U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,458

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a system10configured to present optional commitments to players within a videogame. The optional commitments commit players to perform and/or abstain from certain actions within the videogame. The players may be rewarded for accepting commitments. The players may be penalized for failing to fulfill commitments. This model for rewarding optional behaviors may provide an alternative for incenting actions within a videogame to conventional models in which players are rewarded and/or penalized after attempting an activity or activities. The presentation and analysis of optional commitments provided by system10may enhance the sense of presence experienced by the players, the relationships and/or cooperation between players, and/or provide other enhancements within the videogame.

In some implementations, system10may include one or more servers12, and/or other components. The system10may operate in communication and/or coordination with one or more external resources14. Users may interface with system10and/or external resources14via client computing platforms16. The components of system10, servers12, external resources14, and/or client computing platforms16may be operatively linked via one or more electronic communication links. For example, such electronic communication links may be established, at least in part, via a network such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementations in which servers12, external resources14, and/or client computing platforms16may be operatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform16may include one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The computer program modules may be configured to enable one or more users associated with the given client computing platform16to interface with system10and/or external resources14, and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computing platforms16. By way of non-limiting example, the given client computing platform16may include one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gaming console, and/or other computing platforms.

The external resources14may include sources of information, hosts and/or providers of virtual environments outside of system10, external entities participating with system10, and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources14may be provided by resources included in system10.

The servers12may be configured to provide, or cooperate with client computing platforms16, to provide a videogame to players. This may include hosting, serving, and/or otherwise providing a virtual space to the players within which the videogame is played the asynchronous environment to the players via client computing platforms16. The servers12may include electronic storage18, one or more processors20, and/or other components. The servers12may include communication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or other computing platforms.

Electronic storage18may comprise electronic storage media that electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage18may include one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with servers12and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to servers12via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage18may include one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. Electronic storage18may store software algorithms, information determined by processor20, information received from servers12, information received from client computing platforms16, and/or other information that enables servers12to function properly.

Processor(s)20is configured to provide information processing capabilities in servers12. As such, processor20may include one or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. Although processor20is shown inFIG. 1as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor20may include a plurality of processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processor20may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination.

As is shown inFIG. 1, processor20may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules. The one or more computer program modules may include one or more of a game module22, a commitment module24, an invitation module26, a benefit module28, a performance monitoring module30, a timing module32, a performance evaluation module34, a penalty module36, and/or other modules. Processor20may be configured to execute modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor20.

It should be appreciated that although modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36are illustrated inFIG. 1as being co-located within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor20includes multiple processing units, one or more of modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36may be located remotely from the other modules. The description of the functionality provided by the different modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36described below is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, one or more of modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36. As another example, processor20may be configured to execute one or more additional modules that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed below to one of modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36.

The game module22may be configured to provide the videogame to players via client computing platforms16. The videogame may take place within a virtual space. The virtual space may be hosted, served, and/or otherwise provided by game module22. To provide the videogame to players via client computing platform16, game module22and/or client computing platform16may generate views of the videogame (and/or the virtual space) that enable players to participate in the videogame.

A virtual space may comprise a simulated space (e.g., a physical space) that is accessible by a client (e.g., client computing platforms16) that presents a view of the virtual space to a player. The simulated space may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction by the player, and/or include one or more objects positioned within the topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. In some instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. In other instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. The topography may include dimensions of the virtual space, and/or surface features of a surface or objects that are “native” to the virtual space. In some instances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a ground surface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the virtual space. In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or more bodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived space with one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). A virtual space may include a virtual world, but this is not necessarily the case. For example, a virtual space may include a game space that does not include one or more of the aspects generally associated with a virtual world (e.g., gravity, a landscape, etc.).

Within a virtual space provided by virtual environment servers12, avatars associated with the players may be controlled by the players to interact with the virtual space. As used herein, the term “avatar” may refer to an object (or group of objects) present in the virtual space that represents an individual player. The avatar may be controlled by the player with which it is associated. The avatars may move through and interact with the virtual space (e.g., non-player and/or player characters in the virtual space, and/or other objects in the virtual space). The avatar associated with a given player may be created and/or customized by the given player. The avatar may be associated with an “inventory” of virtual goods and/or currency that the player can use (e.g., by manipulation of the avatar and/or the items, and/or through the controls presented by the player interface) within the virtual space.

