Area-based resource collection in a real-time strategy game

• US 20030008696A1
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David H. Abecassis, Timothy R. Feldman
• Original Assignee: David H. Abecassis, Timothy R. Feldman
• Inventors: Feldman, Timothy R., Abecassis, David H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,044,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

Area-based resource collection comprises a system and method in which players in a real-time strategy game first define an area of influence, which, after the effects of other areas of influence have been considered, is used in calculating their resource collection potential. Embodiments of area-based resource collection include, for example, enabling a first player to define a first area within a map, the map being utilized in a playing of a real-time strategy game, the map comprising a field from which resources may be acquired, the first area overlapping at least a portion of the field, the overlapped portion of the field defining a potential resource collection area; enabling a second player to define a second area within the map, the second area overlapping at least a portion of the potential resource collection area; impacting an acquisition, by the first player, of resources from the portion of the potential resource collection area being overlapped by the second area; enabling the first player to acquire resources from a portion of the potential resource collection area not being overlapped by the second area; and enabling the player to utilize the acquired resources in the playing of the game

Claims

1. A method of playing of a game, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a player to define a first area within a map, the map being utilized in a playing of a game;

enabling the player to acquire resources from the first area, an amount of resources that may be acquired being responsive to a dimensions of the area;

enabling the player to define a second area within the map; and

enabling the player to utilize resources acquired from the second area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first area and the second area is a volume.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area is dimensionally different from the second area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area and the second area differ with respect to a degree of influence over an amount of resources that may be acquired.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of resources that may be acquired is further responsive to a magnitude of a means for acquiring resources.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of resources that may be acquired is further responsive to a distance to a means for acquiring resources.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of resources that may be acquired is further responsive to a distance to, and a magnitude of, a means for acquiring resources.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second area overlaps a portion of the first area;

and wherein the overlapped portion has an effect on a rate at which resources may be acquired by the player from the overlapped portion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second area overlaps a portion of the first area;

and wherein the overlapped portion has an effect on a total quantity of resources that may be acquired by the player from the overlapped portion.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the map comprises a plurality of fields having different densities of resources.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the map comprises a field having qualitatively different resources.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the impacting of an acquisition of resources reduces a rate that resources may be acquired, by the first player, from the portion of the first area being overlapped by the second area.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the impacting of an acquisition of resources prevents the first player from acquiring resources from the portion of the first area being overlapped by the second area.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the impacting of an acquisition of resources is responsive to a comparison of a means utilized by the first player to define the first area to a means utilized by the second player to define the second area.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the impacting of an acquisition of resources is responsive to a comparison of a capability of the first player to acquire resources from the first area to a capability of the second player to acquire resources from the second area.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the impacting of an acquisition of resources reduces a rate that resources may be acquired, by the first player, from the portion of the potential resource collection area being overlapped by the second area.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the impacting of an acquisition of resources prevents the first player from acquiring resources from the portion of the potential resource collection area being overlapped by the second area.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the impacting of an acquisition of resources is responsive to a comparison of a capability of the first player to acquire resources from the first area to a capability of the second player to acquire resources from the second area.

12. A method of playing of a game, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a first player to define a first area within a map, the map being utilized in a playing of a game, the area comprising resources which may be acquired;

enabling a second player to define a second area within the map, the second area overlapping at least a portion of the first area;

impacting an acquisition, by the first player, of resources from the portion of the first area being overlapped by the second area;

enabling the first player to acquire resources from a portion of the first area not being overlapped by the second area; and

enabling the first player to utilize the acquired resources in the playing of the game.

17. A method of playing of a game, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a first player to define a first area within a map, the map being utilized in a playing of a game, the map comprising a field from which resources may be acquired, the first area overlapping at least a portion of the field, the overlapped portion of the field defining a potential resource collection area;

enabling a second player to define a second area within the map, the second area overlapping at least a portion of the potential resource collection area;

impacting an acquisition, by the first player, of resources from the portion of the potential resource collection area being overlapped by the second area;

enabling the first player to acquire resources from a portion of the potential resource collection area not being overlapped by the second area; and

enabling the first player to utilize the acquired resources in the playing of the game.