U.S. Pat. No. 9,517,405

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a system100to facilitate accessing content across multiple online games in accordance with the disclosure. Providing the online games may include hosting the online games over a network. In some implementations, as shown in this example, system100may include servers102configured for hosting online games. In this example, as shown, system100includes a server102configured for facilitating cross-game non-player character retreating in accordance with the disclosure. The servers102may be configured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms104according to a client/server architecture, and with each other. The users may access system100and/or the game spaces associated with the online games via client computing platforms104. As shown, the servers102may comprise processors108configured to execute computer readable instructions to implement system components. The computer program components may include one or more of a game component, a character component114, a content component116, a combat component118, a notification component120, and/or other components.

The game component112may be configured to execute an instance of a given online game. The given online game may include a first online game, a second online game, or any other online game. Within the instance of the first online game, users of the first online game may interact with elements in the first online game and/or with each other through gameplays provided by the first online game. The gameplays may include role-playing, first-person shooter, real-time strategy, turn-based strategy, simulation, music or rhythm playing, social interaction, twitching and/or any other gameplays. The execution of the instance of the first online game by game component112may include determining a state associated with the first online game. The state may be communicated (e.g., via streaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or other state information) from server102to client computing platforms104for presentation to users. The state determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform104may correspond to a view for a user character being controlled by a user via the given client computing platform104. The state determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform104may correspond to a location in a first game space associated with the first online game. The view described by the state for the given client computing platform may correspond, for example, to the location from which the view is taken, the location the view depicts, and/or other locations, a zoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or view parameters of the view. One or more of the view parameters may be selectable by the user.

The instance of the first online game may be persistent. That is, the first online game may continue on whether or not individual users are currently logged in and/or participating in the online game. A user that logs out of the first online game and then logs back in some time later may find the first game space associated with the first online game has been changed through the interactions of other users with the first game space during the time the user was logged out. These changes may include changes to the simulated physical space, changes in the user's inventory, changes in other users' inventories, changes experienced by non-user characters, and/or other changes.

The instance of the first online game may comprise a simulated game space, e.g., a first game space that is accessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms104) that present the views of the first game space to a user. The first game space may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction by one or more users 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 two-dimensional topography. In other instances, the topography may be a three-dimensional topography. The topography may include dimensions of the space and/or surface features of a surface or objects that are “native” to the 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 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). The instance executed by the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous, and/or semi-synchronous.

The instance of the first online game may comprise virtual space entities automatically controlled in the instance of the first online game. Such virtual space entities may not be associated with any user. As such, the automatically controlled virtual space entities may be generated and/or developed by artificial intelligence configured with the server102by a provider, administrator, moderator, and/or any other entities related to the online game. These automatically controlled entities may evolve within the virtual space associated with the first online game free from user controls and may interact with the entities controlled by or associated with the users, other automatically controlled virtual space entities, as well as the topography of the first game space. Certain manifested traits may be associated with the automatically controlled entities in accordance with the artificial intelligence configured with the server128. As used herein, such automatically controlled virtual space entities in the instance of the online game are referred to as “non-player entities”.

The above description of the manner in which state of the first game space associated with the first online game as determined by game component112is not intended to be limiting. The game component112may be configured to express the first game space in a more limited, or richer, manner. For example, views determined for the first game space representing the state of the instance of the first game space may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an event in a given pace within the first game space. The views may include additional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/or other content) that describes particulars of the current state of the place, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view may include a generic battle graphic with a textual description of the opponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual places within the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance of the first online game executed by game component112, the users may participate in the instance of the first online game by controlling one or more of an element in the first game space associated with the online game. The user-controlled elements may include avatars, game space characters, game space units (e.g., troops), objects (e.g., weapons, horses, vehicle and so on), simulated physical phenomena (e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or other user-controlled elements. The user-controlled avatars may represent the users in the first game space. The user characters may include heroes, knights, commanders, leaders, generals and/or any other virtual space entities that may possess strength, skills, abilities, magic powers, knowledge, and/or any other individualized attributes. The virtual space units controlled by the user may include troops and/or any other virtual space entities that may be trained, recruited, captured, and/or otherwise acquired by the users in groups or en mass. The objects controlled by the users may include weapons, vehicles, projectiles, magic items, wardrobes, boots, armor, knapsacks, medicine, healing potion, and/or any other virtual items that may be employed by the users for interaction within the first online game.

