U.S. Pat. No. 11,872,480

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for altering perception of game content in a virtual space based on one or more attribute levels.

FIG.1illustrates a system100of altering perception of game content in a virtual space, according to an embodiment of the invention. System100may alter the perception of game content based on attributes of an entity and/or based on which entity is to perceive the game content. Game content may include one or more expressions of a data object. For example, game content may include a graphical object depicted in a game space, a sound, a logic, and/or other content that maybe expressed in a game space.

The entity may include a virtual entity such as a character or avatar in a virtual space, a physical entity such as an actual user, and/or other entities that may have one or more attributes. An attribute may describe or characterize the entity and/or game element. For example, an attribute may include a skill, a health, an experience, a demographic such as age, a level, a skill tree, a faction, an alliance or other relationship, a time spent logged in, a time since character or account creation, and/or other attributes. Attribute levels may include values of attributes such as a skill level, a condition of health, a particular age, and/or other values of attributes. The attributes may relate to virtual entities (e.g., a virtual age of a character in the video game), physical entities (e.g., an actual age of a user), and/or other entities that may be described by attributes.

Perception of the game content may include a visual perception (e.g., the look or visual appearance of game content), an audible perception (e.g., the sound or audible characteristic of game content), a mechanical perception (e.g., the types of interactions with or logic related to the game content), and/or other ways in which the game content may be perceived.

The game content may be depicted in a manner that alters the perception of such content. For example, the visual, audible, mechanical, and/or other depictions of the game content may be altered based on an attribute level and/or who is to perceive the game content. The visual depictions that may be altered may include a size, a shape, a color, a pattern, artwork, and/or other visual depictions. The audible depictions that may be altered may include an intensity of sound, a frequency of sound, a pattern of sound, and/or other audible depictions. The mechanical depictions that may be altered may include a behavior of game content, interactions with game content, and/or other mechanical depictions.

System100may include a game server120, one or more client computing platforms140(illustrated as client computing platform140A,140B, . . . ,140N), and/or other components. System100may alter the perception of game content based on various configurations such as a hosted, a standalone, a hybrid, and/or other configurations.

A hosted gameplay configuration may be used in which game server120hosts a game and communicates depictions of game content to one or more client computing platforms140. A standalone configuration may be used in which a client computing platform140is configured to locally provide depictions of game content. A hybrid configuration may be used in which the depictions may be communicated from the game server120and/or determined locally by client computing platform140.

Game server120may include one or more processors130configured to execute one or more modules such as a host module122, a game module124, a data modal substitution module126, and/or other modules.

Host module122may be configured to host gameplay over network110such as the Internet in an interactive manner with one or more client computing platforms140. In some embodiments, game server120may provide game module124for execution at client computing platform140. Game module124when executed at the client computing platform140causes the client computing platform to generate an expression of the game. In hosted gameplay embodiments, game module124when executed at the client computing platform140causes the client computing platform to communicate with host module122.

For example, host module122may communicate with the one or more client computing platforms via game module124executing at the client computing platforms140. In particular, host module122may receive information related to gameplay from the client computing platforms140. The information related to gameplay may include game inputs from a user, game status, game level, game events, and/or other information related to gameplay.

In some embodiments, game module124may include instructions that specify game content to be expressed in relation to a game space. For example, the game content may be visually depicted, audibly depicted, mechanically depicted (e.g., logic controlling a storyline or a behavior of other game content), and/or otherwise rendered in relation to the game space.

In a non-limiting example, game module124may be configured as an ADOBE FLASH file that executes via a plug-in installed at a browser of client computing platform. The ADOBE FLASH file includes instructions that when expressed causes a FLASH-based game to be playable at client computing platform140.

In some embodiments, perception alteration module126may be configured to provide the depictions of the game content such that the game content is perceived based on the provided depictions. For example, perception alteration module126may be included or executed in association with game module124to depict the game content so that it is perceived in a certain way.

In some embodiments, perception alteration module126may be configured to obtain an attribute level of an attribute. In some embodiments, electronic storage media (132,144) may be configured to store one or more attribute levels related to the game and/or virtual space such as an attribute level of an entity. In this manner, the attribute levels may be stored and retrieved from such storage media. In some embodiments, the attribute levels may be generated by the game module such that the attribute levels may be obtained from the game module.

