Networked computer game system with persistent playing objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of processing devices, at least first and second ones of said processing devices including an associated display;
a network interconnecting said processing devices;
a first game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said first game program having at least a first playing object having at least one attribute, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object;
a second game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said second game program having at least a second playing object having at least one attribute, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object; and
a mapping function, at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, for mapping attributes of said first playing object in said first game to said second playing object in said second game, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects.
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Abstract
The mapping of playing objects from one game to another. In one embodiment, generic attributes of an object may be mapped to game-specific attributes. The mapping may either change or maintain the look and feel of an object. For example, a fast but lightly-armed starship in one game may be mapped to a quick but weak warrior in another game.
738 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of processing devices, at least first and second ones of said processing devices including an associated display; a network interconnecting said processing devices; a first game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said first game program having at least a first playing object having at least one attribute, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; a second game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said second game program having at least a second playing object having at least one attribute, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object; and a mapping function, at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, for mapping attributes of said first playing object in said first game to said second playing object in said second game, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A game program stored on processing device readable medium for execution by a processing device with an associated display to perform a game, comprising:
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a first group of game instructions for manipulating a first playing object having at least one attribute, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; and a second group of mapping instructions for mapping attributes of a second input playing object having at least one attribute to attributes of said first playing object, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processing device having an associated display; a memory associated with said processing device, said memory storing a representation of at least a first object with a plurality of attributes, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; a mapping function for mapping at least one attribute of said fist object to an attribute of a second object having at least one attribute different from said plurality of attributes, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second paying object having a look and feel or said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects; and a program for using said second playing object. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing a game capable of being played over a network with processing devices having associated displays; providing a first playing object with a plurality of attributes, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first;
laying object; andmapping at least one attribute of a second playing object associated with a game not associated with said first playing object, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification