Controlling avatar performance and simulating metabolism using virtual metabolism parameters

• US 20090029769A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Empire Of Sports Developments Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Empire Of Sports Developments Ltd.
• Inventors: Muller, Christian
• Application Number:
  US12/052,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029769A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for controlling the performance of an avatar in an electronic game. The avatar is equipped with a virtual metabolism that includes one or more metabolic parameters, which simulate real-life metabolic processes. Actions implemented by a user playing the electronic game cause changes in the metabolic parameters which affects and controls the performance of the avatar in virtual athletic activities. The electronic game can further include both real-life and virtual items available for purchase by the user to enhance the user'"'"'s and the avatar'"'"'s athletic performance.

Claims

1. A method for simulating real-life athletic performance in an electronic game, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing (i) an electronic game comprising software installed on a computer and (ii) one or more devices for playing, displaying, and allowing a user to interact with the electronic game; and

(b) equipping an avatar in the electronic game with a virtual metabolism comprising at least one metabolic parameter, wherein a user-selected action modulates the at least one metabolic parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one metabolic parameter comprises a computer-simulated physiological metabolic process of a real human athlete.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the simulated physiological metabolic process is selected from at least one of the group consisting of:

avatar'"'"'s total mass, muscle volume as a share of total mass, glycogen share in muscle, muscle glycogen level, liver glycogen level, blood glycogen level, total glycogen level, total glucose storage, body fat share of total mass, amount of body fat/fatty acid, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) available per grams of fatty acid, total fatty acid storage, energy efficiency, energy release per amount of ATP, maximum oxygen supply per muscle weight, oxygen supply kinetic rate, minimum heart rate, maximum heart rate, heart rate kinetic rate, normal creatine phosphate level, maximum creatine phosphate supply, creatine phosphate restoration factor, creatine phosphate restoration limit, normal fatty acid level, fat rate counter speed, ATP supply from fatty acid, fatty acid restore rate, anaerobic decay accelerator, fat storage transfer, glucose molecular weights, glucose restore rate, aerobic ATP supply, carbohydrates-to-glucose transfer rate, glucose digestion rate, lactacidic ATP supply, lactate decomposition rate, muscle lactate limit, absolute muscle lactate limit, share of lactate used as energy, power normalization factor to simulate active recovery, and hydration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

(c) permitting the user to select the quantity and types of food consumed by the avatar, wherein the food comprises virtual food in the electronic game comprising computer-simulated nutritional properties; and

(d) permitting the user to select the quantity and types of liquid beverage consumed by the avatar, wherein the liquid beverage comprises virtual liquid beverages in the electronic game comprising computer-simulated nutritional properties.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

(e) requiring the avatar to consume a minimum amount of virtual food and depending the quantity of virtual food that the avatar must consume upon a muscle volume of the avatar; and

(f) changing the avatar'"'"'s total mass as a variable that is dependent upon the quantity and types of food and liquid beverage selected by the user and consumed by the avatar.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

(g) powering the avatar'"'"'s performance of virtual athletic actions by instructing the avatar to produce virtual energy by metabolizing stored virtual creatine phosphate;

(h) powering the avatar'"'"'s performance of virtual athletic actions by instructing the avatar to produce virtual energy by metabolizing stored virtual glucose;

(i) powering the avatar'"'"'s performance of virtual athletic actions by instructing the avatar to produce virtual energy by metabolizing stored virtual fatty acids.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (i) of the method further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

(j) powering the avatar'"'"'s performance of virtual athletic actions by instructing the avatar to produce virtual energy by metabolizing stored virtual glucose through simulated aerobic respiration when the avatar has performed virtual athletic actions to oxygenate the avatar'"'"'s virtual muscle; and

