IP Library Granted Patent US 8,317,610
Granted Patent B2
US 8,317,610 · App. 13/244,693 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Apparatuses, methods and systems for a live online game tester

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,317,610
App. No.
13/244,693
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for testing a new feature of an online gaming application is provided. The method initiates with assigning each of a plurality of users to one of a test group and a control group. Each of the test group users is provided a gaming application including a new game feature enabled, and each of the control group users is provided the gaming application without the new game feature enabled. Gaming activity and social network activity of the test group users is evaluated to generate an evaluation score for the test group users. Gaming activity and social network activity of the control group users is evaluated to generate an evaluation score for the control group users.

Claims (60)

1. A processor-implemented method for testing a new feature of an online gaming application, comprising:

assigning each of a plurality of users to one of a test group and a control group;

providing each of the test group users a gaming application including a new game feature enabled;

providing each of the control group users the gaming application without the new game feature enabled;

evaluating gaming activity and social network activity of the test group users to generate an evaluation score for the test group users, the evaluation score for the test group users based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the test group users, the social network activity of the test group users including social network activity related to the new game feature;

evaluating gaming activity and social network activity of the control group users to generate an evaluation score for the control group users, the evaluation score for the control group users based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the control group users.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes detecting one or more of messages, requests, invitations, gift transactions, object transactions, and currency transactions.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein evaluating social network activity includes detecting one or more of sent messages, received messages, invitations, and requests.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes tracking a number of game actions taking place between each of the plurality of users and the gaming application.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes tracking content of customer service requests related to the gaming application.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising,

generating a report comparing the evaluation scores of the test group users and the control group users.

7. A system for testing a new feature of an online gaming application, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory and configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions to:

assign each of a plurality of users to one of a test group and a control group;

provide each of the test group users a gaming application including a new game feature enabled;

provide each of the control group users the gaming application without the new game feature enabled;

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the test group users to generate an evaluation score for the test group users, the evaluation score for the test group users based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the test group users, the social network activity of the test group users including social network activity related to the new game feature;

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the control group users to generate an evaluation score for the control group users, the evaluation score for the control group users based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the control group users.

8. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes detecting one or more of messages, requests, invitations, gift transactions, object transactions, and currency transactions.

9. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein evaluating social network activity includes detecting one or more of sent messages, received messages, invitations, and requests.

10. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes tracking a number of game actions taking place between each of the plurality of users and the gaming application.

11. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes tracking content of customer service requests related to the gaming application.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

generate a report comparing the evaluation scores of the test group users and the control group users.

13. A processor-readable tangible medium storing processor-issuable online game testing instructions to:

assign each of a plurality of users to one of a test group and a control group;

provide each of the test group users a gaming application including a new game feature enabled;

provide each of the control group users the gaming application without the new game feature enabled;

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the test group users to generate an evaluation score for the test group users, the evaluation score for the test group users based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the test group users, the social network activity of the test group users including social network activity related to the new game feature;

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the control group users to generate an evaluation score for the control group users, the evaluation score for the control group users based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the control group users.

14. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes detecting one or more of messages, requests, invitations, gift transactions, object transactions, and currency transactions.

15. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein evaluating social network activity includes detecting one or more of sent messages, received messages, invitations, and requests.

16. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes tracking a number of game actions taking place between each of the plurality of users and the gaming application.

17. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein evaluating gaming activity includes tracking content of customer service requests related to the gaming application.

18. The medium of claim 13 , the medium further storing instructions to:

generate a report comparing the evaluation scores of the test group users and the control group users.

19. A processor-implemented method for testing a new feature of an online gaming application, comprising:

providing a first user a gaming application including a new game feature enabled;

providing a second user the gaming application without the new game feature enabled;

detecting gaming activity and social network activity of the first user related to the gaming application;

generating an evaluation score for the first user based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the first user related to the gaming application;

detecting gaming activity and social network activity of the second user related to the gaming application;

generating an evaluation score for the second user based on both of the gaming activity and the social network activity of the second user related to the gaming application.

20. The method of claim 19 ,

wherein the social network activity of the first user occurs during the gaming activity of the first user; and

wherein the social network activity of the second user occurs during the gaming activity of the second user.

Assignments (5)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 23, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 060163/0437 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2021
From: OCKO, MATTHEW; DRIEMEYER, JUSTIN
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 058065/0727 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 14, 2020
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054719/0490 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 11, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 054701/0393 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 049147/0546 →