System and method for creating and sharing customized video game weapon configurations in multiplayer video games via one or more social networks

• US 10,471,348 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Vonderhaar, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US15/140,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20170021274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat

Abstract

A system and method for creating and sharing customized video game weapon configurations in multiplayer video games via one or more social networks is provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of creating and sharing a customized video game weapon configuration in a gameplay session of a multiplayer video game via at least one social network, the method being implemented in a host computer system configured to host the gameplay session of the multiplayer video game between a first player using a first computer system and one or more other players using one or more other computer systems, said host computer system having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions for a weapons customization application comprising at least a weapon customization engine and a sharing engine that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the host computer system to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving, at the weapons application configured to execute on the host computer system, from the first player, a selection of a video game weapon to be used in the gameplay session of the multiplayer video game;

using the weapon customization engine configured to execute on the host computer system, generating one or more user interfaces configured to present one or more weapon attributes to the first player;

receiving, at the weapon customization engine, from the first player, a selection of the one or more weapon attributes for customizing the video game weapon;

generating, by the weapon customization engine, a customized weapon configuration for the video game weapon based on the selected weapon and the selected one or more weapon attributes;

receiving, at the sharing engine configured to execute on the host computer system, from the first player, a command to share the customized weapon configuration with the one or more other players of the multiplayer video game via at least one social network; and

causing the customized weapon configuration to be shared, via the host computer system, with the one or more other players of the multiplayer video game via the at least one social network such that the one or more other players can utilize the customized weapon configuration during a gameplay session, wherein the at least one social network is a game-specific social network associated with the multiplayer video game or a publisher-specific social network associated with the publisher of the multiplayer video game, and wherein the customized video game weapon configuration is sharable by the first player with one or more players within the gameplay session of the video game or with one or more players external to the video game via a social network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the video game weapon further comprises:

causing, by the weapons customization application, a display of a plurality of video game weapons associated with a particular weapon type; and

receiving, at weapons customization application, the selection of the video game weapon from among the plurality of displayed video game weapons.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more weapon attributes comprise weapon performance attributes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the weapon performance attributes comprise one or more weapon accessories for the video game weapon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more weapon attributes comprise weapon appearance attributes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the weapon appearance attributes comprise one or more of a paint job, camouflage, or decorative skin for the video game weapon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one social network comprises a third-party social network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring by a monitoring engine of the weapons customization application, gameplay statistics associated with use of the customized weapon configuration during the gameplay session of the video game.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the gameplay statistics comprise player performance statistics.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the gameplay statistics comprise weapon usage statistics.

11. A system for creating and sharing a customized video game weapon configuration in a gameplay session of a multiplayer video game via at least one social network, the system comprising:

a host computer system configured to facilitate the gameplay session of the multiplayer video game between a first player using a first computer system and one or more other players using associated one or more other computer systems, said host computer system comprising one or more physical processors programmed with one or more computer program instructions for a weapons customization application comprising at least a weapon customization engine and a sharing engine, which, when executed, programs the host computer system to;

receive, from the first player, at the weapons customization application configured to execute on the host computer, a selection of a video game weapon to be used in the gameplay session of the multiplayer video game;

use the weapon customization engine configured to execute on the host computer system, to generate one or more user interfaces configured to present one or more weapon attributes to the first player;

receive, at the weapon customization engine, from the first player, a selection of one or more weapon attributes for customizing the video game weapon;

generate, by the weapon customization engine, a customized weapon configuration for the video game weapon based on the selected weapon and the selected one or more weapon attributes;

receive, from the first player, at the sharing engine configured to execute on the host computer system, a command to share the customized weapon configuration with the one or more other players of the multiplayer video game via at least one social network; and

cause the customized weapon configuration to be shared, via the host computer system, with the one or more other players of the multiplayer video game via the at least one social network such that the one or more other players can utilize the customized weapon configuration during a gameplay session, wherein the at least one social network is a game-specific social network associated with the multiplayer video game or publisher-specific social network associated with the publisher of the multiplayer video game, and wherein the customized video game weapon configuration is sharable by the first player with the one or more players within the gameplay session of the video game or with one or more players external to the video game via a social network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the host computer system is further programmed to:

cause a display of a plurality of video game weapons associated with a particular weapon type; and

receive the selection of the video game weapon from among the plurality of displayed video game weapons.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more weapon attributes comprise weapon performance attributes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the weapon performance attributes comprise one or more weapon accessories for the video game weapon.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more weapon attributes comprise weapon appearance attributes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the weapon appearance attributes comprise one or more of a paint job, camouflage, or decorative skin for the video game weapon.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one social network comprises a third-party social network.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the host computer system is further programmed to:

monitor gameplay statistics associated with use of the customized weapon configuration during a gameplay session.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the gameplay statistics comprise player performance statistics, wherein the one or more weapon attributes presented to the first player are based on at least a type of the weapon and the player performance statistics.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the gameplay statistics comprise weapon usage statistics.

21. A computer program product for creating and sharing a customized video game weapon configuration in a gameplay session of a multiplayer video game via at least one social network, the computer program product comprising:

one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage devices associated with a host computer configured to facilitate the gameplay session of the multiplayer video game between a first player using a first computer system and one or more other players using associated one or more other computer systems;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable tangible storage devices for a weapons customization application comprising at least a weapon customization engine and a sharing engine, that, when executed, programs the host computer to;

receive, from the first player, at the weapons customization application configured to execute on the host computer, a selection of a video game weapon to be used in the gameplay session of the multiplayer video game;

use the weapon customization engine configured to execute on the host computer system, to generate one or more user interfaces configured to present one or more weapon attributes to the first player;

receive, at the weapon customization engine, from the first player, a selection of one or more weapon attributes for customizing the video game weapon;

generate, by the weapon customization engine, a customized weapon configuration for the video game weapon based on the selected weapon and the selected one or more weapon attributes;

receive, from the first player, at the sharing engine configured to execute on the host computer system, a command to share the customized weapon configuration with the one or more other players of the multiplayer video game via at least one social network; and

cause the customized weapon configuration to be shared, via the host computer system, with the one or more other players of the multiplayer video game via the at least one social network such that the one or more other players can utilize the customized weapon configuration during a gameplay session, wherein the at least one social network is an in-game social network or a social network centered around a publisher of the multiplayer video, and wherein the customized video game weapon configuration is sharable by the first player with the one or more players within the gameplay session of the video game, or with one or more players external to the video game via a social network.