Virtual Item Contribution System for Inclusive Affiliation Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional online game affiliations often become exclusive, making it difficult for new users to join and maintain engagement, as they may require specific in-game performance metrics or be based on need, leading to clique-like structures that deter new members and reduce user retention.
Innovation Solution
A system that provides virtual items to users within affiliations, allowing members to contribute and receive affiliation game units that offer benefits proportional to their contributions, encouraging participation and collective goals, and are distributed when a threshold of contributions is met, promoting inclusivity and activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If affiliations require specific in-game performance metrics or need-based membership, then affiliation exclusivity and selectivity are improved, but user accessibility and ease of joining deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of membership criteria from performance-based to contribution-based, where any user can join by providing virtual items. This resolves the contradiction by making affiliations accessible to all users while maintaining selectivity through the contribution requirement, rather than excluding users based on performance metrics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If affiliations become exclusive cliques, then affiliation prestige and exclusivity are improved, but user retention and engagement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of excluding users to create prestige, the system inverts the approach by requiring contributions from all members. This creates a shared investment in the affiliation, making members more likely to remain active and engaged. The exclusivity comes from the collective contribution effort rather than selective membership, thereby improving retention.
3Quantity of substance
If virtual items are provided to individual members, then individual member benefits are improved, but collective affiliation goals and community spirit deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges individual contributions with collective rewards by pooling virtual items from all members to unlock affiliation-wide benefits. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring that while individuals contribute resources, the rewards are shared collectively, fostering community spirit and shared goals rather than individual gain.
4Stability of the object's composition
If threshold requirements are set for affiliation unit distribution, then affiliation stability and sustained contribution are improved, but user motivation and immediate engagement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic threshold-based distribution where affiliation units are granted at specific contribution milestones. This creates a rhythm of effort and reward that maintains stability through structured goals while keeping users motivated by the anticipation of reaching the next threshold and receiving benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.