DETERMINING HARDNESS QUOTIENTS FOR LEVEL DEFINITION FILES BASED ON PLAYER SKILL LEVEL

• US 20160067610A1
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Ware, John Carlton, Haire, Christopher Vance, vanSuchtelen, John, Waite, Michael, Watters, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,384,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0423 Word games, e.g. scrabble electric A63F3/0421; two-dimensional puzzles with rotating rings or discs A63F9/0811, A63F9/0819

Abstract

A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for customizing a player'"'"'s experience. A System Tuner selects a hardness quotient, based on a player skill level, from a hardness quotient range, the player skill level for a player is calculated by a client computing device based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player. The System Tuner provides the hardness quotient to a level definition file for a second game level. The level definition file modifies at least one feature of the second game level according to the hardness quotient. The System Tuner modifies the hardness quotient range based at least on a performance of the plurality of player'"'"'s in the second game level and the respective hardness quotients assigned to each of those players for their game play in the second game level.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating a level definition file module to cause a client computing device to modify at least one attribute of a game level, via a level definition file, according to a hardness quotient received by the client computing device;

generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one modifiable attribute of the game level;

creating a hardness quotient range representative of one or more possible hardness quotients that correspond to a first target measure of performance in the game level;

receiving, from the client computing device, a player skill level, the player skill level calculated by the client computing device for a first player based at least on a comparison by the client computing device between at least one game move of the first player in a previous game level and a second target measure of performance in the previous game level;

selecting a hardness quotient from the hardness quotient range, the selected hardness quotient based at least on the player skill level of the first player; and

sending the selected hardness quotient to the level definition file module of the client computing device, the level definition file module executing on the client computing device to modify the at least one modifiable attribute of the game level via the level definition file according to the selected hardness quotient.

2. The computer-implemented module of claim 1, comprising:

upon receiving an indication of completion of the game level by the first player, comparing a game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level, the game level performance of the first player based at least on one or more game moves by the first player in the game level; and

modifying the hardness quotient range based on an extent of a difference between the game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level.

3. The computer-implemented module of claim 2, wherein modifying the hardness quotient range based on an extent of a difference between the game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level comprises:

upon determining the game level performance of the first player exceeds the first target measure of performance in the game level, increasing a value of at least one possible hardness quotient in the hardness quotient range; and

upon determining the game level performance of the first player subceeds the first target measure of performance in the game level, decreasing a value of at least one possible hardness quotient in the hardness quotient range.

4. The computer-implemented module of claim 1, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable range of speed at which a respective player of the game level can reach in the game level.

5. The computer-implemented module of claim 1, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable amount of time to accomplish a task in the game level.

6. The computer-implemented module of claim 5, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to further correspond to a modifiable amount of an in-game reward for accomplishing the task in the game level.

7. The computer-implemented module of claim 1, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable amount of a vertical grace experienced by the player during game play.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

generating a level definition file module to cause a client computing device to modify at least one attribute of a game level, via a level definition file, according to a hardness quotient received by the client computing device;

generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level;

creating a hardness quotient range representative of one or more possible hardness quotients that correspond to a first target measure of performance in the game level;

receiving, from the client computing device, a player skill level, the player skill level calculated by the client computing device for a first player based at least on a comparison by the client computing device between at least one game move of the first player in a previous game level and a second target measure of performance in the previous game level;

selecting a hardness quotient from the hardness quotient range, the selected hardness quotient based at least on the player skill level of the first player; and

sending the selected hardness quotient to the level definition file module of the client computing device, the level definition file module executing on the client computing device to modify the at least one modifiable attribute of the game level via the level definition file according to the selected hardness quotient.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, comprising:

upon receiving an indication of completion of the game level by the first player, comparing a game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level, the game level performance of the first player based at least on one or more game moves by the first player in the game level; and

modifying the hardness quotient range based on an extent of a difference between the game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein modifying the hardness quotient range based on an extent of a difference between the game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level comprises:

upon determining the game level performance of the first player exceeds the first target measure of performance in the game level, increasing a value of at least one possible hardness quotient in the hardness quotient range; and

upon determining the game level performance of the first player subceeds the first target measure of performance in the game level, decreasing a value of at least one possible hardness quotient in the hardness quotient range.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable range of speed at which a respective player of the game level can reach in the game level.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable amount of time to accomplish a task in the game level.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to further correspond to a modifiable amount of an in-game reward for accomplishing the task in the game level.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable amount of a vertical grace experienced by the player during game play.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory device holding an instruction set executable on the processor to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising;

generating a level definition file module to cause a client computing device to modify at least one attribute of a game level, via a level definition file, according to a hardness quotient received by the client computing device;

generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level;

creating a hardness quotient range representative of one or more possible hardness quotients that correspond to a first target measure of performance in the game level;

receiving, from the client computing device, a player skill level, the player skill level calculated by the client computing device for a first player based at least on a comparison by the client computing device between at least one game move of the first player in a previous game level and a second target measure of performance in the previous game level;

selecting a hardness quotient from the hardness quotient range, the selected hardness quotient based at least on the player skill level of the first player; and

sending the selected hardness quotient to the level definition file module of the client computing device, the level definition file module executing on the client computing device to modify the at least one modifiable attribute of the game level via the level definition file according to the selected hardness quotient.

16. The computer system of claim 15, comprising:

upon receiving an indication of completion of the game level by the first player, comparing a game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level, the game level performance of the first player based at least on one or more game moves by the first player in the game level; and

modifying the hardness quotient range based on an extent of a difference between the game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein modifying the hardness quotient range based on an extent of a difference between the game level performance of the first player and the first target measure of performance in the game level comprises:

upon determining the game level performance of the first player exceeds the first target measure of performance in the game level, increasing a value of at least one possible hardness quotient in the hardness quotient range; and

upon determining the game level performance of the first player subceeds the first target measure of performance in the game level, decreasing a value of at least one possible hardness quotient in the hardness quotient range.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable range of speed at which a respective player of the game level can reach in the game level.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to correspond to a modifiable amount of time to accomplish a task in the game level.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein generating a level definition file that corresponds to at least one specific, modifiable attribute of the game level comprises:

generating the level definition file to further correspond to a modifiable amount of an in-game reward for accomplishing the task in the game level.