(k) powering the avatar'"'"'s performance of virtual athletic actions by instructing the avatar to produce virtual energy by metabolizing stored virtual glucose through simulated anaerobic respiration when the avatar requires immediate access to virtual energy and the avatar has not performed virtual athletic actions to oxygenate the avatar'"'"'s virtual muscle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic game comprises one or more metabolism gauge displays to provide the user with information concerning the at least one metabolic parameter, the at least one metabolic parameter being selected from at least one of the group consisting of:

the avatar'"'"'s muscle status, heart rate, fatigue level, and hydration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(l) equipping the avatar with a plurality of muscle groups, wherein each of the plurality of muscle groups contains at least one type of virtual muscle selected from the group consisting of;

slow-twitch virtual muscles that are fatigue-resistant for long-term athletic performance by the avatar and fast-twitch virtual muscles for short-term athletic performance by the avatar.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(m) assigning to each of the plurality of muscle groups (i) a first muscle power parameter comprising a range of values related to the percentage of the avatar'"'"'s virtual muscle mass dedicated to performing slow and long-term athletic performance, and (ii) a second muscle power parameter comprising a range of values related to the percentage of the avatar'"'"'s virtual muscle mass dedicated to performing fast and immediate athletic performance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

(n) training the avatar through user-selected actions;

(o) improving the avatar'"'"'s athletic performance through the performance of virtual athletic actions;

(p) defining a maximum muscle mass that can be attained by the avatar with respect to changes in one or more muscle power parameters related to the development of the avatar'"'"'s fast-twitch and slow-twitch virtual muscles;

(q) assigning to each of the plurality of muscle groups a third muscle power parameter comprising the maximum muscle mass that can be attained by the avatar and defining the third muscle power parameter as a sum of the first and second muscle power parameters; and

(r) once maximum muscle mass has been attained by the avatar, linking the first and second muscle power parameters so that an increase in one muscle power parameter causes a corresponding decrease in the other muscle power parameter so that a predetermined value for maximum muscle mass cannot be exceeded.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic game is accessible via a telecommunications network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(s) using the computer to calculate and monitor the value of the at least one metabolic parameter;

(t) altering the value of the at least one metabolic parameter based upon the input of user-selected actions in conjunction with predetermined metabolic parameter effects; and

(u) changing the performance of the avatar in connection with changes in the value of the at least one metabolic parameter.

14. An electronic game system comprising:

at least one server connected to a telecommunications network;

a computer, connected to the telecommunications network, comprising software means by which an electronic game is remotely accessed on the at least one server by a user;

a display device connected to the computer;

at least one input device connected to the computer;

a computer program means for controlling the computer so that the computer generates an avatar that is stored on the computer and controlled by manipulation of the at least one input device by the user, the avatar comprising a virtual metabolism;

a first data store associated with the server and configured to store user-specific long-term avatar metabolism parameters; and

a second data store associated with the computer and configured to store short-term avatar metabolism parameters.

15. A computer readable medium comprising:

a computer program means for controlling a computer so that the computer generates an electronic game comprising an avatar, wherein the avatar comprises a virtual metabolism comprising at least one virtual metabolic parameter, and wherein the at least one virtual metabolic parameter comprises a computer-simulated physiological metabolic process of a real athlete.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the avatar further comprises two types of virtual muscles:

slow-twitch virtual muscles that are fatigue-resistant for long-term athletic performance by the avatar and fast-twitch virtual muscles for short-term athletic performance by the avatar.

17. A gaming device for marketing and selling at least one item displayed in an electronic game, the gaming device comprising:

a computer by which the electronic game is accessed by a user;

a display device connected to the computer;

at least one input device connected to the computer; and

an avatar stored on the computer and controlled by manipulation of the at least one input device by the user, the avatar comprising a virtual metabolism, wherein purchasing items being marketed and sold via the electronic game enhances the avatar'"'"'s athletic performance in a virtual sport.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the items being marketed and sold via the electronic game comprise both virtual items to be used by the avatar and corresponding real-life versions of virtual items for use by a human.

19. A method for simulating real-life athletic performance in an electronic game, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing (i) an electronic game comprising software installed on a computer and (ii) one or more devices for playing, displaying, and allowing a user to interact with the electronic game;

(b) equipping an avatar in the electronic game with a virtual metabolism comprising at least one metabolic parameter;

(c) controlling the performance of the avatar via user-selected actions that cause changes in a value of the at least one metabolic parameter; and

(d) making available for purchase by the user virtual items that when purchased and used by the avatar improve the avatar'"'"'s performance in the electronic game.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(e) making available for purchase by the user real-life versions of the virtual items.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the virtual items and real-life versions of the virtual items comprise real-life and simulated apparel, footwear, sports equipment, food, liquid beverages, and sports accessories.