Game data validation

• US 10,130,888 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Niantic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Niantic, Inc.
• Inventors: Kornmann, David, Spirakis, Charles, Hibbert, Chris, Aubin, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liddle, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rada, II, Alex F. R. P.
• Application Number:
  US15/587,302
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/88 Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded

Abstract

Methods and systems for verifying and/or modifying game data for a location-based game, such as a parallel reality game, are provided. Game data for the location-based game can be verified and/or modified by establishing one or more mini-games to be played within the location-based game. Players can be encouraged to play the mini-game by providing a reward, such as a virtual reward that can be used in the location-based game or by providing another suitable reward. Mini-game data received from a plurality of players of the mini-game can be aggregated and used to update game data for the location-based game. In this manner, game elements, game objectives, and/or game play for all players in the location-based game (even players that do not play in the mini-game) can be adjusted based on the aggregated responses to the mini-game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of modifying game data for a location-based game, the method comprising:

initiating, by a computer system, a mini-game associated with a location-based game by transmitting to a client device of a player of the location-based game landmark data associated with a landmark in a real world, wherein a geography of a virtual world parallels a geography of at least a portion of the real world, the landmark having a location in the real world that corresponds to a location in the virtual world;

receiving, by the computer system from the client device in response to the transmitted landmark data, mini-game data indicating a vote by the player in favor of the landmark;

determining, by the computer system, a ranking for the landmark based on the mini-game data and additional mini-game data received from client devices of additional players;

determining, by the computer system and based on the ranking, to include a virtual element at the location in the virtual world of the location-based game that corresponds to the location of the landmark in the real world;

updating, by the computer system, game data of the location-based game to include the virtual element at the location; and

transmitting, by the computer system, the updated game data to a plurality of players.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional mini-game data includes additional votes, the additional votes including a subset of votes in favor of the landmark and a subset of votes disfavoring the landmark.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein initiating the mini-game further comprises transmitting data associated with a second landmark in the real world, and wherein the subset of votes disfavoring the landmark are votes in favor of the second landmark.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ranking for the landmark is determined based on a number of votes in favor of the landmark included in the mini-game data and the additional mini-game data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining to include the virtual element comprises:

determining to include the virtual element at the location in the virtual world in response to the ranking being greater than a threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining to include the virtual element comprises:

determining to include the virtual element at the location in the virtual world in response to the ranking being higher than a second ranking determined for a second landmark.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark data comprises an image of the landmark.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark data comprises a request that the player provide an opinion in view of certain objective or subjective criteria.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:

initiating, by a computer system, a mini-game associated with a location-based game by transmitting to a client device of a player of the location-based game landmark data associated with a landmark in a real world, wherein a geography of a virtual world parallels a geography of at least a portion of the real world, the landmark having a location in the real world that corresponds to a location in the virtual world;

receiving, by the computer system from the client device in response to the transmitted landmark data, mini-game data indicating a vote by the player in favor of the landmark;

determining, by the computer system, a ranking for the landmark based on the mini-game data and additional mini-game data received from client devices of additional players;

determining, by the computer system and based on the ranking, to include a virtual element at the location in the virtual world of the location-based game that corresponds to the location of the landmark in the real world;

updating, by the computer system, game data of the location-based game to include the virtual element at the location; and

transmitting, by the computer system, the updated game data to a plurality of players.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the additional mini-game data includes additional votes, the additional votes including a subset of votes in favor of the landmark and a subset of votes disfavoring the landmark.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein initiating the mini-game further comprises transmitting data associated with a second landmark in the real world, and wherein the subset of votes disfavoring the landmark are votes in favor of the second landmark.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the ranking for the landmark is determined based on a number of votes in favor of the landmark included in the mini-game data and the additional mini-game data.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining to include the virtual element comprises:

determining to include the virtual element at the location in the virtual world in response to the ranking being greater than a threshold.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining to include the virtual element comprises:

determining to include the virtual element at the location in the virtual world in response to the ranking being higher than a second ranking determined for a second landmark.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the landmark data comprises an image of the landmark.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the landmark data comprises a request that the player provide an opinion in view of certain objective or subjective criteria.

17. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising;

initiating, by a computer system, a mini-game associated with a location-based game by transmitting to a client device of a player of the location-based game landmark data associated with a landmark in a real world, wherein a geography of a virtual world parallels a geography of at least a portion of the real world, the landmark having a location in the real world that corresponds to a location in the virtual world;

receiving, by the computer system from the client device in response to the transmitted landmark data, mini-game data indicating a vote by the player in favor of the landmark;

determining, by the computer system, a ranking for the landmark based on the mini-game data and additional mini-game data received from client devices of additional players;

determining, by the computer system and based on the ranking, to include a virtual element at the location in the virtual world of the location-based game that corresponds to the location of the landmark in the real world;

updating, by the computer system, game data of the location-based game to include the virtual element at the location; and

transmitting, by the computer system, the updated game data to a plurality of players.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the additional mini-game data includes additional votes, the additional votes including a subset of votes in favor of the landmark and a subset of votes disfavoring the landmark.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein initiating the mini-game further comprises transmitting data associated with a second landmark in the real world, and wherein the subset of votes disfavoring the landmark are votes in favor of the second landmark.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the ranking for the landmark is determined based on a number of votes in favor of the landmark included in the mini-game data and the additional mini-game data.