In any case, the user-controlled elements may move through and interact with the first game space (e.g., non-player entities, elements controlled by other users and/or topography in the virtual space) associated with the first online game. The elements controlled by a given user may be created and/or customized by the given user. The given user may have an “inventory” of virtual goods and/or currency usable within the first game space.

Controls of virtual elements in the first game space may be exercised through commands input by a given user through client computing platforms104. The given user may interact with other users through communications exchanged within the first game space. Such communications may include one or more of textual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications, and/or other communications. Communications may be received and entered by the users via their respective client computing platforms104. Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users through server102(e.g., through game component112).

A given user may input commands with specific parameters to undertake specific deeds, actions, functions, spheres of actions and/or any other types of interactions within the first game space. For example, the given user may input commands to construct, upgrade and/or demolish virtual buildings; harvest and/or gather virtual resources; heal virtual user-controlled elements, non-player entities and/or elements controlled by other users; train, march, transport, reinforce, reassign, recruit, and/or arrange troops; attack, manage, create, demolish and/or defend cities, realms, kingdoms, and/or any other virtual space locations controlled by or associated with the users; craft or transport virtual items; interact with, compete against or along with non-player entities and/or virtual space elements controlled by other users in combats; research technologies and/or skills; mine and/or prospect for virtual resources; complete missions, quests, and/or campaigns; exercise magic power and/or cast spells; and/or perform any other specific deeds, actions, functions, or sphere of actions within the virtual space. In some examples, the given user may input commands to compete against elements in an environment within the virtual space—i.e., Player vs. Environment (PvE) activities. In some examples, the given user may input commands to compete against each other within the virtual space—i.e., Player vs. Player (PvP) activities.

The game component112may be configured to execute user actions to facilitate interaction of the users with the first game space and/or each other in response to receiving virtual space commands input by the users. Execution of the user action by the game component112may produce changes to the game state, which may reflect progresses and/or results of the user actions. In some examples, state changes caused by the execution of the user actions may be recorded in the electronic storage110to facilitate persistency throughout the instance of the first online game. In some examples, execution of the user actions may not produce persistent changes to the game state (e.g., a user character jumping forward and backward successively may not produce any perceivable game state changes to other users).

It should be understood that individual servers102shown inFIG. 1may comprise corresponding game components112configured with functionalities described above and attributed to game component112. For example, an instance of a second online game may be executed by a game component112in a server102(the same as or different from the server102contains the game component112configured for executing the instance of the first online game). A second game space may be associated with the second online game. The second game space may provide gameplays similar to or different from those provided by the first game space. In some examples, the second online game may be hosted by a server102(or servers) different from that (or those) hosting the first online game. In some other examples, first and second online games may be hosted by the same server102.

In any case, the second game space associated with the second online game may be separate and discrete from the first game space associated with the first online game. Such a property of separation between the first and second online games may involve separate client-side applications for invoking respective online games, separate game space interfaces, separate game states, separate game characters, separate game rules, separate game mechanics, separate game objectives, separate users, and/or any other separate properties that distinguish the first game space associated with the first online game from the second game space associated with the second online game. By way of non-limiting example, the first online game may be an online game in which users play kingdom lords in the first game space that simulates a medieval world; and the second online game may be an online game in which users play future characters within the second game space that simulates a future world. In that example, the first online game may be separate and discrete from the second online game such that users of the first online game may not interact with the second game space from the first online game (e.g., through a game space interface of the first online game); and the users of the second online game may not interact with the first game space from the second online game. As described above, this may involve, but not be limited to, facilitating different game space interfaces for user interaction with the first online and second online games (e.g., a dedicated game space interface for the first online game and a dedicated game space interface for the second online game), maintaining separate state information corresponding to the first and second game spaces, maintaining separate user accounts associated with the first and second online games, providing different gameplays, characters, simulations, topography, and/or any other elements in first online game than in the second online game, and/or any other operations for operating the first and second online games separately and independently.

