Dynamic adjustment of difficulty in an online game based on hardware or network configuration

• US 8,944,908 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Wakeford, Kent, Harrington, Clifford J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US13/873,104
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/23
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• 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 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system and methodology for dynamically adjusting the difficulty of a game based on upon the specific hardware configuration and/or network connectivity capabilities available to specific users in connection with the interaction of those users with the game. In exemplary implementations, dynamically adjusting the difficulty of playing a game based on hardware and network connectivity capabilities may be performed by processors executing computer program modules.

Claims

1. An online gaming system allowing for customizable interaction, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a game module configured to execute an instance of an online game, and to implement the instance of the online game to facilitate participation of users in the online game, the game module being further configured to implement at least one game difficulty customization determined for individual users such that a first game difficulty customization is implemented in the instance of the online game for a first user;

a user resource determination module configured to obtain a user resource parameter characterizing one or more system resources used by the first user to access the online game the online game; and

a game difficulty customization module configured to determine the first game difficulty customization of the online game for the first user based on the user resource parameter associated with the first user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein implementation of the first game difficulty customization is hidden from to the first user during gameplay.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein implementation of the first game difficulty customization is visible to the first user during gameplay.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein implementation of the first game difficulty customization is hidden from to users other than the first user during gameplay.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein implementation of the first game difficulty customization is visible to users other than the first user during gameplay.

6. The system of claim 1 where the user resource parameter characterizes a client platform upon which the first user interacts with the online game.

7. The system of claim 1 where the user resource parameter characterizes a capability associated with a client platform upon which the first user interacts with the online game.

8. The system of claim 1 where the user resource parameter characterizes one or more connectivity capabilities through which the first user interacts with the online game.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the user resource parameter characterizes processing power available to the first user in connection with the first user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the user resource parameter characterizes storage available to the first user in connection with the first user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the user resource parameter characterizes an interface device used by the first user in connection with the first user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the user resource parameter characterizes a display used by the first user in connection with the first user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the game difficulty customizations comprise adjusting power of attacks or resistance to attacks.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the game difficulty customizations comprise adjusting speed or responsiveness of controlled units.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the game difficulty customizations comprise adjusting spawn rates or health recharge rates.

16. A computer-implemented method for in-game customization based upon an assigned user resource parameter, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more physical processors and storage media storing machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:

obtaining information associated with the resources available to a user in connection with playing an online game, said information comprising said at least one resource characteristic;

processing said information associated with system resources available to said user to assign a user resource parameter to said user;

determining at least one game difficulty customization to be associated with said user based on said user resource parameter assigned to said user; and

implementing an online game with said at least one game difficulty customization when said online game is accessed by said user.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one game difficulty customization is hidden from to the user during gameplay.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one game difficulty customization is visible to the user during gameplay.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one game difficulty customization is hidden from to users other than the user during gameplay.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one game difficulty customization is visible to users other than the user during gameplay.

21. The method of claim 16 where the user resource parameter is determined, at least in part, by the platform upon which the user interacts with the online game.

22. The method of claim 16 where the user resource parameter is characterized by at least one capability associated with the platform upon which the user interacts with the online game.

23. The method of claim 16 where the user resource parameter is characterized by the connectivity capabilities through which the user interacts with the online game.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the user resource parameter is characterized by the extent of processing power available to the user in connection with the user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the user resource parameter is characterized by the extent of storage available to the user in connection with the user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the user resource parameter is characterized by the nature of an interface device used by the user in connection with the user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein the user resource parameter is characterized by the nature of a display used by the user in connection with the user'"'"'s interaction with the online game.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one game difficulty customization comprises adjusting power of attacks or resistance to attacks.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one game difficulty customization comprises adjusting speed or responsiveness of controlled units.

30. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one game difficulty customization comprises adjusting spawn rates or health recharge rates.