PLAYING A SOCIAL GAME WITH AUTOMATIC PLAYERS

• US 20140121007A1
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Santini, Fabio, Agarwal, Gaurav
• Application Number:
  US13/664,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20140121007A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method and system are described for providing a branded automatic player within a social, online game. In some example embodiments, the automatic player may receive an indication that a triggering event has occurred and perform an action within the online game in response to the triggering event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by an automatic player of an online game, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a triggering event within an online game; and

performing a game play action associated with a sponsor of the automatic player within the online game in response to the received indication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is associated with another player of the online game interacting with a sponsor associated with the automatic player;

and

wherein performing a game play action within the online game includes performing a game play action for the player that interacted with the sponsor associated with the automatic player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes another player of the online game interacting with the sponsor associated with the automatic player within the online game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has not interacted with the automatic player within a certain time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed a message provided by the automatic player.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed an advertisement provided by a brand associated with the automatic player.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a game play action within the online game in response to the received indication includes performing a game play for another player of the online game that is connected to the automatic player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a game play action within the online game in response to the received indication includes performing a group game play action along with two or more other players of the online game.

9. A system that controls an automatic player of an online game, the system comprising:

a trigger module that is configured to receive an indication of a triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player; and

an action module that is configured to perform an action within the online game in response to the received indication.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player includes a triggering event that occurs outside of the online game.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player includes a triggering event that occurs within a social network associated with the online game.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player includes a triggering event that occurs within the online game.

13. A computer-readable storage medium whose contents, when executed by an automatic player of an online game, cause the automatic player of the online game to perform operations, comprising:

receiving an indication of a triggering event in an environment external to the online game; and

performing a game play action within the online game in response the received indication.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the triggering event is associated with another player of the online game interacting with a brand associated with the automatic player;

and

wherein performing a game play action within the online game includes performing a game play action for the player that interacted with the brand associated with the automatic player.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the triggering event includes another player of the online game interacting with a sponsoring entity associated with the automatic player.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has not interacted with a brand associated with the automatic player within a certain time period.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed an advertisement for a brand associated with the automatic player.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed an advertisement provided by a brand associated with the automatic player.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has interacted with a sponsoring entity associated with the automatic player within a social network providing the online game.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has utilized a product or service provided by a sponsoring entity associated with the automatic player.