Systems and methods for multi-character online gaming

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a game system including a first character set, a character exchange component, and a competition component. The first character set is adapted to include at least one character. At least one character in the first character set is adapted to be alterable by a user. The character exchange component is adapted to allow at least one character from the first character set to be exchanged. The competition component is adapted to allow a competition including at least one character in the first character set and at least one character in a second character set.

1 . A game system, the system including:
 a first character set,
 wherein the first character set is associated with a first player, 
 wherein the first character set is adapted to include at least one character, 
 wherein at least one character in the first character set is adapted to be improved at least in part by the first player by altering at least one of a plurality of attributes associated with the at least one character, 
   a character exchange component,
 wherein the character exchange component is adapted to allow at least one new character to be acquired for the first character set; and 
   a competition component,
 wherein the competition component is adapted to allow the first player to compete with a second player in a competition, 
 wherein the second player is associated with a second character set, 
 wherein the second character set is adapted to include at least one character, 
 wherein the competition involves at least one character in the first character set and at least one character in the second character set. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one character in the first character set is adapted to be manually improved by the first player. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one character in the first character set is adapted to be automatically improved at the request of the first player. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the character exchange component is adapted to allow the first player to acquire a randomly selected character. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the randomly selected character is selected from a plurality of available characters, wherein each available character is associated with a weight, wherein the randomly selected character is selected based at least in part on the weights of the available characters, and wherein the weight of each available character is based at least in part on a scarcity of the character. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the character exchange component is adapted to allow the first player to acquire at least one character based at least in part on a subscription. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the character exchange component is adapted to allow the first player to acquire the at least one character using an auction. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the character exchange component is adapted to allow the first player to transfer at least one character from the first character set to a third player. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the character exchange component is adapted to allow the first player to exchange at least one character from the first character set with at least one character from a third character set. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second player is a computer. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first player wagers a stake on the outcome of the competition. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the stake include at least one character in the first character set. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the competition includes at least one character from a third character set, wherein the third character set is associated with a third player. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the character exchange component is integrated with the competition component. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a merchandising component, wherein the merchandising component is adapted to allow the first player to order a product based at least in part on a character in the first character set. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the competition is turn-based. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the competition is in real-time. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the competition is against the second player. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first player communicates with the gaming system over a local area network. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a fee is assessed when the new character is acquired. 
   
   
       21 . A game system, the system including:
 a first character set,
 wherein the first character set is adapted to include at least one character, 
 wherein at least one character in the first character set is adapted to be alterable by a user; 
   a character exchange component,
 wherein the character exchange component is adapted to allow at least one character from the first character set to be exchanged; and 
   a competition component,
 wherein the competition component is adapted to allow a competition including at least one character in the first character set and at least one character in a second character set. 
   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one character from the first character set is exchanged for at least one character in a third character set. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one character from the first character set is exchanged for money. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein a fee is assessed when a character is exchanged. 
   
   
       25 . A method for exchanging a character in a game, the method including:
 selecting a selected character for exchange,
 wherein the selected character is included in a first character set, 
 wherein the first character set is associated with a first player, 
 wherein the first character set is adapted to include at least one character, 
 wherein at least one character in the first character set is adapted to be improved at least in part by the first player by altering at least one of a plurality of attributes, 
 wherein at least one character in the first character set is adapted to compete in a competition with at least one character in a second character set; and 
   exchanging the selected character.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the selected character is exchanged for at least one new character. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the selected character is exchanged based on the result of the competition between the first player and a second player. 
   
   
       28 . A computer-readable medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer, the set of instructions including:
 a character set routine,
 wherein the character set routine is configured to support a first character set, 
 wherein the first character set is adapted to include at least one character, 
 wherein at least one character in the first character set is adapted to be alterable by a user; 
   a transaction routine,
 wherein the transaction routine is adapted to allow at least one character from the first character set to be exchanged; and 
   a competition routine,
 wherein the competition routine is adapted to allow at least one character in the first character set to compete in a competition with at least one character in a second character set.