IP Library Granted Patent US 8,523,648
Granted Patent B2
US 8,523,648 · App. 12/176,873 · Granted Sep 3, 2013

Game, such as electronic collectable and card or tradable object game employing customizable features

Inventors: Frank Gilson (Renton, WA); Cormac Russell (Milpitas, CA); Paul Sottosanti (Seattle, WA); Randy Buehler (Bellevue, WA); Ramon Arjona (Seattle, WA); Karl R. Gutschera (Seattle, WA); Brandon A. Bozzi (Seattle, WA); Aaron J. Forsythe (Renton, WA)
Assignee: Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,523,648
App. No.
12/176,873
Granted
Sep 3, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A game employing user-modifiable game components, such as cards in a collectable card game, employs various features to provide user-modifiability, including sleeves, transparent cards, stickers, and other elements. Electronic versions of the game and various other features are included, including tracking of history associated with such components.

Claims (42)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a processor, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a group of multiple digital objects for use as game components, wherein each of the digital objects in the group is randomly distributed among players of a game, and wherein the digital objects in the group have at least two different levels of distribution rarity, wherein the levels of distribution rarity include common and uncommon;

returning two or more of the digital objects in the group of multiple digital objects; and

receiving at least one new digital object in response to the returned two or more digital objects in the group of multiple digital objects,

wherein at least one of the multiple digital objects has an associated stored history and wherein the at least one multiple digital object is modified when the associated stored history reaches a threshold.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the modification includes a change in an appearance of the at least one multiple digital object.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein at least one of the multiple digital objects may be modified by a user by being logically combined with at least some of the other digital objects to provide customized combined digital objects.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple digital objects includes a unique digital identifier.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the received at least one new digital object is a randomly-generated digital object.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the digital objects in the group have at least three different levels of distribution rarity, wherein the levels of distribution rarity include common, uncommon, and rare.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein when two common digital objects are returned, an uncommon digital object is received and when two uncommon digital objects are returned, an uncommon or rare digital object is received.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a processor, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a group of multiple digital objects for use as game components, wherein each of the digital objects in the group is randomly distributed among players of a game, and wherein the digital objects in the group have at least two different levels of distribution rarity, wherein the levels of rarity include common and uncommon;

returning two or more of the digital objects in the group of multiple digital objects; and

receiving at least one new digital object in response to the returned two or more digital objects in the group of multiple digital objects,

wherein at least one of the multiple digital objects has a casting cost and wherein when a stored history associated with the at least one of the multiple digital objects reaches a threshold, the casting cost increases.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the received at least one new digital object is a randomly-generated digital object.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the digital objects in the group have at least three different levels of distribution rarity, wherein the levels of distribution rarity include common, uncommon, and rare.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein when two common digital objects are returned, an uncommon digital object is received and when two uncommon digital objects are returned, an uncommon or rare digital object is received.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a processor, cause the computing system to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

instructions for obtaining a group of multiple digital objects, wherein the digital objects in the group have at least two different levels of distribution rarity;

instructions for returning two or more of the digital objects in the group of multiple digital objects;

instructions for receiving at least one new digital object in response to the returned two or more digital objects; and

instructions for causing a first creature digital object to mutate by:

selecting a non-creature digital object, and

combining the first creature digital object and the selected non-creature digital object to create a second creature digital object.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a processor, cause the computing system to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

instructions for obtaining a group of multiple digital objects, wherein the digital objects in the group have at least two different levels of distribution rarity;

instructions for returning two or more of the digital objects in the group of multiple digital objects;

instructions for receiving at least one new digital object in response to the returned two or more digital objects; and

instructions for causing a first creature digital object to evolve by:

selecting a second creature digital object, and

combining the first and second creature digital objects to create a third creature digital object.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , the instructions further comprising:

instructions for providing an electronic game board, wherein the multiple digital objects are configured to interact with each other via the electronic game board.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the electronic game board stores an indication of the interactions between the multiple digital objects.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , the instructions further comprising:

instructions for obtaining a formula digital object specifying a formula that enables users to create digital objects based on a specified supply of game components.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein each of the multiple digital objects includes a unique digital identifier.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the received at least one new digital object is a randomly-generated digital object.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the digital objects in the group have at least three different levels of distribution rarity, wherein the levels of distribution rarity include common, uncommon, and rare.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein when two common digital objects are returned, an uncommon digital object is received and when two uncommon digital objects are returned, an uncommon or rare digital object is received.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jan 9, 2014
From: WIZARDS OF THE COAST, INC.
To: WIZARDS OF THE COAST LLC
Reel/Frame 031931/0965 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2008
From: GILSON, FRANK; RUSSELL, CORMAC; SOTTOSANTI, PAUL; BUEHLER, RANDY; ARJONA, RAMON; GUTSCHERA, KARL R.; BOZZI, BRANDON A.; FORSYTHE, AARON J.
To: WIZARDS OF THE COAST, INC.
Reel/Frame 021615/0790 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 11952072 · Dec 6, 2007
Continuation 11738308 · Apr 20, 2007
Continuation In Part PCTUS2006002277 · Jan 24, 2006
Provisional Application 60646724 · Jan 24, 2005
Provisional Application 60794210 · Apr 21, 2006
Related Publication 20090023487A1 · Jan 22, 2009