METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING A COMPUTER GAME

• US 20140106876A1
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King.com, Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: King.com, Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Knutsson, Sebastian, Jornow, Lars, Olofsson, Jonas, Backstrom, Andrea
• Granted Patent: US 9,387,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• 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 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 : wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play

Abstract

A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which computer game graphics for a casual, social game are shown on a display of a computing device and in which one or more of the processors are programmed to show: a virtual path or other virtual world that indicates the level reached by the player and some of that player'"'"'s social network friends; a score board that displays the score of a player once he has completed a level successfully, together with the highest scores of some of its social network friends'"'"' for that level; and in which each level of the game can be failed and, if the processor determines that the player is running out of moves or time, then the processor causes the game to automatically display a message offering extra moves and/or time for the player to purchase, to carry on playing the game, or other in-game assistance.

Claims

1. A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which computer game graphics for a casual, social game are shown on a display of a computing device and in which one or more of the processors are programmed to show:

a virtual path or other virtual world that indicates the level reached by the player and some of that player'"'"'s social network friends;

a score board that displays the score of a player once he has completed a level successfully, together with the highest scores of some of its social network friends'"'"' for that level;

and in which each level of the game can be failed and, if the processor determines that the player is running out of moves and/or time, then the processor causes the game to automatically display a message offering extra moves and/or time for the player to purchase, to carry on playing the game, or other in-game assistance.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the message is generated and displayed when the player has 5 moves left.

3. The method of claim 1 in which, if the player selects an option to purchase extra moves and/or, that sends a signal that (a) is interpreted by a remote server as an instruction to debit an account of the player with a sum of money and (b) is interpreted (optionally by a remote server) as an instruction to provide the player with the extra moves and/or time to enable the player to carry on playing the game.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the processor causes a gameboard to be shown with multiple game elements that are removed when matched or switched by a player, such as in a match-3, clicker or switcher game.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the game elements are one or more of:

candies, bubbles, flowers, animals, fruits, vegetables, toys.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the processor shows a current game level position and highest scores for each completed level, for both the player and also some of its friends on a social network application or environment.

7. The method of claim 1 in which a player can see, for example in real-time, which of their friends on the social network are currently playing the game and the level at which they are playing.

8. The method of claim 1 in which a player can collaborate with friends in the social network, such as by sending lives, in-game currency, boosters, charms, other in-game elements, messages.

9. The method of claim 1 in which in-app purchases are bought for real or virtual currency by touching an icon of the purchase shown next to the gameplay board, and then touching a ‘

buy’

button that is subsequently displayed.

10. The method of claim 1 in which functions and features relating to sharing players'"'"' game state information, including levels and achievements, on a virtual path or other virtual world with that player'"'"'s social network friends is continuously or regularly optimized for engagement and monetization by continuously or regularly monitoring and analyzing player behavior and interaction, such as monetisation.

11. The method of claim 1 in which a single user database, which may be distributed or centralised, tracks all metrics for all players, including all game state information, irrespective of the platform used by each of those players, and that single user database is accessible by several different games, such as a match 3 switcher and a match 3 clicker, a bubble shooter etc.

12. The method of claim 1 in which every change in the game state, such as every move of a game piece by the user, and every consequential change in every game piece on the game board, is accompanied by sound and/or visual feedback to provide immediate, positive gratification to the player.

13. The method of claim 1 in which a player'"'"'s score and game level position and also the scores and game level positions of all their social network friends also playing the game, is fully sync'"'"'d across different platforms, such as iOS, desktop and Android, and there are sections of the game that must be unlocked through either help from those friends or through a purchase.

14. The method of claim 1 in which friends can send gifts, boosters, extra moves, in-game currency, or extra lives to one another.

15. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path or other virtual world and where a visual prompt is displayed by the game if a friend'"'"'s high score has been beaten by that player, the prompt enabling the player to send a message to that friend.

16. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and also their social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path or other virtual world and where the player can play the game in offline mode on one platform/device and the progress in the game and other game state information is synchronised with a remote server when the device is online again and the player can continue playing the game on another platform.

17. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and their social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path or other virtual world and the game enables the player to buy a permanent booster which can be used without limit in time.

18. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and their social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path or other virtual world, in which successive levels have different difficulty rankings to introduce variety even without a new game mechanic being introduced—

e.g. after a difficult level, there is an easier level.

19. The method of claim 1 where some or all of those friends are sent a message prompting the friend(s) to assist the player once that player has played, but not completed, a level, for more than a predefined time or predefined number of attempts.

20. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and their social network friends'"'"' level position on a virtual path or other virtual world and where the player is prompted to notify a social network friend when the friend'"'"'s high score on a specific level has been beaten by that player.

21. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and their social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path or other virtual world, in which the game state information is fully sync'"'"' d across different platforms, such as iOS, web-based social network application or environment, and Android, and, in which the gameplay for each level can be enhanced through the use of an acquired item, such as a booster.

22. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and their social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path (or other virtual world), in which the game state information is fully sync'"'"' d across different platforms, such as iOS, web-based social network application or environment, and Android, and, in which the gameplay for each level can be enhanced through the use of an acquired item, such as a booster, and where the game state information relating to the acquisition or use of an acquired item is synchronized across several different platforms.

23. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and their social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path or other virtual world and, in which the game board contains switchable elements that can be matched with other switchable elements and switchable elements that cannot be matched with other switchable elements on the game board, where one of the goals for completing a level is to interact with the game board in such a way that a predefined number of non-matchable switchable elements are placed in any of a plurality of predefined areas on the game board, such as being brought down from the top of the gameboard to the bottom.

