FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to a system and method for providing limited-time events to users in an online game.

BACKGROUND

Bonus events are provided in games to give users an opportunity to win additional and/or better prizes. Typically, a bonus event is provided at a specific time or based on a given level of achievement. In instances where a bonus event is provided at a specific time, only users playing the game at that time are given the opportunity to play. Providing a bonus event at a specific time unnecessarily limits the number of users who can participate in the event to those playing the game at that time.

As such, alternative methods of providing limited-time events to users in an online game may enable more users to participate in limited-time events.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system and method configured to provide limited-time events to users in an online game. Exemplary implementations may provide offers to active a limited-time event to users in the online game. The limited-time event may be offered to users when they are online and may be activated by one or more users. The limited-time event may be activated by different users at different times. Activation of the limited-time event may enable a user to perform event runs through the limited-time event. The user may be able to perform event runs through the limited-time event for a duration. The duration may have a duration length indicating the duration period. Providing individual offers to users for the limited-time event at various times, according to their online schedule, removes the limitations presented by providing an event during one specific time period to only those users that are online. The time limitation aspect of the limited-time event maintains the enticing sense of urgency for users to participate in the event.

In some implementations, providing limited-time events to users in an online game may be performed by processors executing computer program components. In some implementations, the system may include one or more servers. The server(s) may be configured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms according to a client/server architecture. The users may access the system via client computing platform(s), for instance to engage in one or more games.

The server(s) may be configured to execute one or more computer program components to provide limited-time events to users in an online game. The computer program components may include one or more of an event component, a game component, an inventory component, a recharge component, a performance component, an award component, an exchange component, and/or other components. It is noted that the client computing platforms may include one or more computer program components that are the same as or similar to the computer program components of the server(s) to facilitate in game actions.

The event component may be configured to effectuate presentation of offers to users to activate a limited-time event within an online game. Activation of the limited-time event may enable users to perform event runs through the limited-time event in the online game for a duration. The duration may have a duration length and the durations for the individual users may begin in response to offer activations by the individual users. In some implementations, presentation of offers may be effectuated during an offer period. The offer period may include a period of time during which the first user may be able to accept the offer. In some implementations, the first user may only accept the offer to activate the limited-time event once during an offer period. The first user may only be able to perform event runs through the limited-time event for one duration per offer period. In some implementations, the event component may be configured to effectuate presentation of one or more notifications with one or more offers to activate the limited-time event.

The game component may be configured to execute an instance of the online game. The instance of the online game may facilitate user participation in the online game by executing actions in the instance of the online game in response to user commands received from client computing platforms associated with the users. The execution of actions in the instance of the online game may deplete a first virtual resource in the inventories of the users requesting the actions. The execution of event runs through the limited-time event in response to user commands received from a client computing platform associated with the user may deplete the first virtual resource in an inventory of the user.

In some implementations, the game component may be configured to effectuate presentation of one or more notifications within the instance of the online game and/or during the limited-time event. The one or more notifications may be presented after activation of the limited-time event and/or based on the assessment of the performance of one or more of the users during event runs through the limited time event. In some implementations, game component may be configured to effectuate presentation of one or more leaderboards. The one or more leaderboards may include a performance assessment metric of one or more users during one or more event runs through the limited time event.

The inventory component may be configured to maintain inventories of the users. The recharge component may be configured to recharge the first virtual resource in the inventories of the users as a function of time. The performance component may be configured to assess performance of the users during event runs through the limited-time event. The award component may be configured to distribute awards to the users based on the assessment of the performance of the users during the event runs through the limited-time event. In some implementations, the awards may include one or more of a virtual hard currency, a virtual soft currency, and/or other awards.

The exchange component may be configured to effectuate exchanges by the users of virtual items for the first virtual resource. A number of event runs that are performable by the first user during the duration without exchanging one or more virtual items for the first virtual resource may be limited by the recharge of the first virtual resource, the depletion of the first virtual resource by performance of event runs, the duration length, and/or other factors. Virtual items exchanged for the first virtual resource may include a virtual currency such as a virtual hard currency.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

