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 having:
 a processor;   computer code executable by the processor to generate computer game graphics, for display, including user selectable game elements;   a display configured to display the user selectable game elements;   an input device enabling a user to interact with the computing device to select the user selectable game elements;   wherein, the computer game is configured to detect a match comprising a chain of at least three adjacent game elements of the same characteristic and to remove the matched game elements of the chain from the display,   wherein the user selectable game elements include a first type of special game element which when triggered has a first effect of causing additional game elements to be removed in addition to the matched game elements, and   a second type of special game element which when triggered has a second effect of causing additional game elements to be removed, in addition to the matched game elements;   wherein the first and second special game elements being triggered together by a user selection causes a third effect to remove extra elements in addition to the additional game elements of the first or second effect.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the user selectable game elements comprise an array arranged in rows and columns. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the first effect causes one of a row and column of the user selectable game elements to be removed from the display. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first effect removes a block of contiguous game elements, whether or not the extra game elements are of the same type. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first effect causes an array of n by n game elements to be removed, where n is at least 3. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 3 , wherein the second effect causes an n by n array of game elements to be removed, where n is at least 3 and, wherein the third effect causes n rows and n columns of game elements to be removed, where n is at least 3. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second types of special game elements are the same type, and wherein the first and second effects are the same as each other. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the user selectable game elements are arranged in rows and columns and wherein the first effect removes an n by n array of game element where n is equal to 3, and wherein the third effect removes a p by q array of game elements where at least p or q>n. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the third effect causes game elements sharing a characteristic with the first type of special game element to be converted into special game elements of the first type and to trigger the first effect without user intervention. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the user selectable game elements comprise an array of rows and columns, wherein the first effect causes one of row and column of the user selectable game elements to be removed from the display. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the third effect causes all game elements to be removed from the display. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first effect removes one or more randomly selected game elements 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the third effect causes n game elements selected at random to be converted into the second type of special game element, and to trigger the second effect without user intervention. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 12  , wherein the user selectable game elements comprise an array arranged in rows and columns, and, wherein the second effect is one of (i) removal of the extra game elements as an n by n array; and (ii) removal of one of a row and column. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the third effect is to convert game elements sharing a common characteristic with the first type of special game element into special game elements of the first type and then to trigger the first effect without user intervention. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the third effect is a cascading effect of a first removal step and a second removal step which is triggered after the first removal step without user intervention. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the special game elements are visually distinct from other ones of the user selectable game elements. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the third effect is associated with a visual indication on the display which differs from the special game elements of the first and second types. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second special game elements are triggered together when they are detected in a chain of at least three game elements of the same characteristic. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the array has m x m game elements. 
     
     
         21 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computer game graphics include a visual representation of playable game levels, wherein the display is configured to display the playable game levels, wherein the input device enables a user to interact with the computing device to select one of the playable levels, and wherein the computer game is configured to detect selection of a level by a user and to display for that level a game board comprising the user selectable game elements. 
     
     
         22 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the playable game levels are displayed along a path on the display. 
     
     
         23 . The computing device according to  claim 21 , wherein the playable game levels are consecutively numbered. 
     
     
         24 . The computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the progress of the user between the playable game levels is represented on the display as a journey along the path. 
     
     
         25 . The computing device according to  claim 21 , wherein the computer code is configured to include in the visual representation at least one playable game level in a locked state, and to display that playable game level in an unlocked state when a preceding playable game level has been completed by the user. 
     
     
         26 . The computing device according to  claim 21  wherein the usual representation comprises consecutively unlockable game levels, wherein an unlocked level is playable. 
     
     
         27 . A method of generating computer game graphics on a display of a computing device, the method comprising:
 generating computer game graphics on a display, the computer game graphics including user selectable game elements;   detecting a user interaction to select one or more user selectable game element of the user selectable game elements;   detecting a match comprising a chain of at least three adjacent game elements of the same characteristic and removing the matched game elements of the chain from the display;   wherein the user selectable game elements include a first type of special game element which when triggered has a first effect of causing additional game elements to be removed in addition to the match game elements, and   a second type of special game element which when triggered has a second effect of causing additional game elements to be removed, in addition to the matched game elements;   the method further comprising detecting when the first and second special game elements have been triggered together by a user selection and causing a third effect to remove extra elements in addition to the additional game elements of the first or second effect.   
     
     
         28 . Computer code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable medium executable by a processor of a computing device to cause the processor to carry out the steps of:
 generating computer game graphics on a display, the computer game graphics including user selectable game elements;   detecting a user interaction to select one or more user selectable game element of the user selectable game elements;   detecting a match comprising a chain of at least three adjacent game elements of the same characteristic and removing the matched game elements of the chain from the display;   wherein the user selectable game elements include a first type of special game element which when triggered has a first effect of causing additional game elements to be removed in addition to the match game elements, and   a second type of special game element which when triggered has a second effect of causing additional game elements to be removed, in addition to the matched game elements;   the method further comprising detecting when the first and second special game elements have been triggered together by a user selection and causing a third effect to remove extra elements in addition to the additional game elements of the first or second effect.