SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PERSISTENT CHARACTER PERSONALITIES IN A SIMULATION

• US 20100029382A1
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daybreak Game Company, LLC (Enad Global 7 AB)
• Original Assignee: Sony Online Entertainment LLC (Enad Global 7 AB)
• Inventors: Cao, Christopher Udo
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• 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 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided to implement a technique for managing the response of a digital entity in a simulation to reflect its interaction with one or more players over time, such as managing a non-player character'"'"'s responses to player characters in an online computer game. In the system, a computer system tracks the interaction of the digital entity with other entities and the occurrence or status of internal and external events to control how the digital entity reacts to current events and interactions.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a processor in an electronic device to perform a method of generating responses of a non-player character in a simulation, the method comprising:

a. receiving a first signal from a client computing device, the first signal indicating that a player character has initiated a communication with a non-player character;

b. calculating a response to the first signal, wherein the calculating includes calculating a response based on one or more acts performed by the player character prior to the receiving; and

c. transmitting a second signal, corresponding to the response, to the client computing device, the response in part causing a video renderer or sound renderer in the client computing device to render an indication of the response on a video or audio device, respectively, or both.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein the calculating a response based on one or more acts performed by the player character prior to the receiving includes calculating a response based on one or more quests or tasks accomplished or attempted by the player character, one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and the non-player character, or one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and other player characters or non-player characters.

3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the calculating a response further comprises choosing one of a plurality of responses at random.

4. The medium of claim 1, wherein the calculating a response further comprises calculating a response based on one or more in-game events.

5. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a processor in an electronic device to perform a method of enabling interactions of player characters with non-player characters in a simulation, the method comprising:

a. receiving a first signal, the first signal indicating that a player character is within a predetermined distance from a personal contact spawning point; and

b. upon the receiving, transmitting a second signal to the client computing device, the second signal indicative of a contact between the player character and a non-player character;

c. wherein the second signal causes one or more of the following;

i. a rendering of a communication of the non-player character addressing the player character, the rendering performed by a video renderer or a sound renderer, the rendering indicating the initiated contact on a video or an audio device, respectively, or both;

ii. a locating and rendering of the non-player character in a vicinity of the player character, the rendering performed by a video renderer or a sound renderer on a video or an audio device, respectively, or both;

or

iii. an arranging and rendering of the non-player character in a situation with the player character such that the non-player character is working with or against the player character to accomplish a common task, objective, or goal, the rendering performed by a video renderer or a sound renderer on a video or an audio device, respectively, or both.

6. The medium of claim 5, wherein the rendering a communication is based on one or more acts performed by the player character prior to the receiving, including one or more quests or tasks accomplished or attempted by the player character, one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and the non-player character, or one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and other player characters or non-player characters.

7. The medium of claim 5, wherein the rendering a communication includes a step of choosing one of several potential communications at random.

8. The medium of claim 5, wherein the rendering a communication is based on one or more in-game events.

9. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a processor in an electronic device to perform a method of providing information about a non-player character to a player character in a simulation, the method comprising:

a. receiving a first signal, the first signal indicating that a player character is within a predetermined distance from a shared history spawning point;

b. upon receipt of the first signal, transmitting a second signal to the client computing device, the second signal causing the client computing device to display an activatable element corresponding to information about a non-player character; and

c. upon receipt of a third signal corresponding to an activation of the displayed element, transmitting a fourth signal to the client computing device, the fourth signal causing the client computing device to play back a media file corresponding to the information about the non-player character.

10. The medium of claim 9, wherein the causing the client computing device to play back a media file includes choosing a media file to play, wherein the choosing includes choosing a media file based on one or more quests or tasks accomplished or attempted by the player character, one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and the non-player character, or one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and other player characters or non-player characters.

11. The medium of claim 10, wherein the choosing a media file to play further comprises choosing one of a plurality of media files at random.

12. The medium of claim 9, wherein the causing the client computing device to play back a media file includes causing the client computing device to play back a cinematic sequence or a cut scene.

13. The medium of claim 9, wherein the causing the client computing device to play back a media file includes choosing a media file to play, wherein the choosing includes choosing a media file based on an in-game event.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising a system for enhancing responses of a non-player character in a multiplayer game, the medium including the following modules:

a. a database module for storing data about a plurality of player characters, a plurality of non-player characters, and a plurality of features in a game environment; and

b. a response calculating module for calculating responses of non-player characters to player character interactions, wherein the response calculating module is configured to calculate a response based on one or more acts performed by the player character, or to alternatively calculate a response based on one or more in-game events.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the calculating module is configured to calculate a response based on one or more quests or tasks accomplished or attempted by the player character, one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and the non-player character, or one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and other player characters or non-player characters.

16. A computer-readable medium comprising a system for enabling interactions of player characters with non-player characters in a multiplayer game, the medium including the following modules:

a. a database module for storing data about a plurality of player characters, a plurality of non-player characters, and a plurality of features in a game environment; and

b. a response calculating module for calculating responses to player character interactions, wherein the response calculating module is configured to, upon receipt of a first signal indicating that a player character is within a predetermined distance from a personal contact spawning point, transmit a second signal to the client computing device, wherein the second signal causes one or more of the following;

i. a rendering of a communication of the non-player character addressing the player character, the rendering performed by a video renderer or a sound renderer, the rendering indicating the initiated contact on a video or an audio device, respectively, or both;

ii. a locating and rendering of the non-player character in a vicinity of the player character, the rendering performed by a video renderer or a sound renderer on a video or an audio device, respectively, or both;

or

iii. an arranging and rendering of the non-player character in a situation with the player character such that the non-player character is working with or against the player character to accomplish a common task, objective, or goal, the rendering performed by a video renderer or a sound renderer on a video or an audio device, respectively, or both.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the communication is based on one or more acts performed by the player character prior to the receiving includes calculating a response based on one or more quests or tasks accomplished or attempted by the player character, one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and the non-player character, or one or more prior communications or interactions between the player character and other player characters or non-player characters.

18. A computer-readable medium, comprising a system for providing information about a non-player character to a player character in a multiplayer game, the medium including the following modules:

a. a database module for storing data about a plurality of player characters, a plurality of non-player characters, and a plurality of features in a game environment; and

b. a response calculating module for calculating responses to player character interactions, wherein the response calculating module is configured to, upon receipt of a first signal indicating that a player character is within a predetermined distance from a shared history spawning point, transmit a second signal to the client computing device, wherein the second signal causes a client computing device to display an activatable element corresponding to information about a non-player character;

c. such that the response calculating module is configured to, upon receipt of a third signal corresponding to an activation of the displayed element, transmit a fourth signal to the client computing device, the fourth signal causing the client computing device to play back a media file corresponding to the information about the non-player character.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the media file is selected based on an occurrence of an in-game event.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein the media file is a cinematic.