METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION INCLUDING A VIRTUAL COMPANION AND VIRTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY

• US 20110086702A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Kwant, Michael, Boyd, Jessica, Borst, Karl Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,795,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A method and computer system for providing a virtual presentation is provided. A plurality of different groups of virtual objects within a virtual world on a display device, wherein at least one of the different groups is selectable by a user. The desired group of virtual objects are to be displayed within a virtual optical viewfinder. A selection tool is provided within the virtual optical viewfinder and is controllable by the user to select a target virtual object from the desired group of virtual objects displayed within the virtual optical viewfinder. The user is presented with a magnified image of the target virtual object and revealing an identity of the target virtual object that has been selected in response to selection of the target virtual object by the user.

Claims

1. A method of providing a virtual presentation comprising:

using a computer system, representing a plurality of different groups of virtual objects within a virtual world on a display device, wherein at least one of said different groups is selectable by a user;

using the computer system, and in response to an input from the user selecting a desired group of virtual objects from among the plurality of different groups, displaying the desired group of virtual objects within a virtual optical viewfinder, and excluding from the virtual optical viewfinder at least a portion of the different groups not selected by the user;

using the computer system, providing a selection tool within the virtual optical viewfinder, the selection tool being controllable by the user to select a target virtual object from the desired group of virtual objects displayed within the virtual optical viewfinder; and

using the computer system, and in response to selection of the target virtual object by the user, presenting the user with a magnified image of the target virtual object and revealing an identity of the target virtual object that has been selected, wherein the identity of the target virtual object is concealed from the user before said selection.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising updating a virtual photo album associated with the user in the virtual world to include the target virtual object.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein updating the virtual photo album comprises including a virtual photograph of the target virtual object within the virtual photo album.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising displaying to a user a prize in response to selection of the target virtual object by the user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the prize comprises virtual currency that can be used by the user to purchase a virtual item within the virtual world.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the virtual currency is not legal tender that can be used by the user for real-world purchases.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the prize is displayed in response to selection of each unique target virtual object that has not been previously selected by the user, and the prize is not displayed in response to a subsequent selection of a previously-selected target virtual object.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the prize is displayed in response to an initial selection of each unique target virtual object within a predetermined category of virtual objects, and another prize is displayed in response to selection of all unique target virtual objects within the predetermined category.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the prize is different for selection of a plurality of unique target virtual objects.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the prize comprises a virtual creature to be associated with a user account.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the virtual creature is to be displayed by the computer system accompanying a virtual character controlled by the user in the virtual world.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein the prize falls within at least one of a plurality of different prize categories and at least one of the different prize categories comprises an upper limit on a quantity of prizes that can be awarded to the user in the at least one of the plurality of different prize categories.

13. The method according to claim 4, wherein said displaying is contingent upon successful completion of a challenge issued to the user in response to selection of the target virtual object.

14. The method according to claim 4, wherein the prize has a first value within the virtual world, and a probability of selecting the target virtual object resulting in an award of the prize having the first value is greater than a probability of selecting another target virtual object resulting in an award of another prize having a greater value than the first value.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual objects include virtual creatures.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein access to a portion of the virtual world allowing selection of the target virtual object is restricted, requiring validation of an access code provided by the user before selection of the target virtual objects is permitted.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer system limits selection of the target virtual object by the user to less than a predetermined number of selections within a predetermined period of time.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined number of selections within the predetermined period of time is once per day.

19. The method according to claim 1 further comprising displaying a prize selected from one of a plurality of prize categories in response to selection of the target virtual object by the user, wherein

access to a portion of the virtual world allowing selection of the target virtual object for the prize is restricted, requiring validation of an access code provided by the user before selection of the target virtual objects to receive the prize is permitted by the computer system, and wherein the prize category from which the prize is selected is based at least in part on a quantity of access codes provided by the user that have been validated.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the access code is associated with a real-world item purchased by the user.

35. The method according to claim 4, wherein the another virtual object comprises at least one of:

a virtual furnishing;

a virtual toy to be played with by a virtual character controlled by the user within the virtual world; and

a virtual food item.

