Method for implementing a computer game

• US 9,345,965 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King.com, Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: King.com, Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Knutsson, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/029,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20140113704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• 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 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 : wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play

Abstract

A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors in which a computing device displays computer game graphics for a casual game showing a gameboard with multiple game elements that are removed when matched or switched, such as in a match-3, clicker or switcher game; and in which a processor enables the game to be accessed through a social network through which friends can request help in completing game levels and send game-related gifts to one another; and in which a processor draws the game elements as brightly colored candies.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, in which a computing device comprises one or more processors and a display, said display configured to display computer game graphics for one or more casual games, wherein said processors are programmed such that the method comprises:

accessing the game through a social network;

receiving, from a device of a social network contact of a player of the device, a first in-game item;

determining whether said first in-game item was transmitted in response to receipt of a second in-game item at said device of said social network contact; and

if it is determined that the first in-game item was not transmitted in response to receipt of a second in-game item at said device of said social network contact;

displaying on said display, a message; and

in response to user input associated with said message, transmitting a third in-game item to said device of a social network contact of said device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising drawing a background gameplay region in dark and matt colors.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising drawing a booster that permanently increases a player'"'"'s maximum lives from 5 to 8.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising drawing a booster that lets the player start a level with a game object of said third type three times.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising drawing a booster that gives 5 extra moves.

6. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed to require a player to reach a target score before running out of moves in order to complete a level successfully.

7. The method of claim 1 in which some or all game levels have no time limit.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the game is a casual, social game and some or all levels have a true fail.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising playing during gameplay a continuous musical soundtrack.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating and displaying messages when the player scores more than a predefined amount, or matches more than a predefined number of game elements, in a single move.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically detecting when there are no possible moves left.

12. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed to require a player to reach a target score before running out of moves in order to complete a level successfully, wherein the level has no time limit.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically replenishing a life for a player every 30 minutes.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if a level is finished with moves left, converting those moves to special game elements that trigger for extra bonus points.

15. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the player can ask his friends for lives.

16. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the player can ask his friends for other help.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising prompting social network friends to assist another player if that other player has played, but not completed, a level meeting a certain criteria.

18. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that the player can send gifts to friends.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising synchronising the game between different devices.

20. The method of claim 1 in which a processor is programmed so that a player can seamlessly stop and re-start playing the game, wherein game state information is stored at least one of:

remotely;

or

on the playing device.

21. The method of claim 1 in which every change in the game state is accompanied by sound and visual feedback.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising preserving game state information, enabling a remote server system to identify a player and all aspects of the state of the game they are playing, so that the player can end game play on one device and resume from a different device at a later time at exactly the same state.

23. The method of claim 22 in which the different device is a different type of device.

24. The method of claim 1 in which a remote server system can identify a player because that player has accessed the game through a social network.

25. The method of claim 1 in which the game is a casual, social game, that can be downloaded as an app to a smartphone and/or tablet computer and which can be accessed or played using a social network application or environment.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on said display in which a virtual path or other virtual world that indicates the level reached by the player and that player'"'"'s social network friends.

27. The method of claim 1 in which the design of the game is modified through a process including the step of:

using data analytics to understand the impact of changes to the game design in terms of player engagement and/or monetisation and/or viralisation and;

implementing changes to the game design.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on the display a gameboard with multiple game elements.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

drawing said game elements as brightly colored candies; and

drawing a candy in the shape of a jelly bean or other candy shape.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising drawing a candy with a shiny, reflective surface.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising drawing a booster that lets the player paint stripes on any candy once per game.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

drawing a game object of a first type configured to remove game elements in a column if the player combines four game elements in a horizontal row of the same color; and

drawing a game object of said first type configured to remove game elements in a row, if the player combines four game elements in a vertical row of the same color.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing one or said game objects of said first type with stripes indicating whether game elements are removed in a row or column.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing said game objects of said first type with visual indicators in the form of white fields to indicate whether game elements are removed in a row or column.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing one or said game objects of said first type as being triggered when combined with 2 or more game objects of said first type of the same color.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing an effect of combining two game objects of said first type, as an animation that reaches outside of the game board area.

37. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing an effect of combining two game objects of said first type, as an animation with lines that sweep in the same direction as the elements being removed.

38. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing the gameboard with all game elements on 1 row and 1 column disappearing when combining one said game object of said first type configured to remove game elements in a column with said game object of said first type configured to remove game elements in a row.

39. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing the gameboard with all game elements on 1 row and 1 column disappearing when combining two game objects of said first type configured to remove game elements in a row.

40. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing the gameboard with all game elements on 1 row and 1 column disappearing when combining two game objects of said first type configured to remove game elements in a column.

41. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing an effect of combining a game object of said first type with a game object of a second type bomb, as an animation with lines that sweep in a same direction as the elements being removed.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising drawing an effect of combining a game object of said first type with a game object of said second type, as an animation that reaches outside of an area of the gameboard.

43. The method of claim 41 further comprising drawing an effect of combining a game object of said first type with a game object of said second type, as an animation that starts from the game object of said first type and removes elements outwards.

44. The method of claim 41 further comprising drawing in response to a combination of a game object of a fourth type and a game object of said second type, several game objects of a fifth type.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising drawing a booster that inserts game objects of said fourth type on the game board which clears three special game elements when matched.

46. The method of claim 45 in which a processor is programmed to require a player to clear all special elements before running out of moves.

47. The method of claim 41 further comprising drawing a booster that lets the player start a level with one game object of said second type and one game object of said first type three times.

48. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing an effect of combining a game object of a third type with a game object of said first type as turning all elements, of the same color as the game object of said first type, into game objects of said first type and then triggering said game objects of said first type to remove game elements in rows or columns.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising drawing an effect of combining 2 game objects of said third type as removing everything on the game board.

50. The method of claim 32 further comprising drawing a booster that rolls over an area on the game board and creates game objects of said first type.

51. The method of claim 28 further comprising generating, if no move has been made for a predefined time period, help or hints by brightening and enlarging game elements used in a possible move on the board with a flashing animation.

52. The method of claim 28 in which a processor is programmed to require a player to bring down a predefined number of items to the bottom of the game board before running out of moves.

53. The method of claim 28 further comprising re-shuffling the elements on the game board.

54. The method of claim 28 further comprising, if a player finishes a level in under a target number of moves, game elements on the game board are randomly selected and triggered to give the player bonus points.

55. A computing device adapted to play a computer game, the device including a processor, a memory, a display, a touch screen or a cursor based input device, and computer code stored in device memory or on a remote server and executable by the device processor or a remote processor, and in which the computer code generates computer game graphics for the display on the device;

and in which the processor(s) controls the display of computer game graphics for one or more casual games;

and in which a processor enables the game to be accessed through a social network, wherein the processor is configured to control the computing device to;

receive from a device of a social network contact of a player of the device, a first in-game item;

determine whether said first in-game tem was transmitted in response to receipt of a second in-game item at said device of said social network contact; and

if it is determined that the first in-game item was not transmitted in response to receipt of a second in-game item at said device of said social network contact;

display on said display, a message; and

in response to user input associated with said message, transmit a third in-game item to said device of a social network contact of said device.

56. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for controlling a computer system to display a game on a display;

and in which the instructions running on the processor(s)

controls the display of computer game graphics for one or more casual games and

enables the game to be accessed through a social network, said instructions running on the processor cause the device to;

receive from a device of a social network contact of a player of the device, a first in-game item;

determine whether said first in-game item was transmitted in response to receipt of a second in-game item at said device of said social network contact; and

if it is determined that the first in-game item was not transmitted in response to receipt of a second in-game item at said device of said social network contact;

display on said display, a message; and

in response to user input associated with said message, transmit a third in-game item to said device of a social network contact of said device.