System and method for providing awards to users of an online game

Abstract

An online game is provided to users via client computing devices. Gameplay metrics are determined for users of the online game based on actions taken by the users in the online game. Secondary games are provided, where the potential awards provided by the secondary games are determined based on the gameplay metrics of the users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for incentivizing players of an online game by providing the players with information regarding potential awards that are available in a secondary game, wherein the players include a first player, the system comprising:
 one or more physical computer processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:
 execute an instance of the online game; 
 facilitate presentation of the online game to the players via client computing devices, wherein the client computing devices include a first client computing device associated with the first player, wherein the first player participates in the online game through a game interface on the first client computing device; 
 determine a first gameplay metric for the first player based on a first level of progress currently achieved by the first player in the online game; 
 provide access for the players to a secondary game, wherein the players are presented with the secondary game through the game interface while participating in the online game, and wherein participation in the secondary game potentially results in awarding the players with a set of potential awards; and 
 provide information to the first player regarding a subset of the set of potential awards that corresponds to a particular gameplay metric that is different from the first gameplay metric, wherein the subset of the set of potential awards would be available to the first player through the secondary game upon the first player achieving a particular level of progress in the online game that corresponds to the particular gameplay metric, thereby incentivizing the first player to make progress in the online game. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to:
 determine, for individual plays of the secondary game, an outcome of the secondary game, wherein the outcome includes an award from the subset of the set of potential awards as an actual award, such that for a first play of the secondary game by the first player, a first actual award is determined from the subset of the set of potential awards.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to:
 facilitate distribution of the first actual award to the first player.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical computer processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:
 provide information to the players of the online game regarding the subset of the set of potential awards that corresponds to the particular gameplay metric.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of the set of potential awards includes virtual items, wherein the virtual items have a perceived value in the online game, and where the virtual items in the subset of the set of potential awards have a higher perceived value in the online game than virtual items in other subsets of the set of potential awards. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary game further comprises: obtaining a set of probabilities for the awards in the subset of the set of potential awards; and
 stochastically or quasi-stochastically selecting an award from the subset of the set of potential awards as the actual award for distribution to the players.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary game further comprises:
 effectuating presentation of an interface to facilitate participation by the players in the secondary game.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein participating in the instance of the secondary game is associated with a cost to the user. 
     
     
         9 . A method for incentivizing players of an online game by providing the players with information regarding potential awards that are available in a secondary game, wherein the players include a first player, the method to be performed on a computer having one or more physical processors, the method comprising:
 executing an instance of the online game;   facilitating presentation of the online game to the players via client computing devices, wherein the client computing devices include a first client computing device associated with the first player, wherein the first player participates in the online game through a game interface on the first client computing device;   determining a first gameplay metric for the first player based on a first level of progress currently achieved by the first player in the online game;   providing access for the players to a secondary game, wherein the players are presented with the secondary game through the game interface while participating in the online game, and wherein participation in the secondary game potentially results in awarding the players with a set of potential awards; and   providing information to the first player regarding a subset of the set of potential awards that corresponds to a particular gameplay metric that is different from the first gameplay metric, wherein the subset of the set of potential awards would be available to the first player through the secondary game upon the first player achieving a particular level of progress in the online game that corresponds to the particular gameplay metric, thereby incentivizing the first player to make progress in the online game.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining, for individual plays of the secondary game, an outcome of the secondary game, wherein the outcome includes an award from the subset of the set of potential awards as an actual award, such that, for a first play of the secondary game by the first player, a first actual award is determined from the subset of the set of potential awards.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 facilitating distribution of the first actual award to the first player.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing information to the players of the online game regarding the subset of the set of potential awards that corresponds to the higher gameplay metric.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the subset of the set of potential awards includes virtual items, wherein the virtual items have a perceived value in the online game, and where the virtual items in the subset of the set of potential awards have a higher perceived value in the online game than the virtual items in other subsets of potential awards. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary game further comprises: obtaining a set of probabilities for the awards in the subset of the set of potential awards; and
 stochastically or quasi-stochastically selecting an award from the subset of the set of potential awards as the actual award for distribution to the players.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary game further comprises:
 effectuating presentation of an interface to facilitate participation by the players in the secondary game.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein participating in the instance of the secondary game is associated with a cost to the user.