The players may participate in the videogame by controlling an object or objects (e.g., an avatar and/or objects associated with the avatar, a vehicle, and/or other objects) in the virtual space. Control may be exercised through control inputs and/or commands input by the players through client computing platforms16.

The virtual space may be synchronous and/or asynchronous. While participating in the videogame within an asynchronous virtual space, a player may receive relatively little, if any, real-time or near real-time information about the actions of other players within the virtual space. By contrast, while participating in the videogame within a synchronous virtual space, a player may be able to view the actions of other players within the virtual space in real-time and/or near real-time, and/or to interact with the other players.

The provision of the virtual space to the players by game module22may be accomplished in cooperation with a client application that is executed on client computing platforms16. The client application may be a “fat” client, a “thin” client, and/or other types of client applications.

The client executed on client computing platforms16may provide a relatively large amount of the processing cost associated with determining, assembling, and/or presenting views of the virtual space to the player. For example, the client may create an instance of the virtual space locally on the client computing platforms16. The client executing on one of client computing platforms16may display views of the virtual space that are obtained form the local instance of the virtual space. The client may provide information to game module22related to the interactions of the player with the instance of the virtual space executed on the client computing platform16. The client may receive instructions or commands from game module22regarding interactions of the virtual space directed toward the player.

The client executed on client computing platforms16may provide a relatively small amount of the processing associated with presenting the virtual space to the player. For example, the game module22may create one or more instances of the virtual environment on servers12for the individual players. Information related to an instance of the virtual environment on servers12, and/or view information describing views of the instance may then be transmitted by game module22from servers12to client computing platforms16, where the corresponding views may be assembled from the received information and presented to the players by the client.

The commitment module24may be configured to manage commitment criteria associated with commitments to be provided to players within the videogame. This may include managing sets of commitment criteria associated with individual commitments. The sets of commitment criteria and/or the commitments may be stored in electronic storage18. The set of commitment criteria associated with a given commitment may include one or more of a name, activity criteria, temporal criteria, benefit criteria, penalty criteria, and/or other criteria.

The activity criteria associated with a commitment may define one or more actions within the videogame. For example, the actions may include traveling to one or more specific locations within the virtual space, fighting (generally or a specified opponent or opponent class), praying, training, trading, crafting, fishing, protecting an object and/or place in the virtual space, wearing or carrying (by virtue of a controlled avatar wearing or carrying) an icon, emblem, token, and/or other object, and/or other actions.

The activity criteria associated with the commitment may indicate whether an action is to be performed and/or abstained from to satisfy the commitment. Commitments for which the activity criteria only define actions to be performed may be referred to as prescriptive commitments. Commitments for which the activity criteria only define actions to be abstained from may be referred to as proscriptive commitments.

The temporal criteria associated with a commitment may designate a time window or windows during which actions defined by the activity are to be performed and/or abstained from in order to fulfill the commitment. The temporal criteria may designate, for example, one or more of a commencement of a time window, a duration of a time window, a conclusion of a time window, and/or other parameters of the time window.

A commitment may be a recurring commitment, a non-recurring commitment, and/or other types of commitments. A recurring commitment may be a commitment having temporal criteria that designate a plurality of time windows that occur again and again within the videogame in a recurring manner. A recurring commitment may still end at some point (e.g., at the occurrence of some event that ends the commitment) after a plurality of time windows have occurred. A non-recurring commitment may be a commitment having temporal criteria that designate a single time window.

In designating the commencement of a time window for a commitment, temporal criteria may designate game circumstances that trigger commencement of the time window. The circumstances may include actions performed by the player accepting the commitment, actions performed by other players, actions performed by non-player characters, events in the virtual space, and/or other circumstances in the game. For example, a player may accept a commitment to aid a specific character (or set of characters) in the videogame whenever they give some predetermined signal for help. The generation of the predetermined signal for help would trigger the commencement of the time window for this commitment. As another example, a player may accept a commitment to engage in battle and/or defeat a specific character (or set of characters) in the videogame whenever the player encounters the specific character. Encounters of the accepting player with the specific character would trigger commencement of the time window for this commitment. As yet another example, a player may accept a commitment to wear an emblem of, for example, a deity, group, or celebrity within the videogame. If the emblem (and/or the object bearing the emblem) is lost or destroyed, a time window may be triggered during which the player must find a replacement. These examples are not intended to be limiting, and other circumstances within the videogame that trigger time windows are contemplated.

