IP Library Granted Patent US 8,226,486
Granted Patent B2
US 8,226,486 · App. 13/244,902 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Applying proxy attributes in multiple games

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,226,486
App. No.
13/244,902
Granted
Jul 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods to generate proxies for players in a game are described. In some embodiments, a method accesses social network information associated with a player of a first game and a second game. The player controls a first player character in the first game and controls a second player character in the second game. The method accesses profile information of a friend of the player controlling a third player character in the first game. The method creates a proxy based on the third player character having multiple attributes based on the profile information of the friend of the player. A event outcome is determined based on an attribute of the first player character and at least one proxy attribute. Another game event outcome is determined based on an attribute of the second player character and at least one proxy attribute.

Claims (39)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing social network information associated with a player of a first online multiplayer game and a second online multiplayer game, the player controlling a first player character in the first online multiplayer game and controlling a second player character in the second online multiplayer game, the first player character and the second player character each having respective associated character attributes;

accessing profile information associated with a friend of the player, the friend of the player controlling a third player character in the first online multiplayer game;

creating, using one or more processors, a proxy based on the third player character, the proxy having a plurality of proxy attributes based on the profile information associated with the friend of the player;

determining, with respect to the first online multiplayer game, a first game event outcome associated with the first player character based on one or more of the first player character attributes and on at least one proxy attribute; and

determining, with respect to the second online multiplayer game, a second game event outcome associated with the second player character based on one or more of the second player character attributes and on at least one proxy attribute.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further using the proxy in association with other player characters in the first online multiplayer game.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising using the proxy in association with other player characters in other online multiplayer games.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second game event outcome is further based on the first player character attributes.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proxy attributes are further based on a degree of separation between the player and the friend of the player.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising updating at least one proxy attribute based on the first game event outcome.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising updating at least one attribute associated with the second player character in response to updating at least one proxy attribute.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising updating at least one attribute associated with the second player character based on the second game event outcome.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first game event outcome is performed while the friend of the player is not actively playing the first online multiplayer game.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein accessing profile information associated with a friend of the player includes retrieving the profile information from the social network information.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein creating a proxy associated with the third player character is conditional upon receiving approval for creation of the proxy from the friend of the player.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing social network information associated with a player of an online multiplayer game, the player controlling a first player character in the online multiplayer game, the first player character having associated attributes;

accessing profile information associated with a first friend of the player, the first friend of the player controlling a second player character in the online multiplayer game;

creating, using one or more processors, a first proxy based on the second player character, the first proxy having a plurality of first proxy attributes based on the profile information associated with the first friend of the player;

accessing profile information associated with a second friend of the player, the second friend of the player controlling a third player character in the online multiplayer game;

creating, using one or more processors, a second proxy based on the third player character, the second proxy having a plurality of second proxy attributes based on the profile information associated with the second friend of the player; and

determining a game event outcome associated with the first player character based on the first player character attributes, at least one first proxy attribute, and at least one second proxy attribute.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising using the first proxy and the second proxy in association with other player characters in the online multiplayer game.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising updating at least one of the first proxy attributes based on the game event outcome.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising updating at least one of the second proxy attributes based on the game event outcome.

16. An apparatus comprising:

an interface to communicate with players of online multiplayer games;

a memory to store data associated with the online multiplayer games; and

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

access social network information associated with a player of a first online multiplayer game and a second online multiplayer game, the player controlling a first player character in the first online multiplayer game and controlling a second player character in the second online multiplayer game, the first player character and the second player character each having respective associated character attributes;

access profile information associated with a friend of the player, the friend of the player controlling a third player character in the first online multiplayer game;

create a proxy based on the third player character, the proxy having a plurality of proxy attributes based on the profile information associated with the friend of the player;

determine, with respect to the first online multiplayer game, a first game event outcome associated with the first player character based on one or more of the first player character attributes and on at least one proxy attribute; and

determine, with respect to the second online multiplayer game, a second game event outcome associated with the second player character based on one or more of the second player character attributes and on at least one proxy attribute.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second game event outcome is further based on the first player character attributes.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first game event outcome is determined while the friend of the player is not actively playing the first online multiplayer game.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to use the proxy in association with other player characters in the first online multiplayer game.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to use the proxy in association with other player characters in other online multiplayer games.

Assignments (6)
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2019
From: MOONEY, WILLIAM HENRY KELLY; OCKO, MATTHEW ADAM; SCHIERMEYER, CARL ERIC
To: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK, INC.
Reel/Frame 047934/0398 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 8, 2019
From: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK INC.
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 048032/0742 →
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 →