U.S. Patent No. 6,299,535 (the '535 Patent) describes a method for creating branching storylines in an RPG. The storylines are tied to characters in the game and happen separately from the player's character. A classic example of this the '535 Patent is recruiting secret characters in an RPG. A player must meet certain in-game conditions to add the secret character to the part, or the character will continue down his path. The game will not always tell a player when a condition has been met; nevertheless, the game progresses the secret character's story. The '535 Patent also encompasses situations where a player may have to choose between two characters, especially if there is an alternative path to acquire both.
A method of processing an interactive game, and a program product and game system for the same, which enables a character other than the player character to act separately from the player character in the game virtual space, sets an event which a character other than the player character can execute when a condition in the progress of the game is satisfied, displays on the screen the existence of that event for the character other than the player character acting separately from the player character when the condition in the progress of the game enabling execution of that event is satisfied, selectively accepts execution of the event displayed on the screen by an operation of the player in the screen display, and selectively executes and displays on the screen the event for the character other than the player character acting separately from the player character in accordance with the acceptance of the selection and execution of that event.
1. A method of executing an interactive game program giving a plurality of characters roles in a game and making each character play out an assigned role, comprising: making at least one character among the plurality of characters play out a first assigned role and displaying the at least one character on a screen, preparing in advance at least one event shared by the plurality of characters and judging if the at least one character playing out the first assigned role on the screen has reached the at least one event, switching display of the role played out by the at least one character to another character in the plurality of characters when determining that the at least one event has been reached, and making the other character play out a second assigned role and displaying the other character on the screen, wherein when the display is switched, the other character playing out the second assigned role is displayed instead of the at least one character playing out the first assigned role.

Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 7,803,048 (the '048 Patent) describes methods and systems for a deception in an online multiplayer game. One such method is for a player to manipulate the game's radar to trick other players. The player's in-game character could shoot a fake bullet to create a noise at another location, triggering the virtual acoustic radar. Also, a player can temporarily jam an opponent's radar, or make all the opponents visible on the radar. The '048 Patent describes several methods for deception using the in-game radar.

Abstract:
Methods and systems for deceiving other characters in a video game are disclosed. A video game may include a simulated environment in which player and computer controlled characters can monitor each other's positions using radar, e.g., an acoustic radar that detects noise (such as the firing of various weapons) associated with other characters. A character may fire a decoy bullet, which creates noise at the location of impact rather than the location of firing. A character may temporarily jam another character's radar so that the other character's radar does not display character locations. A first character may mimic an enemy character so that the first character appears as a friend to enemy characters on each enemy characters' radar. A special weapon may make all visible characters visually appear as enemies to a first character, thereby confusing the first character. Another special weapon may create a duplicate image of a character, thereby confusing others.
Illustrative Claim:
1. One or more computer readable storage device storing executable instructions for performing a video game method of representing characters on a radar image displayed on a video output device, said method comprising steps of: determining a first simulated noise level associated with a first object in a simulated environment operating under control of the video game; and displaying on the radar image, said radar image corresponding to a first character, a first radar blip corresponding to the first object, said first radar blip having a first characteristic based on the first simulated noise level associated with the first object determining a second simulated noise level associated with the first object in the simulated environment operating under control of the video game, wherein said second simulated noise level is determined to be louder than said first simulated noise level; and displaying on the radar image corresponding to the first character, a second radar blip corresponding to the first object, said second radar blip having a first characteristic based on the second simulated noise level associated with the first object, wherein the first characteristic of the first radar blip comprises a first amount of time based on the first simulated noise level, wherein the first characteristic of the second radar blip comprises a second amount of time based on the second simulated noise level, said second amount of time being longer than said first amount of time, wherein displaying the first radar blip comprises displaying the first radar blip for the first amount of time, and wherein displaying the second radar blip comprises displaying the second radar blip for the second amount of time.

Researched By: Andrew F. Thomas

Summary:

Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for controlling movement of a digital object displayed on a screen provide a virtual dynamic direction control pad based on zone detection and touch stroke direction to control customized animated character motion. A player wishing to move the digital object can use a stylus or other touch to indicate a first point on the screen. When the player first touches the stylus to the screen, the system analyzes the touch and divides the screen into multiple zones around the first point indicated by the player. To move the object, the player moves the stylus to a second point on the screen. Movement of the stylus to a second point within one of these zones causes the digital object to perform a predetermined action. Each zone has a predetermined associated action. Direct control of character motion by the game player is enhanced.


Illustrative Claim: 

Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 8,814,677 (the '677 Patent) relates to the Disney video game Epic Mickey, specifically the game mechanic allowing players to manipulate the game world using in-game paint and paint thinner. Epic Mickey followed Mickey Mouse as fights ink-blobs who invaded the Cartoon Wasteland, a place where the forgotten or obscure Disney cartoons live. The game was primarily a 3D platformer. In the game, Mickey wields a paintbrush which can spray paint or paint thinner. Spraying paint in a certain area would cause a hidden object to appear while spraying paint thinner would make the object disappear. The '677 Patent describes the method behind this game mechanic. The game causes the objects to appear or disappear based on the spray pattern using two binary space partitioning (BSP) trees. The first BSP determines the physical shape of the object before any paint or thinner is applied. A second BSP identifies the spray pattern. The game merges the two BSPs to create a new version of the object with the applied spray pattern.

