SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PORTIONS OF VIDEO GAME STREAMS FOR DRIVING MICROTRANSACTIONS

• US 20170113143A1
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: MARR, Michael D., KAPLAN, Keith S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,232,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions

Abstract

A system and method is provided that generates a game log that specifies game events during gameplay to enable efficient distribution of video game playback, facilitates the annotation of gameplay through content from users and others, and generates a video game stream that includes the game log and content. The system facilitates the efficient sharing of video game playback, as well as annotations from users and others. For example, e-sportscasters may use the system to broadcast video game playback with their commentary and/or graphical overlays. Video game players may use the system to share video game playback efficiently with other users. The system may also facilitate the sharing of loadout conditions and micro-transactions relevant to video game playback.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of facilitating micro-transactions in video games based on video game streams for playback of gameplay of video games, the method being implemented in a computer having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the computer system to perform the method, the method comprising:

generating, by the computer, a video game stream that includes a game log and a metadata track, wherein the game log specifies at least a first event that occurred during gameplay of a video game and information that indicates at least a first time in which the first event occurred during the gameplay, and the metadata track includes annotation content relating to the gameplay;

causing, by the computer, the video game stream to be transmitted via a network to an end user device;

receiving, by the computer, from the end user device, a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream, wherein the loadout object specifies a state of the gameplay and the hotspot specifies a virtual object used during the gameplay;

causing, by the computer, a playable recreation of the state of the gameplay or the virtual object to be provided responsive to the selection; and

debiting, by the computer, an account of a user associated with the end user device based on an amount of value relating to the playable recreation or the virtual object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream comprises receiving the selection of the loadout object, the method further comprising:

identifying, by the computer, a virtual item used during the gameplay based on the loadout object, wherein the value relating to the recreation comprises a value of the virtual item; and

providing, by the computer, the virtual item in the playable recreation, wherein the virtual item is usable during gameplay of the playable recreation, and wherein the account of the user is debited based on providing the virtual item.

3. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

predicting, by the computer, a portion of the gameplay that will be of interest to the user;

generating, by the computer, the loadout object based on the portion of the gameplay; and

providing, by the computer, the loadout object for selection in association with the video game stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream comprises receiving the selection of the loadout object, the method further comprising:

matching, by the computer, the user into a multi-player game session that recreates the state of the gameplay, wherein the account of the user is debited based on matching the user into the multi-player game session; and

causing, by the computer, the user to be added to the multi-player game session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream comprises receiving the selection of the loadout object, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computer, a request to share the loadout object to a second user; and

providing, by the computer, the loadout object to the second user responsive to the request, wherein the account of the user is debited based on providing the loadout object to the second user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream comprises receiving the selection of the hotspot, the method further comprising:

identifying, by the computer, the virtual object associated with the hotspot, wherein the value relating to the recreation comprises a value of the virtual object; and

providing, by the computer, the virtual item in the playable recreation, wherein the virtual item is usable during gameplay of the playable recreation, and wherein the account of the user is debited based on providing the virtual object.

7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing, by the computer, in association with the video game stream, a second loadout object that specifies a second state of a second gameplay of the video game;

providing, by the computer, responsive to a selection of the second loadout object, a playable recreation of the second state of the second gameplay; and

debiting, by the computer, the account of the user based on providing the playable recreation of the second state of the second gameplay.

8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computer, the second loadout object from a second user; and

causing, by the computer, a second account of the second user to be debited in exchange for allowing the second user to generate and provide the second loadout object to the computer.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing, by the computer, at least one of the loadout object or the hotspot in one or more metadata tracks of the video game stream.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the account comprises a virtual currency account or a real currency account of the user.

11. A system for facilitating micro-transactions in video games based on video game streams for playback of gameplay of video games, the system comprising:

one or more physical processors programmed with one or more computer program instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more physical processors to;

generate a video game stream that includes a game log and a metadata track, wherein the game log specifies at least a first event that occurred during gameplay of a video game and information that indicates at least a first time in which the first event occurred during the gameplay, and the metadata track includes annotation content relating to the gameplay;

transmit the video game stream via a network to an end user device;

receive, from the end user device, a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream, wherein the loadout object specifies a state of the gameplay and the hotspot specifies a virtual object used during the gameplay;

provide a playable recreation of the state of the gameplay or the virtual object responsive to the selection; and

debit an account of a user associated with the end user device based on an amount of value relating to the playable recreation or the virtual object.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein to receive from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream, the one or more physical processors are caused to receive the selection of the loadout object, and wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

identify a virtual item used during the gameplay based on the loadout object, wherein the value relating to the recreation comprises a value of the virtual item; and

provide the virtual item in the playable recreation, wherein the virtual item is usable during gameplay of the playable recreation, and wherein the account of the user is debited based on providing the virtual item.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

predict a portion of the gameplay that will be of interest to the user;

generate the loadout object based on the portion of the gameplay; and

provide the loadout object for selection in association with the video game stream.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein to receive from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream, the one or more physical processors are caused to receive the selection of the loadout object, and wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

match the user into a multi-player game session that recreates the state of the gameplay, wherein the account of the user is debited based on matching the user into the multi-player game session; and

add the user to the multi-player game session.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein to receive from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream, the one or more physical processors are caused to receive the selection of the loadout object, and wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

receive a request to share the loadout object to a second user; and

provide the loadout object to the second user responsive to the request, wherein the account of the user is debited based on providing the loadout object to the second user.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein to receive from the end user device a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream, the one or more physical processors are caused to receive the selection of the hotspot, and wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

identify the virtual object associated with the hotspot, wherein the value relating to the recreation comprises a value of the virtual item; and

provide the virtual item in the playable recreation, wherein the virtual item is usable during gameplay of the playable recreation, and wherein the account of the user is debited based on providing the virtual object.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

provide in association with the video game stream, a second loadout object that specifies a second state of a second gameplay of the video game;

provide, responsive to a selection of the second loadout object, a playable recreation of the second state of the second gameplay; and

debit the account of the user based on providing the playable recreation of the second state of the second gameplay.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

receive the second loadout object from a second user; and

debit a second account of the second user in exchange for allowing the second user to generate and provide the second loadout object to the computer.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

provide at least one of the loadout object or the hotspot in one or more metadata tracks of the video game stream.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the account comprises a virtual currency account or a real currency account of the user.

21. A computer program product for facilitating micro-transactions in video games based on video game streams for playback of gameplay of video games, the computer program product comprising:

one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable tangible storage devices that, when executed, cause a computer to;

generate a video game stream that includes a game log and a metadata track, wherein the game log specifies at least a first event that occurred during gameplay of a video game and information that indicates at least a first time in which the first event occurred during the gameplay, and the metadata track includes annotation content relating to the gameplay;

transmit the video game stream via a network to an end user device;

receive, from the end user device, a selection of a loadout object associated with the video game stream or a hotspot associated with the video game stream, wherein the loadout object specifies a state of the gameplay and the hotspot specifies a virtual object used during the gameplay;

provide a playable recreation of the state of the gameplay or the virtual object responsive to the selection; and

debit an account of a user associated with the end user device based on an amount of value relating to the playable recreation or the virtual object.