Custom game boards

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254443-B1
Application number	US-201213436112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2012
Priority date	Mar 30, 2012
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing custom features in a game is provided. A themed game board associated with a first set of rules of a computer-implemented game is generated. The first set of rules relates to a theme of the themed game board and is different than a second set of rules associated with a game board without a theme. Game board display data is provided to a first client device of a first player to display the themed game board. A move on the themed game board is received from the first client device, and a score associated with the move is generated. The score is based on the first set of rules relating to the theme, where the score is different than a score associated with the move on the game board without a theme.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented, tangible method operable at a server, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a third party to provide a themed game board to a first player, the request provided in response to the first player participating in a promotional activity offered by the third party, the promotional activity comprising player interaction with sponsored content;
generating, using a hardware processor, the themed game board associated with a first set of rules of a computer-implemented game, the first set of rules relating to a theme of the themed game board and being different than a second set of rules associated with a game board without any theme;
providing, to a first client device of the first player, in response to receiving the request, game board display data to display the themed game board;
receiving, from the first client device, a move on the themed game board; and
generating a score associated with the move, the score being based on the first set of rules relating to the theme, the score being different than a score associated with the move on the game board without any theme.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer-implemented game is configured to allow gameplay such that a turn of each player playing the computer-implemented game is taken in a manner that is unrestricted by a time limit.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the game board display data includes providing aesthetic display data to display aesthetic features relating to the theme.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the aesthetic features include a particular shape of the themed game board, the particular shape relating to the theme.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing, to the first client device, sound effects relating to the theme.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer-implemented game is a word-forming game and wherein the first set of rules includes rules relating to a set of words playable on the themed game board, the set of words relating to the theme.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first client device of the first player, a selection of the theme from a list of themes available to the first player, wherein generating the themed game board is performed in response to receiving the selection.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing the theme in the list of themes available to the first player.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first client device, a payment relating to a purchase of the theme.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable, tangible storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:
receiving a request from a third party to provide a themed game board to a first player, the request provided in response to the first player participating in a promotional activity offered by the third party, the promotional activity comprising player interaction with sponsored content;
generating the themed game board associated with a first set of rules of a computer-implemented game, the first set of rules relating to a theme of the themed game board and being different than a second set of rules associated with a game board without any theme;
providing, to a first client device of the first player, in response to receiving the request, game board display data to display the themed game board;
receiving, from the first client device, a move on the themed game board; and
generating a score associated with the move, the score being based on the first set of rules relating to the theme, the score being different than a score associated with the move on the game board without any theme.

11. The computer-readable, tangible storage medium of claim 10 , wherein providing the game board display data includes providing aesthetic display data to display aesthetic features relating to the theme.

12. The computer-readable, tangible storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the aesthetic features include a particular shape of the themed game board, the particular shape relating to the theme.

13. The computer-implemented, tangible storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the computer-implemented game is a word-forming game and wherein the first set of rules includes rules relating to a set of words playable on the themed game board, the set of words relating to the theme.

14. A game networking system, comprising:
a hardware-implemented theme mechanics module configured to manage rules associated with themes of a computer-implemented game, the rules including a first set of rules relating to a theme and a second set of rules associated with a game board without any theme;
a hardware-implemented receiver configured to receive a request from a third party to provide a themed game board to a first player, the request provided in response to the first player participating in a promotional activity offered by the third party, the promotional activity comprising player interaction with sponsored content;
a hardware-implemented game engine configured to generate the themed game board associated with the first set of rules relating to the theme of the themed game board, the first set of rules being different than the second set of rules associated with the game board without any theme;
a hardware-implemented display module configured to provide, to a first client device of the first player, in response to receiving the request, game board display data to display the themed game board; and
a hardware-implemented user input module configured to receive, from the first client device, a move on the themed game board, wherein the game engine is further configured to generate a score associated with the move, the score being based on the first set of rules relating to the theme, the score being different than a score associated with the move on the game board without any theme.

15. The game networking system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a hardware-implemented theme aesthetics module configured to manage aesthetics associated with the themes of the computer-implemented game, wherein the game board display data includes aesthetic display data to display aesthetic features relating to the theme.

16. The game networking system of claim 15 , wherein the aesthetics include sound effects associated with the themes of the computer-implemented game.

17. The game networking system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-implemented game is a word-forming game and wherein the first set of rules includes rules relating to a set of words playable on the themed game board, the set of words relating to the theme.

18. The game networking system of claim 14 , wherein the game engine is further configured to receive, from the first client device, a selection of the theme from a list of themes available to the first player, wherein the themed game board is generated in response to receiving the selection.

19. The game networking system of claim 18 , wherein the game engine is further configured to provide the theme in the list of themes available to the first player.

20. The game networking system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a hardware-implemented promotion module configured to receive, from a third party, a request to create the theme.

Assignees

• Graham M Ian
• Chu Ya-Bing
• Allred Jr Randall William
• Delbuck Christopher
• Chao Jonathan Sheng
• Loktev Vladimir
• Schloss Amanda Carrico
• Allison Seth Alexander
• Cantor Andres
• Zynga Inc

Inventors

• Graham M Ian
• Chu Ya-Bing
• Allred Jr Randall William
• Delbuck Christopher
• Chao Jonathan Sheng
• Loktev Vladimir
• Schloss Amanda Carrico
• Allison Seth Alexander
• Cantor Andres

Classifications

• A63F13/61 Primary

  using advertising information · CPC title

• A63F13/35 Primary

  Details of game servers · CPC title

• A63F13/60

  Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor · CPC title

• A63F3/00895 Primary

  Accessories for board games (A63F3/00697 takes precedence; game accessories of general use A63F11/00) · CPC title

• A63F2003/00996

  Board games available as video games · CPC title