Zynga Inc.

This disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods and systems for delivering engaging advertising campaigns composed of episodic advertisements. Each episodic advertisement represents a segment of a larger campaign progression, defined by multiple episodic advertisements presented in sequence. These advertisements are customized based on previous user interactions, enabling engaging storylines that respond to user choices. The system stores, manages, and dynamically selects subsequent episodes based on these interactions, employing storyline templates to serve interactive advertisements across multiple impressions.

A swipe input mechanism for a computer-implemented game presented on a touchscreen allows for user-selection of different menu options by swipe gestures in different directions via a swipe menu dedicated to receiving such swipe input. In a third person shooter game or a first-person shooter game user-selection of different character abilities are enabled via the swipe menu. The swipe menu is a floating user interface element that auto-adjusts its on-screen position to register with the position of user touch.

A client device receives compiled software for a game engine. The game engine is for playing a designated game. The client device receives a game definition file for the designated game. The game definition file stores rules for the designated game. The game definition file defines the rules using non-compiled machine-readable code. The client device executes the game engine at the client device to enable playing of the designated game via the client device. Executing the game engine includes: accessing the game definition file; and providing, via a user interface generated on the client device, interactive gameplay of the designated game according to the rules for the designated game defined by the game definition file.

A game server receives data associated with gameplay of one or more user accounts, the one or more user accounts being used for playing a designated game. The game server computes, for the one or more user accounts, a player model representing previous in-game behavior of the one or more user accounts. The game server identifies, based on the player model, configuration values for the designated game. The configuration values represent data to specify operation of the designated game. The configuration values represent at least one of a game mechanics configuration and a game parameter configuration. The game server causes transmission of the configuration values to a client device. The configuration values cause the client device to adjust a game engine at the client device based on the previous in-game behavior of the one or more user accounts.

A game management system provides a content generator configured for automated generation of custom game content based on a plurality of parametric values that model gameplay behavior of one or more players for whom the game content is to be customized. The customized configuration is generated in a predefined sequence of progressive configuration stages. In each stage, a respective configurable feature is assigned a custom value that is determined (e.g., in a biased or constrained randomized operation) based on a respectively linked parameter value from the data model.

A game management system provides a generator interface that enables an operator to trigger automated generation by a content generator of a game event based on operator input values. These values include a particular predefined group or cluster of players for whom the game event is to be tailored or customized based on multidimensional parametric player model data. Additional parameters for which operator input mechanisms are provided by the generator interface include respective target values for a target metric (e.g., a difficulty level) for each of a plurality of game levels that are together to form a game event.

A game management system is configured for automated analysis of player behavior regarding traversal of different screens and options in a game application (as opposed to exclusively gameplay behavior) and to generate an automated estimation or inference about one or more psychological aspects of player behavior, such as motivation for game engagement and/or emotional states at different stages of interaction. The results of such analysis are automatically parametrized and included in a multidimensional parametric player model that informs player clustering and/or automated customization of game content.

A method of providing virtual items based on location-based action is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A virtual item is provided based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game. The virtual item may be usable within the computer-implemented game.

A game server generates a set of game content items for a designated game. The set of game content items is customized for one or more user accounts based on numerical values from a player model representing the one or more user accounts. The player model is generated based on previous in-game behavior of the one or more user accounts while playing the designated game. The game server forecasts, using the player model, a sequence of user actions of the one or more user accounts during gameplay of the designated game with the generated set of game content items. The sequence of user actions represents a prediction of in-game user interaction with the set of game content items. The game server computes a set of metrics associated with gameplay of the one or more user accounts represented by the player model in the designated game.

A game server accesses player model representing subset of players. Player model is generated based on previous in-game behavior of the subset of players while playing a computer-implemented game. The game server accesses a set of interactive content items associated with the game. The game server forecasts, using the player model, a sequence of user actions of the subset of players during gameplay of the game. The sequence of user actions represents a prediction of user interaction with the set of interactive content items. The game server computes, based on the forecasted sequence of user actions and software-defined outcomes of the forecasted sequence of user actions in the game, configuration values for the set of interactive content items. The game server causes execution of gameplay at a client device associated with the player model. The gameplay is according to the computed configuration values for the set of interactive content items.