In some examples, the first and second online games may be developed and/or hosted by the same provider(s). In those examples, an interface may be implemented on a client computing platform104enabling a user to select in which online game to participate. For example, an icon representing the first online game and an icon representing the second online game may be presented in the interface side by side for the user to select in which online game to participate. In some other examples, the first and second online games may be accessed through webpages over the Internet such that users may be logged into the first or second online games through the webpages. Other examples of accessing first and second online games are contemplated.

The character component114may be configured to manage characters within a given game space (e.g., the first game space, second game space, and/or other game space) associated with a given online game. For example, a server102configured to host the first game may contain a character component114configured to manage characters appearing in the first online game; a server102configured to host the second game may contain a character component114configured to manage characters appearing in the second online game; and so on. In some examples, the character component114may be an integrated character component configured to manage characters appearing in the first game space, the second game space, and any other game space associated with any other online game hosted by a given server102.

The characters managed by the character component114may include characters controlled by artificial intelligence. Such a character managed by the character component114may not be controlled a player of the online game and is referred to as a non-player character herein. A given non-player character may be associated with a given location within the given game space, such as, but not limited to, a tile, a room, an area, a village, a town, a mountain, and any other types of locations within the given game space. For example, without limitation, the given non-player character managed by the character component114may include an antagonist character in the first game space guarding treasures at a dark room inside a dungeon within the first game; a barbarian character hidden in a forest within the second game space and attacks player character randomly when the player character passes by the forest, just to illustrate a few. Some types of non-player characters managed by the character component114may be engaged by a player through a player character in a certain way, such as, but not limited to, requiring the player to use certain weapon, magic spell, specific action sequence, hitting the non-player character in certain body area, or any other ways.

The given non-player character may have a visual appearance visible in the online game. The visual appearance of the non-player character may include, but not limited to, facial expression, garments, apparel, accessories, body shape, muscle tone, size, color, and/or any other type of visual appearance associated with the given non-player character in the given online game.

The given non-player character managed by the character component114may be associated with one or more character attributes. The character attributes may include, but not limited to, health (e.g., hit points), strength, power, mana, spell, morale, weapons, magic items, items carried, speed, level, appearance, race, initiative score, action points, skills, ability score, defense abilities, attack abilities, special abilities, and/or any other attributes.

The level attribute associated with the given non-player character may reflect relative adventure experiences by the given non-player character in the game space. For example, a level 10 non-player character may be more powerful and able to take tougher challenges than a level 5 non-player character. With each new level the given non-player character attains in the game space, the non-player character becomes more powerful and capable, which may be reflected by enhancements in various characteristics associated with the given non-player character. In some exemplary implementations, the level associated with the given non-player character may be manifested via numerical number(s) expressed as experience points (“XP”).

The ability attribute associated with the given non-player character may include strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, charisma, perception, diplomacy, negotiation, and/or any other abilities. Typically, the abilities associated with the given non-player character may be represented by numeric score, reflecting quality of these abilities by the given non-player character. For example, the given non-player character may be associated with an ability score of 18 (out of 20) in strength, which may mean the given non-player character has excellent strength. On the other hand, the given non-player character may be associated with an ability score of 5 (out of 20) in wisdom, which means the given non-player character has poor intelligence. Typically, as the given non-player character progress through adventures in the game space, the ability scores associated with the given non-player character may increase or decrease along with the level associated with the given non-player character; and the given non-player character may acquire new abilities when reaching certain milestones in the game space.

A number of hit points may be associated with the given non-player character reflecting how much damage the given payer character may withstand from attack; a number of stamina points may be associated with the given non-player character reflecting how much energy the given player character may expend for actions; and so on. Some types of non-player characters may be associated with more hit points, stamina, strength, power, magic spell, and/or any other attributes related to attack abilities than normal non-player characters in the given space. For example, bosses in the given space may be such non-player character with superior health and/or power. This type of non-player characters may be associated with health bar which may be displayed either on or near the non-player characters.

The skill attributes associated with the given non-player character may represent training, education and/or any other learned aspects of the given non-player character in the game space. Common examples of skills that may be associated with the given non-player characters may include, but not limited to, perception, thievery, evasion, healing, endurance, diplomacy, religion, and any other skills.

