using a second discount rate.

[0018] The above store service provider can provide the additional store service to the game user for the remaining period of the first period.

[0019] The above store service provider can provide the additional store service to the game user for a second period from the time of purchase of the game item.

[0020] The above second discount rate may be greater than the above first discount rate.

[0021] The above multiple game items may be battle pass items provided as rewards for achieving achievements.

[0022] The battle pass item providing device may further include a monitoring unit that monitors the game play of the game user to determine whether the game user achieves the achievement.

[0023] By providing game users with the opportunity to purchase the remaining Battle Pass items that were not selected by the game user among the multiple Battle Pass items presented based on the game user's achievements in the store for a certain period of time, the use of the Battle Pass can be encouraged, thereby inducing more game users to play the game.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system environment to which a battle pass item provision method according to an exemplary embodiment is applied.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a battle pass item provision device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display screen for providing battle pass items and store services according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a computing environment including a computing device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing battle pass items according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0029] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. When designating components in each drawing, it should be noted that, where possible, identical components will be given the same reference numerals, even if they appear in different drawings. Furthermore, when describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of known functions or configurations will be omitted if they are deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0030] Meanwhile, for each step, unless the context clearly dictates a specific order, the steps may occur in a different order than stated. That is, the steps may be performed in the same order as stated, may be performed substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in the opposite order.

[0031] The terms described below are defined based on their functions within the present invention, and may vary depending on the intent or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the contents of this specification.

[0032] Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. Terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and the terms such as "comprises" or "has" should be understood to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0033] Furthermore, the division of components in this specification is merely a division based on the main function of each component. In other words, two or more components may be combined into a single component, or a single component may be further subdivided into two or more components with more detailed functions. In addition to its own main function, each component may additionally perform some or all of the functions of other components, and some of the main functions of each component may be exclusively performed by other components. Each component may be implemented in hardware or software, or in a combination of hardware and software.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system environment to which a battle pass item provision method according to an exemplary embodiment is applied.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, a system environment (100) according to an exemplary embodiment may include a user device (110) and a game server (120).

[0036] The user device (110) may be a device used by a game user to play a game.

[0037] In one embodiment, the game may be a game provided to a game user who has logged into a game account through authentication for a pre-registered game account, such as an online game, mobile game, etc.

[0038] According to one embodiment, a game application may be installed on the user device (110) to run a game on the user device (110) in conjunction with a game server (120). In this case, a game user may run the game application installed on the user device (110) and then log in with his / her game account through authentication to play the game. For example, the game application may be downloaded from the game server (120) or an application market.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the user device (110) may be a smart phone, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a tablet PC, a game console, etc., but is not necessarily limited to a specific type of device.

[0040] The game server (120) can provide game services to game users who have logged into their game user accounts by linking with a game application installed on a user device (110).

[0041] The game server (120) can provide game users with Battle Pass items. Here, a Battle Pass may refer to a service that provides rewards for achieving preset achievements through gameplay over a specific period of time. Battle Passes can be categorized into free and premium (paid) tracks, depending on whether or not they require in-app purchases. While rewards for achieving achievements can be received without in-app purchases (free track), in-app purchases allow users to obtain additional rewards in addition to the rewards from the free track (premium track).

[0042] Battle Pass items are game items provided to game users who achieve achievements according to the Battle Pass, and may generally be game items that cannot be purchased from the in-game store. For example, Battle Pass items may be items that can be used or worn by a user character or a user character, such as user characters, costumes, accessories, weapons, armor, potions, emoticons, etc. that cannot be purchased from the in-game store. However, they may also include items that grant specific effects (such as increased health or attack power) to a user character simply by storing them in the user character's inventory (a virtual item storage space provided within the game for game users to store items). However, Battle Pass items are not necessarily limited to the examples described above, and the types and forms of items may vary depending on the game.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the game server (120) may provide a store service that provides a game user who has achieved an achievement with an opportunity to obtain at least one battle pass item among multiple battle pass items for free, and allows the user to purchase the remaining battle pass items at a discounted price.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a battle pass item provision device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0045] The battle pass item providing device (200) of FIG. 2 can be implemented as a single configuration included in the game server (120), and some components constituting the battle pass item providing device (200) can be omitted as needed.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 2, a battle pass item providing device (200) according to one embodiment may include a monitoring unit (210), an item providing unit (220), and a store service providing unit (230).