24. The method of claim 1 in which the player has to satisfy multiple criteria within a limited number of moves to complete the level;

in which the criteria include at least two of the following;

reaching a target score

removing matchable game elements to clear a path for a non-matchable game element to reach a predefined area on the game board

clear a predefined number of a certain type of game items layered on the game board having a matchable game element, together with each of the layered game items, where each layered game item can be removed by removing a matcheable game element in the same position as the layered game item.

25. The method of claim 1 in which a player can purchase on-line a booster to aid gameplay and that booster, once available for use on the player'"'"'s current platform, can be used immediately and alternatively on any other platform used by the player, and in which game state information for that player, including information relating to use of the booster, is synchronised using a remote server across each of several different devices used by that player.

26. The method of claim 1 in which players can see their own and their social network friends'"'"' game level position on a virtual path (or other virtual world) with nodes representing levels in the game, and each node can reveal, in response to user input, a graphical preview representation of the gameboard for that level and, if the player has played that level before, a visual indication of how well the player succeeded on that level

27. The method of claim 1 in which, after a player has failed to meet the level completion criteria, a message is shown articulating why the level completion criteria was not met, and offering as the only visually significant option to replay the level.

28. The method of claim 1 in which, after a player has achieved the level completion criteria, a message is shown articulating that the level was successfully completed, and offering as the only visually significant option to share information to a social network.

29. The method of claim 1 in which some or all game levels are untimed, eliminating any time pressure.

30. The method of claim 1 in which the game is a casual, social game and some or all levels have a true fail, to enable monetization through purchasing extra moves.

31. The method of claim 1 in which there is a continuous musical soundtrack plays during gameplay.

32. The method of claim 1 in which the game generates and displays congratulatory messages when the player scores more than a predefined amount, or matches more than a predefined number of game elements, in a single move.

33. The method of claim 1 in which there is an algorithm for automatically detecting when there are no possible moves left.

34. The method of claim 1 in which there is an algorithm for re-shuffling the elements on the game board.

35. The method of claim 1 in which a processor generates, if no move has been made for a while, help or hints by brightening and enlarging game elements used in a possible move on the board with a flashing animation, such as an animation that occurs once, or repeats twice or thrice.

36. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed to require a player to reach a target score before running out of moves in order to complete a level successfully, but completing the level is not timed.

37. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed to automatically replenish a life for a player in 30 minutes.

38. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that, if a player finishes a level in under the target number of moves, then random game elements on the game board are triggered and give the player bonus points.

39. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that, if a level is finished with moves left, those moves are converted to special game elements that trigger for extra bonus points.

40. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the game generates and displays congratulatory messages when the player scores more than a predefined amount, or matches more than a predefined number of game elements, in a single move.

41. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the player can ask his friends for lives.

42. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the player can ask his friends for other help.

43. The method of claim 1 in which social network friends are prompted to assist another player if that other player has played, but not completed, a level meeting a certain criteria.

44. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the player can send gifts to friends.

45. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the game can be synchronized between different devices.

46. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that a player can seamlessly stop and re-start playing the game at any time since game state information is stored, e.g. remotely and/or on the playing device.

47. The method of claim 1 in which every change in the game state, such as every move of a game piece by the user, and every consequential change in every game piece on the game board, is accompanied by sound and visual feedback to provide immediate, positive gratification to the player.

48. The method of claim 1 in which game state information is preserved, enabling a remote server system to identify a player and all aspects of the state of the game they are playing, so that the player can end game play on one device and resume from a different device at a later time at exactly the same state.

49. The method of claim 1 in which the different device can be a different type of device, so that the player can move seamlessly between playing the game on a smartphone and on a tablet.

50. The method of claim 1 in which a remote server system can identify a player because that player has accessed the game through a social network.

51. The method of claim 1 in which the game is a casual, social game, namely a game that can be downloaded as an app to a smartphone and/or tablet computer and which can be accessed or played using a social network application or environment.

52. The method of claim 1 in which the processor is programmed to show a virtual path or other virtual world that indicates the level reached by the player and that player'"'"'s social network friends.

53. The method of claim 1 in which the design of the game is optimised through a process including the step of:

using data analytics to understand the impact of changes to the game design in terms of player engagement and/or monetisation and/or viralisation and;

implementing changes to the game design, including frequent changes such as daily or weekly changes, to optimise player engagement and/or monetisation and/or viralisation.

54. A computing device adapted to play a computer game, the device including a processor, a memory, a display, a touch screen or a cursor based input device, and computer code stored in device memory or on a remote server and executable by the device processor or a remote processor, and in which the computer code generates computer game graphics for the display on the device;

and in which one or more processors are programmed to show;

a virtual path or other virtual world that indicates the level reached by the player and some of that player'"'"'s social network friends;

a score board that displays the score of a player once he has completed a level successfully, together with the highest scores of some of its social network friends'"'"' for that level;

and in which each level of the game can be failed and, if the processor determines that the player is running out of moves and/or time, then the processor causes the game to automatically display a message offering extra moves and/or time for the player to purchase, to carry on playing the game, or other in-game assistance.

55. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for controlling a computer system to display a game on a display;

and in which the instructions running on the processor(s) result in the display of;

a virtual path or other virtual world that indicates the level reached by the player and some of that player'"'"'s social network friends;

a score board that displays the score of a player once he has completed a level successfully, together with the highest scores of some of its social network friends'"'"' for that level;

and in which each level of the game can be failed and, if the processor determines that the player is running out of moves and/or time, then the processor causes the game to automatically display a message offering extra moves and/or time for the player to purchase, to carry on playing the game, or other in-game assistance.