Digital game distribution for gaming devices

Abstract

Systems and methods of providing digital game content to a portable game system may include a digital content source and an authentication system in communication with the portable game system. The portable game system may receive a digital game content from the digital content source. The digital game content may be stored in a storage component in the portable game system. The digital game content may be activated by a user of the portable game system, for example. After activating, the digital game content may be changed from a demonstration version when an electronic credential may be present in the portable game system.

1 . A method of providing digital game content to portable game systems, the method comprising:
 receiving a digital game content from a digital content source, wherein said digital game content is stored in a storage medium;   receiving an electronic credential;   activating said digital game content stored in said storage medium;   changing said digital game content from a demonstration version based on said electronic credential.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a license key to activate said digital game content;   generating a package of data information that includes said license key;   receiving said electronic credential based on said package of data information from an authentication service to change said digital game content from said demonstration version; and   verifying a licensing right in said electronic credential during use of said digital game content.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said storage medium is in a first portable game system. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said digital content source comprises a retail store, and wherein physical media of said digital game content is purchased at said retail store. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a computer that digitally extracts said digital game content from said physical media into said digital game content, wherein said first portable game system receives said digital game content from said computer. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said digital content source comprises a retail kiosk, and wherein said first portable game system receives said digital game content from said retail kiosk. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said digital content source is a second portable game system, and wherein said first portable game system receives said digital game content from said second portable game system. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said digital content source comprises an online game provider, and wherein said first portable game system receives said digital game content from said online game provider. 
   
   
       9 . A system for authenticating a licensing mode of digital game content, the system comprising:
 a package storage module adapted to store a package of data information received from a portable game system;   an electronic credential criteria module that stores at least one criteria;   a processor in operative communication with said package storage module and said electronic credential criteria module, wherein said processor compares said package of data information with said criteria, and wherein said processor generates an electronic credential when an element in said package of data information matches said criteria; and   an authentication log module in operative communication with said processor, wherein said authentication log module stores a unique history log based on said received package of data information and said generated electronic credential.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said package of data information includes a license key. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a database of valid license keys, wherein said processor generates said electronic credential when said license key matches a valid license key in said database. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said electronic credential grants a licensing right to access said digital game content. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said licensing right includes at least one of the following: full version, demonstration version, limited assets version, and limited time version. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said package of data information includes a previously received package of data information. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said processor compares said previously received package of data information with said criteria and said unique history log and renews said electronic credential when said criteria, said unique history log, and said encrypted package of data information match. 
   
   
       16 . A method of producing a software license key to grant licensing rights for digital game content stored in a portable game system, said method comprising:
 establishing a digital game content title identifier that includes a unique identifier of a designation corresponding to said digital game content;   establishing a digital content source identifier that includes a unique identifier corresponding to a digital content source that provides said digital game content;   establishing a license identifier corresponding to a licensing right to access said digital game content; and   generating a unique license key based on said digital game content title identifier, said digital source identifier, and said license identifier.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said digital game content identifier includes a unique number assigned to said designation of said digital game content. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said digital content source identifier includes a unique number assigned to said digital game content provider. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said licensing rights includes at lest one of the following: full version, demonstration version, limited assets version, and limited time version. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 receiving a package of data information from a portable game system, wherein said package of data information includes said unique license key;   comparing an element in said package of data information with at least one criteria; and   generating an electronic credential when said element in said package of data information matches said criteria, wherein said electronic credential grants a licensing right to access said digital game content on said portable game system.