Avatar closet/ game awarded avatar

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for updating the appearance of an avatar that exists across an online multi-player gaming system, including an executing video game. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for updating the avatar, techniques are disclosed for prompting networked video games to update an avatar that has been modified while the video game has been executing.

1 . A method for dynamically adding an item associated with an avatar associated with a user in an online multi-player video game service, wherein the service comprises at least one server, comprising:
 receiving a message indicative of the user obtaining access of the item for use with the avatar;   storing an indication that the avatar may use the item;   directing a first game to display the avatar with the item; and   directing a second game to display the avatar with the item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item has a creator, and said receiving a message indicative of the user obtaining access occurs after receiving a message from the item creator to store the item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the creator has at least one credential, further comprising:
 validating each credential.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said directing the first game to display the avatar with the item includes receiving a message from the user to display the avatar with the item. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said message is received from the first game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said message is received from the first game when the user achieves an accomplishment in the game associated with the item. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said message is received in response to the user purchasing the item from an e-commerce store. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said message is received in response to the user receiving the item as a gift. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the avatar with the item on a message board posting associated with the user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the avatar with the item on a profile associated with the user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the avatar with the item in a live chat in which the user is participating.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user accesses the service through a computer, further comprising:
 directing the user's computer to store the association between the item and the avatar.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user accesses the service through a computer, further comprising:
 directing the user's computer to store the item.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first game is an online multi-player game comprising a session and at least one other user and said directing the first game to display the avatar with the item includes directing the game of each other user to display the avatar with the item. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said directing a first game to display the avatar with the item includes directing the first game to download the item from at least one server. 
     
     
         16 . A system for dynamically adding an item associated with an avatar associated with a user on a gaming console, comprising:
 a processor;   a module to receive a message indicative of the user obtaining access of the item for use with the avatar;   a module to store an indication on the console that the avatar may use the item;   a module to direct a first game executing on the console to display the avatar with the item; and   a module to direct a second game executing on the console to display the avatar with the item.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said module to direct the first game to display the avatar with the item includes a module to receive a message from the user to display the avatar with the item. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said module to receive is configured to receive the message from the first game. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said message is received from the first game when the user achieves an accomplishment in the game associated with the item. 
     
     
         20 . A computer readable storage medium for dynamically adding an item associated with an avatar associated with a user in an online multi-player video game service, the computer readable storage medium including computer executable instructions that when executed perform the method comprising:
 receiving a message indicative of the user obtaining access of the item for use with the avatar;   storing an indication that the avatar may use the item;   directing a first game to display the avatar with the item; and   directing a second game to display the avatar with the item.