U.S. Pat. No. 10,799,797

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which aspects described herein may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the described aspects and embodiments. Aspects described herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are to be given their broadest interpretation and meaning. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. The use of the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and similar terms is meant to include both direct and indirect connecting and/or coupling.

FIG. 1illustrates one example of a network architecture and data processing device that may be used to implement one or more illustrative aspects described herein. Various network nodes103,105,107, and109may be interconnected via a wide area network (“WAN”)101, such as the Internet. Other networks may also or alternatively be used, including private intranets, corporate networks, LANs, wireless networks, personal networks (“PAN”), and the like. A network101is for illustration purposes and may be replaced with fewer or additional computer networks. A local area network (“LAN”) may have one or more of any known LAN topology and may use one or more of a variety of different protocols, such as Ethernet. Devices103,105,107,109and other devices (not shown) may be connected to one or more of the networks via twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, fiber optics, radio waves or other communication media.

The term “network” as used herein and depicted in the drawings refers not only to systems in which remote storage devices are coupled together via one or more communication paths, but also to stand-alone devices that may be coupled, from time to time, to such systems that have storage capability. Consequently, the term “network” includes not only a “physical network” but also a “content network,” which is comprised of the data—attributable to a single entity—which resides across all physical networks.

The components may include a data server103, a web server105, and a client computers107,109. The data server103provides overall access, control and administration of databases and control software for performing one or more illustrative aspects described herein. The data server103may be connected to the web server105through which users interact with and obtain data as requested. Alternatively, the data server103may act as a web server itself and be directly connected to the Internet. The data server103may be connected to the web server105through the network101(e.g., the Internet), via direct or indirect connection, or via some other network. Users may interact with the data server103using remote computers107,109, e.g., using a web browser to connect to the data server103via one or more externally exposed web sites hosted by the web server105. Client computers107,109may be used in concert with the data server103to access data stored therein, or may be used for other purposes. For example, from a client device107, a user may access the web server105using an Internet browser, as is known in the art, or by executing a software application that communicates with the web server105and/or the data server103over a computer network (such as the Internet).

Servers and applications may be combined on the same physical machines, and retain separate virtual or logical addresses, or may reside on separate physical machines.FIG. 1illustrates just one example of a network architecture that may be used, and those of skill in the art will appreciate that the specific network architecture and data processing devices used may vary, and are secondary to the functionality that they provide, as further described herein. For example, services provided by the web server105and the data server103may be combined on a single server.

Each component103,105,107,109may be any type of known computer, server, or data processing device. The data server103, e.g., may include one or more processors111controlling overall operation of the rate server103. The data server103may further include Random Access Memory (“RAM”)113, Read Only Memory (“ROM”)115, a network interface117, input/output interfaces119(e.g., keyboard, mouse, display, printer, etc.), and memory121. I/O119may include a variety of interface units and drives for reading, writing, displaying, and/or printing data or files. The memory121may further store operating system software123for controlling overall operation of the data processing device103, control logic125for instructing the data server103to perform aspects described herein, and other application software127providing secondary, support, and/or other functionality which may or may not be used in conjunction with other aspects described herein. The control logic may also be referred to herein as the data server software125. Functionality of the data server software may refer to operations or decisions made automatically based on rules coded into the control logic, made manually by a user providing input into the system, and/or a combination of automatic processing based on user input (e.g., queries, data updates, etc.).

The memory121may also store data used in performance of one or more aspects described herein, including a first database129and a second database131. In some embodiments, the first database129may include the second database131(e.g., as a separate table, report, etc.). That is, the information can be stored in a single database, or separated into different logical, virtual, or physical databases, depending on system design. Devices105,107,109may have similar or different architecture as described with respect to device103. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the functionality of data processing device103(or device105,107,109) as described herein may be spread across multiple data processing devices, for example, to distribute processing load across multiple computers, to segregate transactions based on geographic location, user access level, quality of service (“QoS”), etc.

