Dynamic requirement variation for online game network asset acquisition

Abstract

Example systems and methods relating to dynamic requirement variation for asset acquisition in an online game are presented. In an example online game for multiple players, a plurality of parameters employed to identify players who qualify for a reward provided by the online game are accessed continually. A current acquisition requirement for the reward based on the plurality of parameters is updated continually. The reward is provided to at least one of the players responsive to satisfaction of the current acquisition requirement by the at least one of the players.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 hosting an online game for a plurality of players;   continually accessing a plurality of parameters employed to identify players who qualify for a reward provided via the online game;   continually updating, using at least one processor, a current acquisition requirement for the reward based on the plurality of parameters; and   providing the reward to at least one of the plurality of players responsive to satisfaction of the current acquisition requirement by the at least one of the plurality of players.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the continual updating of the current acquisition requirement comprising setting the current acquisition requirement such that a predetermined portion of the plurality of players do not satisfy the current acquisition requirement. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the predetermined portion of the plurality of players being all of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the current acquisition requirement comprising a current in-game asset requirement, the continual updating of the current acquisition requirement comprising setting the current in-game asset requirement such that a predetermined portion of the plurality of players do not satisfy the current in-game asset requirement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the continual updating of the current acquisition requirement comprising continually determining the amount of an in-game asset possessed by at least some of the plurality of players in the online game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , the in-game asset comprising a virtual currency. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the current acquisition requirement comprising a current social requirement, the current social requirement being satisfied by a new association of a person represented in a social network of at least one of the plurality of players with the online game. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the person being a non-player of the online game, the current social requirement comprising issuance of an invitation from the at least one of the plurality of players to the person that results in the person becoming a new player of the online game. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the new association comprising the person joining a player group including the at least one of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , the new association comprising the person and the at least one of the plurality of players pursuing a same goal in the online game. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , the person being a player of the online game, the new association comprising at least one of an in-game social connection and an in-game contact relationship between the person and one of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , continually updating the current acquisition requirement comprising evaluating changes in the social network of the at least one of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the evaluating of the changes in the social network of the at least one of the plurality of players comprising evaluating a speed with which the at least one of the plurality of players makes connections with other individuals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , the evaluating of the changes in the social network of the at least one of the plurality of players comprising evaluating a depth with which the at least one of the plurality of players makes connections with other individuals. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , the current acquisition requirement comprising a current social requirement, the continual updating of the current acquisition requirement comprising setting the current social requirement such that a predetermined portion of the plurality of players do not satisfy the current social requirement. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , the reward comprising a higher-degree reward, the continual updating of the current acquisition requirement comprising adjusting the current acquisition requirement for the higher-degree award based on a current acquisition requirement for a lower-degree award provided via the online game. 
     
     
         17 . 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:
 hosting an online game for a plurality of players;   continually accessing a plurality of parameters employed to identify players who qualify for a reward provided via the online game;   continually updating a current acquisition requirement for the reward based on the plurality of parameters; and   providing the reward to at least one of the plurality of players responsive to satisfaction of the current acquisition requirement by the at least one of the plurality of players.   
     
     
         18 . An online game system configured to:
 host an online game for a plurality of players;   continually access a plurality of parameters employed to identify players who qualify for a reward provided via the online game;   continually determine a current acquisition requirement for the reward based on the plurality of parameters; and   provide the reward to at least one of the plurality of players responsive to satisfaction of the current acquisition requirement by the at least one of the plurality of players.   
     
     
         19 . The online game system of  claim 18 , the continual updating of the current acquisition requirement comprising setting the current acquisition requirement such that a predetermined portion of the plurality of players do not satisfy the current acquisition requirement. 
     
     
         20 . The online game system of  claim 18 , the current acquisition requirement comprising a current social requirement that is satisfied by a new association of a person represented in a social network of at least one of the plurality of players with the online game.