Identity-Preserving Virtual Containers for Adaptive Game Promotions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional sales promotions for virtual items, such as direct discounting or one-time virtual containers, can lead to temporary sales spikes followed by decreased sales and user reluctance towards new containers due to unfamiliarity.
Innovation Solution
Reusing previously sold virtual containers with the same identity but modified benefits during a second time period, maintaining user recognition and incentivizing purchases through systematic adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new virtual containers are created to replace previously offered virtual containers, then the virtual item set can be updated with new items, but users become reluctant to purchase due to unfamiliarity resulting in limited profits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a new virtual container that replicates the visual appearance, identifier, and basic structure of a previously successful container. This copy maintains user recognition and familiarity while allowing internal modifications to the virtual item set, thereby preserving sales momentum while enabling content updates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies parameters internally within the container rather than changing the container's external identity. Specifically, the virtual item set composition, probability distributions, and reward structures are adjusted while keeping the container's visual appearance and identifier unchanged, allowing updates without triggering user reluctance
2Productivity
If traditional sales promotions such as direct discounting are used, then short-term profits are boosted, but long-term profitability decreases due to temporary sales spikes followed by decreased sales
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic promotions by repeatedly offering the same identified virtual container at different time intervals with modified benefits. This creates sustained periodic interest rather than single-time spikes, maintaining long-term engagement and profitability through systematic re-promotion of the container with updated item sets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the virtual container dynamic by allowing modification of its benefits and associated virtual item sets over time while maintaining its core identity. This enables the container to adapt to changing user preferences and market conditions, sustaining long-term profitability through continuous relevance
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual containers are offered on a one-time basis, then new virtual items can be introduced, but user reluctance due to unfamiliarity limits purchase rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the familiar container identifier and visual appearance, allowing users to immediately recognize and trust the offering. This copying approach eliminates the cognitive friction associated with evaluating entirely new containers, making purchase decisions easier while still introducing new virtual items through modified benefits
Data Source
AI summary
An approach to facilitating identity-recognition-based promotions using virtual containers is provided. A first virtual container may be associated with a first virtual item set and identified by a first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased through a store interface during a first time period may be configured to be activated by users in a game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the first virtual item set. The first virtual container may be modified to be associated with a second virtual item set and identified by the first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased during a second time period may be container instances of the modified first virtual container that are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the second virtual item set.