Method for implementing a computer game

Abstract

A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which computer game graphics for a casual, social game are shown on a display of a computing device, where the casual, social game is downloaded as an app to a smartphone and/or tablet computer and can be accessed or played using a social network application or environment; and in which one or more of the processors are programmed such that: a notification is automatically generated if a player is stuck at a level for more than a defined time or after more than a defined number of attempts to pass that level, the notification alerting friends of the player so that they can assist him or her.

1 . A computing device adapted to play a computer game, the device including a processor, a memory, a display configured to display a game board of the computer game, a touch screen or a cursor based input device, and computer code stored in device memory and executable by the device processor to perform the steps of:
 controlling the display to show a set of interactive game objects on the game board, at least some of which are configured to change position in response to user input to define a move where one or more move conditions are satisfied;
 determining that a predefined period of inactivity has elapsed without a move being made; and 
 in response to determining that the predefined period of inactivity has elapsed, controlling the display to indicate one or more of the interactive game objects that may change position to provide a possible move, satisfying said one or more conditions. 
   
     
     
         2 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each game object of the set of interactive game objects has one or more visual characteristics, and the step of indicating the one or more of the interactive game objects comprises displaying at least some of the one or more of the interactive game objects with modified visual characteristics. 
     
     
         3 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the step of displaying at least some of the one or more of the interactive game objects with modified visual characteristics comprises a brightening and enlarging of the at least some of the one or more of the interactive game objects. 
     
     
         4 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditions comprise a first subset of the set of interactive game objects satisfying a match condition following the move. 
     
     
         5 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the computer code is executable by the device processor to perform the further step of:
 receiving user input via the touch screen or cursor based input device, and in response to said input, controlling the display to show a switch in positions between one of the one or more of the interactive game objects and a further game object, resulting in the first subset satisfying the match condition.   
     
     
         6 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the computer code is executable by the device processor to perform the further step of:
 controlling the display to show, in response to the first subset satisfying the match condition, the first subset being removed from the gameboard.   
     
     
         7 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the match condition is satisfied if:
 the first subset of game objects have one or more visual characteristics in common; and   the first subset comprises three or more game objects that are arranged in a line on the game board.   
     
     
         8 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first subset consists of the one or more of the interactive game objects. 
     
     
         9 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when a move is made in response to user input, two game objects of the set of game objects are configured to switch positions. 
     
     
         10 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a switch in positions between two game objects only occurs if a resulting configuration of the set of interactive game objects comprises a subset of game objects which satisfy a match condition. 
     
     
         11 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a switch in positions between two game objects when a move is made, only occurs if said two game objects are adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         12 . A computing device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the computer code is executable by the device processor to perform the further steps of:
 determining that there is no possible switch in positions between two game objects which will create the resulting configuration comprising a subset of game objects which satisfy a match condition, and in response, controlling the display to show at least some of the interactive game objects being reshuffled to new positions on the game board.   
     
     
         13 . A computer implemented method for controlling a display of a computer device adapted to play a computer game, the device including a processor, a memory, a touch screen or a cursor based input device, the method comprising executing on the processor the steps of:
 controlling the display to show a set of interactive game objects on the game board, at least some of which are configured to change position in response to user input to define a move where one or more move conditions are satisfied
 determining that a predefined period of inactivity has elapsed without a move being made; and 
 in response to determining that the predefined period of inactivity has elapsed, controlling the display to indicate one or more of the interactive game objects that may change position to provide a possible move, satisfying said one or more conditions. 
   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer device comprising a touch screen or a cursor based input device, perform a method for controlling a display of the computer device, the method comprising:
 controlling the display to show a set of interactive game objects on the game board, at least some of which are configured to change position in response to user input to define a move where one or more move conditions are satisfied
 determining that a predefined period of inactivity has elapsed without a move being made; and 
 in response to determining that the predefined period of inactivity has elapsed, controlling the display to indicate one or more of the interactive game objects that may change position to provide a possible move, satisfying said one or more conditions.