In designating the commencement of a time window for a commitment, temporal criteria may designate a frequency at which time windows for the commitment are commenced. As an example, a player may accept a commitment to perform some specified action (or set of actions) every day, week, fortnight, month, and/or other time period. By way of example, the specified action may include practicing a skill, engaging and/or defeating a specified character (or set of characters), visiting a location within the virtual space, visiting a specified character (or set of characters), and/or other actions.

In designating the commencement of a time window for a commitment, temporal criteria may designate the time of acceptance as the commencement for the time window. For example, a player may accept a commitment to never attack and/or harm a specific character and/or set of characters. The temporal criteria may designate the moment of acceptance (and/or a time after some predetermined delay) as the commencement of the time window for the commitment.

In designating the duration of a time window for a commitment, temporal criteria may designate a length of time for which the time window may extend. The length of time may be a fixed amount of time or a variable amount of time. As an example of a variable amount of time, a player may accept a commitment that involves defeating all of a certain type of character within some distance during the time window. The temporal criteria may include a function that determines the duration of the time window as a function of the number and/or strength of the characters during a given time window.

In designating the conclusion of a time window for a commitment, temporal criteria may designate game circumstances that trigger conclusion of the time window. By way of example, a player may accept a commitment that involves defending a certain character (or set of characters) whenever aid is requested by the character. A time window associated with this commitment may end when the character being defended is no longer in danger (e.g., the attackers have been defeated, the attackers have been outrun and/or avoided, the attackers have retreated, and/or other circumstance in which the character is no longer in danger). As another non-limiting example, a player may accept a commitment to be an ally of a specific character (or set of characters). If the specific character becomes withdrawn from the videogame (e.g., by death, by “travel”, and/or other circumstances), the player may no longer be committed to being an ally of the specific character. Similarly, if the specific character betrays the player that accepted the invitation and/or performs some other untoward action, the temporal criteria for the commitment may designate that the time window should be concluded.

It will be apparent that the temporal criteria for a given commitment may not include all of a commencement of a time window, a duration of a time window, and a conclusion of a time window. For example, the temporal criteria for the given commitment may designate a duration of a time window and not a conclusion of a time window, or vice versa.

The benefit criteria associated with the commitments define one or more benefits within the videogame to be received by players for accepting commitments. The benefits may include bonuses in character metrics such as one or more of manna, gold (or other currency), skill or ability metrics, friendship or trustworthiness metrics, and/or other character metrics. The benefits may include virtual objects provided to the player within the virtual space. The virtual objects may be wearable, bearable, storable, tradable, sellable, transferrable, destroyable, usable, inhabitable, ridable, and/or disposable. The virtual objects may include one or more of a rare object, an object with abilities, a protective object, a tool, a weapon, a pet, a vehicle, a mount, and/or other objects.

The benefits may include alliances within the videogame. The alliances may provide the players with access to areas of the virtual space, aid during battle, connections for trade, and/or other benefits. The alliances may be with non-player characters and/or player controlled characters. The benefits may include access to and/or control over places within the virtual space.

