Systems and Methods For Compensating Leaders Within Online Games, Such As Massively Multiplayer Online Games

Abstract

Computer systems and methods for: (A) identifying a leader within the context of an online game, the leader being associated with at least one follower within the context of the game; (B) determining one or more leadership metrics regarding the leader's effectiveness in enhancing a gaming experience of the at least one follower in playing the game; (C) determining, based at least in part on the one or more leadership metrics, an amount of compensation to award to the leader; and (D) communicating the amount of compensation to the leader and/or facilitating payment of the compensation to the leader. Suitable leadership metrics may be, for example: (A) the amount of revenue generated from the leader's followers; (B) the followers' rating of the leader; or (C) the length of time that the leader's followers subscribe to the game.

1 . A computer system for facilitating the transfer of compensation to an individual who is a leader within the context of an online game, said computer system comprising:
 a computer processor; and   memory, wherein said computer system is configured for:
 (A) identifying a leader within the context of said online game, said leader being associated with at least one follower within the context of said game; 
 (B) determining one or more leadership metrics reflecting said leader's effectiveness in enhancing a gaming experience of said at least one follower in playing said game; 
 (C) determining, based at least in part on said one or more leadership metrics, an amount of compensation to award to said leader; and 
 (D) facilitating the transfer of said compensation to said leader. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying said leader comprises determining which players of a plurality of players of said game are formally linked, as a leader, to one or more followers within the context of said game. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader comprises:
 determining a length of time that said at least one follower has been associated with said leader within the context of said game; and   determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader based, at least in part, on said length of time.   
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 3 , wherein said step of determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader comprises:
 determining whether said length of time exceeds a pre-determined threshold amount of time; and   in response to said length of time exceeding said threshold amount of time, awarding said leader enhanced compensation.   
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein said online game is a massively multiplayer online game. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader comprises:
 determining an amount of revenue generated from said follower while said follower has been associated with said leader within the context of said game; and   determining said compensation to award to said leader based, at least in part, on said amount of revenue.   
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein said amount of revenue comprises an amount that said follower paid to play said game while said follower was associated with said leader within the context of said game. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein said amount of revenue comprises an amount that said follower paid to purchase one or more virtual items within the context of said game while said follower was associated with said leader within the context of said game. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein said amount of revenue comprises an amount that said follower paid to upgrade an account owned by said follower within the context of said game. 
     
     
         10 . The compensation system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said amount of revenue comprises an amount of revenue generated by one or more advertisements that were selected by said leader for display to said at least one follower within the context of said game.   
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said computer system is further configured for receiving one or more ratings of said leader's leadership performance;   said one or more ratings indicate said at least one follower's opinion of said leader's leadership performance within the context of said game; and   said step of determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader comprises determining said amount of compensation based, at least in part, on said one or more ratings of said leader's leadership performance.   
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein said step of facilitating said transfer of said compensation to said leader comprises transferring payment data to a payment system, said payment data comprising said amount of compensation determined at said Step (C). 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein said step of facilitating said transfer of said compensation to said leader comprises transferring payment data to a payment system, said payment data being sufficient to calculate said amount of compensation determined at said Step (C). 
     
     
         14 . A computer system for facilitating the communication of compensation information to an individual who is a leader within the context of an online game, said computer system comprising:
 a computer processor; and   memory, wherein said computer system is configured for:
 (A) identifying a leader within the context of said online game, said leader being associated with at least one follower within the context of said game; 
 (B) determining one or more leadership metrics regarding said leader's effectiveness in enhancing a gaming experience of said at least one follower in playing said game; 
 (C) determining, based at least in part on said one or more leadership metrics, an amount of compensation to award to said leader; and 
 (D) communicating said amount of compensation to said leader. 
   
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein said step of identifying said leader comprises determining which players of a plurality of players of said game are formally linked, as a leader, to one or more followers within the context of said game. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein said step of determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader comprises:
 determining a length of time that said at least one follower has been associated with said leader within the context of said game; and   determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader based, at least in part, on said length of time.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein said step of determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader comprises:
 determining an amount of revenue generated from said at least one follower while said follower has been associated with said leader within the context of said game; and   determining said compensation to award to said leader based, at least in part, on said amount of revenue.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said computer system is further configured for receiving one or more ratings of said leader's leadership performance;   said one or more ratings indicate said at least one follower's opinion of said leader's leadership performance within the context of said game; and   said step of determining said amount of compensation to award to said leader comprises determining said amount of compensation based, at least in part, on said one or more ratings of said leader's leadership performance.   
     
     
         19 . A method of compensating an individual who is a leader within the context of an online game, said method comprising the steps of:
 (A) determining an amount of revenue generated from at least one individual who is a follower of said leader within the context of said game; and   (B) determining an amount of compensation to award to said leader based, at least in part, on said amount of revenue determined at said Step (A).   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said amount of revenue comprises an amount that said follower paid to play said game while said follower was associated with said leader within the context of said game. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said amount of revenue comprises an amount that said follower paid to purchase one or more virtual items within the context of said game while said follower was associated with said leader within the context of said game. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said amount of revenue comprises an amount that said follower paid to upgrade an account owned by said follower within the context of said game. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein said online game is a massively multiplayer online game.