[0047] The monitoring unit (210) can monitor a game user's gameplay to determine whether the game user achieves a set achievement within a given period of time. The set achievements may include, but are not limited to, leveling up, daily tasks, weekly tasks, and monthly tasks.

[0048] The item provision unit (220) provides the game user with an opportunity to obtain at least one game item from among a plurality of game items for free as a reward when the game user achieves a set achievement within a given period of time, and may provide the game user with a game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items for free. Here, the game item may be a battle pass item. Here, free acquisition or free provision of the game item may mean that the game item itself is obtained or provided without charge, regardless of whether the battle pass is a free track or a premium track. Therefore, even if the battle pass is a premium track that requires payment, providing the game item itself as a reward for achieving an achievement is done without charge, and thus, the game item can be viewed as being provided for free.

[0049] Specifically, when a game user achieves a set achievement within a given period of time, the item provision unit (220) may display information about a plurality of game items assigned to the achievement through the display screen of the user device (110), thereby inducing the game user to select at least one game item from among the plurality of game items. In addition, when a game user selects at least one game item from among the plurality of game items, the item provision unit (220) may provide the selected game item to the game user account free of charge. At this time, the number of game items that the game user can select, that is, the number of game items that the game user can obtain for free as a reward for achieving the achievement, may be the same as 1 regardless of the achievement, or may vary depending on the type of achievement. For example, if the achievement is a daily task, weekly task, or leveling up, the number of items that can be obtained for free may be 1, and if it is a monthly task, the number of items that can be obtained for free may be 2, but this is merely an example and is not limited thereto. Information about the game item may include the type, properties, abilities, etc. of the game item.

[0050] The store service provider (230) can provide a store service to a game user that allows the game user to purchase game items other than the game item selected by the game user among the plurality of game items when the game user selects at least one game item among the plurality of game items.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the store service provider (230) may provide a store service that allows the game user to purchase game items at a discounted price, excluding game items provided free of charge to the game user upon selection of a plurality of game items, only to the game user for a predetermined period of time from the time of selection of the game item.

[0052] When multiple game items are presented as a reward for a game user's achievement and the game user selects at least one of the game items, the remaining game items not selected were previously unavailable for purchase in the store. However, according to one embodiment, the store service provider (230) can provide a store service that allows the user to purchase the remaining game items not selected at a discounted price for a predetermined period of time from the time the game item is selected.

[0053] For example, when a game user achieves an achievement, game items A, B, and C assigned to the achievement are presented to the game user, and the game user selects game item A as a reward for achieving the achievement, the store service provider (230) may provide a store service that allows the game user to purchase unselected game items B and C at a discounted price using a first discount rate only to the game user for a first period from the time the game item A is selected. At this time, the first discount rate and the first period may be set in various ways by the administrator of the battle pass item provision device (200).

[0054] According to one embodiment, the store service provider (230) may provide a store service that allows the game user to purchase the remaining game items that were not selected by the game user at a discounted price, and then, if the game user purchases one of the remaining game items within a predetermined period of time, provide the game user with an additional store service that allows the game user to purchase the remaining game items that were not purchased at an additional discounted price.

[0055] For example, in the above example, if a store service is provided to the game user for a first period, which allows the game user to purchase game items B and C, which were not selected by the game user as a reward for achieving an achievement, at a discounted price of the first discount rate, and the game user purchases game item B through the in-game store within the first period at a discounted price of the first discount rate, the store service provider (230) may provide the game user with an additional store service for the remaining period of the first period, which allows the game user to purchase game item C at a discounted price of the second discount rate, or may provide the game user with an additional store service for the second period, which allows the game user to purchase game item C at a discounted price of the second discount rate, from the time of purchasing game item B. In this case, the second period may be the same as or different from the first period. In addition, the second discount rate may be greater than the first discount rate.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display screen for providing battle pass items and store services according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 3, when a game user achieves a set achievement within a given period of time, selectable game items (311, 312, 313) as a reward are displayed in a list (310), and a game item (e.g., 313) focused on by the game user among the selectable game items (311, 312, 313) may be displayed in the background. At this time, information about the focused game item (e.g., 313) may also be displayed.

[0058] Game users can change the focus of game items through a specific input method to check information about each game item.

