Networked electronic game tracking

Abstract

Electronic game tracking in a networked environment facilitates deployment, use, and sponsoring of electronic games in a manner that avoids limitations associated with proprietary solutions. Networked electronic game tracking provides a basis for rewarding game developers, sponsors, game assessment, feedback, market research, trial offers, subscription, pay-per-use and the like. Networked electronic game tracking facilitates local and on-line gaming, including multi-player games, online interactive games, sample games, downloaded games, uploading games, and the like. Access to games, features of games, and repeated use of a game may be enabled by the methods and systems provided by electronic game tracking. Electronic game tracking facilitates aspects of social networking, such as determining membership in online clubs, access to individuals' online information associated with a social networking site or page, and distribution and tracking of games offered through social networking sites.

1 . A method comprising; 
 providing an electronic game program;    providing tracking criteria associated with game activity occurring over a network;    tracking one or more game events associated with the tracking criteria to provide a tracking report; and    transmitting a tracking report signal over the network.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic game program includes a tracking program for providing the report  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic game program is an open-source program.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking criteria is transmitted over the network.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activity occurring over the network includes one or more of a request for online game play, accessing a network resource, an online participant interacting with the game, downloading a game, uploading a game, sending a tracking report, requesting access to a feature of the game, and downloading a feature of the game.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking criteria includes at least two of a game execution, game time, and a game event.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein game time includes one or more of an accumulation of time the game is played, duration of a game execution, and a percent of idle time during a game execution.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a game event is selected from the group consisting of downloading a game, uploading a game, starting a game, ending a game, pausing a game, defeating an opponent, capturing a game item, accumulating a game property, attempting a game level, completing a game level, achieving a goal, overcoming a challenge, loosing a game life, defeat, losing items, losing acquired property, reaching a game start count threshold, accessing a game feature, and adding a game participant to a game execution session.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the report signal is based on a comparison of the tracked game events with a tracking criteria threshold.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the threshold is one or more of a number of game starts, a number of online participants, a number of requests for online participation, completing a game level, and completing a game  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further including transmitting the report over the network in response to a request from a network resource.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transmitting the report includes transmitting a request to download a new game.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the report includes data representing the tracked events.  
   
   
       14 . A system comprising; 
 a networked electronic game facility for executing a electronic game program;    tracking criteria associated with game activity occurring over the network;    a transaction facility for tracking one or more game events associated with the tracking criteria to provide a tracking report; and    a report signal associated with an aspect of the report, wherein the electronic game facility transmits the report signal over the network.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic game program includes a tracking program for providing the report  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic game program is an open-source program.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further including a host for transmitting the tracking criteria over the network.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein activity occurring over the network includes one or more of a request for online game play, accessing a network resource, an online participant interacting with the game, downloading a game, uploading a game, sending a tracking report, requesting access to a feature of the game, and downloading a feature of the game.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tracking criteria includes at least two of a game execution, game time, and a game event.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein game time includes one or more of an accumulation of time the game is played, duration of a game execution, and a percent of idle time during a game execution.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a game event is selected from the group consisting of downloading a game, uploading a game, starting a game, ending a game, pausing a game, defeating an opponent, capturing a game item, accumulating a game property, attempting a game level, completing a game level, achieving a goal, overcoming a challenge, loosing a game life, defeat, losing items, losing acquired property, reaching a game start count threshold, accessing a game feature, and adding a game participant to a game execution session.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the aspect of the report is a comparison of the tracked game events with a tracking criteria threshold.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the threshold is one or more of a number of game starts, a number of online participants, a number of requests for online participation, completing a game level, and completing a game  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 14 , further including a network resource for requesting the game facility to transmit the report.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the report includes a request to download a new game.