Accessing a virtual media object within viewable location on gameboard

• US 8,845,423 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Monahan, Jay, Ocko, Matthew Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/734,173
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 34, 463 40- 42, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• 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 13/61 using advertising information
• 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 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list

Abstract

A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for entering a viewable location on a gameboard having a virtual media object capable of presenting a media item within a media are presented. A game instance of a computer-implemented game is generated, where the game instance is associated with a game state of a player using a virtual gameboard. A graphical user interface displaying an exterior of one or more virtual buildings associated with the game instance is provided. A request to view an interior of a virtual structure is received via a device of the player. In response to the request, the interior of the virtual structure is displayed, including displaying a virtual media object in the interior of the virtual structure. The virtual media object is associated with a media playable to the player upon request.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating a game instance of a computer-implemented game;

providing to a player a graphical user interface displaying an exterior of a virtual structure of the game instance;

receiving, via a device of the player, a request to view an interior of the virtual structure;

displaying the interior of the virtual structure in response to the request including displaying a virtual media object in the interior of the virtual structure, the virtual media object being associated with media presentable to the player of the game instance via the device;

receiving, via the device of the player, a block request from the player to prevent a first additional player of the one or more additional players from accessing the interior of the virtual structure, the block request preventing access to the interior of the virtual structure due the first additional player'"'"'s status, the status related to game play of the first additional player;

receiving a bribe request from the first additional player blocked according to the block request from the player, the bribe request comprising an offer of a media item of value in exchange for access to the interior of the virtual structure; and

providing to the first additional player access to the interior of the virtual structure if the media item of value meets a bribery threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual media object is displayed when displaying the interior of the virtual structure and is not displayed when displaying the exterior of the virtual structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the interior of the virtual structure includes displaying the interior of the virtual structure without displaying the exterior of the virtual structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the exterior of the virtual structure includes displaying the exterior of the virtual structure without displaying the interior of the virtual structure.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the device of the player, a present request to present a media item within the media presentable to the player; and

presenting the media item in response to the present request.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the presenting of the media item in response to the present request includes displaying a virtual venue to perform the media item and performing the media item.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

displaying the one or more additional players within the virtual venue, the one or more additional players being associated with the media item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing one or more media recommendations related to the media item being presented.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the present request includes an offer of legal currency and wherein presenting the media item occurs if the offer of legal currency is a sufficient amount.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the present request includes an offer of virtual currency and wherein presenting the media item occurs if the offer of virtual currency is a sufficient amount.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the media presentable to the player including any one or combination of the following:

one or more songs, one or more videos, one or more photos, or one or more news articles.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the graphical user interface displaying the exterior of the virtual structure includes providing an indication associated with the virtual structure indicating the interior of the virtual structure is displayable.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the graphical user interface displaying the exterior of the virtual structure includes providing an indication associated with the virtual structure indicating additional content in the interior of the virtual structure, the additional content being content previously unavailable to the player.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying the interior of the virtual structure includes providing, to the device of the player, display data to display the interior of the virtual structure.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the device of the player, an invitation request to invite the one or more additional players to access the interior of the virtual structure; and

providing to the one or more additional players access to the interior of the virtual structure including providing access to a performance of one or more media items within the media presentable to the player.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein providing access to the interior of the virtual structure is limited to a particular number of additional players from the one or more additional players.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein providing to the one or more additional players access to the interior of the virtual structure includes providing access based on permissions associated with each additional player.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, the permissions associated with each additional player being based on preferences of the player.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, the permissions associated with each additional player being based on a player status associated with any one or combination of frequency of game play, social actions, or game levels accessible by the additional player.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

preventing the first additional player from the one or more additional players from accessing the interior of the virtual structure in response to receiving the block request from the player.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the media item of value is an amount of legal currency.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the media item of value is an amount of virtual currency.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a public notification indicating a virtual location of the virtual structure and an identity of the one or more additional players within the virtual location.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the game instance is associated with a game state of the player.

25. A system, comprising:

a hardware-implemented game generation module configured to generate a game instance of a computer-implemented game;

a hardware-implemented display module configured to provide display data associated with displaying an exterior of a virtual structure of the game instance and display data associated with displaying an interior of the virtual structure including displaying a virtual media object in the interior of the virtual structure;

a hardware-implemented presentation module configured to receive, via a device of the player, a request to view the interior of the virtual structure, wherein the hardware-implemented display module is configured to provide the display data of a graphical user interface displaying the interior of the virtual structure in response to the request, wherein the virtual media object is associated with media presentable to the player of the game instances;

wherein the hardware-implemented presentation module is further configured to;

receive, via the device of the player, a block request from the player to prevent a first additional player of the one or more additional players from accessing the interior of the virtual structure, the block request preventing access to the interior of the virtual structure due the first additional player'"'"'s status, the status related to game play of the first additional player;

to receive a bribe request from the first additional player blocked according to the block request from the player, the bribe request comprising an offer of a media item of value in exchange for access to the interior of the virtual structure; and

to provide to the first additional player access to the interior of the virtual structure if the media item of value meets a bribery threshold.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the virtual media object is displayed when displaying the interior of the virtual structure, and is not displayed when displaying the exterior of the virtual structure.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein displaying the interior of the virtual structure includes displaying the interior of the virtual structure without displaying the exterior of the virtual structure.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein displaying the exterior of the virtual structure includes displaying the exterior of the virtual structure without displaying the interior of the virtual structure.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, comprising:

generating a game instance of a computer-implemented game;

providing to a player a graphical user interface displaying an exterior of a virtual structure of the game instance;

receiving, via a device of the player, a request to view an interior of the virtual structure;

displaying the interior of the virtual structure in response to the request including displaying a virtual media object in the interior of the virtual structure, the virtual media object being associated with media presentable to the player of the game instance via the device;

receiving, via the device of the player, a block request from the player to prevent a first additional player of the one or more additional players from accessing the interior of the virtual structure, the block request preventing access to the interior of the virtual structure due the first additional player'"'"'s status, the status related to game play of the first additional player;

receiving a bribe request from the first additional player blocked according to the block request from the player, the bribe request comprising an offer of a media item of value in exchange for access to the interior of the virtual structure; and

providing to the first additional player access to the interior of the virtual structure if the media item of value meets a bribery threshold.