SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING GAME LEVEL ATTRIBUTES BASED ON PLAYER SKILL LEVEL PRIOR TO GAME PLAY IN THE LEVEL

• US 20170246540A1
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Lai, Peter Pao, Bai, Sora, Baack, David, Lee, Katherine
• Granted Patent: US 10,363,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. The System Tuner calculates a player skill level for a player. The System Tuner modifies at least one attribute of a second game level based on the player skill level prior to game play of the player in the second game level. The System Tuner detects game play of the player in the second game level. The System Tuner identifies a difference between a current rate of progression of the player and a reference rate of progression. The System Tuner triggers the modified attribute of the second game according to an extent of the difference between the current rate of progression and the reference rate of progression.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

calculating, via at least one hardware processor, a player skill level for a player based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player;

prior to detecting game play of the player in a second game level that allows a finite number of second level game moves, modifying, based on the player skill level, a first attribute of the second game level, the first attribute comprising a rate of appearance of a particular type of the virtual object;

detecting game play of the player in the second game level;

while the player has played an amount of game moves less than the finite number of allowed second level game moves;

identifying a difference between a current rate of progression of the player through the second game level and a reference rate of progression for the second game level; and

due to the difference, causing display during game play of the player in the second game level of at least one of the number of instances of the particular type of the virtual object according to the rate of appearance.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, comprising:

calculating the reference rate of progression based at least on one or more game moves of a plurality of players in the second game level, wherein the reference rate of progression comprises a threshold range of a desirable rate of progression towards at least one of;

a conclusion of the second game level and a second game level purchase decision.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a rate of appearance that a barrel-type virtual object appears, wherein the receipt of a differing type of a virtual object by the barrel-type object eliminates all instances of the type of the virtual object from a game state of the second game level.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein calculating a player skill level for a player based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player comprises:

calculating the player skill level based on at least one of;

(1) an extent of a difference between the player'"'"'s number of attempts for a game goal and a reference number of attempts for the game goal, (2) an extent of a difference between a pattern of virtual objects selected by the player and a reference pattern of virtual objects and (3) an extent of a difference between an amount of in-game points earned by the player and a reference amount of in-game points.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a rate of appearance that a particular type virtual object appears, wherein the particular type of virtual object comprises a virtual object for collecting different types of other virtual objects during gameplay in the second game level.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein, collecting different types of other virtual objects via the particular type of virtual object, comprises:

generating a drag-and-drop functionality associated with the particular type of virtual object, the a drag-and-drop functionality providing for selection of a respective instance of a different type of object for placement in the particular type of virtual object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a rate of appearance the different type of virtual object appears that can be selected according to the drag-and-drop functionality.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a sequence of instances of virtual objects required to be identified during gameplay in the second level, wherein identification of the sequence triggers removal of the instances of the virtual objects from the second game level.

10. 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;

calculating a player skill level for a player based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player;

prior to detecting game play of the player in a second game level that allows a finite number of second level game moves, modifying, based on the player skill level, a first attribute of the second game level, the first attribute comprising a rate of appearance of a particular type of the virtual object;

detecting game play of the player in the second game level;

while the player has played an amount of game moves less than the finite number of allowed second level game moves;

identifying a difference between a current rate of progression of the player through the second game level and a reference rate of progression for the second game level; and

due to the difference, causing display during game play of the player in the second game level of at least one of the number of instances of the particular type of the virtual object according to the rate of appearance.

11. The computer system of claim 10, comprising:

calculating the reference rate of progression based at least on one or more game moves of a plurality of players in the second game level, wherein the reference rate of progression comprises a threshold range of a desirable rate of progression towards at least one of;

a conclusion of the second game level and a second game level purchase decision.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a rate of appearance that a barrel-type virtual object appears, wherein the receipt of a differing type of a virtual object by the barrel-type object eliminates all instances of the type of the virtual object from a game state of the second game level.

13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein calculating a player skill level for a player based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player comprises:

calculating the player skill level based on at least one of;

(1) an extent of a difference between the player'"'"'s number of attempts for a game goal and a reference number of attempts for the game goal, (2) an extent of a difference between a pattern of virtual objects selected by the player and a reference pattern of virtual objects and (3) an extent of a difference between an amount of in-game points earned by the player and a reference amount of in-game points.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a rate of appearance that a particular type virtual object appears, wherein the particular type of virtual object comprises a virtual object for collecting different types of other virtual objects during gameplay in the second game level.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein, collecting different types of other virtual objects via the particular type of virtual object, comprises:

generating a drag-and-drop functionality associated with the particular type of virtual object, the a drag-and-drop functionality providing for selection of a respective instance of a different type of object for placement in the particular type of virtual object.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a rate of appearance the different type of virtual object appears that can be selected according to the drag-and-drop functionality.

17. The computer system of claim 10, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a sequence of instances of virtual objects required to be identified during gameplay in the second level, wherein identification of the sequence triggers removal of the instances of the virtual objects from the second game level.

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

calculating a player skill level for a player based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player;

prior to detecting game play of the player in a second game level that allows a finite number of second level game moves, modifying, based on the player skill level, a first attribute of the second game level, the first attribute comprising a rate of appearance of a particular type of the virtual object;

detecting game play of the player in the second game level;

while the player has played an amount of game moves less than the finite number of allowed second level game moves;

identifying a difference between a current rate of progression of the player through the second game level and a reference rate of progression for the second game level; and

due to the difference, causing display during game play of the player in the second game level of at least one of the number of instances of the particular type of the virtual object according to the rate of appearance.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, comprising:

calculating the reference rate of progression based at least on one or more game moves of a plurality of players in the second game level, wherein the reference rate of progression comprises a threshold range of a desirable rate of progression towards at least one of;

a conclusion of the second game level and a second game level purchase decision.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein modifying the first attribute of the second game level further comprises:

modifying a rate of appearance that a barrel-type virtual object appears, wherein the receipt of a differing type of a virtual object by the barrel-type object eliminates all instances of the type of the virtual object from a game state of the second game level.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein calculating a player skill level for a player based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player comprises:

calculating the player skill level based on at least one of;

(1) an extent of a difference between the player'"'"'s number of attempts for a game goal and a reference number of attempts for the game goal, (2) an extent of a difference between a pattern of virtual objects selected by the player and a reference pattern of virtual objects and (3) an extent of a difference between an amount of in-game points earned by the player and a reference amount of in-game points.