21. A method of creating and presenting a virtual collection in a virtual world comprising:

using a computer system, displaying a plurality of virtual objects to be collected within the virtual world on a display device, said virtual objects being classified in a plurality of different categories of virtual objects within the virtual world;

using the computer system, and in response to an input from the user selecting a target virtual object to be collected and added to the virtual collection associated with the user, adding the target virtual object to a virtual photo album within an appropriate category in which the target virtual object is classified from one of said plurality of different categories;

displaying a first prize for the user in response to addition of the target virtual object to the virtual photo album; and

presenting the user with a gift in response to the user collecting all virtual objects in the appropriate category, wherein presentation of the gift comprises at least one of an audio component and a video component.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said gift is visible to the user within the virtual world before all virtual objects in the appropriate category are collected by the user but can not be selected by the user before the gift is presented to the user.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein presentation of the gift comprises the video component, and the video component performed during presentation of the gift comprises converting the gift from a grayed out state in which the gift is prevented from being selected by the user into a full-color state in which the gift is available to be selected by the user to be added to the user account.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the virtual objects to be collected comprise virtual creatures, and each virtual creature comprises an animated appearance in response to being collected by the user and added to the virtual photo album.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein each virtual creature to be collected appears in the virtual photo album in an unanimated state before being collected by the user.

26. The method according to claim 21 further comprising awarding another prize to the user in response to selection of each unique virtual object within all categories of virtual products.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the computer system prevents the user from subsequently tendering the another prize to a virtual store or another user within the virtual world in exchange for a different virtual object or virtual currency.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the user is awarded the prize in response to a first selection of the target virtual object by the user to be added to the virtual photo album, and the prize is not awarded to the user in response to a repeated selection of the target virtual object by the user.

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the virtual photo album is a virtual book and each virtual page in the virtual book that is divided into sections that are each associated with a different category of virtual object.

30. The method according to claim 21, wherein the prize comprises a virtual item other than the target virtual object itself.

31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the virtual photo album is required to be acquired by the user within the virtual world before any virtual objects can be collected and added by the user to the virtual photo album.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the virtual photo album is purchased from a virtual store using virtual cash that is not legal tender for purchases in the real world.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the virtual photo album is provided to the user within the virtual world in response to validation of an access code associated with a real-world photo album purchased in the real world.

34. The method according to claim 21 further comprising presenting the user with a trade interface offering the user an opportunity to trade at least a portion of the prize awarded in response to addition of the target virtual object to the virtual photo album for another virtual object.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the trade interface comprises a virtual catalog of available virtual items that can be received by the user in exchange for at least a portion of the prize during a trade.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the virtual catalog displays the available virtual items along with the portion of the prize that must be surrendered by the user to acquire each of the available virtual items.

38. The method according to claim 34, wherein the another virtual object obtained by the user during a trade can be subsequently tendered by the user to a virtual store or another user within the virtual world in exchange for a different virtual object or virtual currency.

39. The method according to claim 21, wherein the gift obtained by the user for collecting all virtual objects in the appropriate category can be subsequently tendered by the user to a virtual store or another user within the virtual world in exchange for a different virtual object or virtual currency.

40. A method of providing a virtual presentation, the method comprising:

using a computer system, representing a toy with a virtual character in the virtual world, said virtual character being controllable according to commands input by a user via the computer system;

using the computer system, providing a plurality of different virtual beings in the virtual world, wherein the user can select at least one of the virtual beings within the virtual world to be a virtual companion of the virtual character;

in response to selection of the virtual companion by the user, associating the virtual companion with the virtual character controlled by the user;

displaying the virtual companion within a close proximity of the virtual character in the virtual world to establish a relationship between the virtual character and the virtual companion;

moving the virtual character to a desired location within the virtual world in response to commands input by the user; and

substantially maintaining the relationship between the virtual character and virtual companion while the virtual character is moved.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the relationship between the virtual character and the virtual companion comprises the virtual companion hovering adjacent to the virtual character.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein the relationship between the virtual character and the virtual companion comprises the virtual companion being coupled to the virtual character.

43. The method according to claim 40 further comprising:

providing the user with a virtual dwelling for the virtual companion within the virtual world, wherein the user can elect to store the virtual companion within the virtual dwelling when the virtual companion is not displayed within the close proximity to the virtual character.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the virtual dwelling is to be positioned as a virtual furnishing by the user within a virtual room associated with the virtual character to display the virtual companion when not within close proximity to the virtual character.

45. The method according to claim 43, wherein the virtual dwelling includes a plurality of separate dwelling units, each for storing a different one of a plurality of virtual companions associated with the virtual character.

52. The method according to claim 43 further comprising:

using the computer system, receiving and validating a plurality of different access codes associated with a plurality of different real-world toys possessed by the user;

in response to said receiving and validating, granting the user access to a virtual companion for the virtual character, allowing the user to establish a relationship between the virtual character and the virtual companion by positioning the virtual companion in close proximity to the virtual character; and

substantially maintaining the relationship between the virtual companion to the virtual character following movement of the virtual character controlled by the user.

