Abstract:
A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which a computing device displays computer game graphics showing a score for a computer game, and in which, one or more of the processors are programmed to: (a) receive the score a player achieves while playing a game; and (b) visually indicate how this score relates to one or multiple pre-defined goals; (c) receive information about the high scores of different players of the game (d) compare the current score of the player, the previous high score of the player and the high scores of the different players; and (e) during the play of the game, visually represent the difference between the current score, the high scores of the different players and the pre-defined goal(s).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/701,907, filed Sep. 17, 2012; UK Application No. 1302121.7, filed Feb. 6, 2013; UK Application No. 1302910.3, filed Feb. 19, 2013; UK Application No. 1304442.5, filed Mar. 12, 2013; UK Application No. 1304444.1, filed Mar. 12, 2013; UK Application No. 1304545.5, filed Mar. 13, 2013; UK Application No. 1306117.1, filed Apr. 4, 2013; UK Application No. 1306118.9, filed Apr. 4, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/811,019, filed Apr. 11, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/818,702, filed May 2, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/827,298, filed May 24, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/832,348, filed Jun. 7, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/832,355, filed Jun. 7, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/832,359, filed Jun. 7, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/832,362, filed Jun. 7, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/832,364, filed Jun. 7, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/832,369, filed Jun. 7, 2013; UK Application No. 1310589.5, filed Jun. 13, 2013; UK Application No. 1310592.9, filed Jun. 13, 2013; UK Application No. 1311119.0, filed Jun. 21, 2013; UK Application No. 1314147.8, filed Aug. 7, 2013; and UK Application No. 1316045.2, filed Sep. 10, 2013, the entire contents of each of which being fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains to the field of score meters in a virtual game, combined with user-information from a social network. 
         [0004]    2. Technical Background 
         [0005]    The invention is intended for use on a device such as a computer or a smartphone. Those skilled in this art will understand that this it is not limited to these devices, but can function on any device capable of incorporating games where this feature could be used. 
         [0006]    A social network game is a type of online game played through social networks, typically featuring multiplayer and asynchronous gameplay mechanics. Social network games are most often implemented as browser games, but can also be implemented on other platforms such as mobile devices. They are amongst the most popular games played in the world, with several such products having tens of millions of players. 
         [0007]    While they share many aspects of traditional video games, social network games often employ additional ones that make them distinct. Historically, they are largely intended to be casual games. 
         [0008]    Early social networking on the World Wide Web began in the form of general online communities. Many of these early communities focused on bringing people together to interact with each other through chat rooms, encouraging users to share personal information and ideas on personal webpages, created with easy-to-use publishing tools and free or inexpensive webspace. Some communities took a different approach by simply having users link to each other via email addresses. In the late 1990s, user profiles became a central feature of social networking sites, allowing users to compile lists of “friends” and search for other users with similar interests. 
         [0009]    New social networking methods were developed by the end of the 1990s, and many sites began to develop more advanced features for users to find and manage friends. This newer generation of social networking sites began to flourish with the emergence of SixDegrees.com in 1997, followed by Makeoutclub in 2000, Hub Culture and Friendster in 2002, and soon became part of the Internet mainstream. Friendster was followed by MySpace and LinkedIn a year later. Facebook, launched in 2004, became the largest social networking site in the world in early 2009. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0010]    The concept of a high score first achieved cultural significance with the rise in popularity of pinball machines and electro-mechanical arcade games. Players who achieve a high score are often able to enter their initials or name into the machine. Their score and name will remain there until someone “knocks” them off the high score list by achieving a higher score. For this reason, high scores are inherently competitive and may sometimes involve one-upmanship against other players. 
         [0011]    The first video game to use the term “high score” was probably Midway&#39;s Sea Wolf (1976). In these early video games, the player would attempt to reach a pre-determined high score within an allotted time period, after which they would win bonus playing time, since it was not possible to save the top score. 
