Graphical user interfaces in computer-implemented multiplayer games

摘要

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods to provide graphical user interfaces in computer-implemented multiplayer games. The graphical user interface includes a friends panel that is operable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The friends panel provides friends information display functionality, social network management functionality, and/or messaging functionality both in the collapsed condition and in the expanded condition. In the collapsed condition, the friends panel may comprise a friends bar that shows a row of friend cards or chiclets associated with respective friends of a host player associated with a displayed game instance, the friends bar being clear of a view of a virtual in-game environment shown in the game display, while the expanded friends panel may comprise a grid of friend cards or chiclets that functionally obscures the in-game environment.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a game display module comprising at least one computer processor device configured to generate a game display for a computer-implemented multiplayer game, the game display including a game play area populated by one or more in-game objects receptive to player control during gameplay; and a graphical user interface module comprising one or more computer processor devices configured to generate a messaging graphical user interface (GUI) element that forms part of the game display and that provides for messaging functionality comprising message composition functionality and message display functionality with respect to in-game communications respectively to and from other players of the game, the messaging GUI element being variable in onscreen area, to provide the messaging functionality in at least two different conditions in which the messaging GUI element obscures different respective portions of the game play area.