Changing virtual items based on real-world events

• US 8,287,383 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Monahan, Jay, Ocko, Matthew Adam, Reynolds, Brian, Etter, Nathan Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US13/244,801
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5378 for displaying an additional top view, e.g. radar screens or maps using two or more virtual cameras concurrently A63F13/5252
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A method of changing virtual items based on real-world events is disclosed. It is detected that a player of a computer-implemented game has performed a location-based action. An attribute of a virtual item in an inventory of a player character in the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting that the player has performed the location-based action. The player character is controlled in the computer-implemented game by the player of the computer-implemented game and the virtual item is usable within the computer-implemented game by the player character.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

detecting that a player of a computer-implemented game has performed a location-based action, the location-based action being separate from a playing of the computer-implemented game by the player;

changing an attribute of a virtual item based on the detecting that the player has performed the location-based action;

detecting a lack of a presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at the location; and

reversing the changing of the attribute of the virtual item based on the detecting of the lacking of the presence of the player at the location.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at the location is based on a communication received from an additional player of the computer-implemented game and a detecting of a presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a visual characteristic of the virtual item.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a number of performances of the location-based action by the player.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a brand associated with a location of the location-based action.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a level of power of the virtual item within the computer-implemented game.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of 1, wherein the virtual item is in an inventory of a player character in the computer-implemented game, the player character being controlled by the player of the computer-implemented game, the virtual item being usable within the computer-implemented game by the player character.

8. A system comprising:

a processor-implemented game networking system configured to;

detect that a player of a computer-implemented game has performed a location-based action, the location-based action being separate from a playing of the computer-implemented game by the player;

change an attribute of a virtual item based on the detecting that the player has performed the location-based action;

detect a lack of a presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at the location; and

reverse the changing of the attribute of the virtual item based on the detecting of the lacking of the presence of the player at the location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a visual characteristic of the virtual item.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a number of performances of the location-based action by the player.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a brand associated with a location of the location-based action.

12. The system claim 8, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a level of power of the virtual item within the computer-implemented game.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual item is in an inventory of a player character in the computer-implemented game, the player character is controllable by the player of the computer-implemented game, the virtual item is usable within the computer-implemented game by the player character.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is configured to detect the presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at the location based on a communication received from an additional player of the computer-implemented game and a detection of a presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location.

15. A method comprising:

detecting that a player of a computer-implemented game has performed a location-based action, the location-based action being separate from a playing of the computer-implemented game by the player;

changing an attribute of the virtual item based on the detecting that the player has performed the location-based action;

detecting a lack of a presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at the location; and

reversing the changing of the attribute of the virtual item based on the detecting of the lacking of the presence of the player at the location.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a visual characteristic of the virtual item.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a number of performances of the location-based action by the player.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a brand associated with a location of the location-based action.

19. The method claim 15, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a level of power of the virtual item within the computer-implemented game.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting of the presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at the location is based on a communication received from an additional player of the computer-implemented game and a detecting of a presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location.