IP Library Granted Patent US 10,675,533
Granted Patent B2
US 10,675,533 · App. 15/454,774 · Granted Jun 9, 2020

Game, such as electronic collectable and card or tradable object game employing customizable features

Inventors: Frank Gilson (Renton, WA); Cormac Russell (Milpitas, CA); Paul Sottosanti (Seattle, WA); Randy Buehler (Bellevue, WA); Ramon Arjona (Seattle, WA); Karl Robert Gutschera (Seattle, WA); Brandon Anthony Bozzi (Seattle, WA); Aaron Joel Forsythe (Renton, WA)
Assignee: Wizards of the Coast, LLC
A63F13/235A63F1/00A63F1/02A63F13/40A63F13/58A63F13/69A63F1/10A63F2009/0615A63F2250/602B33Y80/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,675,533
App. No.
15/454,774
Granted
Jun 9, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A game employing user-modifiable game components, such as cards in a collectable card game, employs various features to provide user-modifiability, including sleeves, transparent cards, stickers, and other elements. Electronic versions of the game and various other features are included, including tracking of history associated with such components.

Claims (46)

1. An electronic game graphic interface, comprising:

multiple digital objects configured to be used as game components displayed through a graphic interface on a display, wherein the multiple digital objects interact with each other or with other digital objects under a set of predetermined rules of play;

wherein each of the multiple digital objects has a set of statistics that control in-game interaction of the multiple digital objects with a game engine, the set of statistics are displayed on each respective digital object, wherein each statistic of the set of statistics is respectively displayed by the graphic interface at predetermined positions on each respective digital object, and wherein each of the multiple digital objects includes:

a unique digital identifier, and

stored history data that represents a history of experience during game play in which that digital object was played, or a history of interactions of that digital object with particular other digital objects or with particular other game elements, wherein an appearance of the set of statistics displayed on each respective digital object on the graphic interface is updated at the predetermined positions on each respective digital object based on the stored history data, wherein an update in the displayed set of statistics modifies the in-game interaction of that digital object within the game engine.

2. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein the stored history data includes an amount of damage received, and wherein the amount of damage received modifies a health statistic displayed on the digital object.

3. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein each of the multiple digital objects is modified when the stored history data records a modification to a first digital object of the multiple digital objects by a second digital object of the multiple digital objects, and wherein the modification includes a change to the set of statistics displayed on the graphic interface of the digital object.

4. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein at least some of the digital objects may be modified by a user by being logically combined with at least some of the other digital objects to provide customized combined digital objects that have effects that are improved over the standard effects.

5. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein:

the digital objects are electronic cards that define a deck of cards; and

the deck of cards includes a customized card modified by a player to change the standard effect or an appearance of one of the electronic cards.

6. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein the digital objects are electronic cards that belong to one of at least two different frequency classes that determine the frequency of appearance of a given card as compared to other cards.

7. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein the digital objects are electronic cards having indicia that represent the standard effect of each electronic card, and wherein the electronic game further comprises:

indicia altering means for player-selected modifications of at least one of the electronic cards in the stored history data,

wherein the indicia altering means is configured to alter the graphic display indicia of a first electronic card of the electronic cards to create an indicia-altered electronic card, wherein the indicia-altered card has an altered effect with respect to game play that is different from the standard effect of the first electronic card.

8. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein:

the multiple digital objects include a first creature digital object and a second creature digital object, wherein the set of statistics for each creature object includes an attack value and a strength value; and

display on the graphic interface of the first creature digital object is configured to be modified after the stored history data includes a combat event with the second creature object, wherein the modification of the display of first creature digital object is to the strength value of the first creature digital object is reduced by damage by the attack value of the second creature.

9. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 wherein:

the multiple digital objects include a first creature digital object having a first creature effect and a second creature digital object having a second creature effect; and

the first creature digital object is configured to be modified when combined with the second creature digital object to create a third creature digital object, wherein the third creature digital object has a modified creature effect different from the first and second creature effects.

10. The electronic game graphic interface of claim 1 , further comprising:

display of an electronic game board through which the multiple digital objects interact with each other.

11. A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a computer and a processor, cause the computing system to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a set of cards, wherein the set of cards comprises:

at least one card base that is configured to be played in a modified or unmodified form; and

at least first and second indicia carriers that are displayed on each card base by a graphic user interface at predetermined positions on each card base, wherein each of the first and second indicia carriers govern a power or effect of each card during game play; and,

wherein the set of cards includes cards that belong to one of at least three different frequency classes that determine the frequency of appearance of a given card as compared to other cards;

tracking experience of at least a first card of the obtained set of cards;

modifying display of the first and second indicia carriers of the first card at the predetermined positions on the first card based on a change in the tracked experience, wherein an update to the first and second indicia carriers changes the power or effect of the first card in-game.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein one of the first and second indicia carriers is a casting cost, and the method further comprises:

modifying the display of the casting cost of the first card based on the tracked experiences.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

discarding two electronic cards of a first frequency class from the obtained set of cards; and

receiving an electronic card from a second frequency class in return, wherein the first frequency class occurs in the obtained set of cards more often than the second frequency class.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

discarding an electronic card from a first frequency class and an electronic card from a second frequency class from the obtained set of cards; and

receiving an electronic card from the second frequency class or an electronic card belonging to a third frequency class of the at least three frequency classes in return, wherein the third frequency class is more exclusive than the second frequency class and the second frequency class is more exclusive than the third frequency class.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having at least one processor, cause the computing system to perform a method comprising:

providing a group of digital objects, wherein the digital objects comprises:

at least one base graphic that is configured to be played in a modified or unmodified form; and

at least first and second indicia carriers that are displayed at predetermined positions on each base graphic by a graphic user interface, wherein each of the first and second indicia carriers control in-game abilities of each of the group of digital objects during game play; and,

tracking experience of at least a first digital object of the provided group of digital objects;

modifying display of the first and second indicia carriers of the first digital object at the predetermined positions on the base graphic of the first digital object based on a change in the tracked experience, wherein an update to the first and second indicia carriers modifies the in-game abilities of the first card in-game.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein one of the first and second indicia carriers is a casting cost, and the method further comprises:

modifying the display of the casting cost of the first digital object based on the tracked experiences.

Assignments (1)
MERGER Recorded May 30, 2017
From: WIZARDS OF THE COAST, INC.
To: WIZARDS OF THE COAST LLC
Reel/Frame 042532/0106 →
Continuity (7)
Division 13923702 · Jun 21, 2013
Division 12176873 · Jul 21, 2008
Continuation 11952072 · Dec 6, 2007
Continuation 11738308 · Apr 20, 2007
Continuation In Part PCTUS2006002277 · Jan 24, 2006
Provisional Application 60794210 · Apr 21, 2006
Related Publication 20170173456A1 · Jun 22, 2017