WO2011030337A4

WO2011030337A4 - Modified games & methods for modifying games for training various cognitive abilities

Info

Publication number: WO2011030337A4
Application number: PCT/IL2010/000735
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Preminger; Gigi Levy Weiss; Avishai Henik; Dana Chanan; Nimrod Madar
Original assignee: Imind Networks Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-09-08
Filing date: 2010-09-06
Publication date: 2011-11-17
Also published as: WO2011030337A3; WO2011030337A2

Abstract

A method for augmenting a pre existing game for training at least one cognitive ability during gaming session, the method comprising the procedures of determining at least one training method, determining the weight of each of a plurality of training factors, determining the level of each of the plurality of training factors and augmenting a pre-existing game, the at least one training method is respective of each one of the at least one cognitive ability for training, the plurality of training factors are respective of the determined training method, the procedure of determining the level of each of the plurality of training factors, further includes determining a game augmentation manifestation corresponding to the determined training method and corresponding to each of the plurality of training factors, and the procedure of augmenting a pre-existing game is performed according to the determined training method, the weight of each of the plurality of training factors, and according to the level of each of the plurality of training factors.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 30 August 201 1 (30.08.201 1)

1. A method for augmenting a pre-existing game, such that the actions of a player during a gaming session are measurable, the method comprising the following procedures:

determining at least one augmentation method;

for each of said at least one augmentation method, determining the weight of each of a plurality of augmentation factors, respective of said augmentation method;

for each of said at least one augmentation method, determining the level of each of said plurality of augmentation factors, and further determining a game augmentation manifestations corresponding to said at least one augmentation method and corresponding to each of said plurality of augmentation factors; and

augmenting said pre-existing game according said determined game augmentation manifestations.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said pre-existing game is selected from the list consisting of:

Bingo;

Slingo;

Solitaire;

Sudoku;

Bejeweled;

Zuma;

Chainz;

Chuzzle;

Around the world in 80 days;

Collapse; Pacman;

Frogger;

76 Bubble-Bubble;

Domino;

Chiken foot;

Draw;

Maltese cross;

Matador;

Mexican train;

Bergen;

Poker;

Seven card stud Poker; Five card draw Poker; Omaha;

Omaha high low;

Caribbean stud poker;

Blackjack;

Bonus Blackjack;

Double Exposure Blackjack;

Spanish Blackjack;

Blackjack Switch;

Elimination Blackjack;

Bookworm;

Word Web;

Word Web Deluxe;

Arcanum;

Wordsworth;

Fire Words;

Boggle;

Flipwords;

Weave words; Word zen;

Crosswords;

Scrabble;

77 Monopoly;

US version Monopoly;

UK version Monopoly;

European version Monopoly; Burger shop;

Amelia's cafe;

Diaper rush;

Dinner rush;

Cake mania;

Mahjong solitaire;

Hong Kong mahjong;

Sichuan mahjong;

Japanese mahjong;

Western classical mahjong; American mahjong;

3 -player mahjong;

Singaporean mahjong;

Malaysian mahjong;

Fujian mahjong;

Vietnamese mat truac;

Filipino mahjong;

Pussers bones;

Poppit;

Bubble town;

Tetris;

Acid Tetris;

Beyond columns;

block-out; blocks from hell; Draw games;

Card games;

78 puzzle games;

arcade games;

Domino stones games;

Word creation games;

Board games;

Resource and time management games; and

flash games.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein actions of said player during gaming session are measurable for determining the level of said player respective of a cognitive ability, said cognitive ability is selected from the list consisting of: visual-spatial working memory;

auditory -verbal working memory;

task switching;

eye hand coordination;

control;

selective attention;

divided attention;

orienting; and

stress management.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said augmentation method is selected from the list consisting of:

hiding;

addition of fake gaming items;

addition of game tasks;

generation of a memorized set;

rule set switching;

game switching; repositioning of gaming items;

presentation mode switching;

79 reduction of the active area for mouse click;

reducing the time available for performing each task;

crowding gaming items;

moving the clickable gaming items while a player of said augmented pre-existing game has to click them;

replacing the clicking operation with a predetermined movement pattern;

changing the movement and operation controls of the game; cancellation of the lazy functions;

addition of distracters to the game;

producing mixed distracters;

adding a "Go" signal to the game;

duplicating a gaming item;

changing the orienting;

dividing the attention of said player;

adding a time pressure; and

adding cognitive load.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said procedure of determining at least one augmentation method is performed by one of the list consisting of: said player of said augmented pre -existing game;

a supervising authority; and

randomly.

The method of claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of augmentation technique factors is selected from the list consisting of:

quantity;

timing; duration;

density;

replacement;

80 manipulation;

frequency;

size;

location;

pattern; and

speed.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said procedure of determining the level of each of said plurality of augmentation factors is performed according to one of the list consisting of:

the current level of said player of said augmented pre-existing game; the desired level of said player; and

randomly.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said current level of said player is determined according to measurement of the actions of said player during previous gaming sessions of said player.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said current level of said player is determined by employing an assessment tool for performing an initial assessment of the level of said player in at least a portion of said plurality of augmentation factors.

