Summary:
Smart Phones have allowed people to play games anywhere. U.S. Patent No. 8,282,491 (the '491 Patent) describes a method and system for giving in-game rewards to players for performing an action at a physical location. The game may give a player in-game currency for scanning the receipt for coffee from Starbucks. The '491 Patent relates more to how the game determines the reward for the player, than how the game determines a player's location. Rewards are determined based on the player's demographic information, how often the player visits the location, how often the player buys something from the location.

Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing game-based incentives to users of online games as a reward for performing actions at physical locations are provided.

Illustrative Claim:
1. A method comprising: accessing a game state of one or more computer-implemented games associated with a user; determining, using at least one processor of a machine, an incentive reward for the user based at least in part on the game state of the one or more computer-implemented games, the incentive reward being an in-game asset in the one or more computer-implemented games; determining a location-based action for the user based at least in part on the game state of the one or more computer-implemented games, the location-based action being an action performable by the user at a physical location that is external to the one or more games; and transmitting, to a device associated with the user, a message comprising a description of the location-based action, a description of the incentive reward, and an offer of the incentive reward for performing the location-based action at the physical location.


Researched By: Andrew F. Thomas

Abstract:
A system and method to facilitate moves in a word game includes a game asset distribution module that adjusts the respective distribution weights of letters in a set of alphabet letters. The letters are distributed to players in a word game with a probability proportional to the distribution weights. The game asset distribution module includes an analysis module to analyze the game board, lists of playable words, player skill levels, and relationships of particular letters in word formations. Accordingly, distribution weights of the letters are adjusted in order to facilitate allocation to the player of those letters which will facilitate word formation, ensure at least a minimum playable word experience, and enhance an overall user experience, even amongst players with significantly different skill levels.

Illustrative Claim:

Researched By: Andrew F. Thomas

Summary: 
U.S. Patent No. 9,044,680 (the '680 Patent) describes a method for two players to interact in certain online games. The type of game depicted in the patent is a city building that could be found on Facebook or the free-to-play versions on iOS. The '680 Patent specifically relates to the ability to invite friends to help progress the game. A friend can help complete a building or generate income depending on the task assigned to the friend. Both players need to be playing the game for the invitation to be sent. A player accepting the invitation will obtain an in-game reward for helping.

Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing an online game. One method includes an operation for executing a first game board for a first user and a second game board for a second user. The first game board is created when the first user plays the game for the first time and the second game board is created when the second user plays the game for the first time. The method further includes operations for detecting a visit by the second user to the first game board, and for detecting a request by the second user to place a game asset in the first game board. The game asset is installed in the first game board when the first user approves the request, and the second user obtains one or more game rewards when the first user interacts with the game asset while playing the online game.

Illustrative Claim:
1. A method for processing game operations during execution of an online game, the method comprising: executing, by a game server, a first game board for a first user and a second game board for a second user, wherein the first game board is created when the first user plays the online game for a first time and the second game board is created when the second user plays the online game for a first time; establishing, by a live interaction server, a synchronous mode of play when the first user and the second user play the online game at a same time, and an asynchronous mode of play when the first user and the second user are not playing the online game at the same time; sending from the live interaction server to the game server information identifying if the first user and the second user are in synchronous mode; detecting, while in synchronous mode, a visit by the second user to the first game board and a request by the second user to place a game asset of the second user in the first game board of the first user; presenting, while in synchronous mode, to the first user in the first game board an option to approve the request; and installing the game asset in the first game board when the first user approves the request, wherein the second user obtains one or more game rewards when the first user interacts with the game asset while playing the online game, wherein operations of the method are executed by a processor.

Researched By: Andrew F. Thomas

On July 2, 2012, Plaintiff Gametek filed a notice of voluntary dismissal against Defendants Facebook, Inc.;  Facebook Operations, LLC; Facebook Payments, Inc. and Facebook Services, Inc.

On December 7, 2012, the Court dismissed the claims against Defendants Cie Games, CrowdStar, EA, Funzio, Zygna, Digital Chocolate, 6Waves, and RockYou.

This case was terminated on April 8, 2014, following a settlement conference. All claims and counterclaims were dismissed with prejudice between Plaintiff Gametek LLC and Defendant Big Viking Games, Inc.

Gametek filed suit against 21 companies including Facebook, Electronic Arts, and Zynga. Gametek alleged the companies infringed its patent for virtual currency and payment system incorporating items bought and used in-game. Gametek sought damages and injunction through this lawsuit. The patent-in-suit was U.S. Patent 7,076,445.

The original post can be found here.

This case was terminated on October 25, 2013. All claims and counterclaims were dismissed with prejudice subject to a settlement agreement dated October 18, 2013.

Promotional Technologies sued Facebook and Zynga for patent infringement.  Promotional alleged that Facebook and Zynga infringed its patent through their games Farmville, MafiaWars, and other online games offering virtual prizes. The patent-in-suit is U.S. Patent 6,749,511  and it relates to an online game designed to promote websites through a host website that launches the promotional applet. The purpose of the system is to promote websites by encouraging users to revisit them by offering prizes.

The original post of the case is located here.

Anyone who thinks games aren't big business, think again. Zynga today (July 1, 2011) filed for a $1 BILLION dollar IPO! Unlike many of its fellow much-buzzed-about Web upstarts, Zynga is solidly profitable. In 2010, the company had a $90.6 million profit on sales of $597 million, according to its SEC filing. In the first three months of 2011, Zynga earned $11.8 million on sales of $235.4 million.
Zynga said it has 60 million daily active users, who collectively spend 2 billion minutes each day playing its games.

Walker Digital, LLC, a self-professed “invention” company who claims to hold over 500 patents, has filed suit against Activision, Inc., Activision Blizzard, Inc. and Zynga, Inc. In the complaint, Walker Digital alleges that the defendants’ games infringe upon U.S. Patent No. 6,425,828, entitled “Database Driven Online Distributed Tournament System.” The patent claims priority to 1998, and its first claim reads as follows:

1. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players, comprising:

exchanging information between a central controller and a player located remotely from the central controller, the information (i) being exchanged while the player plays a game in the tournament and (ii) influencing game play; and

storing in a database player information associated with the player, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament to influence game play of the subsequent tournament while the player is playing a subsequent game in the subsequent tournament.

The complaint alleges infringement by a litany of games, including (among others) Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (1 and 2), Call of Duty: World at War, Blur, DJ Hero 2, Cabela’s North American Adventures, and World of Warcraft (and its expansions packs), and Zynga’s Mafia Wars, Vampire Wars, Fashion Wars and Street Racing.

We’ll keep you posted on this one. The case caption is Walker Digital, LLC v. Activision et al., No. 1:11-cv-00004 (D. Del. filed Jan. 3, 2011).