The given non-player character managed by the character component114may be associated with an inventory of one or more virtual items controlled by the given non-player character in the given game space. For example, the given non-player character may carry virtual items such as, without limitation, sword, armor, glove, healing potion, and/or any other virtual items as gear in the given game space. The inventory of virtual items associated with the given non-player character may be dropped by the non-player character, for example upon the given non-player character having been defeated in the given game space.

It should be understood the above description of non-player character attributes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather is merely illustrative. One skilled in the art will understand non-player character attributes may include many other attributes suitable for a given online game they appear in.

In some examples, the non-player characters in different online games as managed by the character component114may share the same or similar character attributes described above. For example, without limitation, an antagonist non-player character may be managed by the character component114for user interaction in the first online game and may be associated with a first set of attributes; and another non-player character corresponding to the first non-player character may be managed by the character component114for user interaction in the second online game. In that example, the non-player character attributes included in the first set may be the same as or similar to those included in the second set. For instance, a non-player dragon character may guard a mountain pass in the first online game and the same dragon character may guard a treasure trove in the second online game.

In implementation of those examples, the character component114may be configured to keep state information for the given non-player character reflecting values of various character attributes. As used herein, an entity state is referred to a state of an entity in a given online game at a given time during execution of the instance of the given online game. In the case of a non-player character, the entity of the non-player character may reflect a state of attributes associated with the non-player character (e.g., via attribute values and/or visual appearance) at a given time. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, some non-player characters managed by the character component114may be associated with the same entity states across the online games. By way of non-limiting example, a goblin non-player character may be managed by the character component114such that it appears as the same character in the first online game and second online game. In implementations of that example, the goblin non-player character may be associated with the same entity state managed by the character component114in the first and second online games such that a state change to the goblin non-player character in the first online game is also reflected in the second online game. For example, if the goblin non-player character's health is reduced in the first online game by 50% to 100 health points (e.g., by a player character in the first online game), that change s also reflected in the second online game such that the non-player character goblin character only has 100 health points in the second online game. In this way, the non-player characters managed by the character component114may be connected in multiple online games hosted by the server(s)102.

Content component116may be configured to manage access to a set of content provided in the online games hosted by server(s)102for user interaction. The access of the set of content managed by the content component116may include, but not limited to access to virtual items, resources, events, tasks, stages, areas within a given game space, user progression opportunities, story progression opportunities, and/or any other types of content within the given online game. The access to a given set of content as managed by the content component116may be guarded (gated) by a given non-player character (or non-player characters) described herein. In implementations, an association between the given set of content and the given non-player character may be managed by the content component116.

As described above, the given set of content whose access is managed by the content component116in a given online game may include virtual items. The virtual items may include, but not limited to, weapons, speedup items, armors, spell books, magic items, gears, learning scrolls, garments, mounts, craft equipment, craft ingredient, craft recipe, and many other virtual items provided in the given online. For example, without limitation, the character component114may manage access to a rare sword item in the first online game, wherein the sword item is guarded (gated) by a non-player character dragon in the first online game such that upon defeating the non-player character dragon by a user, access to the sword item may be granted (e.g., the sword may be picked up by the user and added to the user inventory in the first online game) to the user.

The given set of content whose access is managed by the content component116in a given online game may include recourses usable in the given online game. The resources may include, but not limited to, timber, gold, stone, gem, coal, ore, oil, wheat, fish, and many other types of resources provided in the given online game.

It should be understood the given set of content whose access is managed in the given online game may not be necessarily limited to virtual items and/or resources. In some examples, as described above, the given set of content may include events, stages, tasks, user progression opportunities, and/or any other types of progressive content in the given online game for user interaction. For example, the given set of content may include one or more events in the online game such that upon defeating the non-player character(s) guarding (gating) the access to this set of content, the events in the set are made available for the user to access. For instance, a monster boss may guard an exit point (or an entry point) to a stage, room, area, and/or any other game space construct in the given online game such that events in such a game space construct is made available for access by the user upon the user defeating the monster boss. In another example, the monster boss may guard a storyline progression in the online game such that subsequent events in the online game may transpire upon the user defeating the monster boss. Still in another example, the monster boss may guard an opportunity for user to progress in the online game such that the user may advance to a next level in the given online game upon defeating the monster boss. Other examples of progressive content in the given online game are contemplated.

