Event-Driven Alteration of Avatars

• US 20070218987A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew, Mueller, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]

Abstract

Virtual environments in which player avatars can be altered based on events that occur in a video game, metaverse or virtual environment. One event is the failure to fulfill an obligation in a virtual contract. Avatars who fail to fulfill such obligations may have their appearance, voice, or smell altered, or may be followed by one or more non player character avatars.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a metaverse wherein players interact with each other and a virtual environment via characters that are physically represented by avatars;

creating a binding agreement between a player and another entity in the metaverse wherein the player agrees to undertake an obligation and receive a penalty in return for failure to meet the obligation; and

altering an avatar based on the player'"'"'s fulfillment or failure to fulfill an obligation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alteration is specified in the contract.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the alteration is a penalty for the player'"'"'s failure to fulfill the obligation.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the alteration is a reward for the player'"'"'s fulfillment of the obligation.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request from the other entity to alter the player'"'"'s avatar due to the avatar'"'"'s fulfillment or failure to fulfill an obligation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alteration is to the physical appearance of the avatar.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the alteration is to an audible quality of the avatar.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the avatar has an audible voice and the alteration is to the avatar'"'"'s voice.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the avatar has a smell and the alteration is to the avatar'"'"'s smell.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the alteration is the presence of another character that follows the avatar.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the other character is a non-player character.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of alteration is selected by the player.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of alteration is selected by the other entity.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of alteration is selected by a third party.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the third party is a virtual court.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the right to select the alteration can be transferred to another party.

17. A method comprising:

providing a metaverse in which players interact with each other and a virtual environment via characters that are physically represented by avatars, and wherein players can enter into binding contracts with each other, wherein the binding contracts specify obligations that must be met and penalties that can be inflicted for failure to meet the obligations;

receiving an indication that an obligation of a contract has not been fulfilled;

assigning the contract to a virtual bounty hunter;

applying alterations to the avatars of the parties that have failed to fulfill their contractual obligations; and

flagging the avatars as eligible to be hunted.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining that the bounty hunter has found a flagged avatar; and

rewarding the bounty hunter.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising unflagging the found avatar.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising restoring the found avatar to its pre-altered condition.