INTELLIGENT GAME EDITING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH AUTOCOMPLETE AND OTHER FUNCTIONS THAT FACILITATE GAME AUTHORING BY NON-EXPERT END USERS

• US 20080078758A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Mortimer, Stephen, Hunley, Nathan, Shimura, Yukimi, Champagne, Robert, Yamashiro, Shigeki
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/717
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6054 by generating automatically game commands to assist the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game

Abstract

A new user-friendly game editor allows game players with little or no experience to create new games or game levels. Game element structures can be “drawn” using an “auto completion” feature that automatically functionally connects and/or arranges chosen game elements to provide a visually pleasing environment that is easily navigated by game characters. Such technology can allow an end user game player with little or no technical background to easily develop game levels that are fun to play and do not suffer from any significant defects or other problems that would decrease ease of navigation, functionality or amount of fun. The user may share the authored game with other users via a network so other users can retrieve the game and play it on their own game playing devices. Users can provide feedback concerning the fun and functionality of the game. Good feedback can entitle the game author to recognition including for example bonus points. Bonus points can be redeemed for items listed in an online catalog, which in turn can be used to author ever more interesting game play levels.

Claims

1. A method of authoring a video game comprising:

graphically selecting an object for inclusion in a game play environment;

using a stylus to draw a path within said environment; and

repetitively depositing instances of said graphically selected object along said path to create at least a portion of said video game structure while automatically preventing the user from depositing instances of said graphically selected object from creating non-functional structures within said game play environment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said repetitively depositing includes autocompleting.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said repetitively depositing includes automatically refusing to deposit an instance of said object at a position that will interfere with the functionality of at least one object within said game play environment.

4. The method of claim 1 further including play-testing said video game before permitting the video game to be uploaded and shared over a network.

5. The method of claim 1 further including automatically supplying animation features to said video game structure.

6. A system for permitting an end user to share video games the end user has authored, comprising:

a storage device that stores at least a portion of a video game authored by an end user;

a processor that play tests said authored video game and automatically prevents said end user from creating non-functional structures within said authored video game; and

a wireless connection that shares said play tested video game with other users.

7. A storage device storing:

first instructions that allow an end user to graphically select an object for inclusion in a game play environment;

second instructions that allow a user to use a stylus to draw a path within said environment;

third instructions that automatically, repetitively depositing instances of said graphically selected object along said path to create at least a portion of said video game structure while automatically preventing the user from depositing instances of said graphically selected object to create a non-functional structure; and

fourth instructions that automatically play test said game play environment.

8. A method of enabling end user authors to author game play comprising:

providing an intelligent editor that assists an end user author in authoring game play;

sharing the authored game play with other users via a communications network;

receiving feedback from said other users;

awarding bonus points to said end user author;

allowing said end user author to shop a catalog of game play elements with said bonus points; and

enabling said end user author to include said shopped game play elements in additional authored game play.