The content component116may determine whether to grant access to the given set of content based on the entity state associated with the non-player character(s) gating (guarding) the given set of content in the given online game, e.g., the 1stonline game. As should be clear, the non-player characters guarding the given set of content in a given online game may be defeated or weakened in another online game. By way of non-limiting example, a user may engage in the second online game to defeat characters corresponding to the non-player characters guarding a set of content in the first online game. Upon the corresponding non-player characters are defeated by the user in the second online game, the content component116may grant the access to the given set of content guarded by the non-player characters in the first online game as if the non-player characters were defeated by the users in the first online game. In another example, the user may be enabled to weaken, e.g., attack and reduce health of the corresponding characters in the second online game first and finish off (defeat) the non-player characters in the first online game later to gain access to the given set of content guarded (gated) by the non-player characters in the first online game. In some examples, the non-player characters may retreat from one online game to another online game. For instance, the non-player characters may guard (gate) a set of virtual items acid/or resources, and upon user weakening the non-player characters in the second online game to certain threshold (e.g., 40% health left, 30% power left, 20% movement left, 10% morale left, and/or any other types of threshold), the non-player character may retreat to the first online game. The user may continue to engage the already weakened non-player characters in the first online game in order to gain the virtual items and/or resources guarded (gated) by the non-player characters. This may incentivize users to engage in different online games.

In some examples, resources and/or virtual items needed for defeating the non-player characters in different online games may be different. For instance, a first set of resources and/or virtual items may be needed to defeat the non-player characters in the first online game, while a second set of resources and/or virtual items may be needed to defeat the corresponding characters in the second online game. In some examples, the resources and/or virtual items in the second set may require less time or progression on the user's part in the second online game than those required in the first online game. For instance, as an illustration, a non-player character dragon may appear both in the first and second online games. In that instance, the non-player character dragon may require a user to acquire certain skills and a rare sword item to be defeated by the user in the first online game, while it may require less skills and no special virtual item on the user's part to defeat the dragon (or a corresponding character) in the second online game. In this way, the user may be incentivized to interact with the second online game to gain access to content in the first online game guarded (gated) by the non-player character dragon in the first online game.

The combat component120may be configured to facilitate user actions from a given user in combats in a given game space (e.g., the first game space, second game space, and/or other game space) associated with a given online game for defeating one or more non-player characters. In some examples, separate combat components120may facilitate combats for multiple online games: for instance, separate combat components118may be employed in those examples to facilitate combats in the first online game and the second online game. In some other examples, an integrated combat component may be provided to facilitate combats for the first online game, the second online game, and/or any other online game.

The combats facilitated by the combat component118may include real-time combat, turn-based combat, and other type(s) of combats. In the real-time combat, combat actions by parties involved in the combat may be performed in real-time simulating real-world combat. In the turn-base combat, users and non-player may take turns to initiate combat actions.

The combats facilitated by the combat component may include player character(s) versus non-player character(s), and other type(s) of combats involving other type(s) rivalries. When a combat is between player character(s) and non-player character(s), either side may perform combat actions. The combat actions may include, but not limited to, moving, attacking, casting a sped, drinking a potion, healing, maneuvering for combat position, retreating and/or any other combat actions.

Facilitating a given combat by the combat component120may include evaluating combat actions by the rivalries involved in the given combat for determination of a result of the given combat. For example, combat component120may evaluate an amount of damage incurred by player character to non-player character through an attack action; evaluate a position maneuvered into by non-player character as being disadvantageous (e.g., a checkmate type of situation); evaluate a success of magic spell cast by non-player character; and any other types of evaluation for combat results. Evaluating combat actions by the rivalries involved in the given combat may be based on one or more combat conditions. For example, without limitation, the combat component120may determine that a non-player character's hit points have dropped below a threshold value due to damage incurred by a rivalry player character during the combat.

The result of the given combat may include retreat by a non-player character involved in a combat. The retreat by the non-player character may include escaping to another game space associated with another game space. For example, without limitation, a non-player character involved in a combat taking place in the first online game may retreat from the combat and escape to the game space associated with the second online game.