         [0012]    The high score concept changed in 1978 with the release of Taito&#39;s shoot&#39;em up Space Invaders. High scores were determined as gamers played for as long as they could stay alive, while the high scores kept rising. This was made possible by saving the player&#39;s score; and this is the first known game to have done this. 
         [0013]    In recent adaptations, a player&#39;s score is often represented by some kind of gauge during gameplay. 
         [0014]    The use of high score as a tool for comparing the player&#39;s score with those of friends or other players is well suited for games played on social networks. However, the high scores of others are not always readily available, and the player might have to wait until after the game is finished to see such scores. This arguably makes for a less competitive environment, since the player is not informed of his relative performance until after the game is finished, as opposed to knowing what score to beat while still playing. 
         [0015]    The present invention solves this problem by providing users with an easily accessible way of comparing one&#39;s score to that of either friends or other players, while actually playing the game. It provides different ways of presenting the scores of other, and in some implementations the player can choose himself with which players to compare his score. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    A first aspect is: 
         [0017]    A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which a computing device displays computer game graphics showing a score for a computer game, and in which, one or more of the processors are programmed to:
       (a) receive the score a player achieves while playing a game; and   (b) visually indicate how this score relates to one or multiple pre-defined goals;   (c) receive information about the high scores of different players of the game   (d) compare the current score of the player, the previous high score of the player and the high scores of the different players; and   (e) during the play of the game, visually represent the difference between the current score, the high scores of the different players and the pre-defined goal(s).       
 
         [0023]    Any one or more of the following optional features may be included, resulting in a method:
       in which a processor is programmed to receive the high scores of the different players, when gathered from a social network of the user.   in which a processor is programmed so that the pre-defined goals are visually represented by a plurality of stars, more stars indicating a better score.   in which a processor is programmed so that the visual representation of the score of the different players are accompanied by the scored points of those players.   in which a processor is programmed so that the representations of the score of the different players are pictures associated with those players.   in which a processor is programmed so that the representations of the score of the different players are the names of those players.   in which a processor is programmed so that the comparison of scores is done on a relative scale.   in which a processor is programmed so that the comparison of scores is done on an absolute scale.   in which a processor is programmed so that the unit used for comparison is in percentages.   in which a processor is programmed so that the time for completing a level is displayed.   in which a processor is programmed so that the time for completing a level is compared with the time for the different players completing that level.   in which a processor is programmed so that the score of the player is compared to the high score of the different players playing the game.   in which a processor is programmed so that the player&#39;s time for completing a level is compared to all other player&#39;s time for completing that level.   in which a processor is programmed so that the comparison of times for completing a level is done on a relative scale.   in which a processor is programmed so that the comparison of times for completing a level is done on an absolute scale.   in which a processor is programmed so that multiple players can compare their scores with each other   in which the game is played on a handheld device.   in which the game gives an audible output when the player&#39;s current score exceeds a previous score of another player.   in which player is presented with a message about how close he is to pass the performance measure of another player when the player&#39;s performance measure is within a threshold of the other player&#39;s.   in which a processor is programmed to visually represent the difference between the current score, the high scores of the different players and the pre-defined goal by showing a linear bar divided into sections, the long axis corresponding to an increasing score and the boundary between each section corresponding to a different performance level, such as a 1 star, 2 star and 3 star level, and in which the current score is shown as a coloured region of the bar and the different high scores are indicated on the bar.   in which the players are all connected to one another via a social network   in which the different players are friends of the player on the social network   in which the high scores of at least some of the other players are indicated on the bar using a small thumbnail image used by that player on their social network page.   in which the game is a casual, social game, namely a game that can be downloaded as an app to a smartphone and/or tablet computer and which can be accessed or played using a social network application or environment       
 
         [0047]    A second aspect is: 
         [0048]    A computing device adapted to play a computer game, the device including a processor, a memory, a display, a touch screen or a cursor based input device, and computer code stored in device memory or on a remote server and executable by the device processor or a remote processor, and in which the computer code generates computer game graphics for the display on the device; and in which, one or more of the processors are programmed to:
       (a) receive the score a player achieves while playing a game; and   (b) visually indicate how this score relates to one or multiple pre-defined goals;   (c) receive information about the high scores of different players of the game   (d) compare the current score of the player, the previous high score of the player and the high scores of the different players; and   (e) during the play of the game, visually represent the difference between the current score, the high scores of the different players and the pre-defined goal(s).       
