Matchmaking system and method for multiplayer video games

• US 10,322,351 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Marr, Michael D., Kaplan, Keith S., Lewis, Nathan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Jeffrey K
• Application Number:
  US14/712,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A matchmaking system and method is provided that facilitates optimization of player matches for multiplayer video games. The system may provide a generalized framework for matchmaking using historical player data and analytics. The framework may facilitate automatic determinations of an optimal mix of players and styles to produce the most satisfying user experiences. The system may dynamically update analytical processes based on statistical or otherwise observed data related to gameplay at any given time. In this manner, the system may continually tune the matchmaking process based on observations of player behavior, gameplay quality, and/or other information.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of matchmaking players for gameplay sessions, the method being implemented in a host computer having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the host computer to perform the method, wherein said host computer is in data communication with a plurality of computing devices and wherein each of said plurality of computing devices is configured to interact with an instance of a multiplayer video game, the method comprising:

identifying, by the host computer, a potential match of at least a first player and a second player to be placed in a gameplay session to play said multiplayer video game;

obtaining, by the host computer, a plurality of match variables used to assess the potential match, the plurality of match variables including at least a first match variable;

obtaining, by the host computer, a plurality of coefficients used to provide weights to corresponding ones of the plurality of match variables, the plurality of coefficients including at least a first coefficient corresponding to the first match variable, wherein the first coefficient comprises a first default value;

changing the first default value to a first tuned value;

generating, by the host computer, a match score for the potential match based on the first match variable and the first coefficient having the first tuned value;

determining, by the host computer, whether the first player and the second player should be placed in the gameplay session based a comparison of the match score to an adjusted threshold match score, wherein the adjusted threshold match score is generated by obtaining, using the host computer, at least a first wait time that indicates an amount of time that the first player has been waiting to be matched, adjusting, using the host computer, a threshold match score based on the first wait time, and comparing, by the host computer, the match score to the adjusted threshold match score; and

causing, by the host computer, the first player and the second player to be placed in the gameplay session responsive to a determination that the first player and the second player should be placed in the gameplay session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of match variables includes a second match variable and the plurality of coefficients includes a second coefficient corresponding to the match variable, the method further comprising:

changing a second default value of the second coefficient to a second tuned value, wherein the change from the first default value to the first tuned value comprises a decrease to de-emphasize the first match variable and the change from the second default value to the second tuned value comprises an increase to emphasize the second match variable.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a first gameplay preference of a first player, wherein the first default value is changed to the first tuned value responsive to the first gameplay preference.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first gameplay preference is received from the first player.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first gameplay preference is obtained from a first player profile associated with the first player, wherein the first player profile is generated based on a historical gameplay of the first player.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first gameplay preference relates to a preference to play with preferred players, the method further comprising:

causing one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched with one or more preferred players.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the first gameplay preference relates to a preference to play as a particular role, the method further comprising:

causing one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched to play as the particular role.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

identifying a change in circumstance related to gameplay, wherein the change from the first default value to a first tuned value is made responsive to the change in circumstance.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the change in circumstance is associated with a poor performance of the first player during gameplay, the method further comprising:

causing one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched with an easier opponent and/or higher skilled team mates.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the change in circumstance relates to a length of time that the first player has waited to be matched, the method further comprising:

causing one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched in a less amount of time compared to the first default value.

11. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

obtaining one or more quality factors used to assess player satisfaction of the gameplay session; and

determining a quality of the gameplay session based on the one or more quality factors.

12. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

correlating the first match variable and/or the first coefficient with the quality of the gameplay session; and

tuning the first coefficient based on the correlation, wherein the tuned first coefficient is used to match the first player and/or the second player in a subsequent gameplay session.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first match variable comprises:

a latency between the first player and the second player, a player skill level, a team composition, a presence or absence of preferred players, the first wait time that indicates the amount of time that the first player has been waiting to be matched, a location of the player, and/or one or more explicit user preferences received from the first player.

