Changing a virtual world based on real-world locations of players

• US 10,709,984 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2018
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Etter, Nathan Arthur, Monahan, Jay, Ocko, Matthew Adam, Reynolds, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar A
• Application Number:
  US16/118,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20190038979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• 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 a virtual world of a computer-implemented game based on real-world locations of players of the computer-implemented game is disclosed. A presence of a player of the computer-implemented game is detected at a physical location. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game is detected at the physical location based on a communication received from the player of the computer-implemented game. An aspect of the virtual world of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting of the presence of the player at the physical location and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the physical location.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer memories;

one or more modules incorporated into the one or more computer memories;

the one or more modules configuring the one or more computer processors to perform operations to limit illegal trading of real-world items linked to a computer-implemented game, the operations comprising;

linking a real-world item of the real-world items to the computer-implemented game, the linking including associating a using of the real-world item with a change to a game state of the computer-implemented game;

providing a user of the computer-implemented game with an ability to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game;

performing a verification process to confirm a transfer of the real-world item to an additional user, the performing of the verification process including determining that the user and the additional user are within a same physical location;

the determining based on communications received from one or more devices of the user and one or more devices of the additional user; and

based on a completion of the verification process, providing the additional user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the change to the game state includes transferring one or more virtual items from the user to the additional user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transferring of the one or more virtual items is temporary.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the change to the game state includes unlocking one or more features of one or more virtual items corresponding to the real-world item.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the providing of the user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game includes binding the real-world item to a device of the user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the binding includes enabling an asset associated with the computer-implemented game to be used only when the device is accessed by the user prior to the transferring.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the verification process includes a determination that the additional user of the computer-implemented game has bound the real-world item to a device of the additional user.

8. The system of claim 1, the operations further comprising, based on the confirmation of the transferring of the real-world item to the additional user, transferring one or more virtual items to the additional user, the one or more virtual items associated with the real-world item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transferring of the one or more virtual items is further based on receiving a transaction fee from the additional user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the transferring of the one or more virtual items improves a state of a player character of the additional user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the state of the player character pertains to at least one of levels, ability points, skill points, hit points, mana points, or combat bonuses.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more virtual items represents cash, chattel, precious valuables, personal property, real property, weapons, titles, or jobs.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more virtual items represents mana, magical items, potions, relics, or artifacts.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the transferring of the one or more virtual items improves a probability that a player character of the additional user will have a favorable outcome with respect to an encounter within the computer-implemented game.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the association between the one or more virtual items and the real-world item is provided as an incentive reward to the user for performing a location-based action.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the improving of the state of a player character of the additional user occurs while the additional user is within a predetermined physical distance of the real-world item.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the improving of the state of the player character of the additional user includes granting the player character a special ability or power with respect to the computer-implemented game.

18. The method of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

detecting the using of the real-world item; and

based on the detecting, causing a player character of the additional user to be weakened within the computer-implemented game.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the real-world item represents one or more weapons of a player character of the user.