# US 8,771,062 B2 · Apparatuses, methods and systems for a live online game tester > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,062 B2 - Document ID: US8771062B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/686,765 - Filed: 2012-11-27 - Published: 2013-04-04 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-30 - Assignees: Zynga Inc. - Applicants: Zynga Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Ocko; Justin Driemeyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771062B2 ## CPC - G06Q 20/384: {using social networks} - A63F 13/12 - A63F 13/30: Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers - A63F 13/35: Details of game servers - A63F 13/60: Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor - A63F 13/75: Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players - A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories - A63F 13/798: for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame - G06Q 20/4015: {using location information} - G06Q 30/016: After-sales - G07F 17/3234: {about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system} - A63F 9/24: Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for - A63F 13/00: Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions - A63F 13/795: for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list - A63F 2300/535: for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters - A63F 2300/5506: using advertisements - A63F 2300/5546: using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history - A63F 2300/5573: player location - A63F 2300/5593: involving scheduling aspects - A63F 2300/575: for trading virtual items - G06F 17/00: Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) - G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services - G06Q 10/48: using social graphs - G06Q 20/123: {Shopping for digital content} - G06Q 20/4016: {involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing} - G06Q 50/34: Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method for testing a set of new game features for an online gaming application is provided. The method initiates with selecting a new game feature for testing from the set of new game features. Users are assigned to a test group or control group. Each of the test group users is provided a gaming application including the selected new game feature enabled. Each of the control group users is provided the gaming application without the selected new game feature enabled. Evaluation scores are generated based on gaming activity and social network activity. A score comparison report is generated comparing the evaluations scores of the test group and the control group. Based on the score comparison report, it is determined whether to continue testing one or more additional new game features from the set of new game features. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A processor-implemented method for testing a set of new game features for an online gaming application, comprising: selecting a new game feature for testing from the set of new game features; assigning each of a plurality of users to one of a test group and a control group; providing each of the test group users a gaming application including the selected new game feature enabled; providing each of the control group users the gaming application without the selected new game feature enabled; generating an evaluation score for the test group users based on both of gaming activity and social network activity of the test group users; generating an evaluation score for the control group users based on both of gaming activity and social network activity of the control group users; generating a score comparison report comparing the evaluations scores of the test group and the control group; determining, based on the score comparison report, whether to continue testing one or more additional new game features from the set of new game features. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the new game feature for testing includes identifying and selecting a core feature of the set of new game features as the selected new game feature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein when it is determined to continue testing one or more additional new game features from the set of new game features, then providing an option for users in the test group to invite additional users to test the one or more additional new game features. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the score comparison report defines a level of feature adoption for the selected new game feature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity includes one or more of messages, requests, invitations, gift transactions, object transactions, and currency transactions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the social network activity includes one or more of sent messages, received messages, invitations, and requests. ### Claim 7 A processor-implemented method for testing a set of new game features for an online gaming application, comprising: selecting a combination of new game features for testing from the set of new game features; assigning each of a plurality of users to one of a test group and a control group; providing each of the test group users a gaming application including the selected combination of new game features enabled; providing each of the control group users the gaming application without the selected combination of new game features enabled; generating an evaluation score for the test group users based on both of gaming activity and social network activity of the test group users; generating an evaluation score for the control group users based on both of gaming activity and social network activity of the control group users; generating a score comparison report comparing the evaluations scores of the test group and the control group; determining, based on the score comparison report, whether to continue testing one or more additional combinations of new game features from the set of new game features. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the combination of new game features for testing includes identifying and selecting one or more core features of the set of new game features. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein when it is determined to continue testing one or more additional combinations of new game features from the set of new game features, then providing an option for users in the test group to invite additional users to test the one or more additional combinations of new game features. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the score comparison report defines a level of feature adoption for the selected combination of new game features. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the gaming activity includes one or more of messages, requests, invitations, gift transactions, object transactions, and currency transactions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the social network activity includes one or more of sent messages, received messages, invitations, and requests. ### Claim 13 A system for testing a new feature of an online gaming application, comprising: a memory; and a processor disposed in communication with the memory and configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions to: select a new game feature for testing from the set of new game features; assign each of a plurality of users to one of a test group and a control group; provide each of the test group users a gaming application including the selected new game feature enabled; provide each of the control group users the gaming application without the selected new game feature enabled; generate an evaluation score for the test group users based on both of gaming activity and social network activity of the test group users; generate an evaluation score for the control group users based on both of gaming activity and social network activity of the control group users; generate a score comparison report comparing the evaluations scores of the test group and the control group; determine, based on the score comparison report, whether to continue testing one or more additional new game features from the set of new game features. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein selecting the new game feature for testing includes identifying and selecting a core feature of the set of new game features as the selected new game feature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein when it is determined to continue testing one or more additional new game features from the set of new game features, then providing an option for users in the test group to invite additional users to test the one or more additional new game features. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the score comparison report defines a level of feature adoption for the selected new game feature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the gaming activity includes one or more of messages, requests, invitations, gift transactions, object transactions, and currency transactions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the social network activity includes one or more of sent messages, received messages, invitations, and requests.