System and method for providing continuous gameplay in a multiplayer video game through an unbounded gameplay session

• US 10,286,314 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Marr, Michael D., Kaplan, Keith S., Lewis, Nathan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Seng Heng
• Application Number:
  US14/712,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list

Abstract

A system and method is provided for continuous gameplay in a multiplayer video game through an unbounded gameplay session. Players may join, exit, and later rejoin a given unbounded gameplay session at any time. A given unbounded gameplay session may therefore continue indefinitely so long as at least one player wishes to continue to gameplay. To facilitate an unbounded gameplay session, the system may score players using time-based or other parameters in a manner that is fair to players who have been playing in the unbounded gameplay session longer than other players.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing continuous gameplay in a multiplayer video game through an unbounded gameplay session that runs continuously until all players have exited the unbounded gameplay session, the method being implemented in a host computer having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the host computer system to perform the method, the method comprising:

initiating, by the host computer, the unbounded gameplay session with a set of matched players;

adding, by the host computer during the unbounded gameplay session, a new player to the unbounded gameplay session after the unbounded gameplay session has commenced;

generating, by the host computer during the unbounded gameplay session, a first score for at least a first player of the set of matched players and a second score for the new player, wherein the first score and the second score are not dependent on a total length of time the first player or the new player have played the unbounded gameplay session;

determining, by the host computer during the unbounded gameplay session, a first team score for a first team of players from among players participating in the unbounded gameplay session and a second team score for a second team of players from among the players participating in the unbounded gameplay session, wherein the second team score is lower than the first team score;

determining, by the host computer during the unbounded gameplay session, a performance gap based on the first team score and the second team score;

determining, by the host computer during the unbounded gameplay session, a mismatch between the first team of players and second team of players based on the performance gap;

identifying, by the host computer during the unbounded gameplay session, an adjustment feature based on the mismatch; and

applying, by the host computer during the unbounded gameplay session, an adjustment feature based on the mismatch in order to provide a playing advantage to the second team.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

removing, by the host computer, the first player from the unbounded gameplay session;

selecting, by the host computer, a replacement player to replace the first player based on one or more matchmaking parameters; and

adding, by the host computer, the replacement player to play in the unbounded gameplay session.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the host computer, a request from the first player to rejoin the unbounded gameplay session; and

adding, by the host computer, the first player to play in the unbounded gameplay session responsive to the request.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the first score comprises:

determining, by the host computer, a performance of the first player, wherein the first score is based on the performance.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein generating the first score comprises:

determining, by the host computer, a virtual item used by the first player; and

associating, by the host computer, the virtual item with the performance, wherein the first score is correlated with the virtual item.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein generating the first score comprises:

determining, by the host computer, a second player playing with the first player; and

associating, by the host computer, the second player with the performance, wherein the first score is correlated with the second player.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the advantage comprises an additional player for the second team, the method further comprising:

identifying, by the host computer, the additional player to be added to the second team; and

adding, by the host computer, the additional player to play with the second team in the unbounded gameplay session.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment feature comprises a disadvantage for the first team.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the mismatch comprises:

determining that the mismatch is not sufficiently large to encourage an uneven match, wherein the adjustment feature is identified to generate the uneven match.

10. The computer computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the mismatch comprises:

determining that the mismatch is too large to encourage an even match, wherein the adjustment feature is identified to generate the even match.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first score and the second score are each based on a time-based parameter and wherein the time-based parameter comprises a rate such that the first score and the second score each comprises a performance per unit of time.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first score and the second score are each based on a time-based parameter and wherein the time-based parameter comprises a latest time interval such that the first score and the second score each comprises a performance within the latest time interval.

