GPS RELATED VIDEO GAME

• US 20110028220A1
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Reiche, Paul III
• Granted Patent: US 10,675,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items

Abstract

A real world location information related video game. The video game utilizes real world location information derived from a player'"'"'s mobile device to associate attributes and entities to game players. The associated attributes and entities may be useful in further game play on a player'"'"'s mobile device or PC.

Claims

1. A method for use with video game play, comprising:

receiving an indication of a location of a mobile communication device;

determining if a game play attribute is associated with the location of the mobile device;

associating the game play attribute with a game player associated with the mobile device;

receiving a request regarding the game play attribute; and

affecting video game play based on the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request regarding the game play attribute is on behalf of the game player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request regarding the game play attribute is a request associate the game play attribute with another game player.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the game play attribute is video game play ownership of real property approximate the location of the mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the request regarding the game play attribute is any of a request to buy, sell, use, or transfer the game play attribute.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the request regarding the game play attribute is a request to transfer the game play attribute to at least one other game player.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication of location of at least one other mobile device, the at least one other mobile communication device associated with the at least one other game player.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein affecting video game play based on the request comprises transferring association of the game play attribute to the at least one other game player if the location of the at least one other mobile communication device is approximate the real property.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein affecting video game play based on the request comprises transferring association of the game play attribute to the at least one other game player if the location of the at least one other mobile communication device is approximate the real property and the at least one mobile device comprises a plurality of mobile communication devices.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the request regarding the game play attribute is on behalf of other than the game player.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the game play attribute is video game control of an entity or object.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the request regarding h entity or object is a request to employ the entity or object in video game play.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein affecting video game play based on the request comprises affecting status of another entity or object in video game play.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the other entity or object is an entity or object associated with another video game player.

15. A system for use with video game play, comprising:

network interface circuitry configured to receive data and transmit data over a network;

at least one processor data coupled to the network interface circuitry and configured by program instructions to generate game play information based on information of received data and to command transmission of at least some of the game play information over the network, the program instructions including program instructions for associating an attribute with at least one game player based on a match between received data indicative of game player location and a predefined location representing an initial location of the attribute and program instructions for employing the attribute in further game play based on received data indicative of a request of the game player.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the attribute is game play ownership of real property.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein employing the attribute in further game play comprises transferring game play ownership of the real property to at least one other game player.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the game play attribute is an item or entity for use in game play.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the game play attribute is an item or entity to be controlled by a game player, and the employing the attribute in further game play comprises movement of the entity within a game play world.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the game play information comprises display information for use in generating a display of game play.