GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES IN COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED MULTIPLAYER GAMES

• US 20140357367A1
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/33 using wide area network [WAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods to provide graphical user interfaces in computer-implemented multiplayer games. The graphical user interface includes a friends panel that is operable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The friends panel provides friends information display functionality, social network management functionality, and/or messaging functionality both in the collapsed condition and in the expanded condition. In the collapsed condition, the friends panel may comprise a friends bar that shows a row of friend cards or chiclets associated with respective friends of a host player associated with a displayed game instance, the friends bar being clear of a view of a virtual in-game environment shown in the game display, while the expanded friends panel may comprise a grid of friend cards or chiclets that functionally obscures the in-game environment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system comprising:

a game display module to generate a game display for a game instance of a computer-implemented multiplayer game, the game instance being associated with a player of the game, and the game display including an environment view that shows a virtual in-game environment associated with the game instance;

a graphical user interface module to generate a graphical user interface that forms part of the game display, the graphical user interface including a friends panel that is operable between;

a collapsed condition that provides a collapsed friends panel, and

an expanded condition that provides an expanded friends panel which occupies a larger area of the game display than the collapsed friends panel, both the collapsed friends panel and the expanded friends panel providing friend information display functionality or friend communication functionality to the player, the graphical user interface being configured to switch the friends panel between the collapsed condition and the expanded condition responsive to player input.