The benefits may include new skills and/or abilities such as climbing, swimming, flight, breathing underwater, passing through tangible obstructions (e.g., objects, walls, creatures, and/or other obstructions), partial to complete camouflage and/or invisibility, stealthy activities (e.g., hiding, moving silently, moving in shadow, and/or other activities), accelerated healing, rapid recovery of strength and/or any other recoverable attribute, resistance to damage from one or more sources (e.g., when struck by iron, acid, and/or other substances or weapons), absorption of energy from one or more sources (e.g., healing when struck by wooden weapons rather than being damaged, converting the damage of a fireball into increased magical energy, and/or other absorptions of energy), increased speed, generation of one or more player or system controlled copies of the original player controlled character, the ability to know some to all of the history of an object in the character's possession or awareness (e.g., psychometry), the ability to control objects not in the character's possession (e.g., telekinesis or force field generation), animation and/or control of normally inanimate objects, the ability to transmute objects of one material into another (e.g., metal into wood, iron into water, and/or other transmutations), the ability to generate and/or control visual/auditory/olfactory/kinetic illusions, the ability to change the size and/or shape of the character or other characters or objects, the ability to manipulate temperature of one or more objects or within one or more areas, the ability to manipulate sound (e.g., suppressing or amplifying it), the ability to control or manipulate electric, gravitic and/or magnetic energies/fields, the ability to manipulate light and/or shadow, the ability to manipulate the skills and/or abilities and/or other attributes of one or more other characters (e.g., reducing strength to cause weakness or stealing health from another character to increase one's own).

The benefits may include new perceptions and/or perceptive abilities such as sound-based vision (e.g., echolocation or sonar) and/or vision using frequencies of light beyond those initially perceptible to all characters; ultra- and/or infrasonic hearing; a ‘danger’ sense notifying the player of potential enemies, traps and/or pitfalls within some specified range; a ‘life’ sense enabling the player to monitor all characters and/or creatures within a specified range; an ability to detect material of one or more types (e.g., metal, stone, water, or more specifically, gold, iron, granite, ivory and/or others) within a specified range; a mechanic sense providing the player awareness of machines within a specified range; senses able to perceive beyond and/or through what are obstacles to other characters, such as the ability to see objects enclosed within an opaque container, or beyond normal limitations such as size, enabling microscopic and/or telescopic vision; and/or other perceptive abilities.

Other benefits are contemplated.

The benefit criteria associated with a given commitment may define a benefit that is a one-time benefit, or an ongoing benefit. A one-time benefit may be a benefit that is awarded one time to a player accepting the given commitment. An ongoing benefit may be a benefit that is provided to the player over time in an ongoing manner. Ongoing should not be mistaken for continuous. Ongoing benefits may include benefits provided to the player at intervals. An ongoing benefit may be dynamic, static, and/or some other type of ongoing benefit. A static benefit may remain the same for a player accepting the given commitment for as long as the commitment remains in place. A dynamic benefit may change for a player accepting the given commitment over time. For example, the dynamic benefit may increase or decrease over time. The increase or decrease of the dynamic benefit may be defined by the benefit criteria as a function of time for which the given commitment has been accepted, as a function of times the player has performed the actions required by the activity criteria of the given commitment, as a function of the number of time windows that have occurred for the given commitment, and/or as a function of other parameters.

The penalty criteria associated with the commitments define one or more penalties for failing to fulfill accepted commitments. A failure to fulfill a commitment may occur if a player that has accepted a commitment fails to complete the actions required by the activity criteria associated with the commitment during a time window designated by the temporal criteria associated with the commitment. The penalties may include reductions, caps, reduced ability to increase, and/or other penalties in character metrics such as one or more of manna, gold (or other currency), skill or ability metrics, friendship or trustworthiness metrics, and/or other character metrics. The penalties may include loss of virtual objects and/or an ability to use virtual objects within the virtual space. The virtual objects may include one or more of wearable objects (e.g., rare, with abilities, protective, and/or other having other characteristics), tools, weapons, pets, vehicles, mounts, and/or other objects. The penalties may include enmities within the videogame. The enmities may inhibit or prohibit the players from accessing areas of the virtual space, cause enhanced resistance during battle, inhibit or prohibit trade, and/or other penalties. The enmities may be with non-player characters and/or player controlled characters. The penalties may include inhibiting and/or prohibiting access to and/or control over places within the virtual space. Other penalties are contemplated.

