Gaming Social Network Expansion via Player Matching Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Players in online social games often struggle to progress due to limited social connections, as they require friends to complete missions and tasks, leading to frustration and potential abandonment of the game.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for expanding gaming social networks by determining selection rules to identify and link players with potential friends outside their existing social network, using filtering servers and game servers to present and initiate connections based on selected criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If players are required to have friends from existing social networks to progress in the game, then game progress is enabled through social collaboration, but players with few friends or no friends in the game cannot complete missions and may abandon the game
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the friend selection process into two distinct modes: traditional mode (selecting from existing social networks) and discovery mode (discovering new players outside social networks). This segmentation allows players to choose the mode that suits their situation, enabling game progress for both players with existing friends and isolated players.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (the game platform's player matching system) that facilitates connections between players who don't have pre-existing social relationships. This intermediary enables players to find and connect with suitable game partners based on game-related criteria rather than relying solely on external social networks.
2Ease of operation
If the game integrates with online social networks to leverage friendship connections, then player engagement is enhanced through existing social relationships, but players are limited to their existing social circle and cannot expand their gaming network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the friend selection system dynamic by allowing players to switch between two operational modes: traditional mode for convenience (selecting from existing networks) and discovery mode for expansion (finding new players). This dynamic flexibility enables players to adapt the system to their current needs, whether prioritizing ease of operation or network expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to friend selection by introducing discovery mode, which searches for players based on game-related criteria rather than social network connections. This creates a new dimension of player relationships based on gaming compatibility rather than pre-existing social ties, enabling network expansion beyond traditional social circles.
3Productivity
If players need multiple friends to form crews and complete missions, then collaborative gameplay is enhanced, but players with limited social connections experience frustration and may leave the game
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables players to serve themselves by providing tools to discover and connect with suitable game partners independently. The discovery mode allows players to actively search for and initiate connections with potential crew members based on game criteria, rather than passively relying on existing social networks or manual invitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the selection parameters for finding game friends from social network-based criteria to game-based criteria (such as gameplay style, availability, and skill matching). This parameter change ensures that players can find suitable crew members regardless of their social network size, maintaining mission completion efficiency while improving player satisfaction.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for expanding gaming social networks with players having no existing social relationships with other players. One method includes an operation for identifying first filters selected by a first user, the first filters identifying a first criteria for desired new friends. Another operation identifies second filters selected by a plurality of users in the network, where the second filters are entered by each user to identify second criteria for being added as a friend in the network. A plurality of candidates to be added as friends for the first user are determined, where each candidate conforms to the first criteria and where the first user conforms to the second criteria set by each candidate. Additionally, friendship requests are sent to one or more of the candidates or candidates are added as friends when the candidates have chosen automatic addition of friends.