KUDOS SCORING SYSTEM WITH SELF-DETERMINED GOALS

• US 20030109301A1
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chudley, Martyn Richard, Chudley, Sarah C., Snape, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 6,763,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation

Abstract

A scoring method and system for determining points in a game. Goal-based points are determined as a function of a player achieving a goal set by the player that is not predefined by the game and are used to determine the player'"'"'s status in the game, such as whether the player advances to a next level. Subjective style points are awarded if the player performs feats of style that are not necessary tasks of the game, depend upon the type of game, and may include sliding, spinning, jumping, blocking an opponent, passing an opponent, and avoiding obstacles. Objective skill points may be combined with subjective style points and goal-based points. Alternatively, one of these three types of points may be modified as a function of one or both of the other two types of points.

Claims

1. A method of awarding points to a player in a game played using an electronic device that determines points awarded to each player, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a player to set a goal of performance in the game; and

(b) determining a number of goal-based points applied by the electronic device in determining a status of the player in the game, as a function of the player'"'"'s performance in relation to the goal set by the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining subjective points applied by the electronic device in determining the status of the player in the game, as a function of the player'"'"'s performance as measured against a subjective criterion.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of determining objective points applied by the electronic device in determining the status of the player in the game, as a function of the player'"'"'s performance as measured against an objective criterion, the status of the player in the game being based upon a total of the goal-based, subjective, and objective points awarded to the player in the game.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining objective points applied by the electronic device in determining the status of the player in the game, as a function of the player'"'"'s performance as measured against an objective criterion.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of deducting a number of points equal to a sum of the objective points and the subjective points, thereby canceling out the objective points and the subjective points, if the player fails to achieve the goal set by the player.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of determining a rating of the player'"'"'s performance on a fixed scale as a function of the total of the goal-based, subjective, and objective points.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of enabling the player to advance to another level if the rating meets a predetermined threshold on the fixed scale.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the player to set the goal comprises the step of enabling the player to indicate a time within which a player will complete a task in the game.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the player to set the goal comprises enabling the player to indicate a number of opponents that the player will surpass in the game.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the player to set a goal comprises the step of enabling a player to indicate a handicap that will be applied to the player in the game.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the player indicates the handicap by indicating a head start to be provided an opponent.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the player to set the goal comprises the step of enabling the player to indicate a relative position in which the player will finish a task.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of deducting points from the player if the player fails to achieve the goal that the player set.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining objective points comprises the step of awarding points as a function of the player'"'"'s time in completing a task.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining objective points comprises the step of awarding points as a function of a player'"'"'s final position upon completion of a task.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining subjective points comprises the step of awarding points as a function of a player'"'"'s performance of a feat of style that is not a necessary task of the game.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the feat of style includes one of power sliding, spinning, driving on two wheels, jumping into the air, blocking an opponent, avoiding obstacles, passing an opponent, somersaulting, twirling a weapon, and shooting backwards.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a number of goal-based points comprises the steps of:

(a) awarding a first predetermined number of goal-based points if the player meets the goal set by the player, without exceeding the goal; and

(b) awarding a second predetermined number of goal-based points as a function of an amount that the player exceeds the goal set by the player.

31. A machine readable medium storing machine instructions that cause a processing device to perform the steps of claim 1.

19. A method for determining whether a player advances to a new level in an electronic game, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a player to define a target goal of performance in the electronic game;

(b) awarding a predetermined number of points to the player, if the player meets the target goal; and

(c) enabling the player to advance to a new level in the electronic game if the points awarded to the play exceed a threshold value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein if the player exceeds the target goal, further comprising the step of awarding additional points to the player, an amount of said additional points being based upon an extent by which the player exceeds the target goal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of enabling the player to define a target goal comprises the step of enabling the player to choose a time within which the player will complete a portion of the game.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of enabling the player to define a target goal comprises the step of enabling the player to choose a total number of points the player will receive in a portion of a game.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of awarding additional points comprises the steps of:

(a) determining a difference between the target goal and an actual performance of the player in the game; and

(b) computing the additional points as a function of the difference.

32. A machine readable medium storing machine instructions that cause a processing device to perform the steps of claim 19.

24. A method for determining points awarded for style in a game in which a winner is determined based on a majority of points awarded for completing at least one objective task without regard to style, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a style feat that is performed by a player and is not necessary to complete said at least one objective task; and

(b) awarding points in the game for the style feat that is detected.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of detecting comprises the step of determining that the player has caused at least one characteristic of the style feat to exceed a predetermined threshold level.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of awarding comprises the step of determining a number of points awarded as a function of at least one characteristic of the style feat that is performed.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one characteristic includes at least one of a duration of the style feat, a distance traveled during the style feat, a velocity during the style feat, and an acceleration during the style feat.

