IP Library Granted Patent US 11,351,461
Granted Patent B2
US 11,351,461 · App. 16/901,864 · Granted Jun 7, 2022

Adaptive object placement in computer-implemented games

Inventor: Massimo Maietti (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Zynga Inc.
A63F13/69A63F13/31A63F13/58A63F13/795A63F13/847A63F13/87A63F13/32A63F13/327A63F13/33A63F13/332A63F13/335A63F2300/575
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,351,461
App. No.
16/901,864
Granted
Jun 7, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for an Alliance Engine. The Alliance Engine receives a selection, by a first player, of a first tile to be controlled by a first enforcer asset on behalf of the first player. The first tile provides access to a first type of in-game resource to the first player. The Alliance Engine detects the first tile is adjacent to a second tile. The second tile is controlled by a second enforcer asset on behalf of a second player. The first player and the second player belong to a player alliance. The second tile providing access to a second type of in-game resource to the second player. Based on the detected adjacency, the Alliance Engine transfers a portion of the first type of in-game resource of the first tile to the second player. The Alliance Engine transfers a portion of the second type of in-game resource of the second tile to the first player.

Claims (39)

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory device holding an instruction set executable on the processor to cause the computer-system to perform operations comprising:

generating a game instance for a multiplayer online game, the game instance providing a game area divided into multiple tiles, respective user-controlled assets being selectively placeable on user-selected tiles;

receiving a selection, by a first player, of a first tile to be controlled by a first enforcer asset on behalf of the first player, the first tile providing access to a first type of in-game resource to the first player;

detecting that the first tile is adjacent to a second tile, the second tile controlled by a second enforcer asset on behalf of a second player, the first player and the second player belonging in common to a player alliance, the second tile providing access to a second type of in-game resource to the second player;

based on the detected adjacency and based on the first player and the second player belonging to the player alliance, automatically presenting to the first player a selectable option to transfer in-game resources of the first type to the second player; and

in response to and conditional on selection by the first player of the selectable option, transferring a quantum of the first type of in-game resource to the second player.

2. The computer system as in claim 1 , wherein the quantum of the first type of in-game resource is calculated as a portion of a totality of resources of the first type available via the first tile.

3. The computer system as in claim 2 , wherein the instruction set causes the computer system to perform further operations comprising:

presenting to the second player a selectable option to transfer in-game resources of the second type to the first player; and

in response to and conditional on selection by the second player of the selectable option presented to the second player, transferring a quantum of the second type of in-game resource to the first player.

4. The computer system as in claim 1 , wherein the instruction set causes the computer system to perform further operations comprising:

updating an adaptive resource property of the first tile based in part on a current strength level of the first enforcer asset, thereby increasing an amount of the first type of in-game resource available to the first player from the first tile via the first enforcer asset.

5. The computer system as in claim 1 , wherein the instruction set causes the computer system to perform further operations comprising:

based on the detected adjacency and based on the first and second player belonging to the player alliance, automatically changing an adaptive visual display property for both the first tile and the second tile.

6. The computer system as in claim 5 , wherein changing an adaptive visual display property of a pair of respective adjacent tiles comprises concurrently adjusting a size of the enforcer assets on both respective adjacent tiles.

7. The computer system as in claim 5 , wherein changing an adaptive visual display property of a pair of respective adjacent tiles comprises concurrently adjusting a color of both respective adjacent tiles.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

in an automated operation performed by one or more computer processor devices configured therefor, generating a game instance for a multiplayer online game, the game instance providing a game area divided into multiple tiles, respective user-controlled assets being selectively placeable on user-selected tiles;

receiving a selection, by a first player, of a first tile to be controlled by a first enforcer asset on behalf of the first player, the first tile providing access to a first type of in-game resource to the first player;

detecting that the first tile is adjacent to a second tile, the second tile being controlled by a second enforcer asset on behalf of a second player, the first player and the second player belonging in common to a player alliance, the second tile providing access to a second type of in-game resource to the second player;

based on the detected adjacency and based on the first player and the second player belonging to the player alliance, automatically presenting to the first player a selectable option to transfer in-game resources of the first type to the second player; and

in response to and conditional on selection by the first player of the selectable option, transferring a quantum of the first type of in-game resource to the second player.

9. The method as in claim 8 , wherein the quantum of the first type of in-game resource is calculated as a portion of a totality of resources of the first type available via the first tile.

10. The method as in claim 9 , further comprising:

presenting to the second player a selectable option to transfer in-game resources of the second type to the first player; and

in response to and conditional on selection by the second player of the selectable option presented to the second player, transferring a quantum of the second type of in-game resource to the first player.

11. The method as in claim 8 , further comprising updating an adaptive resource property of the first tile based in part on a current strength level of the first enforcer asset, thereby increasing an amount of the first type of in-game resource available to the first player from the first tile via the first enforcer asset.

12. The method as in claim 8 , further comprising:

based on the detected adjacency and based on the first and second player belonging to the player alliance, automatically changing an adaptive visual display property for both the first tile and the second tile.

13. The method as in claim 12 , wherein changing an adaptive visual display property of a pair of respective adjacent tiles comprises concurrently adjusting a size of the enforcer assets on both respective adjacent tiles.

14. The method as in claim 12 , wherein changing an adaptive visual display property of a pair of respective adjacent tiles comprises concurrently adjusting a color of both respective adjacent tiles.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating a game instance for a multiplayer online game, the game instance providing a game area divided into multiple tiles, respective user-controlled assets being selectively placeable on user-selected tiles;

receiving a selection, by a first player, of a first tile to be controlled by a first enforcer asset on behalf of the first player, the first tile providing access to a first type of in-game resource to the first player;

detecting that the first tile is adjacent to a second tile, the second tile being controlled by a second enforcer asset on behalf of a second player, the first player and the second player belonging in common to a player alliance, the second tile providing access to a second type of in-game resource to the second player;

based on the detected adjacency and based on the first player and the second player belonging to the player alliance, automatically presenting to the first player a selectable option to transfer in-game resources of the first type to the second player; and

in response to and conditional on selection by the first player of the selectable option, transferring a quantum of the first type of in-game resource to the second player.

Assignments (2)
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 →