The penalty criteria associated with a given commitment may define a penalty that is a one-time penalty, or an ongoing penalty. A one-time penalty may be a penalty that is assessed one time to a player failing to fulfill the given commitment. An ongoing penalty may be a penalty that is assessed to the player over time in an ongoing manner. Ongoing should not be mistaken for continuous. Ongoing penalties may include penalties assessed to the player at intervals. Penalties may be dynamic, static, and/or some other type of penalty. A static penalty may remain the same for a player failing to fulfill the given commitment no matter what has transpired since the player accepted the given commitment. A dynamic penalty may change for a player failing to fulfill the given commitment based on time and/or events that have transpired since acceptance of the given commitment. For example, the dynamic penalty may increase or decrease over time. The increase or decrease of the dynamic penalty may be defined by the benefit criteria as a function of time between acceptance of the given commitment and failure to fulfill the given commitment, as a function of times the player has performed the actions required by the activity criteria of the given commitment prior to the failure to fulfill the given commitment, as a function of the number of time windows that have occurred for the given commitment prior to the failure to fulfill the given commitment, and/or as a function of other parameters.

The commitment module24may be configured such that the commitment criteria of one or more of the commitments is preconfigured with the videogame (e.g., by a creator of the videogame). The commitment module24may be configured such that for at least one such commitment some or all of the commitment criteria may be adjusted by a player. For example, one or more of benefit criteria, penalty criteria, temporal criteria and/or other criteria may be adjusted by a player. The commitment module24may be configured such that a player can create a commitment. The player may create the commitment by specifying some or all of the commitment criteria defining the commitment.

The invitation module26may be configured to generate commitment invitations that may be presented to players (e.g., via client computing platforms16). The commitment invitations may invite the players to accept commitments. A given commitment invitation may include some or all of the commitment criteria associated with the commitment corresponding to the given commitment invitation. The invitation module26may be configured such that the commitment invitations are provided to players within the videogame and/or outside of the videogame.

The invitation module26may be configured to receive responses to the commitment invitations from the players. The responses may include acceptances and/or rejections of the commitments corresponding to the commitment invitations.

In some implementations, a commitment invitation may enable a player to adjust and/or select commitment criteria for the commitment. For example, a given commitment may have some criteria that can be specified by players from among a plurality of options. For example, activity criteria options may be included in a commitment invitation that enable a player to select, prior to accepting the commitment, one or more actions to be associated with the given commitment from among a plurality of options. As another example, benefit criteria options may be included in a commitment invitation that enable a player to select, prior to accepting the commitment, one or more benefits to be associated with the given commitment from among a plurality of options. As yet another example, penalty criteria options may be included in a commitment invitation that enable a player to select, prior to accepting the commitment, one or more penalties to be associated with the given commitment from among a plurality of options.

Selectable or configurable commitment criteria may be related such that selection or configuration of one aspect of the commitment criteria may impact another aspect of the commitment criteria. For example, if a player selects a relatively easy action, a relatively long time window to accomplish a prescriptive commitment, and/or a relatively short time window to adhere to a proscriptive commitment, the benefit associated with the commitment may be reduced. Other examples will be apparent.

FIG. 2illustrates a user interface38presenting a commitment invitation to a player. The user interface38may be presented to the player via a client computing platform similar to or the same as client computing platform16(shown inFIG. 1and described herein). The user interface38may include one or more of a name field40, an action field42, a benefit field44, a penalty field46, and/or other fields. The name field40may convey a name of the commitment corresponding to the commitment invitation to the player. The action field42may inform the player of and/or receive selection or input of actions required to fulfill the commitment. The benefit field44may inform the player of and/or receive selection of input of one or more benefits to be received by the player for accepting the commitment. The penalty field46may inform the player of and/or receive selection or input of one or more penalties to be assessed for failure to fulfill the commitment. The user interface38may be configured to receive acceptance and/or rejection of the commitment from the player at an acceptance field48. Individual ones of fields40,42,44,46, and/or48may include one or more of text fields selectable buttons, pull-down menus, scrolling menus, and/or other user interface elements configured to receive user selection and/or input.

It will be appreciated that the presentation of commitment criteria to players for selection within commitment invitations is not intended to be limiting. In some implementations, a user interface may be provided to players separate from a commitment invitation that permits players to select and/or configure commitment criteria of commitments that have yet been accepted and/or that have already been accepted.

