IP Library Granted Patent US 8,668,563
Granted Patent B1
US 8,668,563 · App. 13/649,260 · Granted Mar 11, 2014

Asynchronous interactive game play

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,668,563
App. No.
13/649,260
Granted
Mar 11, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods of asynchronous interactive game play are described. In some embodiments, a method permits a first player to access a first game instance of a multiplayer online game and access a second game instance of the multiplayer online game. The second game instance is accessed at a first time. The first game instance is associated with the first player and the second game instance is associated with a second player. The method receives an identification of an in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance while the first player accesses the second game instance. The second player is permitted to access the second game instance at a second time, which is later than the first time. The method causes display to the second player an identification of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

Claims (53)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

permitting a first player to access a first game instance of a multiplayer online game, the first game instance associated with the first player;

permitting the first player to access a second game instance of the multiplayer online game at a first time, the second game instance associated with a second player;

receiving an identification of an in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance while the first player accesses the second game instance;

permitting the second player to access the second game instance at a second time, the second time being later than the first time;

causing display to the second player, using one or more processors, an identification of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance;

causing display to the second player of a user interface element selectable by the second player to cause playback of the in-game action; and

in response to selection of the user interface element by the second player, causing playback of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

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

the second player receiving an in-game asset responsive to the first player performing the in-game action in the second game instance.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , the in-game asset having value to the second player in the second game instance.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein causing display of the user interface element comprises causing display to the second player, using one or more processors, of an option to accept the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 ,

wherein causing playback of the in-game action comprises performing the in-game action in the second game instance.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving a confirmation from the second player to accept the in-game action performed by the first player, displaying a result of performing the in-game action in the second game instance.

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

displaying to the second player, using one or more processors, an option to reject the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second player is not accessing the game instance at the first time.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first player is not accessing the game instance at the second time.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying a state of the second game instance responsive to receiving a confirmation from the second player to accept the in-game action performed by the first player.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the causing of the display to the second player of the identification of the in-game action performed by the first player is responsive to detecting that the second player accesses the second game instance.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface element comprises a proxy of a player character of the first player.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

permitting a first player to access a first game instance of a multiplayer online game, the first game instance associated with the first player;

permitting a second player to access a second game instance of the multiplayer online game, the second game instance associated with the second player;

permitting the first player to access the second game instance at a first time;

receiving an identification of an in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance while the first player accesses the second game instance;

detecting, using one or more processors, access to the second game instance by the second player at a second time, the second time being later than the first time;

responsive to detecting access to the second game instance by the second player, causing display to the second player an identification of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance;

causing display to the second player of a user interface element selectable by the second player to cause playback of the in-game action; and

in response to selection of the user interface element by the second player, causing playback of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

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

the second player receiving an in-game asset responsive to the first player performing the in-game action in the second game instance.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , the in-game asset having value to the second player in the second game instance.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein causing display of the user interface element comprises causing display to the second player, using one or more processors, of an option to accept the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 ,

wherein causing playback of the in-game action comprises performing the in-game action in the second game instance.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving a confirmation from the second player to accept the in-game action performed by the first player, displaying a result of performing the in-game action in the second game instance.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the second player is not accessing the game instance at the first time.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the first player is not accessing the game instance at the second time.

21. An apparatus comprising:

an interface to communicate with players of a game;

a memory to store data associated with the game; and

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

permit a first player to access a first game instance of a multiplayer online game, the first game instance associated with the first player;

permit the first player to access a second game instance of the multiplayer online game at a first time, the second game instance associated with a second player;

receive an identification of an in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance while the first player accesses the second game instance;

permit the second player to access the second game instance at a second time, the second time being later than the first time;

cause display to the second player an identification of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance;

cause display to the second player of a user interface element selectable by the second player to cause playback of the in-game action; and

in response to selection of the user interface element by the second player, cause playback of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

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 9, 2019
From: REYNOLDS, ROBERT BRIAN; FOSTER, AARON PAUL; HALKA, DANIEL EDWARD; KAUFMAN, DOUGLAS FRANCIS; STEPHANOUK, PAUL EUGENE
To: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK, INC.
Reel/Frame 047944/0754 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK INC.
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 048041/0480 →
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 →