Method and system for determining a frustration profile of a player on an online game and using the frustration profile to enhance the online experience of the player

Abstract

An online gaming website monitors indicators that a player waiting to play an online game is becoming frustrated, and generates a frustration profile for the player based on the indicators. The frustration profile is utilized to decrease the time that the player waits to play an online game, such as by changing the player's position on a queue for play of the game, or by offering an alternative game compatible with the player's gaming interests, which if selected by the player would decrease the player's waiting time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]In an online game, several individuals join one another, in cyberspace, to play a game whose features match the gaming objectives specified by each of the individuals. For example, an individual may desire to play one brand of game and another individual may desire to play another brand of game. Moreover, two individuals may want to play the same game but have different preferences, such as a particular game map or weapons.[0002]In a typical online game implementation, an individual desiring to play an online game accesses, over a communications network such as the Internet, a communications network site, such as an Internet website, hosting online games. After the individual supplies identification information to the website, the individual (player) supplies his preferences for the type of game the player desires to play, such as number of players desired for game play, map, type of game, time length for game play, etc. Typically, the website hosts ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In accordance with the present invention, indicators of the frustration of an individual waiting to play an online game are monitored and then evaluated to generate a frustration profile for the individual. The frustration profile is then utilized to decrease the waiting time of the player in a waiting room, which avoids the player becoming frustrated when waiting to play an online game and enhances the overall online gaming experience of the player.

Problems solved by technology

It has been found that, when the wait for a game becomes too long, such as more than a few minutes, some players become impatient and potentially frustrated with the online gaming experience.

The frustration, for example, may cause the player to exit the waiting room of the host website.

Furthermore, if the player experiences frustration many times when waiting to play online games, the player may stop playing online games altogether.

Thus, the frustration a player experiences when waiting to play an online game may impact the success of a website hosting online games, or the viability of the entire online gaming industry.

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