Returning toFIG. 1, the benefit module28may be configured such that, responsive to a player accepting a commitment, the benefit corresponding to the commitment is provided to the player within the videogame. The benefit provided to the player may be based on the benefit criteria of the accepted commitment. If the benefit is a dynamic benefit, benefit module28may determine the benefit to be provided to the player in an ongoing manner.

The performance monitoring module30may be configured to monitor the actions of players within the videogame. This may include generating, tagging, labeling, identifying, and/or otherwise monitoring certain actions (e.g., actions specified by activity criteria). Monitoring actions of players with in the videogame may include determining metrics that quantify player performance within the videogame. The performance monitoring module30may monitor actions of players without regard for the commitments they have accepted and/or performance monitoring module30may only monitor actions of players related to the commitments they have accepted. To monitor actions of players within the videogame, performance monitoring module30may interact with game module22.

The timing module32may be configured to determine if time windows associated with commitments are open. This may included determining time windows that are open based on temporal criteria associated with the commitments. For temporal criteria that trigger the commencement and/or conclusion of timing windows based on circumstances within the videogame, timing module32may be configured to monitor circumstances within the videogame to trigger the commencement and/or conclusion of timing windows.

During a time window of a commitment, the view of the virtual space presented to the player may be altered to reflect the requirements imposed on the player by the commitment. For example,FIG. 3illustrates a user interface50including a view52of the virtual space, a heads-up display54, and a commitment alert56. The user interface50may be presented to the player via a client computing platform similar to or the same as client computing platform16(shown inFIG. 1and described herein). The commitment alert56may indicate to the player that the time window is open. The commitment alert may include one or more of a name field58, one or more action fields60, a timing field62, and/or other elements. The name field58may present to the player the name of the commitment. The action fields60may indicate to the player the actions that must be performed and/or abstained from to fulfill the commitment. The action fields60may indicate which, if any, of the actions have been performed during the time window. The time field62may indicate to the player an amount of time remaining within the time window. The commitment alert56may be displayed to the player responsive to commencement of the time window and/or responsive to a received request from the player for its display.

Referring back toFIG. 1, the performance evaluation module34may be configured to determine whether actions of players within the videogame satisfy the activity criteria associated with the commitments they have accepted. For example, responsive to a player accepting a commitment, and responsive to a time window designated by temporal criteria associated with the accepted commitment being open, performance evaluation module34may be configured to compare the actions of the player within the videogame (as monitored by performance monitoring module30) with the actions defined by activity criteria associated with the accepted commitment. Responsive to the actions of the player not fulfilling the requirements of the activity criteria within the time window, performance evaluation module34may determine that the player has failed to fulfill the commitment.

The penalty module36may be configured such that, responsive to performance evaluation module34determining that a player has failed to fulfill an accepted commitment, a penalty may be assessed to the player. The penalty may be defined by penalty criteria associated with the failed commitment. If the penalty criteria define a dynamic penalty, penalty module36may be configured to determine the penalty prior to assessment.

It will be appreciated that the illustration of processor20modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36being separate from client computing platforms16is not intended to be limiting. For example, in some implementations, the videogame may be provided to a player by a client computing platform16executing modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36locally. This client computing platform16may or may not even be in communication with a server. Similarly, some of modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36may be executed locally on client computing platform16while others are executed on servers12, and/or part of the functionality attributed to individual ones of modules22,24,26,28,30,32,34, and/or36may be executed on client computing platform16.

FIG. 4illustrates a method64of presenting optional commitments to a player within the context of a videogame. The operations of method64presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method64may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method64are illustrated inFIG. 4and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method64may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method64in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method64.