The notification component120may be configured to generate notifications for notifying users in a given online game that the access to a set of game content in the given online game can be made available to the user upon the user defeating the non-user characters and/or characters corresponding to the non-player characters in another online game. The notifications generated by the notification component120may include notifications internal and/or external to online games hosted by system100. Internal notifications may include pop-up messages in a given online game, internal email messages through a mail system provided by the given online game, audible voice messages in the given online game announcing the notification, visual representations depicting the notification, and/or any other types of internal notifications presented to a user within a given online game. External notifications may include push notifications, external electronic messages facilitated by a third party, audible or visual notifications when users are not logged in the given game space, and any other types of external notifications.

The notifications generated by the notification component120may notify users that the non-player characters guarding (gating) a set of content in the given online game, e.g., the first online game may be defeated by the user in another online game, e.g., the second online game. By way of non-limiting example, a goblin character may guard a given set of content in the first online game. In that example, upon the user encountering the goblin character in the first online game, a notification may be generated by the notification component120to notify the user that the user may also defeat the goblin character in the second online game to gain access to the given set of content guarded by the goblin character.

In some examples, a given notification generated by the notification component120may include information notifying the user in the given online game, e.g., the first online game of a location where the non-player character(s) may be found or encountered by the user in another online game, e.g., the second online game. For instance, the given notification may include information indicating that the goblin character appearing in the first game may be encountered at a virtual space location (e.g., a village) in the second online game. Such location information regarding the whereabouts of the non-player character(s) in the second online game may help user locate the non-player character(s) in another online game that the user is not currently interacting with.

In some examples, the information included in the given notification generated by the notification component120may facilitate the user to switch to another online game to encounter the non-player character(s). By way of non-limiting example, without limitation, the information may include a button, a link or any other types of controls enabling the user to switch to the second online game to encounter the non-player character(s) therein. For instance, the notification generated by the notification component120notifying the user that the goblin character may be defeated in the second online game may include a link such that upon user clicking or tapping the link, the user is automatically switched from the game space associated with the first online game to the game space associated with the second online game.

FIGS. 2A-Cillustrate an example of providing content access across multiple online games in accordance with the disclosure. They will be described with references toFIG. 1.FIG. 2Aillustrates at time T, a user character204encounters a non-player character202in a game space200associated with the first online game. As illustrated, the non-player character202may guard (gate) a set of content such that access to the set of content may be granted to the user controlling the user character204upon the user defeating the non-player character202.FIG. 2Billustrates at time T+1, the user controlling the user character204is notified (e.g., response to the user clicking on the non-player character202for exploring information regarding the non-player character202) that the non-player character204may be defeated by the user in the second online game via a notification206. As shown in this example, the notification206may include a control208(e.g., a link in this example) enabling the user to switch to the second online game to encounter the non-player character206there.FIG. 2Cillustrates, at time T+2, the user has switched to the game space300associated with the second online game and is encountering the non-player character206there. As can be seen, the user has weakened the non-player character206in the second online game to 80% health. As described herein, in some examples, access to the set of content in the first online game may be granted to the user upon the user defeating the non-player character in the second online game300. In some other examples, the user may be required to finish off (defeat) the non-player character in the first online game200after weakening the non-player character in the second online game (e.g., the non-player character206may disappear in the second online game after the user has weakened the non-player character206to a certain threshold state).

The server102, client computing platforms104, and/or external resources106may 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 servers102, client computing platforms104, and/or external resources106may be operatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform104may include one or more processors configured to execute computer program components. The computer program components may be configured to enable an expert or user associated with the given client computing platform104to interface with system100and/or external resources106, and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computing platforms104. By way of non-limiting example, the given client computing platform104may include one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gaming console, and/or other computing platforms.

The external resources106may include sources of information, hosts and/or providers of virtual environments outside of system100, external entities participating with system100, and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources106may be provided by resources included in system100.

The server102may include electronic storage110, one or more processors108, and/or other components. The server102may include communication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server102inFIG. 1is not intended to be limiting. The server102may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together to provide the functionality attributed herein to server102. For example, server102may be implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together as server102.

Electronic storage110may comprise electronic storage media that electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage110may include one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server102and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server102via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a FireWire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage110may 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. The electronic storage110may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage110may store software algorithms, information determined by processor108, information received from server102, information received from client computing platforms104, and/or other information that enables server102to function as described herein.

