Changing virtual items based on location-based actions

• US 8,292,743 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Reynolds, Brian, Etter, Nathan Arthur, Monahan, Jay, Ocko, Matthew Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US13/174,724
• Time in Patent Office: 481 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 location-based actions 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 of the player of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting that the player of the computer-implemented game has performed the location-based action.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting that a player of a computer-implemented game has performed a location-based action, the location-based action including an attending of an event at a real-world location by the player of the computer-implemented game; and

changing, using a processor, an attribute of a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game based on the detecting that the player of the computer-implemented game has performed the location-based action, the changing of the attribute of the virtual item representing the attending of the event at the real-world location by the player of the computer-implemented game, wherein the changing of the attribute of the virtual item reflects a plurality of performances of the location-based action by the player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a visual characteristic of the virtual item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a brand associated with a location of the location-based action.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a level of power of the virtual item within the computer-implemented game.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting 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.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the attending of the event at the real-world location by the player of the computer-implemented game based on a schedule associated with the real-world event and a location associated with the real-world event.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving the schedule associated with the real-world event and the location associated with the real-world event from an operator of the location of the real-world event.

5. 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 including an attending of an event at a real-world location by the player of the computer-implemented game; and

change an attribute of a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game based on the detecting that the player of the computer-implemented game has performed the location-based action, the changing of the attribute of the virtual item representing the attending of the event at the real-world location by the player of the computer-implemented game, wherein the changing of the attribute of the virtual item reflects a plurality of performances of the location-based action by the player.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a visual characteristic of the virtual item.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a brand associated with a location of the location-based action.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a level of power of the virtual item within the computer-implemented game.

14. The system of claim 5, 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.

9. 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 including an attending of an event at a real-world location by the player of the computer-implemented game; and

changing an attribute of a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game based on the detecting that the player of the computer-implemented game has performed the location-based action, the changing of the attribute of the virtual item representing the attending of the event at the real-world location by the player of the computer-implemented game, wherein the changing of the attribute of the virtual item reflects a plurality of performances of the location-based action by the player.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a visual characteristic of the virtual item.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the visual characteristic reflects a brand associated with a location of the location-based action.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the attribute of the virtual item is a level of power of the virtual item within the computer-implemented game.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, the operations further comprising detecting 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.