Custom Reward For Viral Help In Game

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for processing operations of a computer game to be played on a computing device. One method includes an operation for receiving a request for assistance in a first game of a first player and sending the request to a second player for notifying the second player that a game asset is to be assigned to the second player for completing a game operation. The method includes operations for selecting, based on selection rules the game asset from a list of game assets previously identified by the second player and assigning the game asset to the second player. The game operation enables the first player to make progress in the first game and the game asset enables the second player to make progress in a second game.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, from a first device of a first player, a request for assistance in a first game;   sending the request to be displayed on a second device of a second player, the request is configured to notify the second player that a game asset is to be assigned to the second player for completing a game operation to assist the first player, the game operation is specified by the request;   responsive to the second player completing the game operation, selecting by a game program based on selection rules, the game asset from a list of second player that includes game assets previously identified by the second player; and   assigning, by the game program, the game asset to the second player for enabling the second player to make progress in a second game of the second player, wherein completing the game operation by the second player is enabling of the first player to make progress in the first game, and wherein progress in the first game and progress in the second game is configured to increase engagement in the first game and the second game;   wherein operations of the method are executed by a processor.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the progress made by the first player in the first game includes achieving a higher level, the higher level is enabled upon confirming the completing of the game operation by the second player. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein assigning the game asset to the second player includes adding the game asset to a user account of the second player so that the second player is enabled to complete a pending task in the second game. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the game asset includes using preassigned weights of the selection rules to calculate respective scores for the game assets associated with the list and to identify the game asset associated with a highest score. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game asset is displayed as an unspecified game asset in the request that is to be specified after the second player completes the game action. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game operation includes performing a task, providing a hint to the first player, cooperating with the first player, performing an action on a game object, spending game currency, conveying an asset to the first player, solving a problem, teaming up with the first player, or moving to a location in the first game. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game operation includes performing a single action or repeated actions within the first game. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the request to the second player includes delivering the petition to a newsfeed, a social network feed, a game feed, or an inbox of the second player. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection rules for selecting the game asset from the list is based on one or more of a First In, First Out (FIFO) queue, a priority of the game asset within the list, a length of time the game asset has been placed on the list, a difficulty of obtaining the game asset, a distribution of the game asset within the game, a cost of obtaining the game asset, a length of time the game asset has been made available in the game, a degree of likelihood that the game asset will help the second player complete a quest, a degree of importance the game asset is to completing a quest, a likelihood that the game asset will lead to a new quest being started, a history of game assets previously selected by the game program, and a degree of randomness. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the second game is a same or other than the first game. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inviting the second player to perform the game action one or more additional times to be awarded one or more additional game assets;   responsive to the second player performing the game action one or more additional times, selecting by the game program based on the selection rules, one or more additional game assets from the list; and   awarding, by the game program, the one or more additional game assets to the second player, wherein said performing the game action one or more additional times enables the first player to make further progress in the first game.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the selection rules further define an order in which to award the one or more additional game assets from the list. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, from a first device of a first player, a request for assistance in a first game;   sending the request to be displayed on a second device of a second player, the request is configured to notify the second player that a game asset is to be assigned to the second player for completing a game operation to assist the first player, the game asset is unspecified in the request;   responsive to the second player completing the game operation, selecting by a game program based on selection rules, the game asset from a list of second player that includes game assets previously identified by the second player, the game asset is associated with a second game that is other than the first game; and   assigning, by the game program, the game asset to the second player for enabling the second player to make progress in the second game, wherein completing the game operation by the second player is enabling of the first player to make progress in the first game, and wherein progress in the first game and progress in the second game is configured to increase engagement in the first game and the second game;   wherein operations of the method are executed by a processor.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the progress made by the first player in the first game includes achieving a higher level, the higher level is enabled upon confirming the completing of the game operation by the second player. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the request is further configured to notify the second player that the game asset to be awarded is one that is desired or needed by the second player. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the selecting the game asset includes using preassigned weights of the selection rules to calculate respective scores for the game assets associated with the list and to identify the game asset associated with a highest score. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the game operation includes performing a task, providing a hint to the first player, cooperating with the first player, performing an action on a game object, spending game currency, conveying an asset to the first player, solving a problem, teaming up with the first player, or moving to a location in the first game. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the selection rules for selecting the game asset from the list is based on one or more of a First In, First Out (FIFO) queue, a priority of the game asset within the list, a length of time the game asset has been placed on the list, a difficulty of obtaining the game asset, a distribution of the game asset within the game, a cost of obtaining the game asset, a length of time the game asset has been made available in the game, a degree of likelihood that the game asset will help the second player complete a quest, a degree of importance the game asset is to completing a quest, a likelihood that the game asset will lead to a new quest being started, a history of game assets previously selected by the game program, and a degree of randomness. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program comprising:
 program instruction for receiving, from a first device of a first player, a request for assistance in a first game;   program instructions for sending the request to be displayed on a second device of a second player, the request is configured to notify the second player that a game asset is to be assigned to the second player for completing a game operation to assist the first player, the game operation is specified by the request;   program instructions for, responsive to the second player completing the game operation, selecting by a game program based on selection rules, the game asset from a list of second player that includes game assets previously identified by the second player; and   program instructions for assigning, by the game program, the game asset to the second player for enabling the second player to make progress in a second game of a second player, wherein completing the game operation by the second player enables the first player to make progress in the first game, and wherein progress in the first game and progress in the second game increases engagement in the first game and the second game;   wherein operations of the method are executed by a processor.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the progress made by the first player in the first game includes achieving a higher level, the higher level is enabled upon confirming the completing the game operation by the second player.