Processor(s)108is configured to provide information processing capabilities in server102. As such, processor108may 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 processor108is shown inFIG. 1as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor108may include a plurality of processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processor108may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor108may be configured to execute components112,114,116,118,120. Processor108may be configured to execute components112,114,116,118,120by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor108.

It should be appreciated that although components112,114,116,118,120are illustrated inFIG. 1as being co-located within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor108includes multiple processing units, one or more of components112,114,116,118,120may be located remotely from the other components. The description of the functionality provided by the different components112,114,116,118,120described below is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of components112,114,116,118,120may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, one or more of components112,114,116,118,120may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of components112,114,116,118,120. As another example, processor108may be configured to execute one or more additional components that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed below to one of components112,114,116,118,120.

FIG. 3illustrates one exemplary method300for facilitating cross-game content access in multiple online games in accordance with the disclosure. The operations of method300presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method300may 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 method300illustrated inFIG. 3and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method300may 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 method300in 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 method300.

At an operation302, an instance of a first online game may be hosted. In some implementations, operation302may be performed by a game component the same as or similar to game component112(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation304, an instance of a second online game may be hosted. The second online game hosted in operation may be separate and discrete from the instance of the first online game hosted in operation302. Such a property of separation between the first and second online games may involve separate client-side applications for invoking respective online games, separate game space interfaces, separate game states, separate game characters, separate game rules, separate game mechanics, separate game objectives, separate users, and/or any other separate properties that distinguish the first game space associated with the first online game from the second game space associated with the second online game. By way of non-limiting example, the first online game may be an online game in which users play kingdom lords in the first game space that simulates a medieval world; and the second online game may be an online game in which users play future characters within the second game space that simulates a future world. In that example, the first online game may be separate and discrete from the second online game such that users of the first online game may not interact with the second game space from the first online game (e.g., through a game space interface of the first online game); and the users of the second online game may not interact with the first game space from the second online game. In some implementations, operation304may be performed by a game component the same as or similar to game component112(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At operation306, non-player characters may be managed for the first and second online games. A given non-player character managed in operation306may be associated with a given location within the given game space, e.g., the game space associated with the first online game. The given location associated with the given non-player character may include, but not limited to, a tile, a room, an area, a village, a town, a mountain, and any other types of locations within the given game space. The given non-player character managed in operation306may be associated with one or more character attributes. The character attributes may include, but not limited to, health (e.g., hit points), strength, power, mana, spell, morale, weapons, magic items, items carried, speed, level, appearance, race, initiative score, action points, skills, ability score, defense abilities, attack abilities, special abilities, and/or any other attributes. In some implementations, operation306may be performed by a character component content component the same as or similar to character component114(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation308, a set of content gated by a first non-player character managed by operation306may be provided in the first online game. The set of content managed by operation308may include, but not limited to access to virtual items, resources, events, tasks, stages, areas within a given game space, user progression opportunities, story progression opportunities, and/or any other types of content within the given online game. In some implementations, operation308may be performed by content component the same as or similar to content component116(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation310, a non-player character corresponding to the non-player character provided in operation308may be provided in the second online game. In some examples, the non-player character provided in operation310may share the same entity state with the non-player character provided in the first online game such that they may appear as if they were the same character. In some examples, the non-player character provided in operation310may have similar attributes and/or visual appearance to the first non-player character provided in operation308. Changes in one or more aspects of the non-player character provided in operation310may impact the first non-player character in the first online game. In some implementations, operation310may be performed by character component the same as or similar to character component114(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation312, a notification may be generated to notify a user that the first non-player character provided in the first online game may be defeated by the user in the second online game. In some implementations, operation312may be performed by notification component the same as or similar to notification component120(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation314, user actions for defeating the non-player character provided in operation310may be facilitated. In some implementations, operation314may be performed by a combat component the same as or similar to combat component118(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation316, access to the set of content provided in operation308may be granted in the first online game based on user defeating the non-player character provided in operation310in the second online game. In some implementations, operation316may be performed by a content component the same as or similar to content component116(shown inFIG. 1and described herein).

Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, 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 technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.