Method of operating an online game using consolidated game objects
View Patent ↗The present invention provides methods for playing a multi-player, online game in which players build virtual worlds by placing game objects into a game space and may consolidate multiple game objects into a single object such that the new consolidated object maintains some or all of the features of the original, separate objects but occupies less game space.
1. A system comprising:
a computer-based network having at least one server and at least one client device with each device containing at least one processor capable of operating and displaying a game in which:
a player places a plurality of virtual objects into a virtual world, such that each said virtual object occupies space within the virtual world, and a player consolidates the plurality of said virtual objects placed into the virtual world into a single consolidated virtual object such that: the consolidated virtual object retains some or all of the features of the pre-consolidated virtual objects; and the consolidated virtual object occupies less space within the virtual world than the space occupied by the pre-consolidated virtual objects, wherein each of the virtual objects is a building.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game allows consolidation only if the pre-consolidated virtual objects are buildings of the same family type.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game allows consolidation only if the pre-consolidated virtual objects are buildings of the same sub-family type.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game allows consolidation only after a completion of a predetermined game action by the player.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game allows consolidation only after a completion of a predetermined level of experience by the player.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the player pays a predetermined price for the consolidation.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game allows consolidation only after a completion of a predetermined game action by the player and payment of a pre-determined price by the player.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the consolidated virtual object is a building that houses more people than the sum of the pre-consolidated virtual objects.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein another player can add a building to a building that is a consolidated virtual object.
10. A method, comprising operations of:
receiving a command from a player selecting one or more housing units from a game menu in an online game that is a builder-type game;
receiving a command from the player identifying an empty location in a game space for the game;
causing the one or more housing units to be displayed in the game space at the location;
receiving a command from the player selecting one or more of the displayed housing units;
receiving a command from the player to consolidate the displayed housing units that are selected into a consolidated housing unit; and
displaying the consolidated housing unit in the game space, wherein each operation is executed by one or more processors.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the game allows consolidation only if the displayed housing units that are selected are of the same family type.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the game allows consolidation only if the displayed housing units that are selected are of the same sub-family type.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the game allows consolidation only after a completion of a predetermined game action by the player.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the game allows consolidation only after a completion of a predetermined level of experience by the player.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the player pays a predetermined price for the consolidation.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the game allows consolidation only after a completion of a predetermined game action by the player and payment of a pre-determined price by the player.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the consolidated housing unit houses more people than the sum of the pre-consolidated housing units.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein another player can add a housing unit to the consolidated housing unit.
19. One or more computer-readable media persistently storing a program, wherein the program, when executed, instructs one or more processors to perform the following operations:
receive a command from a player selecting one or more housing units from a game menu in an online game that is a builder-type game;
receive a command from the player identifying an empty location in a game space for the game;
cause the one or more housing units to be displayed in the game space at the location;
receive a command from the player selecting one or more of the displayed housing units;
receive a command from the player to consolidate the displayed housing units that are selected into a consolidated housing unit; and
display the consolidated housing unit in the game space.
20. The computer-readable media of claim 19 , wherein another player can add a housing unit to the consolidated housing unit.