MANAGING FRANCHISE OBJECTS IN AN INTERACTIVE SOCIAL GAME

• US 20120122589A1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexander Michael Minh Khiem Le, Sean Uberoi Kelly
• Original Assignee: Alexander Michael Minh Khiem Le, Sean Uberoi Kelly
• Inventors: Kelly, Sean Uberoi, Khiem Le, Alexander Michael Minh
• Application Number:
  US13/244,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20120122589A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods to manage franchise objects in an interactive social game are described. In some embodiments, a method permits a first player to access a virtual game environment of a second player. The virtual game environment being associated with the interactive social game. The method receives a selection of a franchise object from the first player and locates the selected franchise object in the virtual game environment of the second player. Further, the method locates a franchise headquarters object in the virtual game environment of the second player and associates the franchise headquarters object with the selected franchise object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

permitting a first player to access a virtual game environment of a second player, the virtual game environment associated with an interactive social game;

receiving a selection of a franchise object from the first player;

locating, using one or more processors, the selected franchise object in the virtual game environment of the second player;

locating a franchise headquarters object in the virtual game environment of the second player; and

associating the franchise headquarters object with the selected franchise object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising executing a harvest mechanic cycle for the selected franchise object, the harvest mechanic cycle generating an in-game award.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein execution of the harvest mechanic cycle is initiated by the first player or the second player.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising distributing the in-game award to the first player and the second player.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising distributing the in-game award equally between the first player and the second player.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising allocating the in-game award based on revenue sharing data associated with the selected franchise object.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the franchise headquarters object is associated with the selected franchise object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising modifying an appearance of the franchise headquarters object based on a number of franchise objects associated with the franchise headquarters object.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising modifying an operational parameter of an in-game object based on a proximity of the in-game object to the franchise headquarters object.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a franchise management interface responsive to a player activation of the franchise headquarters object.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the franchise management interface displays a plurality of franchise objects associated with the franchise headquarters object.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the franchise management interface displays a rating for each of the plurality of franchise objects associated with the franchise headquarters object.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the franchise management interface permits modification of a revenue sharing arrangement for allocating an in-game award between the first player and the second player.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

permitting a first player to access a virtual game environment of a second player, the virtual game environment associated with an interactive social game;

receiving a selection of a franchise object from the first player;

locating the selected franchise object in the virtual game environment of the second player;

locating a franchise headquarters object in the virtual game environment of the second player; and

associating the franchise headquarters object with the selected franchise object.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the machine further performs operations including modifying an appearance of the franchise headquarters object based on a number of franchise objects associated with the franchise headquarters object.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the machine further performs operations including modifying an operational parameter of an in-game object based on a proximity of the in-game object to the franchise headquarters object.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the machine further performs operations including displaying a franchise management interface responsive to a player activation of the franchise headquarters object.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the franchise management interface displays a plurality of franchise objects associated with the franchise headquarters object.

19. A game system comprising:

an interface to communicate with players of a game;

a memory to store data associated with the game; and

one or more processors coupled to the interface and the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

permit a first player to access a virtual game environment of a second player, the virtual game environment associated with an interactive social game;

receive a selection of a franchise object from the first player;

locate the selected franchise object in the virtual game environment of the second player;

receive a selection of a franchise headquarters object from the first player;

locate the franchise headquarters object in the virtual game environment of the second player; and

associate the selected franchise headquarters object with the selected franchise object.

20. The game system of claim 19, wherein the one or more processors further modify an appearance of the franchise headquarters object based on a number of franchise objects associated with the franchise headquarters object.