IP Library Granted Patent US 10,717,007
Granted Patent B2
US 10,717,007 · App. 15/845,119 · Granted Jul 21, 2020

System and method for managing bonuses in a multi-player online game

Inventors: Garth Gillespie (Palo Alto, CA); Nathan Spencer (Redwood City, CA); Yan Zhang (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: MZ IP Holdings, LLC
A63F13/69A63F13/46A63F13/58A63F13/75A63F13/798A63F13/822A63F13/67A63F2300/5533
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,717,007
App. No.
15/845,119
Granted
Jul 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a method, a system, and an article for managing bonuses in a multi-player online game. The method can include: providing an online game in which a plurality of users interact with a virtual environment; determining a plurality of user conditions for the users in the virtual environment; determining, based on the user conditions, a plurality of bonuses that influence capabilities of the users in the virtual environment; determining each user's capabilities in the virtual environment based on the plurality of bonuses.

Claims (47)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing, using at least one server computer, an online game in which a plurality of users interact with a virtual environment using a plurality of client devices;

determining, using the at least one server computer, a set of user conditions in the virtual environment for each user from the plurality of users,

wherein determining the set of user conditions comprises updating the set of user conditions based on the user's interaction with the virtual environment using one of the client devices;

determining, using the at least one server computer, a plurality of bonuses that define capabilities of each user in the virtual environment according to the set of user conditions for the user,

wherein each bonus in the plurality of bonuses comprises at least one of (i) a numerical value representing an amount to adjust one or more of the user capabilities or (ii) a gating parameter than unlocks one or more of the user capabilities;

determining, using the at least one server computer, each user's capabilities in the virtual environment based on the plurality of bonuses and the set of user conditions for the user; and

providing, using the at least one server computer, each user with the determined user capabilities in the virtual environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of user conditions comprises at least one of a user asset or a previous task performed by a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of user conditions comprises at least one of a temporary user condition or a permanent user condition.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bonuses comprises at least one of a permanent bonus, a temporary bonus, or a time-varying bonus.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each bonus in the plurality of bonuses comprises a scope, and wherein the scope identifies one or more users associated with the bonus.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the scope comprises at least one of a team of users or a region in the virtual environment.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the plurality of bonuses comprises:

using each bonus in the plurality of bonuses to map one or more of the user conditions to one or more of the user capabilities.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the plurality of bonuses further comprises:

defining how each mapped user condition influences a corresponding mapped user capability.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined user capabilities comprise at least one of an ability of a user to perform a task in the virtual environment or an ability of a user to acquire a virtual item in the virtual environment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one bonus in the plurality of bonuses unlocks a user capability in the virtual environment.

11. A system, comprising

one or more computer processors programmed to perform operations comprising:

providing, using at least one server computer, an online game in which a plurality of users interact with a virtual environment using a plurality of client devices;

determining, using the at least one server computer, a set of user conditions in the virtual environment for each user from the plurality of users,

wherein determining the set of user conditions comprises updating the set of user conditions based on the user's interaction with the virtual environment using one of the client devices;

determining, using the at least one server computer, a plurality of bonuses that define capabilities of each user in the virtual environment according to the set of user conditions for the user,

wherein each bonus in the plurality of bonuses comprises at least one of (i) a numerical value representing an amount to adjust one or more of the user capabilities or (ii) a gating parameter than unlocks one or more of the user capabilities;

determining, using the at least one server computer, each user's capabilities in the virtual environment based on the plurality of bonuses and the set of user conditions for the user; and

providing, using the at least one server computer, each user with the determined user capabilities in the virtual environment.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the set of user conditions comprises at least one of a user asset or a previous task performed by a user.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the set of user conditions comprises at least one of a temporary user condition or a permanent user condition.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of bonuses comprises at least one of a permanent bonus, a temporary bonus, or a time-varying bonus.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein each bonus in the plurality of bonuses comprises a scope, and wherein the scope identifies one or more users associated with the bonus.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the scope comprises at least one of a team of users or a region in the virtual environment.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein determining the plurality of bonuses comprises:

using each bonus in the plurality of bonuses to map one or more of the user conditions to one or more of the user capabilities.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein determining the plurality of bonuses further comprises:

defining how each mapped user condition influences a corresponding mapped user capability.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the determined user capabilities comprise at least one of an ability of a user to perform a task in the virtual environment or an ability of a user to acquire a virtual item in the virtual environment.

20. An article, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the computer processors to perform operations comprising:

providing, using at least one server computer, an online game in which a plurality of users interact with a virtual environment using a plurality of client devices;

determining, using the at least one server computer, a set of user conditions in the virtual environment for each user from the plurality of users,

wherein determining the set of user conditions comprises updating the set of user conditions based on the user's interaction with the virtual environment using one of the client devices;

determining, using the at least one server computer, a plurality of bonuses that define capabilities of each user in the virtual environment according to the set of user conditions for the user,

wherein each bonus in the plurality of bonuses comprises at least one of (i) a numerical value representing an amount to adjust one or more of the user capabilities or (ii) a gating parameter than unlocks one or more of the user capabilities;

determining, using the at least one server computer, each user's capabilities in the virtual environment based on the plurality of bonuses and the set of user conditions for the user; and

providing, using the at least one server computer, each user with the determined user capabilities in the virtual environment.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2020
From: COMERICA BANK
To: MZ IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052706/0899 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2020
From: MGG INVESTMENT GROUP LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MACHINE ZONE, INC.; SATORI WORLDWIDE, LLC; COGNANT LLC
Reel/Frame 052706/0917 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2018
From: MZ IP HOLDINGS, LLC
To: COMERICA BANK
Reel/Frame 046215/0207 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: GILLESPIE, GARTH; SPENCER, NATHAN; ZHANG, YAN
To: MACHINE ZONE, INC.
Reel/Frame 045536/0586 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2018
From: MACHINE ZONE, INC.
To: MZ IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045786/0179 →
NOTICE OF SECURITY INTEREST -- PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2018
From: MACHINE ZONE, INC.; SATORI WORLDWIDE, LLC; COGNANT LLC
To: MGG INVESTMENT GROUP LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045237/0861 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62447031 · Jan 17, 2017
Related Publication 20180200629A1 · Jul 19, 2018