Automated game modification based on playing style

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148057-B2
Application number	US-202016738474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2020
Priority date	Sep 10, 2014
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method to modify a game based on playing style is provided. Player-specific playing style information that indicates one or more attributes of a playing style of a player is accessed. The playing style information is based on gameplay behavior of the player. Game parameters that defines at least some aspects of a game level forming part of the game is accessed. In an automated operation one or more of the game parameters are modified, thereby a difficulty of the game level for the player based on the one or more playing style attributes is modified. The modified game parameters are caused to be presented on a client device associated with the player of the game level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
accessing playing style information that defines a player-specific playing style of a player of a computer-implemented game in which gameplay comprises word-forming actions, the playing style information being based on historic gameplay behavior of the player and being indicative of one or more word types favored by the player;
in an automated operation that is based at least in part on the playing style information and that is performed using one or more computer processor devices configured therefor, modifying one or more game parameters for a game instance specific to the player, thereby to provide a player-specific customized difficulty of the game instance for the player based on the respective defined playing style; and
causing presentation on a client device associated with the player of the game instance in accordance with the one or more modified game parameters.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the playing style of the player by performing automated analysis of the historic gameplay behavior of the player.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more game parameters are respective game level parameters specific to a particular game level; and
wherein the historic gameplay behavior includes gameplay actions performed by the player during playing of the particular game level.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modifying of the one or more game parameters effects a change in a board structure of a gameboard on which words are to be formed during gameplay.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modifying of the one or more game parameters effects a change in board geometry of a gameboard on which words are to be formed during gameplay.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more word types indicated by the playing style information includes words having vowels as a majority of letters.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more word types indicated by the playing style information includes words with particular suffixes favored by the player.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more word types indicated by the playing style information includes words with particular prefixes favored by the player.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more word types indicated by the playing style information includes words without a particular letter disfavored by the player.

10. A system comprising:
a one or more computer processor devices; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processor devices, configure the system to perform operations comprising:
accessing playing style information that defines a player-specific playing style of a player of a computer-implemented game in which gameplay comprises word-forming actions, the playing style information being based on historic gameplay behavior of the player and being indicative of one or more word types favored by the player;
modifying one or more game parameters for a game instance specific to the player, thereby to provide a player-specific customized difficulty of the game instance for the player based on the respective defined playing style; and
causing presentation on a client device associated with the player of the game instance in accordance with the one or more modified game parameters.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further configure the system to determine the playing style of the player by performing automated analysis of the historic gameplay behavior of the player.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions configure the system to determine the playing style of the player by assigning, based on the historic gameplay behavior, a respective weight to each of a plurality of behavior patterns defining respective word types employed during gameplay, thereby to generate a weighted set of behavior patterns that together define the playing style of the player.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more game parameters correspond to the plurality of behavior patterns, the modify of the one or more game parameters comprising modifying respective weights of the one or more game parameters based on the weighted set of behavior patterns.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the one or more game parameters are respective game level parameters specific to a particular game level; and
wherein the historic gameplay behavior is provided by gameplay actions performed by the player prior to starting gameplay in the particular game level.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the one or more game parameters are respective game level parameters specific to a particular game level; and
wherein the historic gameplay behavior includes gameplay actions performed by the player during playing of the particular game level.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further configure the system to:
monitor current performance by the player in the game;
compare the current performance of the player with a predefined performance target; and
in response to determining a discrepancy between the current performance and the performance target, perform the modifying of the one or more game parameters.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the modifying of the one or more game parameters effects a change in a board structure of a gameboard on which words are to be formed during gameplay.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the modifying of the one or more game parameters effects a change in board geometry of a gameboard on which words are to be formed during gameplay.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
accessing playing style information that defines a player-specific playing style of a player of a computer-implemented game in which gameplay comprises word-forming actions, the playing style information being based on historic gameplay behavior of the player and being indicative of one or more word types favored by the player;
modifying one or more game parameters for a game instance specific to the player, thereby to provide a player-specific customized difficulty of the game instance for the player based on the respective defined playing style; and
causing presentation on a client device associated with the player of the game instance in accordance with the one or more modified game parameters.

Assignees

• Zynga Inc

Inventors

• Ntoulas Alexandros
• Zakrzewski Jeffrey
• Tabay Oliver Attila
• Yamazaki Yuko
• Chong Paul Yih Yarng

Classifications

• A63F13/30

  Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers · CPC title

• A63F13/79

  involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories · CPC title

• A63F13/67 Primary

  adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use · CPC title

• A63F3/0423

  Word games, e.g. scrabble (electric A63F3/0421; two-dimensional puzzles with rotating rings or discs A63F9/0811, A63F9/0819) · CPC title

• A63F13/33

  using wide area network [WAN] connections · CPC title