[0059] When a game user selects one game item (313) among game items (311, 312, 313) in a list (310), the selected game item (313) is provided free of charge to the game user's account, and a store object (320) linked to the in-game store may be displayed on the display screen so that the user can enter the in-game store. By selecting the store object (320), the game user can enter the in-game store where the remaining game items (311, 312) can be purchased. At this time, a store affordance (330) that allows the game user to recognize that the remaining game items (311, 312) can be purchased at the store may be displayed on the display screen. For example, the store affordance (330) may include a phrase or indication that the remaining game items (311, 312) can be purchased at the store, information about the remaining time available for purchase, etc.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a computing environment including a computing device according to an exemplary embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, each component may have different functions and capabilities other than those described below, and may include additional components other than those described below.

[0061] The illustrated computing environment (10) may include a computing device (12). In one embodiment, the computing device (12) may be one or more components included in the battle pass item provision device (200) of FIG. 2.

[0062] A computing device (12) may include at least one processor (14), a computer-readable storage medium (16), and a communication bus (18). The processor (14) may cause the computing device (12) to operate according to the exemplary embodiments mentioned above. For example, the processor (14) may execute one or more programs stored in the computer-readable storage medium (16). The one or more programs may include one or more computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the processor (14), may be configured to cause the computing device (12) to perform operations according to the exemplary embodiments.

[0063] A computer-readable storage medium (16) can store computer-executable instructions or program code, program data, and / or other suitable forms of information. A program (20) stored in the computer-readable storage medium (16) can include a set of instructions executable by the processor (14). In one embodiment, the computer-readable storage medium (16) can be a memory (volatile memory such as random access memory, non-volatile memory, or a suitable combination thereof), one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, any other form of storage medium that can be accessed by the computing device (12) and that can store desired information, or a suitable combination thereof.

[0064] A communication bus (18) may interconnect various other components of the computing device (12), including a processor (14) and a computer-readable storage medium (16).

[0065] The computing device (12) may also include one or more input / output interfaces (22) and one or more network communication interfaces (26) that provide interfaces for one or more input / output devices (24). The input / output interfaces (22) and the network communication interfaces (26) may be connected to a communication bus (18). The input / output devices (24) may be connected to other components of the computing device (12) via the input / output interfaces (22). Exemplary input / output devices (24) may include input devices such as pointing devices (such as a mouse or trackpad), keyboards, touch input devices (such as a touchpad or touchscreen), voice or sound input devices, various types of sensor devices, and / or photographing devices, and / or output devices such as display devices, printers, speakers, and / or network cards. An exemplary input / output device (24) may be included within the computing device (12) as a component constituting the computing device (12), or may be connected to the computing device (12) as a separate device distinct from the computing device (12).

[0066] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing battle pass items according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0067] The battle pass item provision method of FIG. 5 can be performed, for example, by the battle pass item provision device (200) of FIG. 2. Some of the steps of FIG. 5 may be omitted as needed.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 5, the battle pass item provision device can monitor a game user's gameplay to determine whether the game user achieves a set achievement within a given period of time (410). The set achievements may include, but are not limited to, leveling up, daily tasks, weekly tasks, and monthly tasks.

[0069] A battle pass item provision device provides a game user with an opportunity to obtain at least one game item from among a plurality of game items for free as a reward when the game user achieves a set achievement within a given period of time, and may provide a game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items for free to the game user (420). Here, the game item may be a battle pass item. For example, the game item may be a user character or an item used or worn by the user character, such as a user character, costume, accessory, weapon, armor, potion, emoticon, etc. that cannot be purchased in an in-game store. However, the game item may include an item that grants a specific effect (e.g., increase in health, increase in attack power, etc.) to the user character simply by storing it in the user character's inventory (a virtual item storage space provided in the game so that the game user can store items).

[0070] For example, when a game user achieves a set achievement within a given period of time, a battle pass item provision device may display information about multiple game items assigned to the achievement on a display screen to prompt the game user to select at least one game item from among the multiple game items. Furthermore, when a game user selects at least one game item from among the multiple game items, the battle pass item provision device may provide the selected game item to the game user's account free of charge. Here, information about the game item may include the type, properties, abilities, etc. of the game item.

[0071] The battle pass item provision device can provide a store service to the game user, which allows the game user to purchase game items other than the game item selected by the game user among the plurality of game items, when the game user selects at least one game item among the plurality of game items (430).

[0072] According to one embodiment, a battle pass item provision device may provide a store service that allows the game user to purchase game items, excluding game items provided free of charge to the game user upon selection of the game user among a plurality of game items, at a discounted price at a first discount rate, only to the game user for a first period from the time of selection of the game item.