 
         [0054]    A third aspect is: 
         [0055]    A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for controlling a computer system to display a game on a display, in which the instructions enable a processor to:
       (a) receive the score a player achieves while playing a game; and   (b) visually indicate how this score relates to one or multiple pre-defined goals;   (c) receive information about the high scores of different players of the game   (d) compare the current score of the player, the previous high score of the player and the high scores of the different players; and   (e) during the play of the game, visually represent the difference between the current score, the high scores of the different players and the pre-defined goal(s).       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0061]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic picture of a computer. 
           [0062]      FIG. 2  shows the interaction between a server, a network and a client device. 
           [0063]      FIG. 3  shows a game in progress without indications of other players&#39; scores 
           [0064]      FIG. 4  shows a game in progress with indications of other players&#39; scores. 
           [0065]      FIG. 5  shows a game in progress with indications of other players&#39; scores. 
           [0066]      FIG. 6  shows a game in progress without indications of other players&#39; scores. 
           [0067]      FIG. 7  shows a game in progress with indications of other players&#39; scores. 
           [0068]      FIG. 8  shows a game in progress with indications of other players&#39; scores. 
           [0069]      FIG. 9  shows a game in progress with indications of other players&#39; average scores. 
           [0070]      FIG. 10  shows a game in progress with indications of other players&#39; average scores. 
           [0071]      FIG. 11  shows a finished game with indications of other players&#39; scores. 
           [0072]      FIG. 12  shows a game in progress with indication of other players&#39; scores. 
           [0073]      FIG. 13  shows a finished game with an indication of average scores. 
           [0074]      FIG. 14  shows one implementation of a game incorporating the invention. 
           [0075]      FIG. 15  shows one implementation of a game incorporating the invention. 
           [0076]      FIG. 16  shows an in-game screenshot of a game incorporating the invention. 
           [0077]      FIG. 17  shows a magnified in-game picture of the star meter within one implementation of a game incorporating the invention. 
           [0078]      FIG. 18  shows a magnified in-game picture of the star meter within one implementation of a game incorporating the invention. 
           [0079]      FIG. 19  shows a magnified in-game picture of the star meter within one implementation of a game incorporating the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0080]    In the following description of various implementations of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which are shown by illustration various implementations in which the invention may be utilized. It is to be understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0081]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic picture of a computing device, containing a Central Processing Unit and Random Access Memory. The CPU acts according to input given from input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse or touchscreen. Computer BUSes are used to communicate, both between input devices and the CPU, but also between different controllers within the computer device, such as the graphics controller and the network controller. These controllers in turn communicate with external devices, such as a monitor for video output with which the graphics controller communicates, and the network controller communicates with for instance the internet, through either wireless or wired connection. 
         [0082]      FIG. 2  portrays an exemplary overall environment in which the present invention can be utilized. A virtual game is stored on, for instance, a game server  210 . The virtual game is to be played on a client device, such as a computer  240 ,  250  or a smartphone  260 . The client device communicates with the game server  210  and a social network  230 , for instance through the Internet  220 . It should be understood that the social network  230  and the game server  210  does not have to be located in different places, they could be on the same server. An environment where the invention may be implemented is described in PCT/EP2013/060641 which is hereby incorporated by reference. People skilled in the art will understand that devices other than the exemplary ones listed can also be used, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0083]      FIG. 3  shows one implementation of the invention, when there is no available reference data from other players. The first part of the meter  305  reflects the current score of a game in progress. Signs such as stars,  315 ,  320 ,  325  can be used to indicate when a certain level of score has been reached. In one implementation, there are three levels of scores that are represented by one, two and three stars respectively. When a player passes a certain score level during the play of a game, that can be visually represented by the indicator of that score level being lit up such as star  315  is in the figure. The second part of the score meter  310  shows the best previous result of the player in a particular level of the game. This can be accompanied by, for instance, an encouraging message  340 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 4  shows an implementation of the invention where there is reference data from other players available. The present invention has ways of displaying indications of other players&#39; previous scores, score indications, for instance through the use of pictures  330  associated with those players. These pictures can be accompanied by additional information, such as the absolute score that those players scored. It should be understood that other data can also be shown in relation to the score indications of other players, such as how long ago that score was achieved or how many tries it took to achieve it.  FIG. 5  shows a similar implementation to the one depicted in  FIG. 4 , but here there is no additional information accompanying the pictures associated with other players. 
