Method for ladder ranking in a game

Abstract

Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment. may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for ladder ranking in a game application, comprising:
 receiving a request for a ladder ranking list from a player having a user account registered with the game application, wherein the game application is associated with a plurality of registered user accounts and the request for the ladder ranking list includes one or more game performance metrics identified by the player;   executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor:
 retrieves game performance data from all user accounts registered with the game application, the game performance data stored at an application server; 
 sorts all user accounts registered with the game application based on the stored game performance data; and 
 generates a ladder ranking list including all sorted registered user accounts based on the one or more game performance metrics. 
   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game performance data stored at the application server is collected during periodic game application status reports. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game performance metric includes the number of wins. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game performance metric includes the number of losses. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game performance metric includes points scored. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game performance metric includes points allowed. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ladder ranking list is sorted in ascending order. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ladder ranking list is sorted in descending order. 
     
     
       9. A system for ladder ranking in a game application, comprising:
 a lobby server for receiving a request for a ladder ranking list from a player having a user account registered with the game application, wherein the game application is associated with a plurality of registered user accounts and the request for the ladder ranking list includes one or more game performance metrics identified by the player; and   a ladder engine stored in memory and executable by a processor to:
 retrieve game performance data from all user accounts registered with the game application, the game performance data stored at an application server, 
 sort all user accounts registered with the game application based on the stored game performance data, and 
 generate a ladder ranking list including all sorted registered user accounts based on the one or more game performance metrics. 
   
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the ladder engine executes further instructions to sort the ladder ranking list in ascending order. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the ladder engine executes further instructions to sort the ladder ranking list in descending order. 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for ladder ranking in a game application, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for a ladder ranking list from a player having a user account registered with the game application, wherein the game application is associated with a plurality of registered user accounts and the request for the ladder ranking list includes one or more game performance metrics identified by the player;   retrieves game performance data from all user accounts registered with the game application;   sorts all user accounts registered with the game application based on the stored game performance data; and   generates a ladder ranking list including all sorted registered user accounts based on the one or more game performance metrics.   
     
     
       13. A lobby server apparatus for parameter-based ranking in an application network, the lobby server apparatus comprising:
 memory that stores game performance data regarding a game application hosted at a game server, the game application associated with a plurality of registered accounts;   a network interface that communicates directly with one or more client devices over a communication network connection, wherein the network interface:
 receives a request for access to the game application, wherein the request is sent over the communication network connection from a first client device and identifies one of the registered accounts, 
 receives game performance data from the first client device via the communication network connection without directly communicating with the game server while the first client device is connected to the game server, the game performance data related to gameplay by the first client device of the game application hosted at the game server; and 
 receives a request from the first client device for a ranked list in relation to the game application hosted at the game server, wherein the ranked list is ranked in accordance with a selected parameter; and 
   a processor that executes ladder ranking engine instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the ladder ranking engine instructions by the processor generates the ranked list in which the stored game performance data and the received game performance data is sorted based on the selected parameter.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the game performance data includes information regarding at least one of progress within the game application, wins, losses, points scored, points allowed, and other statistics specific to the game application. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the memory further stores the received game performance data in association with the registered account of the first client device. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ranked list is specific to a contest or tournament. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the parameter is selected by the first client device. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor executes further instructions to provide information to the first client device regarding one or more other client devices and one or more games played by each other client device. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor executes further instructions to provide information to at least one other client device when the first client device participates in the game application. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor executes further instructions to provide information to the first client device regarding creation and management of a clan. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor executes further instructions to perform player-matching. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor executes further instructions to provide information to the first client device regarding available chat channels, available games or locations of other users. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor executes further instructions to authenticate the first client device. 
     
     
       24. A method for parameter-based ranking in an application network, the method comprising:
 storing game performance data in memory of a lobby server regarding a game application hosted at a game server, the game application associated with a plurality of registered accounts, wherein the lobby server is in direct communication with one or more client devices over a communication network connection;   receiving a request for access to the game application, wherein the request is sent over the communication network connection from a first client device to the lobby server and identifies one of the registered accounts;   receiving game performance data sent from the first client device to the lobby server via the communication network connection without the lobby server directly communicating with the game server while the first client device is connected to the game server, the game performance data related to gameplay by the first client device of the game application hosted at the game server;   receiving a request sent from the first client device to the lobby server, the request for a ranked list in relation to the game application hosted at the game server, wherein the ranked list is ranked in accordance with a selected parameter; and   executing instructions stored in memory of the lobby server, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor of the lobby server generates the ranked list in which the stored game performance data and the received game performance data is sorted based on the selected parameter.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, wherein the game performance data includes information regarding at least one of progress within the game application, wins, losses, points scored, points allowed, and other statistics specific to the game application. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24, further comprising storing the received game performance data in association with the registered account of the first client device. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 24, wherein the ranked list is specific to a contest or tournament. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 24, wherein the parameter is selected by the first client device. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 24, wherein execution of further instructions by the processor provides information to the first client device regarding one or more other client devices and one or more games played by each other client device. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 24, wherein execution of further instructions by the processor provides information to at least one other client device when the first client device participates in the game application. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 24, wherein execution of further instructions by the processor provides information to the first client device regarding creation and management of a clan. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 24, wherein execution of further instructions by the processor performs player-matching. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 24, wherein execution of further instructions by the processor provides information to the first client device regarding available chat channels, available games or locations of other users. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 24, wherein execution of further instructions by the processor authenticates the first client device. 
     
     
       35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor of a lobby server to perform a method for parameter-based ranking in an application network, the method comprising:
 storing game performance data in memory of a lobby server regarding a game application hosted at a game server, the game application associated with a plurality of registered accounts, wherein the lobby server is in direct communication with one or more client devices over a communication network connection;   receiving a request for access to the game application, wherein the request is sent over the communication network connection from a first client device to the lobby server and identifies one of the registered accounts;   receiving game performance data sent from the first client device to the lobby server via the communication network connection without the lobby server directly communicating with the game server while the first client device is connected to the game server, the game performance data related to gameplay by the first client device of the game application hosted at the game server;   receiving a request sent from the first client device to the lobby server, the request for a ranked list in relation to the game application hosted at the game server, wherein the ranked list is ranked in accordance with a selected parameter; and   generating the ranked list in which the stored game performance data and the received game performance data is sorted by the lobby server based on the selected parameter.