System and method for multiplayer computerized game environment with non-intrusive, co-presented computerized ratings

• US 20080147424A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RatePoint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RatePoint, Inc.
• Inventors: Rowan, Michael J., Chen, Kefeng, Creighton, Neal Lewis, Bailey, Christopher T.M.
• Application Number:
  US11/711,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5372 for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method for multiplayer computerized game environment with non-intrusive, co-presented computerized ratings. A plurality of users of the multiplayer gaming environment is identified. Users may interact with a computerized entity via a display and computerized controls associated with that display. Ratable computerized entities in the game environment and corresponding ratings are accessible by way of the display and computerized controls. Computerized rating controls are provided to be co-presented on the display with the ratable computerized entity. The rating controls allow each participant of a rating service to submit computerized rating information about the ratable entity without substantially disrupting said participant'"'"'s observation of and interaction with the ratable computerized entity in the gaming environment.

Claims

1. A method of rating entities in a multiplayer computerized game comprising:

identifying a plurality of users of the multiplayer computerized game wherein each of said plurality of users is in networked communication with at least one other user of the multiplayer game, interacts with at least one other player of the game and interacts with the multiplayer game via a user display;

identifying a plurality of ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entities in the game with which at least one of said plurality of users may interact, wherein said plurality of users interact with the ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entities in the game by way of said user display;

storing computerized rating information provided by users of the game about said plurality of ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entities in the game in a computer-readable medium;

presenting the computerized rating information, said rating information to be co-presented on the user display with the ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entities such that the user may view computerized rating information and have substantially continuous, uninterrupted access to and interaction with said ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entities, wherein said rating information includes an aggregate rating that is a function of ratings provided by users of the game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entities is identified by at least one of a UUID, Object ID and Asset ID.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entities includes entities in the multiplayer game identified by at least one including assets, agents, and simulators.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the users of the multiplayer computerized game include participants and non-participants of a rating service for rating entities.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a selection of computerized rating information is accessible to participants and non-participants of the rating service.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the selection of computerized rating information is provided in a computerized rating overlay to be co-presented on the user display with the ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity, said overlay including controls allowing the non-participants of the rating service to become participants of the rating service.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

providing a computerized rating overlay to be co-presented on the user display with the ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity, said overlay including;

controls allowing the participants of the rating service to submit rating information about a ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity; and

controls allowing the participant of the rating service to view customized aggregate rating information about a ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein computerized rating information comprises quantitative ratings including aggregate numerical values and qualitative ratings including textual comments.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the qualitative ratings include textual comments selected from a set of predetermined textual comments and textual comments composed by participants of the rating service.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein computerized rating information is automatically displayed when a user interacts with a ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity in the multiplayer game.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a user interacting with a ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity includes the user entering a perimeter of selected proximity to the ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the perimeter of selected proximity includes a geographical proximity in a virtual space of a multiplayer game.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein computerized rating information is automatically displayed in fixed spaced relation to the ratable uniquely identifiable computerized entity.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein fixed space relation includes a geographical spaced relation in a virtual space of the multiplayer game.

15. The method of claim 1 further including a rating service that is separate from the ratable computerized entities and wherein computerized rating information is processed to create the aggregate rating by a service that is separate from the ratable computerized entities.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiplayer game includes massive multiplayer online games and network Metaverse games.

17. The method of claim 4 wherein the aggregate rating is a function of a measure of a social circle of a user of the multiplayer game who is also a participant in the rating service and wherein the measure of a social circle is a function of the usage activity of the participant.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the function of usage activity of the participant includes usage within the multiplayer game and usage in other computerized networked environments.