One or more aspects described herein may be embodied in computer-usable or readable data and/or computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices as described herein. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types when executed by a processor in a computer or other device. The modules may be written in a source code programming language that is subsequently compiled for execution, or may be written in a scripting language such as (but not limited to) Hypertext Markup Language (“HTML”) or Extensible Markup Language (“XML”). The computer executable instructions may be stored on a computer readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk, removable storage media, solid state memory, RAM, etc. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. In addition, the functionality may be embodied in whole or in part in firmware or hardware equivalents such as integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (“FPGA”), and the like. Particular data structures may be used to more effectively implement one or more aspects, and such data structures are contemplated within the scope of computer executable instructions and computer-usable data described herein.

FIG. 2shows one example of a chart depicting a hierarchy of avatar categories200. The hierarchy of avatar categories200shown inFIG. 2may be arranged such that difficulty is on the horizontal axis and that the levels an avatar can achieve are expressed on the vertical axis.FIG. 2shows three avatar categories: a beginner category210with beginner items215, an intermediate category220with intermediate items225, and an advanced category230with advanced items235. ThoughFIG. 2shows three avatar categories, any number of avatar categories may be used. Moreover, though this disclosure uses the term avatar categories for simplicity, categories may relate to any in-game items, vehicles, characters and/or other playable elements and/or portions of the interactive application.

Avatar categories, such as the beginner category210, the intermediate category220, and the advanced category230, may comprise and/or be associated with one or more avatars, items, and/or other elements of an interactive application. For example, the beginner category210may be associated with the beginner items215, the intermediate category220may be associated with the intermediate items225, and the advanced category230may be associated with the advanced items235. More and/or fewer avatar categories may be implemented. An increased difficulty and/or undesirability of an avatar category may be associated with more desirable items, characters, and/or other elements of the interactive application. For example, the beginner items215may comprise useful but uninteresting weapons (e.g, a simple dagger and/or a plain tank), whereas the advanced items235may comprise similarly useful but more attractive weapons (e.g., an ornate sword and/or a historically relevant tank). The portions of an interactive application that an avatar category is associated with may depend on the nature of the interactive application. For example, avatar categories in a driving game may comprise a plurality of vehicles, avatar categories in a role-playing game may comprise characters and/or usable items, and avatar categories in a shooting game may comprise playable operators and/or guns. Avatar categories may share the same or similar avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application. For example, the same item may be shared between the beginner category210and the intermediate category220, though that item may be subject to different maximum and minimum progression values based on the avatar category the user selects.

Each avatar category may be configured with a maximum and minimum progression value. An avatar, item, and/or other portion of the avatar category (e.g., a character, tank, and/or car in the avatar category) may have one or more progression values and/or ranges within the maximum and minimum of the avatar category. A progression value may comprise a level, a property of one or more game avatars (e.g., strength, agility, health points, mana points, speed, rounds per minute), and/or another value of the interactive application. For example, an avatar category in a racing game may define a range of top speeds of a vehicle (e.g., a thirty miles per hour minimum top speed and seventy miles per hour maximum top speed), such that a car in the avatar category may progress from and/or have a minimum top speed of thirty miles per hour and progress towards and/or a maximum top speed of seventy miles per hour. As another example, a racing game may define a top speed (e.g., 100 miles per hour), cars in a beginner avatar category in the racing game may have a top speed range (e.g., 30-70% of the top speed), and cars in an advanced avatar category in the racing game may have a broader top speed range (e.g., 1-100% of the maximum speed). A user may improve the performance of an avatar within the avatar category, subject to the minimum progression value and the maximum progression value of the avatar category. For example, in the racing game mentioned above, a user may install better tires on the vehicle to allow the car to reach a higher top speed. As another example, a user in a role playing game may increase a level of an avatar, subject to the maximum and minimum progression values and/or ranges of a corresponding avatar category.

The beginner category210may be a category which is initially provided to a user of an interactive application. The beginner category210may have a minimum progression value that is greater than an absolute minimum progression value. For example, the minimum of the beginner category210is level30, whereas the absolute minimum may be level one. The beginner category210may have a maximum progression value that is lower than an absolute maximum progression value. For example, the maximum of the beginner category210is level70, whereas the absolute maximum progression value may be 100. As depicted byFIG. 2, rather than starting at level one, the user is allowed to start at level30, which may improve the user's experience.FIG. 2also illustrates that such early access has a trade-off: while the user may be allowed to start at level30, the user may reach no greater than level70.

