Playing a social game with automatic players

Abstract

A method and system are described for providing a branded automatic player within a social, online game. In some example embodiments, the automatic player may receive an indication that a triggering event has occurred and perform an action within the online game in response to the triggering event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method performed by an automatic player of an online game, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication of a triggering event within an online game; and   performing a game play action associated with a sponsor of the automatic player within the online game in response to the received indication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is associated with another player of the online game interacting with a sponsor associated with the automatic player; and
 wherein performing a game play action within the online game includes performing a game play action for the player that interacted with the sponsor associated with the automatic player.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event includes another player of the online game interacting with the sponsor associated with the automatic player within the online game. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has not interacted with the automatic player within a certain time period. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed a message provided by the automatic player. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed an advertisement provided by a brand associated with the automatic player. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing a game play action within the online game in response to the received indication includes performing a game play for another player of the online game that is connected to the automatic player. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing a game play action within the online game in response to the received indication includes performing a group game play action along with two or more other players of the online game. 
     
     
         9 . A system that controls an automatic player of an online game, the system comprising:
 a trigger module that is configured to receive an indication of a triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player; and   an action module that is configured to perform an action within the online game in response to the received indication.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player includes a triggering event that occurs outside of the online game. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player includes a triggering event that occurs within a social network associated with the online game. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the triggering event associated with a brand providing the automatic player includes a triggering event that occurs within the online game. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable storage medium whose contents, when executed by an automatic player of an online game, cause the automatic player of the online game to perform operations, comprising:
 receiving an indication of a triggering event in an environment external to the online game; and   performing a game play action within the online game in response the received indication.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the triggering event is associated with another player of the online game interacting with a brand associated with the automatic player; and
 wherein performing a game play action within the online game includes performing a game play action for the player that interacted with the brand associated with the automatic player.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the triggering event includes another player of the online game interacting with a sponsoring entity associated with the automatic player. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has not interacted with a brand associated with the automatic player within a certain time period. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed an advertisement for a brand associated with the automatic player. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has viewed an advertisement provided by a brand associated with the automatic player. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has interacted with a sponsoring entity associated with the automatic player within a social network providing the online game. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the triggering event includes determining another player of the online game has utilized a product or service provided by a sponsoring entity associated with the automatic player.