At an operation66, views of a videogame may be generated. The views of the videogame may be generated for presentation to the player. The views of the videogame may enable the player to participate in the videogame. In some implementations, operation66may be performed by a game module the same as or similar to game module22(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation68, a set of commitment criteria associated with a commitment in the videogame is stored. The storage, organization, and/or access of the set of commitment criteria may be managed by a commitment module the same as or similar to commitment module24(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation70, a commitment invitation corresponding to the commitment may be generated. The commitment invitation may invite the player to accept the commitment. The commitment invitation may convey at least some of the commitment criteria to the player. In some implementations, operation68may be performed by an invitation module the same as or similar to invitation module26(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation72, a response to the commitment invitation may be received from the player. The response to the commitment invitation may include an acceptance and/or a rejection. If the response includes an acceptance, or if no response is received, method64may end. Responsive to receiving a response that includes an acceptance of the commitment, method64may proceed to an operation74. In some implementations, operation72may be performed by an invitation module the same as or similar to invitation module26(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At operation74, a benefit associated with the commitment may be provided to the player within the videogame. The benefit may be defined by benefit criteria in the set of criteria associated with the commitment. In some implementations, operation74may be performed by a benefit module the same as or similar to benefit module28(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation76, performance of the player within the videogame may be monitored. In some implementations, operation76may be performed by a performance monitoring module the same as or similar to performance monitoring module30(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation78, a determination may be made as to whether the actions of the player within the videogame satisfy activity criteria associated with the commitment. If the actions of the player do not satisfy the activity criteria, the player may have failed to fulfill the commitment. Responsive to a determination at operation78that the actions of the player satisfy the activity criteria, method64may return to operation76. Responsive to a determination at operation78that the player has failed to fulfill the commitment, method64may proceed to an operation80. In some implementations, operation78may be performed by a performance evaluation module similar to or the same as performance evaluation module34(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At operation80, a penalty may be assessed to the player within the videogame. The penalty may be defined by penalty criteria associated with the commitment. If the penalty is dynamic, operation80may include determining the penalty in accordance with the penalty criteria. At operation80, the commitment may end for the player. This may include a loss or reduction of the benefit received responsive to the player's acceptance of the commitment. The ending of the commitment may trigger a commitment invitation for the same commitment that has been failed to be re-transmitted to the player. This may permit the player to determine whether to enter into the commitment again. The ending of the commitment may trigger a commitment invitation for some other, perhaps related, commitment. In some implementations, operation80may not end the commitment and method64may return to operation76to proceed with determinations as to whether future actions by the player satisfy the commitment.

FIG. 5illustrates a method82of determining whether a player has failed to fulfill a previously accepted commitment. In particular, the determination may be made with respect to a proscriptive commitment in which the player has committed to abstain from one or more actions defined by action criteria associated with the commitment. The operations of method82presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method82may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method82are illustrated inFIG. 5and described below is not intended to be limiting. In some implementations, method82may be implemented as operation78in method64(shown inFIG. 4and described above).

In some embodiments, method82may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method82in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method82.

At an operation84, a time window corresponding to the commitment may be commenced. The commencement of the time window may be designated by temporal criteria associated with the commitment. The temporal criteria may designate a timing of the commencement, a frequency of commencements for time windows corresponding to the commitment, circumstances in the videogame that trigger commencement, and/or otherwise designate a commencement of the time window. Operation84may be performed based on the temporal criteria by a timing module similar to or the same as timing module32(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation86, a determination may be made as to whether the player has engaged in the actions prohibited by the commitment. Responsive to a determination that the player has engaged in the action(s) prohibited by the commitment, method82may proceed to an operation88. Responsive to a determination that the player has not engaged in the action(s) prohibited by the commitment, method82may proceed to an operation90. In some implementations, operation86may be performed by a performance evaluation module similar to or the same as performance evaluation module34(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At operation88, a penalty may be assessed to the player within the videogame. Operation88may be similar to or the same as operation80(shown inFIG. 4and described above).

At operation90, a determination may be made as to whether the time window corresponding to the commitment has concluded. This determination may be made based on the temporal criteria associated with the commitment. For example, the temporal criteria may include a duration for the time window, an ending time for the time window, criteria for determining a duration and/or ending time of the time window, circumstances within the videogame that trigger an ending of the time window, and/or other criteria. Responsive to a determination that the time window has concluded, method82may end with a determination that the commitment has been fulfilled. Responsive to a determination that the time window has not concluded, method82may return to operation86to continue evaluation of the actions of the player in the videogame. In some implementations, operation90may be performed by a timing module similar to or the same as timing module32(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

FIG. 6illustrates a method92of determining whether a player has failed to fulfill a previously accepted commitment. In particular, the determination may be made with respect to a prescriptive commitment in which the player has committed to perform one or more actions defined by action criteria associated with the commitment. In particular, the commitment criteria of the prescriptive commitment require performance to completion of one or more actions in the videogame during one or more time windows. The operations of method92presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method92may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method92are illustrated inFIG. 6and described below is not intended to be limiting. In some implementations, method92may be implemented as operation78in method64(shown inFIG. 4and described above).

