| CPC A63F 9/0612 (2013.01) [A63F 13/52 (2014.09); A63F 13/55 (2014.09); A63F 13/69 (2014.09); A63F 13/80 (2014.09); A63F 13/65 (2014.09); A63F 2300/8082 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
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1. A computer device comprising:
one or more processors;
a user interface comprising a display; and
a memory for storing game data;
the one or more processors being configured to:
render on the display a game level in which a game board comprises a plurality of grid locations occupied by user selectable game elements of at least first and second types, the first type having a first visual characteristic and the second type having a second visual characteristic, the respective visual characteristic of each game element being stored in the memory in association with an identifier of a corresponding one or the plurality of grid locations occupied by the game element;
detect, at the user interface, a first user input which engages with at least one of the user selectable game elements and responsive to the detection, cause to be removed at least two user selectable game elements of the first type including the at least one user selectable game element, wherein the at least two user selectable game elements to be removed are determined based on their stored visual characteristics and identifiers of the grid locations;
render a modified game board on the display, the modified game board comprising at a grid location rendered unoccupied by the removal of the at least two user selectable game elements an initial special game element which when activated causes a first defined group of game elements on the game board to be designated for removal, the initial special game element having the first visual characteristic and booster properties, the booster properties being stored in association with the identifier of the grid location in the memory;
detect a first user activation input at the user interface by accessing data stored in association with the identifiers of the grid locations and determining that the booster properties are stored in association with the identifier of the grid location at which the first user activation input is provided, to activate the initial special game element;
in response to the first user activation input, detect that the initial special game element and at least one of the first defined group of the game elements share the first visual characteristic by accessing the visual characteristics stored in association with the identifiers of the grid locations of the first defined group of elements and determining that the stored visual characteristic of the initial special game element and the at least one of the first defined group of the game elements match;
remove from the game board game elements of the first defined group which do not share the first visual characteristic based on accessing the stored visual characteristics stored in association with the identifiers of the grid locations of the first defined group of elements and determining grid locations for which visual characteristics which do not match the visual characteristics of the initial special game element are stored, thereby identifying the grid locations of the game elements to remove;
execute a refill process to refill vacancies on the game board with new game elements after the game elements have been removed by updating the stored visual characteristics stored in association with the identifiers of the vacant grid locations; and
transfer the booster properties to the at least one of the first defined group of the game elements which shares the first visual characteristic to generate at its grid location a second special game element by storing, with the identifier of the grid location of the at least one of the first defined group of the game elements which shares the first visual characteristic, the booster properties; and
render a further modified game board, based on the updated stored visual characteristics and the stored booster properties, in which the vacancies have been refilled and which comprises the second special game element which when activated by a second user activation input causes a second defined group of game elements to be removed.
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