System and method for determining in-game capabilities based on device information

• US 9,440,143 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Harrington, Clifford J., Wakeford, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOSHI, ANKIT B
• Application Number:
  US13/934,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20150011277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet

Abstract

A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices. Device information related to a client computing platform used by a user to interact with the virtual space may be obtained. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. Different users using different client computing platforms may be provided with different in-game capabilities such as user roles, content items, levels, and/or other content or actions available for the user in the virtual space based on the client computing platform used by the users to interact with the virtual space.

Claims

1. A system for providing customized in-game capabilities to users based on respective client computing platforms used by the users to access a game, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to;

execute an instance of an online game and to facilitate presentation of the online game to users by (i) transmitting state information derived from the instance of the online game to client computing platforms associated with users to facilitate presentation of views of the online game to the users on the client computing platforms, and (ii) providing the users with in-game capabilities in relation to the instance of the online game by receiving commands input by the users through the client computing platforms and executing in-game actions corresponding to the received commands in the instance of the online game;

obtain device information related to the client computing platforms, wherein the device information includes a first set of device information related to a first client computing platform associated with a first user;

determine customized in-game capabilities based on the device information, the customized in-game capabilities including a first customized in-game capability based on the first set of device information;

wherein providing the users with the in-game capabilities in the instance of the online game includes providing the users with the customized in-game capabilities such that the first customized in-game capability is provided for use by the first user in the instance of the online game based on the first client computing platform associated with the first user used to interact with the online game, and

wherein the customized in-game capabilities comprise user roles that are associated with an ability to perform specific in-game actions, wherein different user roles are associated with different in-game actions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of device information is obtained from the first client computing platform associated with the first user and includes a device indicator that indicates a device class and/or a device type of the first client computing platform.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first customized in-game capability is determined based on a first device indicator, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to determine a second customized in-game capability based on a second set of device information related to a second client computing platform associated with a second user used to interact with the online game, the second set of device information comprising a second device indicator different from the first device indicator and the second customized in-game capability being different from the first customized in-game capability.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user roles are associated with access to in-game content.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

determine user classes for the users based on the device information, the user classes comprising a first user class determined for the first user based on the first set of device information such that the first user is classified in the first user class based on the first client computing platform associated with the first user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the user classes are associated with respective and different in-game capabilities.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to detect a change of client computing platform, the change of client computing platform associated with a given user transitioning from use of a given client computing platform to another client computing platform.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to dynamically alter the in-game capabilities of the given user based on the detected change of client computing platform.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

receive from users assignments of in-game capabilities for the users; and

prevent assignment of at least one in-game capability to the first user based on the first set of device information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

present a set of in-game capabilities that are assignable to the first user based on the first set of device information.

11. A method for providing customized in-game capabilities to users based on respective client computing platforms used by the users to access a game, the method being implemented by one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:

executing, by the one or more processors, an instance of an online game and facilitating presentation of the online game to users by (i) transmitting state information derived from the instance of the online game to client computing platforms associated with users to facilitate presentation of views of the online game to users on the client computing platforms, and (ii) providing the users with in-game capabilities in the instance of the online game by receiving commands input by the users through the client computing platforms and executing in-game actions corresponding to the received commands in the instance of the online game;

obtaining, by the one or more processors, device information related to the client computing platforms, wherein the device information includes a first set of device information related to a first client computing platform associated with a first user;

determining, by the one or more processors, customized in-game capabilities based on the device information, the customized in-game capabilities including a first customized in-game capability based on the first set of device information;

implementing, by the one or more processors, the customized in-game capabilities for the users such that the first customized in-game capability is provided for use by the first user in the instance of the online game based on the first client computing platform associated with the first user used to interact with the online game, and

wherein the customized in-game capabilities comprise user roles that are associated with an ability to perform specific in-game actions, wherein different user roles are associated with different in-game actions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of device information is obtained from the first client computing platform associated with the first user and includes a device indicator that indicates a device class and/or a device type of the first client computing platform.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first customized in-game capability is determined based on a first device indicator, and wherein a second customized in-game capability is determined based on a second set of device information related to a second client computing platform associated with a second user used to interact with the online game, the second set of device information comprising a second device indicator different from the first device indicator and the second customized in-game capability being different from the first customized in-game capability.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the user roles are associated with access to in-game content.

15. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, user classes for the users based on the device information, the user classes comprising a first user class determined for the first user based on the first set of device information such that the first user is classified in the first user class based on the first client computing platform associated with the first user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user classes are associated with respective and different in-game capabilities.

17. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

detecting, by the one or more processors, a change of client computing platform, the change of client computing platform associated with a given user transitioning from use of a given client computing platform to another client computing platform.

18. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

dynamically altering, by the one or more processors, the in-game capabilities of the given user based on the detected change of client computing platform.

19. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, from users assignments of in-game capabilities for the users; and

preventing, by the one or more processors, assignment of at least one in-game capability to the first user based on the first set of device information.

20. The method of claim 19, the method further comprising:

presenting, by the one or more processors, a set of in-game capabilities that are assignable to the first user based on the first set of device information.