Helpfulness in a Virtual Environment

• US 20070087799A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A virtual game environment in which characters are allowed to give help to one another and in which the game tracks the amount of helpfulness of each character is provided. Characters may be rewarded or paid for giving help to each other. In some embodiments, help may be given in the form of advice.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a virtual video game environment wherein a plurality of characters interact with one another and wherein the virtual video game environment includes a plurality of game parameters that are completed by the characters as the characters progress through the game; and

identifying game parameters which can be completed by receiving help from another character.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if a character received help from another character on a game parameter; and

allowing the character to complete the game parameter if the character received help from another character.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising preventing the character from completing the game parameter if the character has not received help from another character.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if a character received help from another character on a game parameter; and

allowing the character to help others with the game parameter if the character did not receive help from another character on the game parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if a character received help from another character on a game parameter; and

allowing the character to help others with the game parameter if the character received help from another character on the game parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a maximum number of characters that can complete a parameter without help.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining if the maximum number has been reached; and

allowing a character to complete the parameter alone if the maximum number has not been reached.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, if the maximum number has not been reached,

determining if a character received help with the game parameter;

and

if the character has received help with the game parameter, allowing the character to complete the parameter.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein if the character did not receive help with the game parameter, preventing the character from completing the parameter.

10. A method comprising:

providing a virtual video game environment wherein a plurality of characters interact with one another and wherein the virtual video game environment includes a plurality of game parameters that are completed by the characters as the characters progress through the game; and

determining the helpfulness of a character.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining the helpfulness of a character comprises determining the number of game parameters for which the character has given help to others.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a benefit to the character based on the number of parameters for which the character has given help to others.

13. A system comprising:

a virtual game environment comprising a plurality of game parameters;

a plurality of characters configured to interact with the virtual game environment;

a database configured to track the helpfulness of the characters as they interact with the virtual game environment;

a database configured to determine when a first character has given help to a second character; and

a database configured to determine when a first character has received help from a second character.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a database configured to identify those game parameters for which a character is allowed to give help.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a database configured to identify those game parameters for which a character is allowed to give help.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the identity of the game parameters for which a character is allowed to give help is based, at least in part, on the game parameters which the character has successfully completed.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the character can only give help for a given game parameter if the character has successfully completed the game parameter.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the character can only give help for a given game parameter if the character successfully completed the game parameter without receiving help from another character.

19. The system of claim 13 further comprising a mechanism for determining values for acts of helpfulness that occur in the game environment.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the values are dependant upon whether a character who has received help successfully completes the game parameter for which the help was intended.