Systems and methods for customized camera views in virtualized environments

• US 10,004,991 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hothead Games Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hothead Games Inc.
• Inventors: Ceraldi, James Paul, Steeves, Brad, Brandt, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US15/195,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20170368460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5258 by dynamically adapting the position of the virtual camera to keep a game object or game character in its viewing frustum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing customized camera views of virtualized environments are provided herein. In one embodiment a method includes detecting a gameplay event of interest within a virtual gaming environment and displaying a customized camera view of the gameplay event of interest based on user input receiving during traversal of a projectile from a weapon to a target. The customized camera view has a focal point of the projectile.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting discharging of a weapon within a virtual gaming environment during a gameplay event of interest that comprises the discharging of the weapon;

providing an interactive graphical user interface displayed on a touch screen display device that comprises the virtual gaming environment, the interactive graphical user interface receiving touch-based user input comprising any of a swipe, tap or pinch on the touch screen display device to create a customized camera viewing experience of the gameplay event of interest involving a target, wherein the customized camera viewing experience comprises an entire event from the discharging of the weapon, traveling of a projectile from the weapon, and hitting the target by the projectile, further wherein the gameplay event of interest comprises a trigger for explosive props in an environment when the projectile impacts the target;

after the discharging of the weapon and during the traveling of the projectile, receiving the touch-based user input on the interactive graphical user interface;

providing a customized camera view of the gameplay event of interest based on the touch-based user input; and

capturing screenshots during the customized camera viewing experience.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interactive graphical user interface includes a camera view of the virtual gaming environment that comprises the projectile directed at the target.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the touch-based user input comprises a touch within the interactive graphical user interface displayed on the touch screen display device, the projectile slows its traversal speed towards the target.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein if the touch-based user input is removed, the projectile increases its traversal speed towards the target.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the touch-based user input comprises a swipe action within the interactive graphical user interface, a rotation of camera angle of the customized camera view occurs.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the rotation of the camera angle corresponds to a direction of the swipe action.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a focal point of the customized camera view is the projectile discharged from the weapon.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying an x-ray view of the target as the projectile impacts the target.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detonating explosive props within the virtual gaming environment when the target is impacted.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the customized camera view comprises a camera angle that is provided from the target'"'"'s perspective.

11. A method, comprising:

detecting discharging of a projectile from a weapon within a virtual gaming environment during a gameplay event of interest that comprises the discharging of the weapon;

providing an interactive graphical user interface displayed on a display device that receives touch-based user input, which can be utilized by a user to alter a camera view of the gameplay event of interest to create a customized camera view during the gameplay event of interest;

providing the customized camera view of the gameplay event of interest based on the touch-based user input, wherein the customized camera view has a focal point of the projectile or a plurality of targets of the gameplay event of interest;

during traveling of the projectile, receiving the touch-based user input on the interactive graphical user interface;

capturing screenshots during the customized camera viewing experience; and

selectively changing the customized camera view to any of a rear trailing view, a side tracking view, an orbiting view, all of which have a focal point of the projectile, wherein the customized camera view comprises a visually altered view frame or tracking when the projectile penetrates through each of the plurality of targets.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising selectively changing a color filter of the customized camera view.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising placing a path highlight effect into the customized camera view.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving projectile path adjustments from an end user during traversal of the projectile to a target during the gameplay event of interest; and

selectively adjusting an impact position of the projectile based on the projectile path adjustments.

15. A method, comprising:

detecting a gameplay event of interest within a virtual gaming environment that comprises discharging of a projectile from a weapon;

displaying a customized camera view of the gameplay event of interest based on touch-based user input received during traversal of the projectile from the weapon to a target, the touch-based user input being received within an interactive graphical user interface displayed on a display device, the customized camera view having a focal point of the projectile, wherein the customized camera view comprises an entire event from the discharging of the weapon, traveling of the projectile, and hitting the target by the projectile, further wherein the gameplay event of interest comprises a trigger for explosive props in an environment when the projectile impacts the target;

receiving a swipe action within the interactive graphical user interface during the traveling of the projectile; and

rotating a camera angle of the customized camera view based on the swipe action.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising imposing a passive tutorial on the customized camera view that instructs a user in adjusting the customized camera view.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising allowing the user to perform any of pausing, rewinding, and editing the customized camera view of the gameplay event of interest.