METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING A COMPUTER GAME

• US 20140135104A1
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,403,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/24
• 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 such that game state information is preserved, enabling a remote server system to identify a player and aspects of the state of the game they are playing, so that the player can end game play on one device and resume, from the same and also from a different device at a later time, at the same state.

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 such that game state information is preserved, enabling a remote server system to identify a player and aspects of the state of the game they are playing, so that the player can end game play on one device and resume, from the same and also from a different device at a later time, at the same state.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the game state defines all previously completed levels.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the game state defines all previously completed levels, plus the current state of playing a level.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the game state defines all boosters, charms or other in-game assistance acquired.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the game state defines all boosters, charms or other in-game assistance acquired but not paid for using any form of currency.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the casual, social game is a clicker, switcher or shooter game.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that game state information is fully sync'"'"'d across different types of computing platform, such as iOS, web-based social network application or environment and Android, so that a player can seamlessly stop and re-start playing the game on any of those different platforms.

9. 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.

10. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that 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, web-based social network application or environment and Android, via the social network.

11. The method of claim 1 in which a casual, social game is 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.

12. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that 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.

13. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that 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.

14. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that 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, web-based social network application or environment and Android, and there are sections of the game that must be unlocked through either help from those friends or through a purchase.

15. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that 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.

16. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that 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, desktop 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.

17. 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 the processor(s) are programmed such that game state information is preserved, enabling a remote server system to identify a player and aspects of the state of the game they are playing, so that the player can end game play on one device and resume, from the same and from a different device at a later time, at the same state.

18. 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) enable game state information to be preserved, enabling a remote server system to identify a player and aspects of the state of the game they are playing, so that the player can end game play on one device and resume, from the same and from a different device at a later time, at the same state.