46. A method of providing a virtual presentation comprising:

using a computer system, granting a user access to a virtual character within a virtual world and allowing the user to control movement of the virtual character within the virtual world;

using the computer system, receiving and validating an access code associated with a real-world toy possessed by the user;

in response to receiving and validating the access code, granting the user access to a virtual companion for the virtual character, allowing the user to establish a relationship between the virtual character and the virtual companion by causing the virtual companion to be positioned in close proximity to the virtual character within the virtual world; and

substantially maintaining the relationship between the virtual companion and the virtual character while following movement of the virtual character in the virtual world in response to an input from the user requesting movement of the virtual character.

47. The method according to claim 46, further comprising granting access to the virtual character in response to validation of a registration code associated with a real-world toy that is to be represented in the virtual world by the virtual character.

48. The method according to claim 46, wherein granting the user access to the virtual companion comprises:

associating the virtual companion with a user account belonging to the user; and

adding the virtual companion to a menu of virtual items associated with the user account, wherein the virtual companion is to be selected from the menu and positioned within close proximity to the virtual character by the user to establish the relationship between the virtual character and the virtual companion.

49. The method according to claim 46, wherein the virtual companion is a flying pet that hovers adjacent to the virtual character when the relationship between the virtual character and the virtual companion is established.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the flying pet comprises a set of animated wings.

51. The method according to claim 46, wherein the virtual companion is a virtual replica of the real-world toy associated with the access code validated to grant the user access to the virtual companion.

53. A method of providing a virtual presentation comprising:

using a computer system, granting a user access to a virtual character within a virtual world and allowing the user to control movement of the virtual character within the virtual world;

using the computer system, granting the user access to a virtual companion for the virtual character and displaying the virtual companion in close proximity to the virtual character within the virtual world;

substantially maintaining the displaying between the virtual companion and the virtual character after movement of the virtual character in the virtual world in response to an input from the user requesting movement of the virtual character; and

providing the user with a virtual dwelling for the virtual companion within the virtual world; and

allowing the user to store the virtual companion within the virtual dwelling when the virtual companion is not displayed within close proximity to the virtual character.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the virtual dwelling is to be positioned as a virtual furnishing by the user within a virtual room associated with the virtual character to display the virtual companion when not within close proximity to the virtual character.

55. The method according to claim 53, wherein the virtual dwelling includes a plurality of separate dwelling units, each for storing a different one of a plurality of virtual companions associated with the virtual character.

56. The method according to claim 53, wherein the virtual dwelling is to be purchased by the user using virtual currency that is not legal tender from a virtual store within the virtual world.

57. The method according to claim 53, wherein the virtual dwelling is awarded to the user in response to registration of an access code associated with a real-world toy that is represented in the virtual world by the virtual companion, the real-world toy being purchased using legal tender.

58. The method according to claim 53, wherein the virtual dwelling is awarded to the user in response to registration of an access code associated with a real-world toy that is represented in the virtual world by the virtual dwelling, the real-world toy being purchased using legal tender.

59. A method of providing a virtual presentation comprising:

using a computer system, granting a user access to a virtual character within a virtual world and, in response to receiving input commands from the user, controlling movement of the virtual character within the virtual world in a manner consistent with the input commands;

restricting access to a restricted portion of the virtual world to prevent the user from participating in an activity in the restricted portion that allows the user to attempt to select a virtual being displayed within the restricted portion of the virtual world;

using the computer system, receiving and validating an access code associated with a real-world object in possession of the user;

in response to receiving and validating the access code, granting the user access to the restricted portion of the virtual world and allowing the user to participate in the activity by attempting to select the virtual being displayed within the restricted portion of the virtual world;

displaying the virtual being in another portion of the virtual world, other than the restricted portion of the virtual world, where said another portion was accessible to the user before granting access to the restricted portion of the virtual world, wherein the virtual being can be selected by the user in the another portion of the virtual world; and

awarding a prize to the user in response to successful selection of the virtual being within the another portion of the virtual world.

60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the virtual being is one of a plurality of different types of virtual beings available to be displayed for selection by the user.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein a first type of virtual being comprises a different appearance within the virtual world than a second type of virtual being.