In some embodiments, method92may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method92in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method92.

At an operation94, a time window corresponding to the commitment may be commenced. The commencement of the time window may be designated by temporal criteria associated with the commitment. The temporal criteria may designate a timing of the commencement, a frequency of commencements for time windows corresponding to the commitment, circumstances in the videogame that trigger commencement, and/or otherwise designate a commencement of the time window. Operation94may be performed based on the temporal criteria by a timing module similar to or the same as timing module32(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation96, a determination may be made as to whether the player has performed the action(s) to completion required by the commitment. Responsive to a determination that the player has not performed the action(s) required by the commitment, method92may proceed to an operation98. Responsive to a determination at operation96that the action(s) have been performed to completion, method92may end with the determination that the player has satisfied the commitment. In some implementations, operation96may be performed by a performance evaluation module similar to or the same as performance evaluation module34(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At operation98, a determination may be made as to whether the time window corresponding to the commitment has concluded. This determination may be made based on the temporal criteria associated with the commitment. For example, the temporal criteria may include a duration for the time window, an ending time for the time window, criteria for determining a duration and/or ending time of the time window, circumstances within the videogame that trigger an ending of the time window, and/or other criteria. Responsive to a determination that the time window has concluded, method92may proceed to an operation100. Responsive to a determination that the time window has not concluded, method82may return to operation96to continue evaluation of the actions of the player in the videogame. In some implementations, operation98may be performed by a timing module similar to or the same as timing module32(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At operation100, a penalty may be assessed to the player within the videogame. Operation100may be similar to or the same as operation80(shown inFIG. 4and described above).

FIG. 7illustrates a method102of determining whether a player has failed to fulfill a previously accepted commitment. In particular, the determination may be made with respect to a prescriptive commitment in which the player has committed to perform one or more actions defined by action criteria associated with the commitment. In particular, the commitment criteria of the prescriptive commitment require performance of actions in the videogame for the durations of one or more time windows (e.g., protecting place, character, and/or object). The operations of method102presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method102may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method102are illustrated inFIG. 7and described below is not intended to be limiting. In some implementations, method102may be implemented as operation78in method64(shown inFIG. 4and described above).

In some embodiments, method102may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method102in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method102.

At an operation104, a time window corresponding to the commitment may be commenced. The commencement of the time window may be designated by temporal criteria associated with the commitment. The temporal criteria may designate a timing of the commencement, a frequency of commencements for time windows corresponding to the commitment, circumstances in the videogame that trigger commencement, and/or otherwise designate a commencement of the time window. Operation104may be performed based on the temporal criteria by a timing module similar to or the same as timing module32(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation106, a determination may be made as to whether the player is performing the action(s) to required by the commitment. Responsive to a determination that the player is not performed the action(s) required by the commitment, method102may proceed to an operation108. Responsive to a determination at operation106that the player is performing the action(s), method102may proceed to an operation110. In some implementations, operation106may be performed by a performance evaluation module similar to or the same as performance evaluation module34(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At operation108, a penalty may be assessed to the player within the videogame. Operation108may be similar to or the same as operation80(shown inFIG. 4and described above).

At operation110, a determination may be made as to whether the time window corresponding to the commitment has concluded. This determination may be made based on the temporal criteria associated with the commitment. For example, the temporal criteria may include a duration for the time window, an ending time for the time window, criteria for determining a duration and/or ending time of the time window, circumstances within the videogame that trigger an ending of the time window, and/or other criteria. Responsive to a determination that the time window has concluded, method102may conclude with a determination that the player has fulfilled the commitment for the time window. Responsive to a determination that the time window has not concluded, method82may return to operation106to continue evaluation of the actions of the player in the videogame. In some implementations, operation110may be performed by a timing module similar to or the same as timing module32(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.