Systems and methods for adjusting online game content and access for multiple platforms

• US 10,576,379 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Wakeford, Kent, Huttula, Tomi
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Application Number:
  US16/046,350
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for enabling access to an online game, modifying user progress within the online game, monitoring user interactions with the online game, or adjusting user gameplay with the online game, via multiple platforms. The multiple platforms may include virtual reality platforms and non-virtual reality platforms.

Claims

1. A multi-platform gaming system comprising:

one or more data stores configured to store;

computer-executable instructions;

user account information including user preferences and game state information associated with one or more user accounts; and

content rendering instructions for rendering content for an online game on a plurality of platforms, which include a first platform and a second platform, wherein the first platform is configured to simulate immersion within online games and is different from the second platform;

a network interface configured to communicate with a plurality of network service devices; and

one or more physical computer processors in communication with the one or more data stores, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, configure the one or more physical computer processors to;

receive, via the network interface, an electronic request associated with a first client computing device to access and play an online game through a first game session, the electronic request comprising;

an electronic indication of a user account associated with a first user; and

platform identifying information;

obtain, via the one or more data stores, based on the electronic request, first user account information associated with the first user including first game state information associated with the online game;

determine whether the electronic request is associated with the first platform or the second platform based at least in part on the platform identifying information;

in response to determining that the electronic request is from the first platform;

obtain content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform from the one or more data stores;

transmit content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform to the first platform based at least in part on the obtained first game state information, wherein the content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform is configured to instruct a first platform to render content to be displayed stereoscopically;

transmit the first platform content to the first client computing device for display and interaction;

in response to determining that the electronic request is from the second platform;

obtain content rendering instructions pertaining to the second platform from the one or more data stores, wherein the content rendering instructions pertaining to the second platform are different than the content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform;

transmit content rendering instructions based at least in part on the obtained first game state information to the first client computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content rendering instructions pertaining to the second platform are configured to instruct a second platform to render less content than the content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first platform and second platform are the same device operated in two different game modes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first platform supports additional or an increased set of motion inputs, views, and visibility than the second platform.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first platform content and second platform content are different based on one or more of:

dimension differences, location differences within the virtual space, or character differences.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more data stores further comprises game session information that is configured to be used to generate additional game session information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein game session information is persistent and can continue on whether or not individual users are currently logged in or participating in the online games.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual space comprises topography information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine readable instructions to:

if the first platform content is being transmitted to the first client computing device for display and interaction, restrict access to the first platform content by other client computing devices;

if the second platform content is being transmitted to the second client computing device for display and interaction, restrict access to the second platform content by other client computing devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine readable instruction to:

effectuate presentation of a notification to the first user via the first client computing device.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receive, via a network interface, an electronic request associated with a first client computing device to access and play an online game through a first game session, the electronic request comprising;

an electronic indication of a user account associated with a first user; and

platform identifying information;

obtain, via one or more data stores, based on the electronic request, first user account information associated with the first user including first game state information associated with the online game, wherein the user account information included user preferences and game state information associated with one or more user accounts;

determine whether the electronic request is associated with a first platform or a second platform based at least in part on the platform identifying information, wherein the first platform is configured to simulate immersion within online games and is different from the second platform;

in response to determining that the electronic request is from the first platform;

obtain content rendering instructions for rendering content for an online game on a plurality of platforms pertaining to the first platform from the one or more data stores;

transmit content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform to the first platform based at least in part on the obtained first game state information, wherein the content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform is configured to instruct a first platform to render content to be displayed stereoscopically;

transmit the first platform content to the first client computing device for display and interaction;

in response to determining that the electronic request is from the second platform;

obtain content rendering instructions for rendering content for an online game on a plurality of platforms pertaining to the second platform from the one or more data stores, wherein the content rendering instructions pertaining to the second platform are different than the content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform;

transmit content rendering instructions based at least in part on the obtained first game state information to the first client computing device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the content rendering instructions pertaining to the second platform are configured to instruct a second platform to render less content than the content rendering instructions pertaining to the first platform.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the first platform and second platform are the same device operated in two different game modes.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the first platform supports additional or an increased set of motion inputs, views, and visibility than the second platform.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the first platform content and second platform content are different based on one or more of:

dimension differences, location differences within the virtual space, or character differences.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the one or more data stores further comprises game session information that is configured to be used to generate additional game session information.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the virtual space comprises topography information.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

if the first platform content is being transmitted to the first client computing device for display and interaction, restrict access to the first platform content by other client computing devices;

if the second platform content is being transmitted to the second client computing device for display and interaction, restrict access to the second platform content by other client computing devices.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine readable instruction to:

effectuate presentation of a notification to the first user via the first client computing device.

20. A gaming system comprising:

one or more data stores configured to store computer-executable instructions;

a back-end server;

a screen;

a network interface configured to communicate with a plurality of network service devices; and

one or more physical computer processors in communication with the one or more data stores, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, configure the one or more physical computer processors to;

transmit, via the network interface to a back-end server, an electronic request associated with a first game mode to access and play an online game through a first game session, the electronic request comprising;

an electronic indication of a user account associated with a first user; and

game mode identifying information;

based on transmitting the request associated with the first game mode, receive, from the back-end server, first content rendering instructions for rendering content for an online game pertaining to the first game mode, wherein the first content rendering instructions is configured to instruct the gaming system to render content to be displayed stereoscopically;

render first content based on the first rendering instructions;

display rendered first content on a screen;

transmit, via the network interface to a back-end server, an electronic request associated with a second game mode to access and play an online game through a second game session, the electronic request comprising;

an electronic indication of a user account associated with a first user; and

game mode identifying information;

based on transmitting the request associated with the second game mode, receive, from the back-end server, second content rendering instructions for rendering content for an online game pertaining to the second game mode, wherein the second content rendering instructions is configured to instruct the gaming system to render content to be displayed differently than the first content rendering instructions;

render second content based on the second rendering instructions; and

display rendered second content on the screen.