62. The method according to claim 60, wherein a first type of virtual being comprises an animation within the virtual world that is different than an animation of a second type of virtual being within the virtual world.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the animation of the first virtual being comprises a first, random flight path in the virtual world and the animation of the second virtual being comprises a second, random flight path in the virtual world that is different than the first, random flight path.

64. The method according to claim 59 further comprising presenting the user with a warning prior to displaying the virtual being in the another portion of the virtual world.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein the warning comprises an audible sound unique to each of a plurality of different types of virtual beings to be broadcast by the computer system to the user.

66. The method according to claim 59, wherein the prize comprises virtual currency that can be exchanged by the user within the restricted portion of the virtual world for a virtual object.

67. The method according to claim 59, wherein the prize comprises a virtual companion to be associated with the virtual character controlled by the user and displayed in close proximity to the virtual character in the virtual environment.

68. The method according to claim 59, wherein the prize comprises a virtual object to be associated with the virtual character user.

69. The method according to claim 59, wherein displaying the virtual being in the another portion of the virtual world comprises limiting a time period during which the virtual being is to be displayed and discontinuing the display of the virtual being in the virtual world when the time period has elapsed.

70. The method according to claim 69, wherein the time period is randomly established each time the virtual being is displayed.

71. The method according to claim 69, wherein displaying the virtual being in the another portion of the virtual world occurs before granting the user access to the restricted portion of the virtual world.

72. A method of providing a virtual presentation comprising:

using a computer system, granting a user access to a virtual character in a virtual room associated with the virtual character;

in response to receiving commands input into the computer system by the user, controlling movement of the virtual character within the virtual room in a manner consistent with the commands;

using the computer system, granting the user access to a virtual companion for the virtual character, wherein the virtual companion is to be selectively positioned by the user adjacent to the virtual character in the virtual room to accompany the virtual character during movements of the virtual character controlled by the user; and

providing a secondary virtual room for the virtual companion, wherein the virtual companion is to be displayed within the secondary virtual room when not accompanying the virtual character within the virtual room.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein access to the virtual companion is granted in response to registration of a real-world toy that is to be represented within the virtual presentation by the virtual companion.

74. The method according to claim 72, wherein the virtual companion is to be displayed accompanying the virtual character in the virtual room and displayed apart from the virtual character within the secondary virtual room.

75. The method according to claim 72 further comprising:

in response to a command input into the computer system by the user, placing a virtual item associated with a user account in the secondary virtual room;

establishing a time limit for displaying the virtual item within the secondary virtual room; and

determining a probability that the virtual companion will interact with the virtual item during the time limit.

76. The method according to claim 72 further comprising maintaining at least one of a health, a happiness and a hunger of the virtual companion within the secondary virtual room in response to a stimulus command input by the user.

77. The method according to claim 76, wherein the at least one of the health, happiness and hunger of the virtual companion is independent of a health, a happiness and a hunger of the virtual character.

78. The method according to claim 72, wherein the virtual companion includes an animated appearance in an absence of a stimulus command input by the user.

79. The method according to claim 78, wherein the animated appearance is dependent at least in part on a type of the virtual companion.

80. The method according to claim 78, wherein the animated appearance is selected from a plurality of different animated appearances of the virtual companion, and each animated appearance is associated with a probability of being selected.

81. The method according to claim 80, wherein the probability of each animated appearance is dependent at least in part on a happiness of the virtual companion.

82. The method according to claim wherein the secondary virtual room included in a restricted portion of the virtual presentation, and access to the secondary virtual room is granted to the user in response to an event resulting in access to the virtual companion being granted to the user.

83. A method of providing a virtual presentation comprising:

using a computer system, restricting access to information associated with a user within a virtual world;

transmitting an invitation to become a friend from a user over a communication network to a recipient the user would like to add as a friend in a virtual world;

in response to acceptance of the invitation by the recipient, adding the recipient as a friend to the user account and granting access to the information within the virtual world that was previously restricted, wherein the information comprises at least one of a virtual companion of a virtual character that is controllable by the user within the virtual world and a virtual room associated with the virtual companion that can be inhabited by the virtual companion.

84. The method according to claim 83, wherein granting access to the information comprises:

receiving over the communication network a selection of a viewer icon presented by the computer system to the friend; and

in response to receiving the selection, enabling the friend to view at least one of the virtual companion and the virtual room associated with the virtual companion within a preview window to be displayed by the computer system.

85. The method according to claim 84, wherein the friend can view the at least one of the virtual companion and the virtual room associated with the virtual companion within the preview window but is prevented by the computer system from interacting with the at least one of the virtual companion and the virtual room associated with the virtual companion.