The attribute level may be related to an entity such as a particular age of the entity. Perception alteration module126may determine a depiction of game content based on the attribute level. For example, a size, shape, sound, behavior, and/or other type of depiction for the game content may be determined based on the attribute level.

In some embodiments, perception alteration module126may determine a depiction to use based on one or more predefined rules or other predefined information. For example, and without limitation, the predefined information may specify different depictions corresponding to different ages such that as an entity ages, the depiction of the game content changes based on the age of the entity.

In some embodiments, perception alteration module126may determine a depiction to use as a function of the attribute level. For example, as the entity ages, the depicted size or other quantifiable depiction of game content may be altered. In a particular example, the depicted size of the game content may get smaller as the entity ages to simulate different perspectives as an entity ages.

Perception alteration module126is not limited to determining a single type of depiction based on an attribute level for an attribute. For example, a combination of different depictions (e.g., the look, sound, behavior, and/or other types of depictions) may be determined based on an attribute level for the attribute. Likewise, perception alteration module126is not limited to determining a depiction based on a single attribute. For example, a depiction based on a combination of more than one attribute such as by determining a depiction based on an age, a sex, a skill level, and/or other attributes may be determined. Similarly, perception alteration module126may determine a combination of different depictions based on a combination of attributes.

In some embodiments, perception alteration module126may be configured to alter the depiction of some game content but not others. For example, game content that is in the foreground, focused, or otherwise being interacted with may be depicted differently based on an attribute level while other game content that is in the background, not focused, or not interacted with may be depicted the same way irrespective of the attribute level. Thus, the depiction of a first game content may be altered based on an attribute level while the depiction of a second game content may be unaffected by the attribute level.

In some embodiments, perception alteration module126may be configured to alter the depiction based on an entity that is to perceive the game content. For example, a first entity may be provided with a depiction of game content while a second entity may be provided with a different depiction of the game content. Some game content may be depicted differently for different entities while other game content maybe depicted the same for different entities. In some embodiments, game content may be depicted differently to different entities based on one or more of their respective attribute levels of attributes.

Client computing platform140may include one or more processors142configured to execute one or more modules such as a game module124, perception alteration module126, and/or other modules.

In hosted embodiments, client computing platform140may receive depictions of game content from game server120and/or may locally determine such depictions based on perception alteration module126(as described above with respect to game server120) executing locally.

In non-hosted embodiments, client computing platform140may locally determine depictions based on perception alteration module126(as described above with respect to game server120) executing locally.

Client computing platform140may communicate with game server120via network110. Network110may include any one or more of, for instance, the Internet, an intranet, a PAN (Personal Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a SAN (Storage Area Network), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a wireless network, a cellular communications network, a Public Switched Telephone Network, and/or other network.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that game server120and gaming device140may each comprise one or more processors (130,142), one or more interfaces (to various peripheral devices or components), electronic storage media (132,144), and/or other components coupled via a bus. The electronic storage media may comprise random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other memory. The memory may store computer-executable instructions to be executed by the processor as well as data that may be manipulated by the processor. The storage media may comprise floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks, tapes, or other storage media for storing computer-executable instructions and/or data.

FIG.2Aillustrates a schematic diagram200A of a first depiction of first game content210A and a first depiction of second game content220A expressed in a virtual space202A, according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the first depiction of the first game content210A may be independent of (e.g., not based on) an attribute level and/or who is to perceive the first game content. On the other hand, the first depiction of the second game content220A may be based on the attribute level such that it may be altered (e.g., depicted differently) when the attribute level changes.

FIG.2Billustrates a schematic diagram200B of a second depiction of first game content210B and a second depiction of second game content220B expressed in a virtual space202B, according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the second depiction of the first game content210B may be independent of (e.g., not based on) an attribute level. On the other hand, the second depiction of the second game content220B may be based on the attribute level such that it may be altered when the attribute level changes.

Referring toFIGS.2A and2B, the first depiction of the first game content210A and the second depiction of the second game content210B are the same. However, the first depiction of the second game content220A and the second depiction of the second game content220B are different. The different depictions may be different visual, audible, mechanic, and/or other types of depictions. The different depictions may be based various factors, non-limiting examples of which are illustrated with respect toFIGS.3-5.

