Method and system for providing character having game item functions

• US 20070197296A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NHN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NHN Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Joon-Mahn
• Granted Patent: US 8,253,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• 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 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character

Abstract

Disclosed is a character service method and system having a game item function. In one embodiment, a method is provided for generating a character by a character generating system including a gamvatar provider, a gamvatar controller, and a game server. The method includes providing an avatar to a user accessing the character generating system online, checking whether the user desires to combine a game item function with the avatar before progressing a game when the user acquires the game item function, combining the game item function with a corresponding layer of the avatar when the user desires to combine the game item function with the avatar, and d) generating the combined gamvatar.

Claims

1. In a method for generating a character by a character generating system including a gamvatar provider, a gamvatar controller, and a game server, a method for generating a character having a game item function comprising:

a) providing an avatar to a user accessing the character generating system on line;

b) the gamvatar controller checking whether the user desires to combine a game item function with the avatar before progressing a game when the user acquires the game item function;

c) combining the game item function with a corresponding layer of the avatar according to a control by the gamvatar controller when the user desires to combine the game item function with the avatar; and

d) the gamvatar provider generating the combined gamvatar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gamvatar generated in d) is classified as an avatar and a game item to be stored, and the avatar and the game item are combined according to the user'"'"'s selection when the game is performed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user can selectively edit the gamvatar when combining the game item function with the corresponding layer of the avatar in c).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of different game item functions is respectively combined with the corresponding layer of the avatar in c).

12. A computer-readable storing medium for recording a program for performing the method of one of claim 1 to claim 11.

5. In a method for servicing a character by a character service system including a gamvatar provider, a gamvatar controller, and a game server, a method for servicing a character having a game item function comprising:

a) the gamvatar provider providing a gamvatar which is a character combined with a game item function to a user accessing the character service system on line;

b) the gamvatar controller determining whether to use the game item function of the gamvatar according to the user'"'"'s establishment; and

c) the game server applying the game item function of the gamvatar to the game according to the user'"'"'s usage request.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

d) exhausting the gamvatar when the game item function of the gamvatar is used in the game or when a predetermined time is passed after the user selects usage of the game item function of the gamvatar.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a) comprises:

providing the gamvatar from the gamvatar provider according to the user'"'"'s selection, or generating a gamvatar generated by combining the game item with the avatar and providing the gamvatar.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the game item function of the gamvatar includes at least one of a function for charging/restoring cyber money, a function for reinforcing power of the gamvatar, and a function for attacking/defending other gamers, and it is then selected by combining the functions.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the gamvatar generates a predetermined facial expression or a motion to perform the game item function when the user inputs a button or an emoticon.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of different game item functions is combined with the avatar and a corresponding game item function is exhausted each time the game item function is used in c).

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the gamvatar is classified as an avatar and a game item to be stored, the avatar has a plurality of layers, and the gamvatar is generated by combining the game item function with a corresponding layer from among the layers and putting on the combined result.

13. In a system for generating a character provided online, a system for generating a character having a game item function comprising:

an avatar provider for providing an avatar to a user accessing the character generating system;

a game item provider for providing a game item according to the user'"'"'s selection;

a gamvatar provider for generating a gamvatar which is a character combined with a game item function and providing the gamvatar when the user desires to combine the avatar with the game item;

a gamvatar controller for controlling the user to edit the gamvatar so as to combine the avatar with the game item, and controlling the generated gamvatar to be used in the corresponding game; and

a gamvatar database for storing information on the generated gamvatar.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the generated gamvatar is classified as an avatar and a game item to be stored, and the avatar and the game item are combined and used according to the user'"'"'s selection when the game is performed.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein when the game item function and the avatar are combined, the gamvatar controller controls the user to selectively edit the gamvatar, and the gamvatar provider combines the game item function with a corresponding layer of the avatar and provides a gamvatar as a character combined with a game item function.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the gamvatar provider respectively combines a plurality of different game item functions with corresponding layers of the avatar, and provides them.

17. In a system for servicing a character provided on line, a system for servicing a character having a game item function comprising:

a gamvatar provider for generating a gamvatar which is a character combined with a game item function and providing the gamvatar;

a game database for storing game logics for controlling performance of respective games and information on the respective games;

a game server for progressing a game according to a game logic defined for each game by referring to the game database, and applying a game item function of the gamvatar to the game according to the user'"'"'s selection;

a gamvatar database for storing information on the gamvatar; and

a gamvatar controller for controlling the gamvatar to be used or exhausted by the game server by referring to the gamvatar database.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the gamvatar provider provides a gamvatar according to the user'"'"'s selection or generates a gamvatar generated by combining the game item with the avatar and provides the generated gamvatar.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the game item function of the gamvatar includes at least one of a function for charging/restoring cyber money, a function for reinforcing power of the gamvatar, and a function for attacking/defending other gamers, and it is then selected by combining the functions.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the gamvatar generates a predetermined facial expression or a motion to perform the game item function when the user inputs a button or an emoticon.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the gamvatar provider combines a plurality of different game item functions with the avatar to provide a gamvatar, and

when the game server applies a game item function of the gamvatar to the game according to the user'"'"'s selection, the gamvatar controller controls the corresponding game item function to be exhausted each time the game item function is used.