33. A machine readable medium storing machine instructions that cause a processing device to perform the steps of claim 24.

28. A game comprising:

(a) a goal selector enabling a player to indicate a goal of performance that the player expects to achieve during the game; and

(b) a goal point counter that determines a number of goal-based points that will be awarded to the player as a function of the performance of the player in relation to achieving the goal indicated by the player.

29. The game of claim 28, further comprising a subjective point counter that determines a number of subjective points that are awarded to a player for performing at least one action that is not an objective task of the game.

30. The game of claim 28, further comprising an objective point counter that determines a number of objective points that are awarded to a player for completing at least one objective task of the game.

34. An electronic game system that enables a player to earn points at least in part as a function of successfully achieving a goal of performance set by the player, comprising:

(a) an input device that enables a player to control a simulated player in a simulated game environment;

(b) a processor coupled to the input device;

(c) a display coupled to the processor for displaying the actions of the simulated player in the simulated game environment; and

(d) a memory coupled to the processor that stores machine instructions causing the processor to;

(i) enable a player to set the goal of performance in the game; and

(ii) determine a number of goal-based points that will be awarded to a player in determining a status of a player in the game, as a function of a performance of a player in relation to the goal set by a player.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to determine subjective points that will be awarded to a player in determining the status of a player in the game, as a function of a style performance of a player as measured against a predetermined subjective criterion.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to determine objective points in determining the status of a player in the game, based upon whether a player successfully performs an objective task in the game, the status of a player in the game being a function of the goal-based, subjective, and objective points awarded to a player in the game.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to determine objective points in determining the status of a player in the game, based upon whether a player successfully performs an objective task in the game.

38. A method of determining points awarded to a player in a game, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the player to set a goal of performance in the game;

(b) awarding points to the player as a function of the player successfully performing at least one of an objective skill task and a subjective style feat; and

(c) modifying the points that are awarded to the player in step (b) as a function of the performance of the player in relation to achieving the goal set by the player.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of modifying the points as a function of the player completing both the objective skill task and the subjective style feat.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of enabling the player to set the goal comprises the step of enabling the player to establish a time within which the player will complete a task in the game.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of enabling the player to set a goal comprises the step of enabling the player to indicate a minimum number of points that the player expects accumulate in at least a portion of the game.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of enabling the player to gamble that the player will achieve the goal of performance that the player set.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein if the player has gambled and is successful in achieving the goal of performance, further comprising the step of awarding more points to the player than would be awarded if the player had not gambled.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of enabling the player to gamble comprises the step of deducting at least some points previously awarded to the player for failure by the player to achieve the goal of performance set by the player.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein an objective skill task is an undertaking that must be achieved by the player to complete a current stage in the game.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein a success of the player in achieving the undertaking is determined based on one of an elapsed time, a distance achieved, a speed achieved, a position achieved, a relative position achieved, and one or more subtasks achieved by the player.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein a subjective style feat is an act that is unnecessary to complete an objective skill task of the game.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the act is performed in the course of completing an objective skill task of the game.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the act is accomplished by one of:

(a) executing a trick; and

(b) performing the act in a manner that substantially exceeds a defined level of performance.

50. A method of awarding points to a player in a game played using an electronic device that determines points awarded to each player, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a style feat that is not a necessary task in a game; and

(b) with the electronic device, determining a number of style points awarded the player, if the player completes the style feat, said points being used in determining a status of the player in the game.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of determining the number of style points comprises the step of modifying the style points awarded as a function of a manner in which the player completes the style feat.

52. A machine readable medium storing machine instructions that cause a processing device to perform the steps of claim 50.

53. An electronic game system that enables a player to earn points at least in part as a function of a style with which a player performs a task in a game, comprising:

(a) an input device that enables a player to control a simulated player in a simulated game environment;

(b) a processor coupled to the input device;

(c) a display coupled to the processor for displaying the actions of the simulated player in the simulated game environment; and

(d) a memory coupled to the processor that stores machine instructions causing the processor to;

(i) define a style feat that is not a necessary task in a game; and

(ii) determine a number of style points awarded a player, if a player completes the style feat, said points being used in determining a status of a player in the game.

54. The electronic game system of claim 53, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to modify the style points awarded as a function of a manner in which a player completes the style feat.