Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for providing an interactive application, such as a video game, with a hierarchy of avatar categories, each having a maximum and minimum progression value. Each avatar category may be associated with one or more avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application. A beginner avatar category may be associated with a minimum progression value greater than an absolute minimum progression value and a maximum progression value lesser than an absolute maximum progression value. A second avatar category may be associated with a minimum and maximum progression value that are, respectively, lower and greater than that of the beginner avatar category. The interactive application may allow a user to select from the beginner avatar category and the second avatar category. An avatar category may be associated with game rewards.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for providing an interactive application, such as a video game, with a hierarchy of avatar categories, each having a maximum and minimum progression value. Each avatar category may be associated with one or more avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application. A beginner avatar category may be associated with a minimum progression value greater than an absolute minimum progression value and a maximum progression value lesser than an absolute maximum progression value. A second avatar category may be associated with a minimum and maximum progression value that are, respectively, lower and greater than that of the beginner avatar category. The interactive application may allow a user to select from the beginner avatar category and the second avatar category. An avatar category may be associated with game rewards.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for providing an interactive application, such as a video game, with a hierarchy of tiers and a hierarchy of game items. Higher tiers may correspond to better game items, and lower tiers may correspond to worse game items. Game rewards awarded to a user for using a particular item may be inversely related to the corresponding tier level of the particular item. Game rewards may comprise experience points, credits, levels, or the like. New users of the interactive application may be provided access to a tier above the lowest tier of the hierarchy and thereby able to access better game items than those corresponding to the lowest tier. A prestige tier may be established requiring a quantity of game rewards for access, and users may thereby be able to access the prestige tier faster by using lower, and potentially more difficult, tiers.