Scoring based upon goals achieved and subjective elements

• US 6,604,008 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chudley, Martyn Richard, Chudley, Sarah C., Snape, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marks, Christina M.
• Application Number:
  US09/877,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 700/91, 700/92, 700/93, 463/7, 463/23, 463/1
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation

Abstract

A scoring method and system for determining points in a game. Goal-based points are determined as a function of a player achieving a goal set by the player that is not predefined by the game and are used to determine the player'"'"'s status in the game, such as whether the player advances to a next level. Subjective style points are awarded if the player performs feats of style that are not necessary tasks of the game, depend upon the type of game, and may include sliding, spinning, jumping, blocking an opponent, passing an opponent, and avoiding obstacles. Objective skill points may be combined with subjective style points and goal-based points. Alternatively, one of these three types of points may be modified as a function of one or both of the other two types of points.

Claims

1. A method of awarding points to a player in a game played using an electronic device that determines points awarded to each player, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a player to set a goal for performance in the game;

(b) determining a number of goal-based points applied by the electronic device for determining a status of the player in the game, as a function of the player'"'"'s performance in relation to the goal set by the player; and

(c) determining subjective points applied by the electronic device in determining the status of the player in the game, as a function of the player'"'"'s performance as measured against a subjective criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining objective points applied by the electronic device in determining the status of the player in the game, as a function of the player'"'"'s performance as measured against an objective criterion, the status of the player in the game being based upon a total of the goal-based, subjective, and objective points awarded to the player in the game.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of deducting a number of points equal to a sum of the objective points and the subjective points, thereby canceling out the objective points and the subjective points, if the player fails to achieve the goal set by the player.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of determining a rating of the player'"'"'s performance on a fixed scale as a function of the total of the goal-based, subjective, and objective points.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of enabling the player to advance to another level if the rating meets a predetermined threshold on the fixed scale.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining subjective points comprises the step of awarding points as a function of a player'"'"'s performance of a feat of style that is not a necessary task of the game.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the feat of style includes one of power sliding, spinning, driving on two wheels, jumping into the air, blocking an opponent, avoiding obstacles, passing an opponent, somersaulting, twirling a weapon, and shooting backwards.

8. A game comprising:

(a) a goal selector enabling a player to indicate a goal for a level of performance that the player expects to achieve during the game;

(b) a goal point counter that determines a number of goal-based points that will be awarded to the player as a function of the performance of the player in relation to achieving the goal indicated by the player; and

(c) a subjective point counter that determines a number of subjective points that are awarded to a player for performing at least one action that is not an objective task of the game.

9. An electronic game system that enables a player to earn points at least in part as a function of successfully achieving a goal for a level of performance set by the player, comprising:

(a) an input device that enables a player to control a simulated player in a simulated game environment;

(b) a processor coupled to the input device;

(c) a display coupled to the processor for displaying the actions of the simulated player in the simulated game environment; and

(d) a memory coupled to the processor that stores machine instructions causing the processor to;

(i) enable a player to set the goal for the level of performance in the game;

(ii) determine a number of goal-based points that will be awarded to a player in determining a status of a player in the game, as a function of a performance of a player in relation to the goal set by a player; and

(iii) determine subjective points that will be awarded to a player in determining the status of a player in the game, as a function of a style performance of a player as measured against a predetermined subjective criterion.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to determine objective points in determining the status of a player in the game, based upon whether a player successfully performs an objective task in the game, the status of a player in the game being a function of the goal-based, subjective, and objective points awarded to a player in the game.

11. A method of determining points awarded to a player in a game, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the player to set a goal of performance in the game;

(b) awarding points to the player as a function of the player successfully performing a subjective style feat; and

(c) modifying the points that are awarded to the player in step (b) as a function of the performance of the player in relation to achieving the goal set by the player.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of modifying the points as a function of the player completing both an objective skill task and the subjective style feat.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of enabling the player to set the goal comprises the step of enabling the player to establish a time within which the player will complete a task in the game.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of enabling the player to set a goal comprises the step of enabling the player to indicate a minimum number of points that the player expects accumulate in at least a portion of the game.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling the player to gamble that the player will achieve the goal of performance that the player set.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if the player has gambled and is successful in achieving the goal of performance, further comprising the step of awarding more points to the player than would be awarded if the player had not gambled.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of enabling the player to gamble comprises the step of deducting at least some points previously awarded to the player for failure by the player to achieve the goal of performance set by the player.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein an objective skill task is an undertaking that must be achieved by the player to complete a current stage in the game.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a success of the player in achieving the undertaking is determined based on one of an elapsed time, a distance achieved, a speed achieved, a position achieved, a relative position achieved, and one or more subtasks achieved by the player.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein a subjective style feat is an act that is unnecessary to complete an objective skill task of the game.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the act is performed in the course of completing an objective skill task of the game.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the act is accomplished by one of:

(a) executing a trick; and

(b) performing the act in a manner that substantially exceeds a defined level of performance.