The intermediate category220may, as compared to the beginner category210, have a lower minimum progression value but a greater maximum progression value. For example, the minimum progression value of the intermediate category220may be level20, but the maximum progression value of the intermediate category220may be level80. The intermediate category220may be more difficult and/or otherwise more undesirable than the beginner category210. For example, the intermediate category220may be associated with a form of gameplay that is, regardless of progression value, more difficult than a second form of gameplay associated with the beginner category210. As such, the intermediate category220may be associated with a more difficult and/or undesirable form of the interactive application and/or start at an even lower progression value as compared to the beginner category210, but the category may allow the user to access a higher progression value as compared to the beginner category210.

The advanced category230may, as compared to the beginner category210and the intermediate category220, have a lower minimum progression value but a greater maximum progression value. The maximum progression value of the advanced category230may be an absolute maximum progression value, and the minimum progression value of the advanced category230may be the absolute minimum progression value. For example, the minimum progression value of the advanced category230may be level one, but the maximum progression value of the advanced category230may be level one hundred. The advanced category230may be associated with a form of gameplay that is more difficult and/or more undesirable than either or both the intermediate category220and/or the beginner category210. In this manner, the advanced category may be associated with greater difficulty and/or more undesirable features of the interactive application, and may require that a user start at a lower progression value as compared to either or both the intermediate category220and/or the beginner category210, but may enable the user to access a progression value greater than either or both the intermediate category220and/or the beginner category210.

Though only three categories are shown inFIG. 2, any number of categories may be implemented. For example, the intermediate category220may be removed, and/or a second intermediate category may be added. Additionally and/or alternatively, the three categories depicted inFIG. 2may be defined by a mathematical progression, such that the maximum and minimum progression values depicted may be derived by a mathematical formula. Based on such a mathematical formula, a user of the interactive application may be able to increase and/or decrease the level of difficulty to access a broader range of progression values. As an example, for a difficulty d ranging from 0 to 100, a maximum progression value may be defined by the equation f(d)=0.1d+5, and the minimum progression value may be defined by the equation g(d)=−0.1d+3, such that a difficulty setting of d=10 would result in a maximum progression value of 6, and a minimum progression value of 2.

Each of the avatar categories, such as the beginner category210, the intermediate category220, and the advanced category230, may be restricted to users of the interactive application. A user may be given the option to access a category based on an amount of time meeting a threshold, the user's performance in a different category, and/or another similar achievement. A category, such as the beginner category210, may be restricted to new users of the interactive application (e.g., the beginner category210being available only to users of the interactive application whose time playing the interactive application does not meet a predetermined maximum). One or more first avatar categories may be limited such that a user must reach a certain progression value in one or more second avatar categories (e.g., having at least one avatar in the second avatar category reach a certain progression value) before being given access to the one or more first avatar categories. One or more portions of an avatar category (e.g., certain tanks, cars, characters, etc.) may be available based on the user's performance in the avatar category. For example, an avatar category may be associated with three tanks, and the user must use the first tank at least five times before being given access to the second tank.

Each of the avatar categories may be associated with different functionality of the interactive application. For example, the intermediate category220may have more customization options (e.g., of an avatar, an item, and/or another portion of the interactive application) as compared to the beginner category210. For example, avatars associated with the advanced category230may be able to wear more aesthetically appealing clothing than avatars associated with the beginner category210. Some avatar categories may allow users to purchase modifications to the interactive application relating to progression values (e.g., progression value multipliers). Some avatar categories may be limited in terms of gameplay such that, for example, users of an avatar in the beginner category210may only play against other users using avatars from the beginner category210. Some game modes of the interactive application may restrict use of only avatars and/or items from certain avatar categories. Some avatar categories may allow users to use avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application from other avatar categories. For example, a user may earn the ability to use an avatar associated with the beginner category210in the advanced category230.