FIG.3illustrates a schematic diagram300of a first depiction of first and second game content210A,220A and a second depiction of the first and second game content210B,220B along a timeline302, according to an embodiment. The various depictions may be expressed in virtual spaces202A,202B. Timeline302may include a virtual timeline (e.g., a timeline related to time in a virtual space), an actual timeline (e.g., a timeline related to time in a physical space), and/or other timelines.

A first depiction of the first game content210A and a first depiction of the second game content220A may be expressed in a game space202A at a first time point, illustrated as T(X). A second depiction of the first game content210B and a second depiction of the second game content220B may be expressed in a game space202B at a second time point, illustrated as T(X+N).

As illustrated, the depiction of the second game content at time T(X) is different than the depiction at time T(X+N). An entity may perceive the second content differently at time T(X) than at time T(X+N). The difference may be attributable to various reasons. For example, in some embodiments, the depiction of the second game content may simply change as time progresses. In some embodiments, the depiction of the second game content may change based on an attribute level of one or more entities changing over time.

FIG.4illustrates a schematic diagram400of a first depiction of first and second game content (210A,220A) and a second depiction of the first and second game content (210B,220B) as perceived by a single entity402, according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG.4, a single entity402may perceive the second game content differently based on an attribute level of an attribute related to the single entity402. For example, the first perception of the second game content220A may be based on a first attribute level of an attribute. The second perception of the second game content220B may be based on a second attribute level of the attribute. The change in the attribute level of the attribute may cause a change in the way that the second game content is depicted and therefore a change in the perception of the second game content.

FIG.5illustrates a schematic diagram500of a first depiction of first and second game content (210A,220A) and a second depiction of the first and second game content (210B,220B) as perceived by different entities502,504, according to an embodiment. Different depictions of the second content may be provided to and/or in relation with different entities. For example, entity502may be provided with a first depiction of second game content220A and entity504may be provided with a second depiction of second game content220B, thereby causing the different entities to have different perceptions of the second game content. Both entities may be provided with the same depiction of the first game content, thereby causing the different entities to have the same perception of the first game content.

The different depictions may be provided to the different entities for various reasons. For example, the different depictions may be provided merely because they are different entities. In some embodiments, the different depictions may be provided because the different entities have different attribute levels (e.g., entity504may have an age that is greater than the age of entity502or vice versa).

FIG.6illustrates a process of altering perception of game content in a virtual space, according to an embodiment of the invention. The various processing operations and/or data flows depicted inFIG.6(and in the other drawing figures) are described in greater detail herein. The described operations may be accomplished using some or all of the system components described in detail above and, in some implementations, various operations may be performed in different sequences and various operations may be omitted. Additional operations may be performed along with some or all of the operations shown in the depicted flow diagrams. One or more operations may be performed simultaneously. Accordingly, the operations as illustrated (and described in greater detail below) are exemplary by nature and, as such, should not be viewed as limiting.

In an operation602, a first attribute level of an attribute may be obtained. The first attribute level may be obtained from a game module that expresses a game space, a database or memory that stores attribute levels, and/or other source of attribute level information.

In an operation604, a first depiction of first game content and a first depiction of second game content may be determined. The first depiction of the second game content may be determined based on the first attribute level. In some embodiments, the first depiction of the first game content is independent of the first attribute level.

In an operation606, the first depiction of the first game content and the first depiction of the second game content may be provided. For example, the first depictions may be provided to a remote device for expression at the remote device (e.g., for hosted or hybrid embodiments) and/or may be provided locally (e.g., for standalone or hybrid embodiments).

In an operation608, a second attribute level of the attribute may be obtained. The second attribute level may be different from the first attribute level such that the level of the attribute has changed. For example, an age, skill, and/or other attribute may have changed from the first attribute level to the second attribute level. In some embodiments, the first attribute level may be associated with a first entity while the second attribute level may be associated with a second entity such that the different entities have different attribute levels for the same attribute.

In an operation610, a second depiction of the first game content and a second depiction of the second game content may be determined. The second depiction of the second game content may be based on the second attribute level. In some embodiments, the second depiction of the first game content may be independent of the second attribute level (e.g., such that the depiction of the first game content does not change from the first depiction to the second depiction).

In an operation612, the second depiction of the first game content and the second depiction of the second game content may be provided for expression remotely and/or locally.

Although described with respect to video games, the disclosure may be used in other contexts in which a virtual space may be expressed at a client computing platform. Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification should be considered exemplary only, and the scope of the invention is accordingly intended to be limited only by the following claims.