         [0085]    It should be understood that the invention is not limited to using stored scores to show the performance of other players. In one implementation, players can see the scores of other players currently playing the same level while they are playing it, making it so that the indications of other players&#39; scores can be moving in real time during the play of a game. 
         [0086]      FIG. 6  shows another implementation of the present invention where time is measured instead of score, and where no information related to other players is used to compare with. People skilled in the art will recognise that measurement of time and score are not mutually exclusive, in other implementations both could be shown at the same time. Other variables than time and score can also be measured, such as the amount of times a player has played a level. 
         [0087]    As in the implementation showing sore, the meter can have one portion  305  indicating the current time and another portion indicating the player&#39;s previously best time  310 . This can also be represented by an absolute value  405 . An encouraging message  410  can be shown in relation to for instance the player&#39;s previously best result. 
         [0088]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show two implementations of the invention where time is a measured variable and in which reference data from other players is available. The two shown implementations have score indications of other players  415 , but unlike  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the score indications is related to time instead of points. 
         [0089]      FIG. 9  shows another exemplary implementation of the invention. In this implementation, the player can compare himself with the average scores of players having played the same level previously. These average scores can for instance be shown in percentages  505 ,  510 ,  515 . In some implementations, the player can choose to compare himself to for instance the average score of all players having played the level, friends from a social network, or to a select list of friends from a social network. 
         [0090]    The representation of different score levels can be done in other ways than stars. For instance, the numeral value of a score  520 ,  525 ,  530  can be used to represent the different levels of scores, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0091]    In one implementation, a result will be displayed to the player upon finishing a level.  FIG. 11  depicts one type of message  535  indicating how the player performed compared to other players who have previously played the level. In other implementations, the type of indication can be something other than the relative performance, such as the absolute score or the number of stars achieved. The basis for comparison can also differ, for instance it can be the result of a certain player, the average results of all players previously having played the level, or the average result of all friends from a social network. 
         [0092]      FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  show two other implementations where the players score is compared with the average scores of other players, but in these implementations time is used rather than points. The current time of a player  605 , or score or other variables in other implementations, can be displayed during the play of a game.  FIG. 13  shows another implementation of a message indicating the performance of a player  610 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 14  shows a typical implementation where the invention is used in a ‘Match  3 ’-game. The score meter  705  is vertical, as opposed to horizontal in the previous figures. However, it should be understood that it can be implemented in any number of other ways as well, such as slightly tilted or diagonally. Indicators are showing the number of moves left  710  and the current score of a player  715  can be displayed together with the score meter.  FIG. 15  shows another typical implementation of the invention in a game environment. 
         [0094]      FIG. 16  shows an exemplary ‘Match  3 ’-game in which the invention is implemented.  FIG. 17  is a magnified picture of the score meter from the in-game screenshot with a score indication of another player  1005 .  FIG. 18  shows one implementation in which the score and the name of a player  1010  is shown by hovering over the score indication related to that player. There can be other information shown, for instance a nickname instead of a real name and the number of moves that player used to complete the level instead of the score. It should also be understood that hovering over the indication is only one way of implementing the invention. Other mechanisms to trigger the display of information can for instance be after a set period of time or when the player has used a certain amount of moves.  FIG. 19  shows a similar implementation to  FIG. 18 , but where reference data from more players is available and subsequently more score indications  1005  for other players are shown.