Social Network Game Participation via API Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video games limit participation to those who own, install, or play the game, restricting the scope of potential players, especially in Web-based or Adobe Flash-based games that require downloads.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing social networks and their APIs to enable game participation without downloading or installing the game, by posting game data for interaction, tracking user interactions, and calculating scores based on engagement metrics such as social network connections and participation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users are required to own, install, or play the game to participate, then game participation is ensured for installed users, but the scope of potential players is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescope of potential playersVSAvoidgame installation requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core game participation mechanics from the traditional game client and relocates them to the social network platform. Game data is posted directly to social network feeds, and interaction scoring is handled through social network APIs, eliminating the need for users to download or install game software while preserving essential gameplay elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The social network platform is made multi-functional by enabling it to serve both as a social networking service and as a game hosting platform. The same social network infrastructure that connects users socially is also used to deliver game content, track interactions, and calculate scores, removing the need for separate game installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If game data is posted to social networks for interaction, then user participation without installation is enabled, but tracking and scoring interactions requires system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser participation accessibilityVSAvoidinteraction tracking system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The social network platform's existing infrastructure is leveraged to handle interaction tracking and scoring automatically. The social network's native interaction mechanisms (likes, comments, shares) are directly utilized as game interactions, and the social network's existing user data and connection graphs are used to calculate scores without requiring additional complex tracking systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The social network platform acts as an intermediary between the game provider and the users. It receives game data postings, manages user interactions with that data, tracks engagement metrics, and calculates participation scores, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture by consolidating these functions in the social network layer rather than requiring a separate game client.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9144740B2Systems and methods for video game participation via social network interactions

Publication Date: 2015.09.29 EPIC GAMES INC

AI summary

Various exemplary embodiments use social networks and their social graph APIs to participate in a game without needing to own, install, or play the game. These embodiments have the game post data to social networks and then allow the social media users to interact with that data. The embodiments perform this interaction without ever having to download, install, or play the game. The games then read that interaction and score it for participation in the game.