SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING USER COOPERATION IN AN ASYNCHRONOUS VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
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1. A system configured to provide cooperative behavior between users in an asynchronous virtual environment, the system comprising:
- one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;
an environment module configured to provide views of an asynchronous virtual environment to the users;
an activity definition module configured to obtain activity criteria that define a group activity for a user group, wherein the group activity includes a task to be performed separately by individual users in the user group within the asynchronous virtual environment; and
an activity evaluation module configured to evaluate performance of the group activity by the user group, wherein evaluation of the performance of the activity is based on separate performances of the task within the asynchronous environment by the individual users in the user group and the activity criteria.
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Abstract
An asynchronous virtual environment may be provided to users in which synchronous, time-sensitive cooperation between the users is enabled in spite of the asynchronous nature of the virtual environment. Synchronous, time-sensitive cooperation between users may have an impact on gaining and/or retaining users in a virtual environment, such as a videogame or virtual space. For example, such cooperation between users may strengthen a sense of group, community, and/or camaraderie between cooperating users.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system configured to provide cooperative behavior between users in an asynchronous virtual environment, the system comprising:
one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising; an environment module configured to provide views of an asynchronous virtual environment to the users; an activity definition module configured to obtain activity criteria that define a group activity for a user group, wherein the group activity includes a task to be performed separately by individual users in the user group within the asynchronous virtual environment; and an activity evaluation module configured to evaluate performance of the group activity by the user group, wherein evaluation of the performance of the activity is based on separate performances of the task within the asynchronous environment by the individual users in the user group and the activity criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14)
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10. A computer-implemented method of encouraging cooperative behavior between users in an asynchronous virtual environment, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more processors executing computer program modules, the method comprising:
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providing views of an asynchronous virtual environment to the users; obtaining activity criteria that define a group activity for a user group, wherein the group activity includes a task to be performed separately by individual ones of the users in the user group within the asynchronous virtual environment; and evaluating performance of the group activity by the user group, wherein the evaluation of the performance of the activity is based on separate performances of the task within the asynchronous environment by the users in the user group and the activity criteria. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method of encouraging cooperation between users of an asynchronous videogame, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more processors executing computer program modules, the method comprising:
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providing the asynchronous videogame separately to the users such that individual users receive views of the asynchronous videogame, wherein the view provided to any given user includes an object under control of the given user, and wherein the view of the asynchronous videogame received by the given user does not include any object under control of another user; presenting a common task to a user group within the individual views of the asynchronous videogame provided to the users in the user group; determining whether the number of users in the user group to complete the common task reaches a threshold number of users; and responsive to the number of users in the user group to complete the common task reaching the threshold number of users, providing a reward in the asynchronous videogame to at least one of the users in the group of users. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification