Computer-implemented method and system for generating and managing customized interactive multiplayer location-based mobile games

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system are provided for generating and managing a customized interactive multiplayer location-based mobile game. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving at a computer system content and high-level game logic from a game designer to be used in developing a location-based mobile game; (b) generating a playable location-based mobile game based on the content and high-level game logic using the computer system; (c) registering using the computer system a plurality of players desiring to play the multiplayer location-based mobile game using their personal mobile communications devices; and (d) managing execution of the game for each player or group of players by routing the player or group of players to a plurality of locations to perform a location-based task at each location, and interacting with the player or group of players after each of the location-based tasks has been performed, wherein managing execution of the game and interacting with the player or group of players comprises using the computer system to communicate with a personal mobile communications device of the player or group of players.

1 . A computer-implemented method for generating and managing a customized interactive multiplayer location-based mobile game, comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving at a computer system content and high-level game logic from a game designer to be used in developing a location-based mobile game;   (b) generating a playable location-based mobile game based on the content and high-level game logic using the computer system;   (c) registering using the computer system a plurality of players desiring to play the multiplayer location-based mobile game using their personal mobile communications devices; and   (d) managing execution of the game for each player or group of players by routing the player or group of players to a plurality of locations to perform a location-based task at each location, and interacting with the player or group of players after each of the location-based tasks has been performed, wherein managing execution of the game and interacting with the player or group of players comprises using the computer system to communicate with a personal mobile communications device of the player or group of players.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein routing the player or group of players comprises providing the player or group of players with a clue hinting at the next location to which the player or group of players must travel to complete a location-based task. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein interacting with the player or group of players comprises determining whether a location-based task has been successfully completed by the player or group of players. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each location-based task comprises solving a riddle relating to the location or capturing an image at the location and transmitting the image to the computer system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising calculating a score for each player or group of players based on the player's or group of players' completion of each location-based task. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a hint to the player or group of players to assist the player or group of players in completing the location-based task. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising running a simulation of the game before execution of the game and providing suggested modifications to the game designer based on an analysis of the game with historical data on execution of other prior games. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the personal mobile communications devices comprise an SMS compatible cellular telephone. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the personal mobile communications devices comprise a smart phone, and wherein the game is deployed on a mobile web portal accessed by the smart phone or using an application downloaded on the smart phone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein routing each player or group of players to the plurality of locations comprises dynamically routing different players or groups of players through different paths through the locations. 
     
     
         11 . The method of the  claim 10  wherein the different paths are selected based on the distance between the locations or the relative importance of the locations, or to avoid potential clustering of players or groups of players at locations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a final location-based task to the first player or group of players to reach a threshold score, and providing the final location-based task to other players or groups of players after a time delay based on their respective scores. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a location to route a player or group of players to based on whether a location-based task has been successfully performed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing each of the players or groups of players all location-based tasks of the game at one time. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system for generating and managing a customized interactive multiplayer location-based mobile game, comprising:
 a game development platform configured to receive content and high-level game logic from a game designer to be used in developing a location-based mobile game, and to generate a playable location-based mobile game based on the content and high-level game logic using the computer system; and   a game dynamics engine configured to register a plurality of players desiring to play the multiplayer location-based mobile game using their personal mobile communications devices; and to manage execution of the game for each player or group of players by routing the player or group of players to a plurality of locations to perform a location-based task at each location, and to interact with the player or group of players after each of the location-based tasks has been performed, wherein managing execution of the game and interacting with the player or group of players comprises using the computer system to communicate with a personal mobile communications device of the player or group of players.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to route the player or group of players by providing the player or group of players with a clue hinting at the next location to which the player or group of players must travel to complete a location-based task. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to determine whether a location-based task has been successfully completed by the player or group of players. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to calculate a score for each player or group of players based on the player's or group of players' completion of each location-based task. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to provide a hint to the player or group of players to assist the player or group of players in completing the location-based task. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game development platform is configured to run a simulation of the game before execution of the game and providing suggested modifications to the game designer based on an analysis of the game with historical data on execution of other prior games. 
     
     
         21 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to dynamically route different players or groups of players through different paths through the locations. 
     
     
         22 . The computer system of  claim 21  wherein the different paths are selected based on the distance between the locations or the relative importance of the locations, or to avoid potential clustering of players or groups of players at locations. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to provide a final location-based task to the first player or group of players to reach a threshold score, and provide the final location-based task to other players or groups of players after a time delay based on their respective scores. 
     
     
         24 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to determine a location to route a player or group of players to based on whether a location-based task has been successfully performed. 
     
     
         25 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the game dynamics engine is configured to provide each of the players or groups of players all location-based tasks of the game at one time. 
     
     
         26 . A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer processor, cause that processor to:
 (a) receive content and high-level game logic from a game designer to be used in developing a location-based mobile game;   (b) generate a playable location-based mobile game based on the content and high-level game logic;   (c) register a plurality of players desiring to play the multiplayer location-based mobile game using their personal mobile communications devices; and   (d) manage execution of the game for each player or group of players by routing the player or group of players to a plurality of locations to perform a location-based task at each location, and interact with the player or group of players after each of the location-based tasks has been performed, wherein managing execution of the game and interacting with the player or group of players comprises communicating with a personal mobile communications device of the player or group of players.   
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for providing the player or group of players with a clue hinting at the next location to which the player or group of players must travel to complete a location-based task. 
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for calculating a score for each player or group of players based on the player's or group of players' completion of each location-based task. 
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for providing a hint to the player or group of players to assist the player or group of players in completing the location-based task. 
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for running a simulation of the game before execution of the game and providing suggested modifications to the game designer based on an analysis of the game with historical data on execution of other prior games. 
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for dynamically routing different players or groups of players through different paths through the locations. 
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 31  wherein the different paths are selected based on the distance between the locations or the relative importance of the locations, or to avoid potential clustering of players or groups of players at locations. 
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for providing a final location-based task to the first player or group of players to reach a threshold score, and providing the final location-based task to other players or groups of players after a time delay based on their respective scores. 
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for determining a location to route a player or group of players to based on whether a location-based task has been successfully performed. 
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 26  further comprising instructions for providing each of the players or groups of players all location-based tasks of the game at one time.