Abstract:
Techniques are described for providing a painting and thinning mechanic within a computer-generated environment (e.g., in a video game). The painting and thinning mechanic allows geometry within the computer-generated environment to be “painted” or “thinned.” Painting and thinning refers to a mechanic that involves making parts of the virtual environment visibly and collidably transparent (thinning) or visibly and collidably opaque (painting). The painting/thinning mechanic may be achieved using binary space partitioning (BSP) trees.


Illustrative Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method for executing a video game, comprising: receiving an input indicating to apply a liquid paint or a liquid thinner material to a first set of geometry in the video game, wherein the liquid paint or the liquid thinner material is rendered as a capsule held by a game character and wherein the input directs the game character to throw the capsule at the first set of geometry; determining a burst location on the first set of geometry where the capsule impacts the first set of geometry; determining a second set of geometry corresponding to a spreading effect of the liquid paint or the liquid thinner material from the burst location to an area of the first set of geometry, wherein the spreading effect of the liquid paint or the liquid thinner material is determined by a physics engine; merging, by operation of one or more processors, a first binary space partitioning (BSP) tree with a second BSP tree to create a merged BSP tree, wherein the first BSP tree represents the first set of geometry, wherein the second BSP tree represents the second set of geometry, of the liquid paint or the liquid thinner material, wherein one or more elements of geometry represented in the first BSP tree are associated with a respective paint/thinning state, and wherein the merged BSP tree represents a merged set of geometry created from the first and second sets of geometry;updating, based on the spreading effect determined by the physics engine of the liquid paint or the liquid thinner material on the area of the first set of geometry, a paint/thinning state associated with a respective one or more elements of the merged set of geometry in the merged BSP tree; and rendering the respective one or more elements of the merged set of geometry opaque or transparent based on the paint/thinning states of the respective one or more elements in the merged set of geometry.


Researched By: Andrew F. Thomas

A music based video game in which a game player's singing performance is digitally sampled while the player performs a free-form vocal over a prerecorded musical composition. Aspects of the game player's free-form vocal performance are compared with predetermined criteria. For example, the vocal performance may be compared with tempo and key information to generate performance evaluation data. The performance evaluation data may be used to present performance feedback to the game player while the game player is singing. 1. A method for evaluating vocal inputs in a music based video game, comprising: repeatedly over time receiving input signals providing audio information; repeatedly over a particular time period determining a pitch of the audio information so as to determine a plurality of pitches of the audio information; determining if the pitches are in accordance with a plurality of target pitches, without regard to particular timing of individual pitches of the plurality of pitches; determining a valuation based on whether the pitches are in accordance with a target key; and commanding presentation of an indication of the valuation.

Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 7,663,045 (the '045 Patent) describes a method for a user to replace the background music in a video game with their music. The Xbox 360 allowed users to rip music from a CD and download it to the system's hard-drive. A benefit to having the music on the 360 hard-drive was the system allowed users to listen to their music while playing a game. The system would mute game's background music and then insert the user's music. If the game had a scripted moment that required preselected music, then the system would mute the user's music until the scripted moment finished.  Sound effects remained in the game, so effectively the 360 allowed users to create customized soundtracks.

Abstract:
A user of a game system can replace background music from a game with the user's selected background music, while still hearing any other audio streams (e.g. sound effects related to gameplay). A music engine and system audio mixer allow the playback of the user's requested replacement music. The game tags background music streams with an identifier indicating that they are background music, and such streams are muted at the music engine and system audio mixer (if the game is using the provided music engine in order to play the game's audio streams) or by the game if the game is using a game music engine and has received information indicating that a mute request has been issued.


Illustrative Claim:
1. A system for providing audio playback from a gaming system running an application, wherein said application generates an application default audio stream, said system comprising: application programming interfaces, said application programming interfaces integrating gaming system audio playback control features into said application, wherein audio commands issued by said application are implemented by said gaming system concurrently with execution of said application; an audio input for receiving said audio commands and said application default audio stream from said application; an audio replacement indicator for indicating when replacement of said application default audio stream is requested; an audio output, operably connected to said audio input and said audio replacement indicator, wherein said audio output plays audio comprising said application default audio stream if said audio replacement indicator indicates that no audio replacement is requested, or an alternate audio stream if said audio replacement indicator indicates that audio replacement is requested.


Researched By: Andrew F. Thomas

Summary:

Abstract:

Illustrative Claim:
1. A game apparatus comprising an input device, the apparatus configured to at least:
measure step counts using a motion detection device; advance a game on the basis of an input from said input device; and execute processing of supplementing advancement of said game by using the measured step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the measured step counts.


Researched By: Andrew F. Thomas

Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 8,784,202 (the '202 Patent) describes a method for automatically shifting a virtual camera's position based on a character's movement speed. The '202 Patent relates to third-person games since the player generally controls the camera in first-person games. A game utiliz04ing the '202 Patent will start the camera in a high angle position while the character is walking or standing. As the character begins to run, the camera shifts down. Shifting the camera down allows for the players to see ahead and have a better understanding of the characters footing. When the character starts to slow down, the camera begins to move back into the original high angle position.

Abstract:

Illustrative Claim:

Illustrative Claim: