US Patent 8241099
"Generating custom creatures"
"Generating custom creatures"
A computer-implemented method of creating enhancements in a computer game for a recipient experiencing a performance, the method including: selecting an enhancement to apply to a recipient; modifying the enhancement; and applying the modified enhancement to the recipient, wherein the modified enhancement is effective for a fixed duration of time proportional to the time spent by the recipient experiencing the performance.
The Design Mandate:
Create a high-retention, multi-day systemic loop that empowers players to engineer custom combat pets from the Star Wars universe, balancing deterministic crafting formulas with randomized endgame pursuit mechanics.
The Core Feature Architecture:
The Component Pipeline: Players harvested raw DNA from NPCs in the world as base components, serving as the foundational variable inputs for the data matrix.
The Incubator Node: An asynchronous, time-gated crafting station engine that processed creature DNA over a rolling 72-hour execution window.
The Custom Variable Slider: A real-time, variable temperature slider component that dynamically altered the creature's final structural attributes, aesthetic profiles, and behavioral code.
Retention & Engagement Mechanics:
Asynchronous Content Loops: Required player engagement across daily intervals to allocate points, set temperature, and provide power within the incubator, directly driving consecutive daily login metrics (DAU).
The "Perfect Roll" Chase: Combined base DNA metrics with randomized statistical modifiers to preserve virtual economy scarcity and incentivize long-term loop repeat loops.
Systemic Mutation Paths: Programmed low-probability variable mutation branches that transformed base data into rare, alternate creatures, adding an unmapped layer of algorithmic exploration for the community.
Video Guide of the system, still highly enjoyed by players on emulated SWG servers to this day!
An incredibly detailed walkthrough of the entire system is located on one of the player made wikis.