As shown byFIG. 2, the hierarchy of avatar categories200may allow early users of the interactive application to access a limited range of better progression values while providing the option to and/or incentives to access a broader range of potentially even better progression values. For example, an interactive application may give early users the ability to use a first tank associated with a beginning avatar category, and the first tank may start with a beginning attack power of thirty points. Through gameplay success, the user may be capable of improving the first tank's attack power from thirty points to a maximum attack power of fifty points. After the user has developed proficiency with the first tank (e.g., once the first tank's attack power reaches forty points), the interactive application may allow the user to use a second tank associated with a second avatar category with a beginning attack power of ten points and a maximum attack power of seventy points. The second tank in this example may be more difficult to use but more aesthetically pleasing. As such, the user may struggle with an underpowered tank but, through additional effort, may reach an attack power that could not be achieved via the beginning avatar category.

FIG. 3depicts a simplified network upon which the features described herein may be implemented with respect to the hierarchy of avatar categories200.

A broadening progression computing platform340may be connected via a private network360to a database330, computing devices350, and ultimately, through a public network370, to a player device and/or player devices such as a player1device310and a player2device320.

The broadening progression computing platform340may be a computing device which administrates a broadening progression system for an interactive application, such as the hierarchy of avatar categories200. The broadening progression computing platform340may be a part of a video game such that, for example, the broadening progression computing platform340is a module associated with and/or part of a video game executable. The broadening progression computing platform340may additionally or alternatively interface with the computing devices350to, for example, provide server functionality for a video game. For example, the broadening progression computing platform340may be a module of an authentication server for a multiplayer online video game, and the computing devices350may be devices handling other portions of the multiplayer online video game (e.g., keeping score, administrating game rules).

User devices, such as the player1device310and the player2device320, may connect, via public network370and/or private network360, to the broadening progression computing platform340. The user devices may be personal computers, video game consoles, and/or other similar client computers. Connection by the user devices to the broadening progression computing platform340may comprise authentication using authentication credentials, which may be validated against credentials stored by database330. For example, the player1device310may send authentication credentials to the broadening progression computing platform340to access an account in a video game and, thereby, information associated with progression values of avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application associated with the account. Those avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application may be used to, for instance, determine whether a user is allowed to access an avatar category in the hierarchy of avatar categories200.

The database330may store information about the hierarchy of avatar categories200and/or avatars and/or items and/or other portions of the interactive application. For example, the database330may store an indication that a certain avatar corresponds to one or more avatar categories in the hierarchy of avatar categories200. The user devices may access this information via the broadening progression computing platform340and/or directly over the private network360and/or the public network370. For example, game executing on the player1device310may download, from the database330, the hierarchy of avatar categories200to determine which avatars are available to a user.

FIG. 4shows a flow chart depicting steps which may be taken in accordance with features described herein.

In step401, the broadening progression computing platform may determine avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application. Avatars need not be specific game characters but may be character classes, teams, and/or other related associations of game characters. Items may comprise any appropriate aspect of a game, and may vary depending on the genre and/or nature of the game: for example, in a shooter game, the items may comprise guns, whereas in an adventure game, the items may comprise a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle. As noted above, the particular portions of the interactive application determined may depend on the genre and/or style of the interactive application. For example, one shooter game may determine guns, tanks, and/or characters, whereas a role-playing game may determine in-game pets, magic spells, and/or character classes.

In step402, the broadening progression computing platform may establish a hierarchy of avatar categories (e.g., the hierarchy of avatar categories200). Each avatar category may comprise one or more of the determined avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application. The hierarchy need not be configured such that higher avatar categories are easier and/or more desirable, though higher avatar categories may have relatively larger maximum progression values. For example, a higher avatar category may be harder and/or have less desirable avatars, but may be associated with other benefits (e.g., better game rewards, prestige, access to different forms of competition, a better game ending). A higher avatar category may, for example, be harder in part because of a lower minimum progression value. Each avatar category may be configured with a minimum progression value and a maximum progression value. The minimum and maximum progression values may be relative to other avatar categories (e.g., an advanced avatar category having twice the breadth of an intermediate avatar category).

The hierarchy of avatar categories may be configured such that each avatar category corresponds to game rewards. For example, each category in the hierarchy of avatar categories may correspond to a predetermined number of game rewards, a game reward multiplier, a type of game rewards, and/or other similar game rewards configurations. Adjusted game rewards may be determined by multiplying a base level of game rewards by a game reward multiplier associated with an avatar category used by a player. The hierarchy of avatar categories may be configured such that certain categories may correspond to fewer and/or worse game rewards, whereas other categories may correspond to more and/or better game rewards. In this manner, the hierarchy of avatar categories may be configured to incentivize users to play with more difficult and/or less desirable avatars, items, and/or other portions of an interactive application.

