IP Library Granted Patent US 10,507,380
Granted Patent B2
US 10,507,380 · App. 16/051,159 · Granted Dec 17, 2019

Multi-stage progressive risk mini game

Inventors: James Brett Nowak (San Francisco, CA); Shawn Carnes (San Francisco, CA); Michael Kane (San Francisco, CA); Edward LeBreton, IV (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Zynga Inc.
A63F13/00A63F13/792G07F17/3225G07F17/3244G07F17/3262G07F17/3267
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,507,380
App. No.
16/051,159
Granted
Dec 17, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of rewarding players for performing actions with respect to computer-implemented games is disclosed. An action by a user with respect to a computer game is detected. It is identified that the performing of the action by the user qualifies the user to participate in a mini game, the mini game having a plurality of stages. A reward to associate with a winning by the user of a stage of the plurality of stages is determined. The winning by the user of the stage of the plurality of stages is detected. Under certain circumstances, the user is provided with an option to participate in the additional stage of the plurality of stages in exchange for the user not receiving the reward, the additional stage of the plurality of stages being associated with an additional reward, the additional reward being greater than the reward.

Claims (29)

1. A system comprising: one or more computer processors; one or more computer memories; a set of instructions incorporated into the one or more computer memories, the set of instructions configuring the one or more computer processors to perform operations for temporarily overlaying a user interface of a secondary game of a game networking system over a user interface of a primary game of the name networking system,

the operations comprising: based on a determination that a criterion for initiating the secondary game has been satisfied, presenting a selectable user interface control to provide a player with an opportunity to access the secondary game;

based on a selection of the selectable user interface control, performing the temporary overlaying of the secondary game over the primary game, the temporary overlaying including providing additional selectable user interface controls for playing the secondary game and for terminating the secondary game;

and based on a determination that a criterion for terminating the secondary game has been satisfied, terminating the secondary game and automatically returning the player to the primary game,

wherein the criterion for initiating the secondary game is that the player purchased a virtual asset having a value that transgresses a threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the criterion for terminating the secondary game is that the player lost one of a plurality of stages of the secondary game.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the criterion for terminating the secondary game is that the player selected one of the additional selectable user interface controls for terminating the secondary game, and wherein the operations further comprise presenting the selectable user interface control at a later time to provide the player with an additional opportunity to access the secondary game.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the secondary game is not accessible by the player again until the criteria for initiating the secondary game has been satisfied again.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary game has a plurality of stages and a user interface of the secondary game includes a depiction of a progress toward a completion of each of the stages by the player.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the depiction of the progress includes a reward amount earned by the player for completing a stage of the plurality of stages as well as reward amounts available to the player based on the player completing additional stages of the plurality of stages.

7. A method comprising: performing operations for temporarily overlaying a user interface of a secondary game of a game networking system over a user interface of a primary game of the game networking system, the operations comprising:

based on a determination that a criterion for initiating the secondary game has been satisfied, presenting a selectable user interface control to provide a player with an opportunity to access the secondary game;

based on a selection of the selectable user interface control, performing the temporary overlaying of the secondary game over the primary game, the temporary overlaying including providing additional selectable user interface controls for playing the secondary game and for terminating the secondary game; and

based on a determination that a criterion for terminating the secondary game has been satisfied, terminating the secondary game and returning the player to the primary game,

wherein the criterion for initiating the secondary game is that the player purchased a virtual asset having a value that transgresses a threshold value.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the criterion for terminating the secondary game is that the player lost one of a plurality of stages of the secondary game.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the criterion for terminating the secondary game is that the player selected one of the additional selectable user interface controls for terminating the secondary game, and wherein the operations further comprise presenting the selectable user interface control at a later time to provide the player with an additional opportunity to access the secondary game.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the secondary game is not accessible by the player again until the criteria for initiating the secondary game has been satisfied again.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the secondary game has a plurality of stages and a user interface of the secondary game includes a depiction of a progress toward a completion of each of the stages by the player.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the depiction of the progress includes a reward amount earned by the player for completing a stage of the plurality of stages as well as reward amounts available to the player based on the player completing additional stages of the plurality of stages.

13. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations performing operations for temporarily overlaying a user interface of a secondary game of a game networking system over a user interface of a primary game of the game networking system,

the operations comprising: based on a determination that a criterion for initiating the secondary game has been satisfied, presenting a selectable user interface control to provide a player with an opportunity to access the secondary game;

based on a selection of the selectable user interface control, performing the temporary overlaying of the secondary game over the primary game, the temporary overlaying including providing additional selectable user interface controls for playing the secondary game and for terminating the secondary game; and

based on a determination that a criterion for terminating the secondary game has been satisfied, terminating the secondary game and returning the player to the primary game,

wherein the criterion for initiating the secondary game is that the player purchased a virtual asset having a value that transgresses a threshold value.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the criterion for terminating the secondary game is that the player lost one of a plurality of stages of the secondary game.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the criterion for terminating the secondary game is that the player selected one of the additional selectable user interface controls for terminating the secondary game, and wherein the operations further comprise presenting the selectable user interface control at a later time to provide the player with an additional opportunity to access the secondary game.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the secondary game is not accessible by the player again until the criteria for initiating the secondary game has been satisfied again.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the secondary game has a plurality of stages and a user interface of the secondary game includes a depiction of a progress toward a completion of each of the stages by the player.

Assignments (5)
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2018
From: NOWAK, JAMES BRETT; CARNES, SHAWN; KANE, MICHAEL; LEBRETON, EDWARD, IV
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 047377/0600 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13708568 · Dec 7, 2012
Provisional Application 61569190 · Dec 9, 2011
Related Publication 20180353846A1 · Dec 13, 2018