System and method for encoding compressed map information for a game map using a quadrant based PNG image file

1. A system configured to encode, in an image file, map information used to define an array of map tiles forming a game map that is navigated during gameplay, the system comprising:

one or more physical processors configured to execute computer readable instructions; and

memory storing computer readable instructions configured to cause the one or more physical processors to:

obtain the map information, which specifies tile information for individual ones of the map tiles;

represent the tile information for individual ones of the map tiles as numerical values;

use an image format to encode the numerical values that represent the tile information for the individual tiles, wherein the image format accommodates a plurality of numerical values for individual pixels to specify levels for a plurality of base colors in a color space on a per pixel basis, and wherein the encoding includes recording the numerical values that represent the tile information for individual ones of the map tiles as the plurality of numerical values for the individual pixels such that the numerical values that would ordinarily correspond to an individual pixel correspond to the tile information;

generate the image file comprising the encoded numerical values; and

communicate the image file, wherein the image file is used to convey at least a portion of the game map.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of numerical values for an individual pixel comprises a red color value, a green color value, a blue color value, and a transparency value that specifies a pixel of the image file.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the red color value, the green color value, the blue color value, and the transparency value each comprise a range of values from 0 to 255.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the numerical values comprise at least two distinct numerical values that specify different aspects of the game map, wherein the map information formatting module is further configured to:

use the red color value, the green color value, the blue color value, or the transparency value to encode a first one of the at least two distinct numerical values; and

use a different one of the red color value, the green color value, the blue color value, or the transparency value than used by the first one of the at least two distinct numerical values to encode a second one of the at least two distinct numerical values.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the at least two distinct numerical values each specify a map tile that together with other map tiles forms the game map.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least two distinct numerical values together specify a single map tile that together with other map tiles forms the game map.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the different aspects of the game map one or more map tile characteristics comprising a tile level, a game environment, a level characteristic, an enemy camp, an enemy type, an enemy characteristic, a reward, an item find, or a special logic for tiles.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the numerical values comprise a first numerical value, a second numerical value, a third numerical value, and a fourth numerical value that each specify different aspects of the game map, the map information formatting module further configured to:

use the red color value to encode the first numerical value;

use the green color value to encode the second numerical value;

use the blue color value to encode the third numerical value; and

use the transparent color value to encode the fourth numerical value.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first numerical value represents a first map tile, the second numerical value represents a second map tile, the third numerical value represents a third map tile, and the fourth numerical value represents a fourth map tile.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first map tile, the second map tile, the third map tile, and the fourth map tile are adjacent to one another on the game map.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first map tile, the second map tile, the third map tile, and the fourth map tile are each on different quadrants of the game map.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the red color value is used to specify a first quadrant, the green color value is used to specify a second quadrant, the blue color value is used to specify a third quadrant, and the transparency value is used to specify the fourth quadrant.

13. A computer-implemented method of encoding, in an image file, map information used to specify a game map that is navigated during gameplay, the method being implemented in a computer that includes one or more processors configured to execute computer readable instructions and memory storing computer readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the one or more processors, the map information, which specifies tile information for individual ones of the map tiles;

represent, by the one or more processors, the tile information for individual ones of the map tiles as numerical values;

encoding, by the one or more processors, the numerical values that represent the tile information for the individual tiles as an image format that accommodates a plurality of numerical values for individual pixels to specify levels for a plurality of base colors in a color space on a per pixel basis, and wherein the encoding includes recording the numerical values that represent the tile information for individual ones of the map tiles as the plurality of numerical values for the individual pixels such that the numerical values that would ordinarily correspond to an individual pixel correspond to the tile information;

generate, by the one or more processors, the image file comprising the encoded numerical values; and

communicating, by the one or more processors, wherein the image file is used to convey at least a portion of the game map.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of numerical values for an individual pixel comprises a red color value, a green color value, a blue color value, and a transparency value that specifies a pixel of the image file.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the red color value, the green color value, the blue color value, and the transparency value each comprise a range of values from 0 to 255.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the numerical values comprise at least two distinct numerical values that specify different aspects of the game map, the method further comprising:

using, by the map information formatting module, the red color value, the green color value, the blue color value, or the transparency value to encode a first one of the at least two distinct numerical values; and

using, by the map information formatting module, a different one of the red color value, the green color value, the blue color value, or the transparency value than used by the first one of the at least two distinct numerical values to encode a second one of the at least two distinct numerical values.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein each of the at least two distinct numerical values each specify a map tile that together with other map tiles forms the game map.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least two distinct numerical values together specify a single map tile that together with other map tiles forms the game map.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the different aspects of the game map one or more map tile characteristics comprising a tile level, a game environment, a level characteristic, an enemy camp, an enemy type, an enemy characteristic, a reward, an item find, or a special logic for tiles.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the numerical values comprise a first numerical value, a second numerical value, a third numerical value, and a fourth numerical value that each specify different aspects of the game map, the method further comprising:

using, by the map information formatting module, the red color value to encode the first numerical value;

using, by the map information formatting module, the green color value to encode the second numerical value;

using, by the map information formatting module, the blue color value to encode the third numerical value; and

using, by the map information formatting module, the transparent color value to encode the fourth numerical value.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first numerical value represents a first map tile, the second numerical value represents a second map tile, the third numerical value represents a third map tile, and the fourth numerical value represents a fourth map tile.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first map tile, the second map tile, the third map tile, and the fourth map tile are adjacent to one another on the game map.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first map tile, the second map tile, the third map tile, and the fourth map tile are each on different quadrants of the game map.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the red color value is used to specify a first quadrant, the green color value is used to specify a second quadrant, the blue color value is used to specify a third quadrant, and the transparency value is used to specify the fourth quadrant.