Location-Based Voting System for Game Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current online games lack mechanisms to effectively integrate real-world actions and locations into the gaming experience, limiting the engagement and reward systems for players.

Innovation Solution

A system that associates real-world location-based actions with in-game actions, allowing players to perform actions in the physical world to earn in-game rewards, using a network of user verification, location attributes, and social networking to track and reward these actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If online games use traditional virtual-only reward systems, then game mechanics remain simple and easy to implement, but player engagement and immersion are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the virtual game world with the physical real-world location system by integrating GPS tracking, location-based action detection, and in-game reward distribution into a unified system. This combination allows players to perform physical actions in the real world that directly impact their virtual game characters, thereby enhancing player engagement while managing system complexity through integrated architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The game system is designed to perform multiple functions: it tracks player location via GPS, detects location-based actions, verifies actions through social networking connections, and distributes in-game rewards. This multi-functional approach enables the system to enhance engagement across different game modes and player activities without requiring separate systems for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system integrates real-world location tracking and verification, then player engagement and immersion improve, but system complexity and verification requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmersive experienceVSAvoidverification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces social networking connections as an intermediary verification mechanism. Instead of requiring complex centralized verification of every player action, the system uses players' existing social networks to verify location-based actions. Friends or social connections can confirm that a player actually performed the claimed real-world action, simplifying the verification system while maintaining integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where player actions in the real world are tracked, verified through social connections, and reflected back as rewards in the virtual game world. This feedback mechanism creates a closed loop that enhances immersion by making the connection between physical actions and virtual consequences clear and immediate, while the automated feedback process reduces manual verification complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8812356B1Voting with your feet
Publication Date: 2014.08.19 ZYNGA INC
  • US8812356B1 patent drawing
  • US8812356B1 patent drawing
  • US8812356B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of voting with your feet is disclosed. A performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game is associated with a vote on a matter. The performance of the location-based action by the player is detected. A count of votes corresponding to the vote on the matter is incremented based on the detecting of the performance of the location-based action by the player.