10. The method according to claim 1, further includes a procedure of presenting a warning before said procedure of augmenting said pre-existing game.

11. A method for augmenting a pre-existing game in a repeating manner according to measurable actions of a player during a gaming session, the method comprising the following procedures:

determining a level of said player; determining game augmentation manifestations for augmenting said pre-existing game;

augmenting said pre-existing game according to said determined game augmentation manifestations;

providing a gaming session of said augmented pre-existing game to said player; and

analyzing said gaming session of said player for measuring the actions of said player during said gaming session for determining the level of said player.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said procedure of determining said level of said player includes the sub-procedure of determining an augmentation method level of said player.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said procedure of determining said level of said player includes the sub-procedure of determining an augmentation factor level of said player.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said procedure of determining said game augmentation manifestations is performed according to at least one of the list consisting of:

said level of said player;

the personal details of said player;

a user request; and

previous gaming sessions of said player.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein after said procedure of analyzing said gaming session of said player, said method returns to said procedure of determining said level of said player and performs said procedure of determining said level of said player according to the gaming session analysis.

16. A system for augmenting a pre-existing game in a repeating manner according to measurable actions of a player during gaming session on the augmented pre-existing game, the system comprising:

a game augmenter for determining game augmentation manifestations and for augmenting said pre-existing game according to said game augmentation manifestations; and

a gaming console coupled with said game augmenter for enabling said player to play a gaming session of said pre-existing augmented game.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a player level determiner coupled with said game augmenter, said player level determiner determining the level of said player and providing said level of said player to said game augmenter, said game augmenter determining said game augmentation manifestations and augmenting said pre-existing game at least according to the determined level of said player.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a gaming session analyzer coupled with said gaming console for analyzing said gaming session of said player for measuring the actions of said player during said gaming session, thereby producing data respective of said gaming session of said player; and

a database coupled with said gaming session analyzer for storing said data respective of said gaming session of said player.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a player level determiner coupled with said game augmenter and with said database, said player level determiner determining the level of said player and providing said level of

83 said player to said game augmenter, said game augmenter augmenting said pre-existing game at least according to the determined level of said player.

The system of claim 16, wherein said game augmenter augmenting said game by determining said game augmentation manifestations for augmenting said pre-existing game, according to at least one of the list consisting of: said level of said player;

the personal details of said player;

a user request; and

said data respective of said gaming session of said player.

84

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 (1)

The claimed invention: The claimed invention relates to a method for augmenting a pre-existing game for making the input data of a player respective of gaming actions, measurable. It is noted that, the pre-existing games do not enable measuring the player actions, with respect to various abilities (in particular various cognitive abilities) of the player.

The claimed invention (e.g., claim 1) describes determining an augmentation method for augmenting pre-existing games, also called a training method. In particular, the augmentation method do not relate to a method for training the player but to a method for augmenting a pre-existing game such that the player actions (i.e., the player input data) are measurable. Each augmentation method is associated with a plurality of factors, which determine the level of the augmentation method. Game augmentation manifestations are the perceivable game modifications. That is, the game is augmented such that it incorporates the determined game augmentation manifestations.

The claimed invention (e.g., claim 11 and 16) further describes augmenting a pre-existing game and providing the player with a gaming session. The actions of the player during the gaming session are analyzed for determining the player level with respect to selected abilities. The determined player level is employed for re- augmenting the game such that the augmentation method level is appropriate for the determined player level. In this manner, the claimed invention discloses an iterative (i.e., repeating) game augmentation process. The iterative process enables maintaining the augmentation method level appropriate for the player, and enables the player to monitor her level over time and thus evaluate her progress.

The written opinion: The examiner maintains that the claimed invention does not relate to a technical problem. Applicant humbly disagrees with the examiner. Nevertheless, applicant is amending the claims herein for better clarifying the claimed invention. The claimed invention relates, for example, to the technical problem of quantifying (measuring) the actions of the player during gaming session, in various pre-existing games, which are not originally designated for the task of such measurement.

The examiner maintains that the techniques of the claimed invention concern schemes, rules and methods for playing games. However, the claimed invention concerns techniques for augmenting pre-existing games by providing measurements mechanisms for quantifying the actions of the player, during standard gaming session. While these measurement mechanisms certainly affect the game as perceived by the player, the game augmentation manifestations do not change the basic gaming mechanics. The techniques of the claimed invention are therefore orthogonal to schemes, rules and methods for playing games.

Publication Dl (US 6,632,174) describes a method for testing the cognitive abilities of a user and relates to a system designated especially for testing and training cognitive abilities. The claimed invention, on the other hand, augments pre-existing games which were not originally designed for such testing. The claimed invention provides measurements mechanisms, to pre-existing games, for

85 quantifying actions performed during gaming session.

86