[0073] According to one embodiment, after providing a store service that allows the game user to purchase the remaining game items that were not selected by the game user at a discounted price, if the game user purchases one of the remaining game items within a first period, the battle pass item provision device may provide the game user with an additional store service that allows the game user to purchase the remaining game items that were not purchased at a discounted price at a second discount rate for the remainder of the first period or for a second period from the time of purchase of the game item. In this case, the second period may be the same as or different from the first period. In addition, the second discount rate may be greater than the first discount rate.

[0074] One aspect of the present invention can be implemented as computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. Codes and code segments implementing the above program can be easily inferred by a computer programmer in the art. The computer-readable recording medium may include any type of recording device that stores data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical disk, etc. Furthermore, the computer-readable recording medium may be distributed across network-connected computer systems, so that the computer-readable code can be written and executed in a distributed manner.

[0075] The present invention has been described above, focusing on preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in modified forms without departing from its essential characteristics. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, but should be interpreted to encompass various embodiments within the scope equivalent to the claims.

Claims

1. In a method of providing battle pass items performed by a computing device, An action that provides a game user with a chance to obtain at least one game item from among multiple game items for free as a reward for achieving an achievement of the game user; An action of providing a game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items to the game user's account; and A method for providing a battle pass item, comprising: providing a store service for a predetermined period of time to a game user, wherein the game user can purchase game items other than the game item selected by the game user among the plurality of game items; 2. In paragraph 1, The action of providing the above store service to the above game user is, A method for providing battle pass items, wherein the above store service is provided only to the above game users during the above specified period.

3. In paragraph 1, The action of providing the above store service to the above game user is, A method for providing battle pass items, which provides a store service to game users that allows them to purchase the remaining game items at a discounted price.

4. In paragraph 1, The action of providing the above store service to the above game user is, An action of providing a store service to the game user for a first period of time, wherein the remaining game items can be purchased at a discounted price at the first discount rate; and A method for providing a battle pass item, comprising: providing an additional store service to a game user, which allows the game user to purchase game items not purchased by the game user among the remaining game items at a discounted price of a second discount rate, if the game user purchases one of the remaining game items within the first period; 5. In paragraph 4, The action of providing the above additional store service to the above game users is, A method for providing battle pass items, which provides the above additional store service to the game user for the remaining period of the above first period.

6. In paragraph 4, The action of providing the above additional store service to the above game users is, A method for providing battle pass items, wherein the above additional store service is provided to the game user for a second period from the time of purchase of the game item.

7. In paragraph 4, A method of providing battle pass items, wherein the second discount rate is greater than the first discount rate.

8. In paragraph 1, A method for providing battle pass items, wherein the above multiple game items are battle pass items provided as rewards for achieving achievements.

9. In paragraph 1, A method for providing a battle pass item, further comprising: an operation of monitoring the game play of the game user to determine whether the game user achieves the achievement; 10. An item provision unit that provides a game user with an opportunity to obtain at least one game item for free from among a plurality of game items as a reward for the game user's achievement, and provides a game item selected by the game user from among the plurality of game items to the game user's account; and A battle pass item providing device, comprising: a store service providing unit that provides a store service for a predetermined period of time to the game user, through which the game user can purchase game items other than the game items selected by the game user among the plurality of game items.

11. In paragraph 10, The above store service provider, A battle pass item provision device that provides the above store service only to the above game users during the above specified period.

12. In paragraph 10, The above store service provider, A battle pass item provision device that provides game users with a store service that allows them to purchase the remaining game items at a discounted price.

13. In paragraph 10, The above store service provider, Provide a store service to the game users for the first period, where they can purchase the remaining game items at a discounted price with the first discount rate. A battle pass item providing device that provides an additional store service to the game user, which allows the game user to purchase game items not purchased by the game user among the remaining game items at a discounted price of a second discount rate, if the game user purchases one of the remaining game items within the first period.

14. In paragraph 13, The above store service provider, A battle pass item provision device that provides the above additional store service to the game user for the remaining period of the above first period.

15. In paragraph 13, The above store service provider, A battle pass item provision device that provides the above additional store service to the game user for a second period from the time of purchase of the game item.

16. In paragraph 13, A battle pass item providing device wherein the second discount rate is greater than the first discount rate.

17. In paragraph 10, The above multiple game items are battle pass items provided as rewards for achieving achievements, and are a battle pass item providing device.

18. In paragraph 10, A battle pass item providing device further comprising a monitoring unit that monitors the game play of the game user to determine whether the game user achieves the achievement.

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