Transfer of Game Characters

• US 20080045283A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Machacek, Paul, Stamper, Christopher, Stamper, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/465,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20080045283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• 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

A method of translating data relating to a character in a game is described. The method produces amended data relating to the character which may be imported into another game or other application. The method involves identifying the target application and an attribute of the exported character data and then modifying the character data based on this information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a parameter from exported character data from a source game, said exported character data relating to a character in said source game;

identifying a target application; and

modifying said exported character data into amended character data suitable for use in said target application based on said parameter and said target application.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said target application is a game.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameter comprises a character type.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein modifying said exported character data into amended character data suitable for use in said target application based on said parameter and said target application comprises:

accessing data associated with said character type and said target application; and

modifying said exported character data into said amended character data using said accessed data.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

said accessed data comprises data relating to a plurality of standard characters associated with said target application; and

modifying said exported character data into said amended character data using said accessed data comprises;

selecting one of said plurality of standard characters based on said character type; and

modifying said exported character data into amended character data based on said selected one of said plurality of standard characters.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

said exported character data comprises a value associated with a character attribute;

said accessed data comprises a target value of said character attribute; and

said amended character data comprises an amended value associated with said character attribute equal to said target value

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

said exported character data comprises a relative value associated with a character attribute;

said accessed data comprises a target range of values of said character attribute;

said amended character data comprises an amended value associated with said character attribute, and wherein said amended value is within said target range and based on said relative value.

8. A method according to claim 4, wherein said accessed data comprises filter data and wherein modifying said exported character data into amended character data using said accessed data comprises:

filtering said exported character data using said filter data to produce said amended character data.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said exported character data comprises a data packet, said data packet comprising a plurality of parameters associated with said character and a value for each of said plurality of parameters.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said amended character data comprises a second data packet, said second data packet comprising a sub-set of said plurality of parameters associated with said character and a value for each of said sub-set of said plurality of parameters.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exported character data comprises a value associated with a character attribute, said value being defined with respect to a scale, and wherein modifying said exported character data into amended character data suitable for use in said target application based on said parameter and said target application comprises:

accessing conversion data associated with said target application, said conversion data being defined with respect to said scale; and

modifying said exported character data into amended character data based on said value and said conversion data.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said scale comprises a scale defined in a standard unit of measurement.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to identifying said parameter:

exporting said exported character data from said source game.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

importing said amended character data into said target application.

15. One or more device-readable media with device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

identifying a parameter from exported character data from a source game, said exported character data relating to a character in said source game;

identifying a target application; and

modifying said exported character data into amended character data suitable for use in said target application based on said parameter and said target application.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory arranged to store executable instructions arranged to cause the processor to;

identify a parameter from exported character data from a source game, said exported character data relating to a character in said source game;

identify a target application; and

modify said exported character data into amended character data suitable for use in said target application based on said parameter and said target application