Patents by Inventor Chuck L. Hess

Chuck L. Hess has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method of operating an online game using terraformed game spaces
    Patent number: 8814675
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modifying the topography of a game space to produce in-game benefits. In a preferred embodiment, a player may raise the topography to create hills and mountains, or lower the topography to create ponds, rivers, and lakes, with each such modification resulting in additional in-game benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Chuck L. Hess, Daniel M. Marks
  • METHOD OF OPERATING AN ONLINE GAME USING TERRAFORMED GAME SPACES
    Publication number: 20130178256
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modifying the topography of a game space to produce in-game benefits. In a preferred embodiment, a player may raise the topography to create hills and mountains, or lower the topography to create ponds, rivers, and lakes, with each such modification resulting in additional in-game benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Chuck L. Hess, Daniel M. Marks
  • METHOD OF OPERATING AN ONLINE GAME USING A GLOBE-SHAPED CONTROLLER
    Publication number: 20130035166
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for controlling the viewpoint upon a digital game space using a globe-shaped object displayed on a computer monitor or video screen. In a preferred embodiment, a player rotates a globe in the desired direction to simultaneously rotate the viewpoint upon a game space in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Chuck L. Hess, Daniel M. Marks, Justin Brown