IP Library Granted Patent US 8,226,487
Granted Patent B2
US 8,226,487 · App. 13/244,911 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Proxy generation for players in a game

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,226,487
App. No.
13/244,911
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 game. The player controls a first player character in the game where the first player character has certain attributes. The method further accesses profile information associated with a friend of the player. The friend of the player controls a second player character in the game. A proxy based on the second player character is created and includes multiple proxy attributes based on the profile information associated with the friend of the player. The proxy is associated with the first player character. A game event outcome associated with the first player character is determined based on the first player character attributes and at least one proxy attribute.

Claims (41)

1. 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 friend of the player, the friend of the player controlling a second player character in the online multiplayer game;

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

associating the proxy with the first player character; and

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

2. 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.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the proxy for use in association with other player characters in the online multiplayer game.

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

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising updating at least one attribute associated with the second player character in response to updating at least one proxy attribute.

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

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

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the player and the friend are first order friends in a social network.

9. 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.

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 data associated with the second player character.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a second proxy that includes at least one of the first player character attributes, the second proxy being based on the first player character;

associating the second proxy with the second player character; and

determining a second game event outcome associated with the second player character based on the attributes of the proxy associated with the first player character and on the attributes of the second proxy associated with the second player character.

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

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing a proxy list 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, the proxy list including a plurality of proxies associated with the first player character, each proxy in the proxy list being associated with a respective one of a plurality of friends;

selecting a proxy from the proxy list; and

determining, using one or more processors, a game event outcome associated with the first player character based on the first player character attributes and at least one attribute of the selected proxy.

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

selecting a second proxy from the proxy list; and

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

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein selecting the at least one proxy from the proxy list is based on input from the player of the online multiplayer game.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein determining the game event outcome is further based on a number of proxies selected from the proxy list.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising updating at least one proxy attribute of the selected proxy based on the game event outcome associated with the first player character.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising updating at least one attribute associated with a friend of the player associated with the selected proxy based on the game event outcome.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an interface to communicate with players of an online multiplayer game;

a memory to store data associated with the online multiplayer game; 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 the online multiplayer game, the player controlling a first player character in the online multiplayer game, the first player character having associated attributes;

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

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

associating the proxy with the first player character; and

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

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to update at least one proxy attribute based on the game event outcome associated with the first player character.

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 →