Systems and Method for Capture and Use of Player Emotive State in Gameplay

• US 20140004948A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Brunet, Oliver Watkins Jr, Ravinder Sharma, Yousuf Chowdhary
• Original Assignee: Oliver Watkins Jr
• Inventors: Watkins, Oliver (Lake) Jr., Chowdhary, Yousuf, Brunet, Jeffrey, Sharma, Ravinder ("Ray")
• Application Number:
  US13/930,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20140004948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided that enables virtual gameplay with a character on a computing device. Access is provided to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact via a character. The player'"'"'s emotive state is detected and stored. In response to the detected emotive state, the computing device retrieves a storyline for the character that is related to the emotive state of the player.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of enabling virtual gameplay with a character on a computing device in communication with a storage means, the method comprising the steps of:

providing access to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact with the video game via a character;

detecting at the computing device the player'"'"'s emotive state, and storing the player'"'"'s emotive state on the storage means; and

in response to the detected emotive state, retrieving using the computing device a storyline for the character to interact with, the retrieved storyline being related to the emotive state of the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a second or subsequent emotive state of the player in the course of gameplay, and retrieving a second or further storyline for the player'"'"'s character to interact with, the second or further storyline being related to the second or subsequent emotive state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each storyline comprises one or a combination of plot, plot nodes, character interactions, encounters, settings, aesthetics, levels, premise, or theme.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second or further storyline replaces the previously retrieved storyline.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second or further storyline is added to the previously retrieved storyline.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the character'"'"'s appearance, facial or body expression or health in response to the detected emotive state.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a level of difficulty in response to the detected emotive state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a detected happy or content emotive state results in an increased level of difficulty.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a detected sad, angry or frustrated emotive state results in a decreased level of difficulty.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the character is changed to match the player'"'"'s emotive state.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the character is changed to be the reverse of the player'"'"'s emotive state.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene or setting is modified to reflect the player'"'"'s emotive state.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein game monsters, enemies, traps or puzzles are modified in response to the player'"'"'s emotive state.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying character statistics of the character in response to the detected emotive state.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying tools, equipment or clothing of the character in response to the detected emotive state.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the video game is accessible by multiple players and players having the same emotive state can interact in the game with each other via their characters.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the video game is accessible by multiple players, each player having an emotive state, wherein a new player joining the game having a previously-unrepresented emotive state opens up a new storyline for all of the players currently in the game.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein if a player is the only player having a specific emotive state, the departure of that player from the game closes up a storyline for the remaining players in the game.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the player'"'"'s emotive state is re-detected at intervals, and in the event of a change in the player'"'"'s emotive state, the character is shown moving to a new scene in the storyline.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step further includes matching a player facial or body expression to facial and body expressions in a database of emotive states.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step further includes matching a player sound or vocalization to sounds and vocalizations in a database of emotive states.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the emotive state is detected at login.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the emotive state is detected during gameplay.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein if a neutral emotive state is detected or the detected emotive state is an unsupported emotive state, a default storyline is provided.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage means is provided by one or a combination of:

a local fixed memory, a local removable memory, a remote fixed memory, a remote removable memory, and a virtual memory.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage means is selected from the group consisting of:

a local data storage of a game console, a local inbuilt memory, a user provided memory, an online server, and a shared folder on a network.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step includes retrieving emotive state data from a sensor.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the player is enabled to play the game using a game device, and the player'"'"'s emotive state is detected by an on-board sensor on the game device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the game device is a mobile device.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the sensor is one or a combination of camera, video camera, microphone, accelerometer, gyroscope, touch screen, temperature sensor, or pressure sensor.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step includes obtaining emotive state information from player input.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the player'"'"'s emotive state is compared to emotive states in a database.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the emotive states database is pre-populated.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the emotive states database can be customized with player input.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the sensor is a sensor that is not otherwise used as a game controller.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein any sensor used as a game controller is not used to receive player emotive state.