Injecting Content into Episodic Video Games

Abstract

A hidden object video game having multiple episodes is played on a computing device. Periodically or upon reaching a milestone in the game, the computing device automatically connects with a server to update the game with data containing new episodes of the game and then disconnects from the server. The hidden object game continues to be played with the updated data after the disconnection.

1 . A method comprising:
 playing a hidden object video game having multiple episodes;   upon reaching a milestone in the hidden object video game, automatically requesting and receiving from a server additional episodes of the video game.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 playing the video game on a computer device; and   automatically providing the additional episodes by:
 establishing a connection between the computing device and the server; 
 downloading the episode from the server; 
 disconnecting the connection with the server; and 
 playing the hidden object video game on the computer after disconnecting the connection. 
   
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 playing the hidden object video game on a computer device; and   storing the additional episodes in a database in a memory of the computing device so the game can be played when the computing device is disconnected from the server.   
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in game  1  wherein the additional episodes of the game are received when a game player is not playing the game. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing points or awards for playing the game; and   supplying additional episodes when a game player receives a predetermined number of points or awards.   
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5  further comprising using a reward provided from playing a previous episode when playing game using the additional episode. 
   
   
       7 . The method s recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing in a datastore in a server on regular periodic intervals the additional episodes comprising new episodic content;   notifying the computing device of the availability of the new episodic content; and   automatically receiving the new episodic content from the datastore when available.   
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hidden object video game comprises a computer program the runs the video game, and wherein the additional episode comprise a dynamic linked library (DLL) comprising additional game content, and wherein the DLL plugs into the computer program. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing a sequence of episodes of the game on server, and receiving the additional episodes in a predetermined order relating to a plot of the game.   
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein each episode has a plot, and wherein each of the additional received episodes have plots that are a continuation of the plot of the previous episode. 
   
   
       11 . A computer readable medium having instruction which when executed by one or more processor implement a video game with a computing device, said instructions when executed by one or more processors comprise:
 playing a hidden object video game having multiple episodes; and   upon reaching a milestone in the hidden object video game, automatically requesting and receiving from a server one or more additional episodes of the video game that comprises a dynamic linked data library which plugs into the computer program.   
   
   
       12 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 playing the video game on the computer device; and   automatically providing the additional episodes by:
 establishing a connection between the computing device and the server; 
 downloading the episode from the server; 
 disconnecting the connection with the server; and 
 playing the hidden object video game on the computer after disconnecting the connection. 
   
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising: playing the hidden object video game on the computer device; and storing the additional episodes in a database in a memory of the computing device so the game can be played when the computing device is not connected to the server. 
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 11  wherein the additional episodes of the game is received when a game player is not playing the game. 
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 11  further comprising:
 providing points or awards for playing the game; and   supplying additional episodes when game player receives a predetermined number of points or awards.   
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 11  further comprising:
 storing a sequence of episodes of the game on server; and   receiving the additional episodes in a predetermined order relating to a plot of the game.   
   
   
       17 . A computing device to play a video game, the computing device comprising:
 a video screen;   an input device;   a processor;   a memory comprising a datastore that includes content related to the video game, the content comprising text of a story of the video game, background graphic design and partially obfuscated objects embedded in the background graphic design, and a textual list of items related to the story and corresponding to the partially obfuscated objects;   the memory comprising core program instruction which when executed by the processor comprise:
 (a) retrieve content from the data store; 
 (b) display a text of a story on the video screen using the retrieved content; 
 (c) display a background graphic design and partially obfuscated objects embedded in the background graphic design on the video screen using the retrieved content; 
 (d) display on the video screen, a textual list of items related to the story and corresponding to the partially obfuscated objects using the retrieved content; 
 (e) receive a signal from the input device to select the partially obfuscated objects in the video screen; 
 (f) provide an indication on the video screen as each of the partially obfuscated objects are selected; 
 (g) upon reaching a milestone in the hidden object video game, connecting with a server via a network; 
 (h) upon connecting with the server, requesting that one or more additional episodes of the video game be transmitted from the server to the computing device via the network; 
 (i) receiving content comprising additional episodes via the network; 
 (j) storing the received content as a dynamic link library (DLL) in a database; 
 (k) disconnecting from the server; and 
 (l) executing with the core program steps (a)-(f) using the stored received content stored in the DLL. 
   
   
   
       18 . The computing device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the core program instruction which when executed by the processor comprise:
 automatically upon reaching a milestone in the hidden object video game;   connecting with a server via a network and requesting that one or more additional episodes of the video game be transmitted from the server to the computing device via the network; and   providing episode level information and/or version information of the game in the request.   
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 17  further comprising:
 reaching a milestone in the hidden object video game by completing episodes, wherein the episodes are completed by finding partially obfuscated objects in the game.   
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 17  further comprising:
 reaching a milestone in the hidden object video game when the game player receives a predetermined number of points or awards.