Role Based Game Play on a Social Network

• US 20110237335A1
• Filed: 06/05/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Face It Applications LLC
• Original Assignee: Face It Applications LLC
• Inventors: Castor, David Jon, Mayes, Thorpe A. III, Tsiupka, Oleg, Holloway, Jason S., Kobylokha, Dmytro, Hunter, Adrienne, Spotts, Conrad Thomas, Hensel, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• 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 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

The present invention is a method of providing role based game play on a social computer network. User inputs are received via a computer network from user computers. These inputs are stored in a memory, and at least a portion of the memory is located away from the user computers. A group of two or more characters for a single user are created based on inputs from a user. One or more of these characters is associated with a friend user on the social computer network. At least a portion of information related to an outcome from the game is displayed on a device of the single user. Finally, the single user controls all the inputs for the actions of their characters during the game.

Claims

1. A method of providing role based game play in a role based game on a social network, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving inputs via a computer network from user devices;

b. storing the inputs in a memory, at least a portion of the memory being located remote from the user devices;

c. a single user inviting a friend user with a method provided by the social network to join as a character in the role based game, wherein the friend user becomes associated with the character and wherein the friend user is originally befriended based on similar personal or professional interests using the method provided by the social network,

d. the single user utilizing a group of two or more of characters for a stage of play in the role based game, the characters including the character associated with the friend user; and

e. displaying at least a portion of information related to an outcome from the role based game play on a device of the single user, the device being one of the user devices;

f. wherein the single user controls one of more actions or characteristics of the character associated with the friend user by inputting the actions or characteristics of the character associated with the friend user at the device, and wherein at least one of the actions and the characteristics are utilized for the stage of play such that the single user plays the game with the character associated with the friend user when the friend user is offline and without input from the friend user; and

g. wherein the social network has a main focus of building social networks around people by allowing friends, family and others to share personal and professional interests, and the social network provides a platform for the role based game and for other social network applications.

2. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein the characteristics are complex and assigned.

3. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein the characteristics are based only on inputs from the single user.

4. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing multiple turns of play for the single user, the turns of play including simulated action of the group of the characters.

5. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein a system determines the actions of one or more of the characters in the group.

6. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 4, wherein the single user has the option of changing the characteristics of the characters during each of the turns of play.

7. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 6, wherein the changing of the characteristics of the characters impacts the outcome of the turn of play.

8. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing multiple possible outcomes for each of the turns of play based at least in part on the inputs from the single user.

9. The method of providing role based game play on a social computer network of claim 1, wherein the single user is associated with another character in the two or more characters.

10. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein the actions are based only on inputs from the single user.

11. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein the single user has the option of removing one of the characters from the group.

12. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein the single user controls all of the actions and the characteristics of the character associated with the friend user during the stage of play.

13. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein the stage of play includes a fight.

14. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating the group based on inputs from the single user.

15. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a second group.

16. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 15, wherein the second group includes the character associated with the friend user.

17. The method of providing role based game play on a social network of claim 1, wherein the single user inputs all the actions and all the characteristics of the character associated with the friend user at the device.