Game supply delivery systems and methods

• US 8,491,396 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelly, Sean Uberoi, Le, Alexander Michael Minh Khiem
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Application Number:
  US13/602,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20120329560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/10, 463/13, 463 30- 35, 463 40- 43, 705/26.1, 705/26.2, 705/26.43
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items

Abstract

Systems and methods that deliver game supplies are described. In some embodiments, a method receives a request for in-game supplies from a first player in an interactive social game. The method presents multiple supply options where each supply option has an associated processing time. A supply option selection is received from the first player that indicates selection of one of the multiple supply options. A supply fulfillment invitation is distributed to a second player of the interactive social game. An in-game benefit is provided to the second player in response to acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation. The first player is notified upon completion of the processing time for the selected supply option, which indicates availability of the requested in-game supplies to the first player.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for in-game supplies from a first player in an interactive social game;

presenting, using one or more processors, a plurality of supply options to the first player, each supply option having an associated predetermined processing time, wherein the predetermined processing time associated with at least two of the plurality of supply options are different;

receiving a supply option selection from the first player, the supply option selection indicating selection of one of the plurality of supply options presented to the first player;

distributing, using the one or more processors, a supply fulfillment invitation to a second player of the interactive social game;

providing, using the one or more processors, an in-game benefit to the second player based at least in part on acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation; and

notifying, using the one or more processors, the first player upon completion of the predetermined processing time for the selected supply option, the notifying indicating availability of the requested in-game supplies to the first player.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising shortening the predetermined processing time associated with the selected supply option in response to acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation by the second player.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the supply fulfillment invitation has an associated expiration time, and wherein shortening the predetermined processing time is conditional on acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation by the second player prior to the expiration time.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a remaining time for the selected supply option.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an option to distribute additional supply fulfillment invitations to additional players of the interactive social game.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the presenting of the plurality of supply options to the first player includes presenting a graphical expression of a supply delivery vehicle.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, the distributing of the supply fulfillment invitation to the second player of the interactive social game uses the graphical expression of the supply delivery vehicle.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the distributing of the supply fulfillment invitation to the second player includes inviting the second player to supply at least a portion of the in-game supplies requested by the first player.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the in-game supplies include virtual currency having value in the interactive social game.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second player is not actively playing the interactive social game at the time of distributing the supply fulfillment invitation to the second player.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an identity of the second player from the first player.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a supply order from a first player of a computer-implemented game, the supply order identifying a requested in-game asset, an expiration time, and a social fulfillment component, wherein the in-game asset is a supply asset used to initiate a harvest mechanic cycle in the computer-implemented game;

responsive to receiving the supply order from the first player, communicating, using the one or more processors, a supply fulfillment invitation to a second player based on the social fulfillment component of the received supply order from the first player; and

after the expiration time, allowing, by the one or more processors, the first player to access the requested in-game asset without regard to receiving a response to the supply fulfillment invitation from the second player.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation from the second player prior to the expiration time; and

responsive to the acceptance, providing an in-game benefit to the second player.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the second player is selected by the first player.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the second player is randomly selected by the one or more processors.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising providing an incentive to the first player to initiate the supply order with the social fulfillment component.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an interface to communicate with players of an interactive social game;

a memory to store data associated with the interactive social game; and

one or more processors coupled to the interface and the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

receive a request for in-game supplies from a first player in the interactive social game;

present a plurality of supply options, each supply option having an associated predetermined processing time, wherein the predetermined processing time associated with at least two of the plurality of supply options are different;

receive a supply option selection from the first player, the supply option selection indicating selection of one of the plurality of supply options presented to the first player;

distribute a supply fulfillment invitation to a second player of the interactive social game;

provide an in-game benefit to the second player based at least in part on acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation; and

notify the first player upon completion of the predetermined processing time for the selected supply option, the notifying indicating availability of the requested in-game supplies to the first player.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, the one or more processors further configured to shorten the predetermined processing time associated with the selected supply option in response to acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation by the second player.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the supply fulfillment invitation has an associated expiration time, and wherein shortening the predetermined processing time is conditional on acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation by the second player prior to the expiration time.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the presenting of the plurality of supply options includes presenting a graphical expression of a supply delivery vehicle.