Online game rewards for web-based purchases

Abstract

Example systems and methods related to providing rewards for an online game in response to web-based purchases are presented. In an example, information is received that describes a proposed item for purchase presented to a user of an online gaming system at an online merchant system distinct from the online gaming system. Also received is an identifier of the user. The information describing the proposed online action is analyzed, and an in-game reward for the user to be provided by the online gaming system is selected based on the analyzing of the information. A confirmation generated by the online merchant system that the user purchased the proposed item is received. The in-game reward for the user is provided in response to the confirmation that the user purchased the proposed item.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at an online gaming system, information describing a proposed item for purchase presented to a user of the online gaming system at an online merchant system distinct from the online gaming system;   receiving, at the online gaming system, an identifier of the user,   analyzing, at the online gaming system, the information describing the proposed online action;   selecting, using at least one processor of a machine at the online gaming system, an in-game reward for the user to be provided by the online gaming system based on the analyzing of the information describing the proposed item;   receiving, at the online gaming system, a confirmation generated by the online merchant system that the user purchased the proposed item; and   providing, at the online gaming system, the in-game reward for the user in response to the confirmation that the user purchased the proposed item.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information describing the proposed item comprises information provided in a web page accessed by the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information describing the proposed item comprises text included in the web page. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information describing the proposed item comprises at least one keyword included in the web page. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information describing the proposed item comprises at least one meta tag included in the web page. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information describing the proposed item comprises a price of the proposed item. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a value of the in-game reward is based on the price of the proposed item. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selecting of the in-game reward is further based on account information of the user with the online merchant system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selecting of the in-game reward is further based on account information of the user with the online gaming system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the account information of the user with the online gaming system on which the selection of the in-game reward is based comprises at least one of a frequency of play by the user and a duration of play by the user for each of at least one game offered on the online gaming system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the account information of the user with the online gaming system on which the selection of the in-game reward is based comprises a character state of the user for at least one game offered on the online gaming system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the account information of the user with the online gaming system on which the selecting of the in-game reward is based comprises information regarding each of a plurality of games offered on the online gaming system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selecting of the in-game reward comprises selecting an in-game reward for one of the plurality of games played by the user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selecting of the in-game reward comprises selecting an in-game reward for one of the plurality of games not played by the user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selecting of the in-game reward is further based on a user selection of one of the plurality of games, and wherein the providing of the in-game reward comprises applying the in-game reward to the one of the plurality of games. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the in-game reward comprises a virtual item of an item type corresponding to the proposed item. 
     
     
         18 . An online gaming system comprising:
 at least one hardware processor; and   memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, causes the online gaming system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving information describing a proposed item for purchase presented to a user of the online gaming system at an online merchant system distinct from the online gaming system; 
 receiving an identifier of the user; 
 analyzing the information describing the proposed online action; 
 selecting an in-game reward for the user to be provided by the online gaming system based on the analyzing of the information describing the proposed item; 
 receiving a confirmation generated by the online merchant system that the user purchased the proposed item; and 
 providing the in-game reward for the user in response to the confirmation that the user purchased the proposed item. 
   
     
     
         19 . The online gaming system of  claim 18 , wherein the information describing the proposed item comprises at least one of a group consisting of text, a keyword, and a meta tag from a web page describing the proposed item. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving information describing a proposed item for purchase presented to a user of the online gaming system at an online merchant system distinct from the online gaming system;   receiving an identifier of the user;   analyzing the information describing the proposed online action;   selecting an in-game reward for the user to be provided by the online gaming system based on the analyzing of the information describing the proposed item;   receiving a confirmation generated by the online merchant system that the user purchased the proposed item; and   providing the in-game reward for the user in response to the confirmation that the user purchased the proposed item.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein the information describing the proposed item comprises a price of the proposed item, and wherein a value of the in-game reward is based on the price of the proposed item.