The hierarchy of avatar categories may be stored and/or maintained by the broadening progression computing platform. For example, the hierarchy of avatar categories may be stored in a database using Structured Query Language (“SQL”) and may be modified by game administrators as desired. The hierarchy of avatar categories may thereby be flexible and easily changed without modification to, for example, game executable files.

In step403, one or more users may connect to the interactive application, and the broadening progression computing platform may establish the hierarchy of avatar categories. For example, a user may connect to a game server, and the game server may use the broadening progression computing platform to provide the user access to one or more avatar categories based on, for example, a progression value associated with the user's account. If the user is new, the broadening progression computing platform may provide the user with access to a beginning avatar category. The user may have the option to select, from a plurality of avatar categories, one or more avatar categories. For example, the interactive application may allow a user to pilot two airplanes at once, and the user may select two different avatar categories from a plurality of avatar categories, each intended for a different airplane.

In step404, the broadening progression computing platform and/or a game administrator may determine whether to modify the hierarchy of avatar categories. The hierarchy of avatar categories may be continually updated to, for example, balance incentives for users to engage with an interactive application versus difficulty. For example, excessively easy categories may result in players quickly completing and/or becoming tired of an interactive application, whereas excessively difficult categories may result in players easily giving up. Moreover, the difference between categories may be modified to, for example, ensure that a transition between an easy category and a hard category is not so extreme as to discourage players. The broadening progression computing platform may be configured to determine whether to modify the hierarchy of avatar categories based on analysis of gameplay data. For example, the broadening progression computing platform may receive and analyze and/or be configured log and analyze a win and/or loss rate with a particular avatar and/or item, a frequency with which a particular avatar category and/or item is used, and/or similar information about gameplay. This step needs not be performed by the broadening computing platform, but may additionally or alternatively be performed by a game administrator.

If the broadening progression computing platform and/or the game administrator determine to not modify the hierarchy of avatar categories and/or the hierarchy of game items, the flowchart may end.

If the broadening progression computing platform and/or the game administrator determine to modify the hierarchy of avatar categories, in step405, the broadening progression computing platform may modify the hierarchy of avatar categories. Modification may include changing entries in a database comprising the hierarchy of avatar categories.

Modification of the hierarchy of avatar categories may comprise modifying the placement of a particular avatar category in the hierarchy, modifying the maximum and/or minimum progression value, modifying the game rewards (e.g., the game reward multiplier) associated with a particular avatar category, modifying which avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application are associated with a particular avatar category, and/or any other such modifications. For example, a game administrator may determine that a particular avatar category is rarely used by users because the balance of game rewards and added difficulty (via, for example, weaker avatars) is poor. As a result, the game administrator may modify the particular avatar category to provide more and/or better game rewards, correspond to better avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the game administrator may weaken corresponding avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application and/or associate the particular avatar category with fewer and/or worse game rewards. Additionally and/or alternatively, avatar categories may be added, removed, or the like. For example, based on determining that a switch between a first avatar category and a second avatar category results in a jarring increase in difficulty, a third avatar category between the first avatar category and the second avatar category may be added.

Modification of one or more avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application and/or the hierarchy of avatar categories may comprise modifying a parameter of avatars, items, and/or other portions of the interactive application. For example, a game administrator may determine that a particular avatar available in an avatar category is disproportionately weak such that users rarely use the avatar, and/or that the avatar is disproportionately strong such that users overwhelmingly choose the avatar when using the corresponding avatar category. The game administrator may modify parameters of the avatar, move the avatar to a different avatar category, or even delete the avatar to further game balance.

Modification may comprise enforcing the modification in the game. The broadening progression computing platform may be configured to ensure that all users comply with the modified version of the hierarchy of avatar categories. For example, if the game is a multiplayer shooting game, the broadening progression computing platform may ensure that future shooting game matches use the modified versions of the hierarchy of avatar categories.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.