14. A system of matchmaking players for gameplay sessions, the system comprising:

a host computer, wherein said host computer is in data communication with a plurality of computing devices, wherein each of said plurality of computing devices is configured to interact with an instance of a multiplayer video game and wherein said host computer has one or more physical processors programmed by computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the host computer to;

identify a potential match of at least a first player and a second player to be placed in a gameplay session to play said multiplayer video a game;

obtain a plurality of match variables used to assess the potential match, the plurality of match variables including at least a first match variable and a second match variable;

obtain a plurality of coefficients used to provide weights to corresponding ones of the plurality of match variables, the plurality of coefficients including at least a first coefficient corresponding to the first match variable and a second coefficient corresponding to the second match variable, wherein the first coefficient comprises a first default value;

change the first default value to a first tuned value;

change a second default value of the second coefficient to a second tuned value, wherein the change from the first default value to the first tuned value comprises an increase to emphasize the first match variable and the change from the second default value to the second tuned value comprises a decrease to de-emphasize the second match variable;

generate a match score for the potential match based on the first match variable and the first coefficient having the first tuned value;

determine whether the first player and the second player should be placed in the gameplay session based on the match score; and

cause the first player and the second player to be placed in the gameplay session responsive to a determination that the first player and the second player should be placed in the gameplay session.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein to determine whether the first player and the second player should be placed in the gameplay session based on the match score, the host computer is programmed to:

obtain at least a first wait time that indicates an amount of time that the first player has been waiting to be matched;

adjust a threshold match score based on the first wait time; and

compare the match score to the adjusted threshold match score.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

receive a first gameplay preference of a first player, wherein the first default value is changed to the first tuned value responsive to the first gameplay preference.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first gameplay preference is received from the first player.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first gameplay preference is obtained from a first player profile associated with the first player, wherein the first player profile is generated based on a historical gameplay of the first player.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first gameplay preference relates to a preference to play with preferred players, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

cause one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched with one or more preferred players.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first gameplay preference relates to a preference to play as a particular role, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

cause one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched to play as the particular role.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

identify a change in circumstance related to gameplay, wherein the change from the first default value to a first tuned value is made responsive to the change in circumstance.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the change in circumstance is associated with a poor performance of the first player during gameplay, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

cause one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched with an easier opponent and/or higher skilled team mates.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the change in circumstance relates to a length of time that the first player has waited to be matched, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

cause one or more match scores for one or more potential matches to be adjusted higher based on the first tuned value to increase a likelihood that the first player is matched in a less amount of time compared to the first default value.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

obtain one or more quality factors used to assess player satisfaction of the gameplay session; and

determine a quality of the gameplay session based on the one or more quality factors.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

correlate the first match variable and/or the first coefficient with the quality of the gameplay session; and

tune the first coefficient based on the correlation, wherein the tuned first coefficient is used to match the first player and/or the second player in a subsequent gameplay session.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the first match variable comprises:

a latency between the first player and the second player, a player skill level, a team composition, a presence or absence of preferred players, a time that the first player has waited to be matched, a location of the player, and/or one or more explicit user preferences received from the first player.

27. A computer readable non-transitory medium storing computer program instructions for matchmaking players for gameplay sessions, the instructions, when executed by one or more physical processors of a host computer, cause the host computer to:

communicate with a plurality of computing devices, wherein each of said plurality of computing devices is configured to interact with an instance of the multiplayer video game;

identify a potential match of at least a first player and a second player to be placed in a gameplay session to play a said multiplayer video game;

obtain a plurality of match variables used to assess the potential match, the plurality of match variables including at least a first match variable;

obtain a plurality of coefficients used to provide weights to corresponding ones of the plurality of match variables, the plurality of coefficients including at least a first coefficient corresponding to the first match variable, wherein the first coefficient comprises a first default value;

change the first default value to a first tuned value;

generate a match score for the potential match based on the first match variable and the first coefficient having the first tuned value;

determine whether the first player and the second player should be placed in the gameplay session based on a comparison of the match score to an adjusted threshold match score, wherein the host computer determines by obtaining at least a first wait time that indicates an amount of time that the first player has been waiting to be matched, adjusting a threshold match score based on the first wait time, and comparing the match score to the adjusted threshold match score; and

cause the first player and the second player to be placed in the gameplay session responsive to a determination that the first player and the second player should be placed in the gameplay session.