Online Games Integrated with Offline Fitness, Environmental, and Other Activities

Abstract

An online gaming method for integrating offline and online activities. The method may include using a game server to receive a player identification code from one of the client devices that is operated by a game player, and the code may be provided to the player when they purchase a toy or product (e.g., a plush animal representing an endangered species). The method includes providing the client device access to an online game when the player identification code is verified and also includes storing in memory/data storage a player record for the game player. Then, the method includes receiving data indicating performance of an offline activity by the game player such as completion of a quantity of exercise. The game server then acts to modify the online game based on this received offline activity data such that performance of the offline activity is integrated into play of the online game.

1 . An online game method, comprising:
 with a game server, receiving a player identification code from a client device operated by a game player;   providing the client device access to an online game served by the game server when the player identification code is verified;   storing a player record for the game player in data storage accessible by the game server;   receiving data indicating performance of an offline activity by the game player; and   modifying the online game based on the received data, whereby the performance of the offline activity is integrated into play of the online game.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player identification code is associated with a product purchased by the game player. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offline activity is performed at a sponsor facility, wherein the player identification code is processed to verify the game player is present at the sponsor facility, and wherein a communication device at the sponsor facility transmits the offline activity performance data to the game server with the player identification code. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offline activity comprises a health-related activity and wherein the modifying of the online game based on the received data includes increasing a health status of an avatar linked to the game player. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the modifying of the online game comprises awarding virtual currency to the game player and further comprising receiving a request from the game player to use the virtual currency in the online game to affect game play. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising receiving a request from the game player to use the virtual currency to receive an offline reward. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prior to the modifying of the online game data based on the received data, receiving an authentication input comprising a voice portion and an animal sound portion and authenticating the received authentication input as being provided by a particular sender based on comparison with a biometric voice print. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the authentication input is received from the game player or a third party verifier. 
   
   
       9 . A game server, comprising:
 means for serving an online game to a plurality of client devices;   means for receiving data from the client devices based on performance by game players of offline activities;   means for authenticating an identity of a provider of the received data; and   means for modifying the online game based on the received offline activity data when the identity of the data provider is authenticated.   
   
   
       10 . The game server of  claim 9 , wherein the authenticating means comprises a biometric voice print processing mechanism and wherein the data provider inputs a vocal input comprising an animal sound. 
   
   
       11 . The game server of  claim 10 , wherein the data provider is a third party verifier differing from a game player associated with the offline activities. 
   
   
       12 . The game server of  claim 9 , wherein the online game comprises an avatar associated with each of the game players and wherein the modifying of the online game comprises modifying a health state of one of the avatars based on the received data. 
   
   
       13 . The game server of  claim 12 , wherein the received data comprises information indicating completion of an exercise-based activity. 
   
   
       14 . The game server of  claim 13 , wherein the health state comprises a virtual weight or virtual muscle tone of the one of the avatars. 
   
   
       15 . The game server of  claim 9 , wherein the modifying of the online game comprises providing a quantity of virtual currency to the game player associated with the received data. 
   
   
       16 . The game server of  claim 15 , wherein the modifying of the online game further comprises applying a portion of the virtual currency toward a reward within the online game served to the game player. 
   
   
       17 . An online game method, comprising:
 presenting a product to a game player, wherein a player ID code is associated with the product;   operating a game server to provide the game player access via a client device to an online game based on entry of the player ID code;   operating the game server to receive data defining an offline activity completed by the game player; and   operating the game server to modify the online game served to the game player based on the defined offline activity.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the online game is modified by associating a quantity of virtual currency with the game player. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving an order from the game player for a reward using the quantity of virtual currency and, in response, delivering the reward to the game player. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising prior to the operating of the game server to modify the online game, performing voice-based authentication of a provider of the offline activity data including processing a digital data input including an animal sound generated by the provider.