Systems and methods for performing online in-game inquiries

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing online in-game inquires are disclosed. In one embodiment, a consumer-based inquiry may be presented to a player using a variety of inquiry interfaces while the player is participating in an online game. In another embodiment, new players may be given the option of responding to survey questions in lieu of all or a portion of a subscription fee. However, new players may also be given the opportunity to participate in such survey questions in addition to being charged a subscription fee. In yet another embodiment, responses to survey questions are received and stored on a server-side database.

1 . A method comprising: 
 selecting an inquiry from a plurality of inquiries based on one or more predetermined criteria;    presenting said inquiry to an online user while said online user is in a virtual game environment;    receiving a response to said inquiry from said online user while in said virtual game environment; and    storing said response in a remote database.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling said online user to access said virtual game environment using a client application executing on a user computer.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising generating said virtual game environment by a server-side system that is accessible by a plurality of user computers over a network.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing said plurality of inquiries in the remote database, and wherein said predetermined criteria include one or more of a player characteristic and a current gaming scenario.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting said inquiry comprises presenting said inquiry to the online user in one of a pop-up message window, online message dialog, tab, dialog box, embedded game graphic control and game menu interface.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of inquiries are consumer survey questions.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reducing a subscription fee of said online user in response to said online user's participation in responding to one or more of said plurality of inquiries.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rewarding said online user according to a point system for responding to one or more of said plurality of inquiries.  
   
   
       9 . A system comprising: 
 a network;    a user computer coupled to the network to execute a client application for accessing a virtual game environment;    a server in communication with said user computer over said network, wherein said server is to, 
 generate said virtual game environment,  
 select an inquiry from a plurality of inquiries based on one or more predetermined criteria,  
 present said inquiry to an online user while said online user is in a virtual game environment,  
 receive a response to said inquiry from said online user while in said virtual game environment, and  
 store said response in a remote database.  
   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said server generates said virtual game environment for access by a plurality of user computers over the network.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of inquiries are stored in the remote database, and wherein said predetermined criteria include one or more of a player characteristic and a current gaming scenario.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said inquiry is presented to the online user in one of a pop-up message window, online message dialog, tab, dialog box, embedded game graphic control and game menu interface.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of inquiries are consumer survey questions.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said online user is to pay a subscription fee in order to be able to access said virtual game environment, and wherein said subscription fee is reduced in response to said online user's participation in responding to one or more of said plurality of inquiries.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said online user is rewarded according to a point system for responding to one or more of said plurality of inquiries.  
   
   
       16 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer program code embodied therein, the computer program product having: 
 computer readable program code to select an inquiry from a plurality of inquiries based on one or more predetermined criteria,  
 computer readable program code to present said inquiry to an online user while said online user is in a virtual game environment,  
 computer readable program code to receive a response to said inquiry from said online user while in said virtual game environment, and  
 computer readable program code to store said response in a remote database.  
   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , further comprising computer readable program code to enable said online user to access said virtual game environment using a client application executing on a user computer.  
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprising computer readable program code to generate said virtual game environment by a server-side system that is accessible by a plurality of user computers over a network.  
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , further comprising computer readable program code to store said plurality of inquiries in the remote database, and wherein said predetermined criteria include one or more of a player characteristic and a current gaming scenario.  
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein said computer readable program code to present said inquiry comprises computer readable program code to present said inquiry to the online user in one of a pop-up message window, online message dialog, tab, dialog box, embedded game graphic control and game menu interface.  
   
   
       21 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of inquiries are consumer survey questions.  
   
   
       22 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , further comprising computer readable program code to reduce a subscription fee of said online user in response to said online user's participation in responding to one or more of said plurality of inquiries.  
   
   
       23 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , further comprising computer readable program code to reward said online user according to a point system for responding to one or more of said plurality of inquiries.