13. A system for providing continuous gameplay in a multiplayer video game through an unbounded gameplay session that runs continuously until all players have exited the unbounded gameplay session, the system comprising:

a host computer comprising one or more physical processors programmed with one or more computer program instructions which, when executed, programs the computer system to;

initiate the unbounded gameplay session with a set of matched players;

add a new player to the unbounded gameplay session after the unbounded gameplay session has commenced;

generate, during the unbounded gameplay session, a first score for at least a first player of the set of matched players and a second score for the new player, wherein the first score and the second score are not dependent on a total length of time the first player or the new player have played the unbounded gameplay session;

determine, during the unbounded gameplay session, a first team score for a first team of players from among players participating in the unbounded gameplay session and a second team score for a second team of players from among the players participating in the unbounded gameplay session, wherein the second team score is lower than the first team score;

determine, during the unbounded gameplay session, a performance gap based on the first team score and the second team score;

determine, during the unbounded gameplay session, a mismatch between the first team of players and second team of players based on the performance gap;

identify, during the unbounded gameplay session, an adjustment feature based on the mismatch; and

apply, during the unbounded gameplay session, an adjustment feature based on the mismatch in order to provide a playing advantage to the second team.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the host computer system is further programmed to:

remove the first player from the unbounded gameplay session;

select a replacement player to replace the first player based on one or more matchmaking parameters; and

add the replacement player to play in the unbounded gameplay session.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the host computer system is further programmed to:

receive a request from the first player to rejoin the unbounded gameplay session; and

add the first player to play in the unbounded gameplay session responsive to the request.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein to generate the first score, the host computer system is further programmed to:

determine a performance of the first player, wherein the first score is based on the performance.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein to generate the first score, the host computer system is further programmed to:

determine a virtual item used by the first player; and

associate the virtual item with the performance, wherein the first score is correlated with the virtual item.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein to generate the first score, the host computer system is further programmed to:

determine a second player playing with the first player; and

associate the second player with the performance, wherein the first score is correlated with the second player.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the advantage comprises an additional player for the second team, wherein the host computer system is further programmed to:

identify the additional player to be added to the second team; and

add the additional player to play with the second team in the unbounded gameplay session.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjustment feature comprises a disadvantage for the first team.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein to determine the mismatch, the host computer system is further programmed to:

determine that the mismatch is not sufficiently large to encourage an uneven match, wherein the adjustment feature is identified to generate the uneven match.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein to determine the mismatch, the host computer system is further programmed to:

determine that the mismatch is too large to encourage an even match, wherein the adjustment feature is identified to generate the even match.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the first score and the second score are each based on a time-based parameter and wherein the time-based parameter comprises a rate such that the first score and the second score each comprises a performance per unit of time.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first score and the second score are normalized based on the number of players.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the first score and the second score are each based on a time-based parameter and wherein the time-based parameter comprises a latest time interval such that the first score and the second score each comprises a performance within the latest time interval.

26. A computer program product for providing continuous gameplay in a multiplayer video game through an unbounded gameplay session that runs continuously until all players have exited the unbounded gameplay session, the computer program product comprising:

one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable tangible storage devices that, when executed, programs a host computer to;

initiate the unbounded gameplay session with a set of matched players;

add a new player to the unbounded gameplay session after the unbounded gameplay session has commenced;

generate, during the unbounded gameplay session, a first score for at least a first player of the set of matched players and a second score for the new player, wherein the first score and the second score are not dependent on a total length of time the first player or the new player have played the unbounded gameplay session;

determine, during the unbounded gameplay session, a first team score for a first team of players from among players participating in the unbounded gameplay session and a second team score for a second team of players from among the players participating in the unbounded gameplay session, wherein the second team score is lower than the first team score;

determine, during the unbounded gameplay session, a performance gap based on the first team score and the second team score;

determine, during the unbounded gameplay session, a mismatch between the first team of players and second team of players based on the performance gap;

identify, during the unbounded gameplay session, an adjustment feature based on the mismatch; and

apply, during the unbounded gameplay session, an adjustment feature based on the mismatch in order to provide a playing advantage to the second team.