Dynamic join/exit of players during play of console-based video game

• US 7,559,834 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: York, James R. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel; Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/307,628
• Time in Patent Office: 2,416 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/2, 463/5, 463/7, 463/25, 463 29- 32, 463 36- 39, 463 40- 42, 463 49- 57, 434 11- 24, 348/211.7, 348564-568, 348/588, 348/589, 700/83, 700/34, 700/85
• US Class Current: 463/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A squad-based shooter video game allows players to dynamically join and leave the game, while that game is in progress, without the players having to save and restart the game. When a new player joins an in-progress game, a new squad member is allocated to the new player and the screen is split to present a viewing panel for the new player that depicts scenes from the perspective of the new squad member. When an existing player leaves the game, the screen is unsplit to remove the viewing panel for the exiting player and that player'"'"'s squad member becomes part of the squad being controlled by the remaining player(s).

Claims

1. A method implemented at least in part by a computing device comprising:

facilitating play of a game played on the computing device, the computing device comprising a physical game console, by at least one existing player;

detecting, by a processor of the physical game console, while the existing player is playing the game, a join condition indicating that a new player would like to join in playing the game, wherein the join condition is generated as a result of the new player connecting a game controller to the physical game console;

upon the processor detecting the join condition, the processor automatically splitting an image displayed on a physical display to present multiple viewing panels such that the existing player views action through a first viewing panel and the new player views action through a second viewing panel; and

the processor facilitating play of the game by the existing player and the new player.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to splitting the image displayed on the physical display, further comprising the processor presenting on the physical display a join menu to indicate a new player is joining the game.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the game is a squad-based shooter game, further comprising the processor associating a first member from a squad with the existing player and associating a second member of the squad with the new player such that the existing and new players control different members of the squad.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the game is a squad-based shooter game in which a first squad of fighters enters combat against a second squad of fighters, further comprising the processor assigning control of the first squad to the existing player and assigning control of the second squad to the new player.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the processor detecting, while the existing and new players are playing the game, an exit condition indicating that one of the players is quitting play of the game; and

upon the processor detecting the exit condition, the processor automatically unsplitting the image displayed on the physical display to remove one of the first and second viewing panels associated with the player who quits play of the game.

6. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer comprising a physical game console, perform a method comprising:

facilitating play of a game played on the physical game console by at least one existing player;

detecting, by a processor of the physical game console, while the existing player is playing the game, a join condition indicating that a new player would like to join in playing the game, wherein the join condition is generated as a result of the new player connecting a game controller to the physical game console;

upon the processor detecting the join condition, the processor automatically splitting an image displayed on a physical display to present multiple viewing panels such that the existing player views action through a first viewing panel and the new player views action through a second viewing panel; and

the processor facilitating play of the game by the existing player and the new player.

7. A method comprising:

a processor of a physical game console facilitating play of a squad-based video game played on the physical game console where at least one existing player controls a first character from a squad of characters;

upon addition of a new player, the addition of the new player comprising connecting a game controller to the physical game console, the processor ascertaining a second character from the squad of characters that is not currently being controlled by another player and associating the second character with the new player so that the new player controls the second character while the existing player controls the first character; and

the processor automatically splitting an image displayed on a physical display to present multiple viewing panels including a first viewing panel for the existing player and a second viewing panel for the new player.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the associating comprises the processor automatically assigning the second character to the new player.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the processor detecting, while the existing player is playing the video game, a join condition indicating that the new player would like to join in playing the video game and the processor automatically allowing the new player to join in playing the video game while in progress without having to save and restart the video game.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the processor enabling the existing player to switch from controlling the first character to controlling a third character from the squad of characters.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the processor enabling the new player to switch from controlling the second character to controlling a third character from the squad of characters.

12. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the processor presenting a join menu on the physical display to indicate that the new player would like to join in playing the video game.

13. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the processor presenting a join menu on the physical display that enables the new player to select a pre-defined player identity profile.

14. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein remaining characters on the squad, which are not being controlled by the existing and new players, are controlled by the processor using artificial intelligence, the method further comprising:

the processor detecting, while the existing and new players are playing the squad-based video game, an exit condition indicating that one of the players is quitting play; and

upon the processor detecting the exit condition, the processor returning control of the character associated with the quitting player to the artificial intelligence.

15. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer comprising a physical game console, perform a method comprising:

facilitating play of a squad-based video game played on the physical game console where at least one existing player controls a first character from a squad of characters;

detecting, by a processor of the physical game console, while the existing player is playing the game, a join condition indicating that a new player would like to join in playing the game, wherein the join condition is generated as a result of the new player connecting a game controller to the physical game console, and upon the processor detecting the join condition;

the processor ascertaining a second character from the squad of characters that is not currently being controlled by another player and the processor associating the second character with the new player so that the new player controls the second character while the existing player controls the first character; and

the processor automatically splitting an image displayed on a physical display to present multiple viewing panels including a first viewing panel for the existing player and a second viewing panel for the new player.

16. A method comprising:

facilitating play of a third-person, squad-based shooter video game played on a physical game console by a first player, a first player controlling a squad of characters and viewing scenes from a perspective of a first character in the squad;

a processor of the physical game console detecting, while the first player is playing the squad-based shooter video game, a join condition indicating a second player would like to join in playing the squad-based shooter video game, wherein the join condition is generated by a controller being connected to the physical game console;

in response to the processor detecting the join condition and without causing the squad-based shooter video game to be saved and restarted, the processor ascertaining a second character from the squad of characters that is not currently being controlled by another player and the processor associating the second character with the second player so that the second player controls the second character while the first player controls the first character; and

the processor splitting an image displayed on a physical display to present multiple viewing panels such that the first player views the squad-based shooter video game through a first viewing panel from the perspective of the first character and the second player views the squad-based shooter video game through a second viewing panel from a perspective of the second character.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the associating comprises the processor automatically assigning the second character to the second player.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the processor enabling the first and second players to switch, independent of one another, from controlling the first and second characters, respectively, to controlling remaining characters in the squad.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the processor presenting on the physical display a join menu to indicate that the second player would like to join in playing the squad-based shooter video game.

20. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein remaining characters on the squad, which are not being controlled by the first and second players, are controlled by the processor using artificial intelligence, the method further comprising:

the processor detecting, while the first and second players are playing the squad-based shooter video game, an exit condition indicating that one of the players is quitting play;

upon the processor detecting the exit condition, the processor returning control of the character associated with the quitting player to the artificial intelligence; and

the processor unsplitting the image displayed on the physical display to remove one of the first and second viewing panels associated with the player who is quitting play.

21. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer comprising a physical game console, perform a method comprising:

facilitating by a processor of the physical game console play of a third-person, squad-based shooter video game played on the physical game console by a first player, the first player controlling a squad of characters and viewing scenes from a perspective of a first character in the squad;

the processor detecting, while the first player is playing the squad-based shooter video game, a join condition indicating a second player would like to join in playing the squad-based shooter video game, wherein the join condition is generated by a controller being connected to the physical game console;

in response to the processor detecting the join condition and without causing the squad-based shooter video game to be saved and restarted, the processor ascertaining a second character from the squad of characters that is not currently being controlled by another player and associating the second character with the second player so that the second player controls the second character while the first player controls the first character; and

the processor splitting an image displayed on a physical display to present multiple viewing panels such that the first player views the squad-based shooter video game through a first viewing panel from the perspective of the first character and the second player views the squad-based shooter video game through a second viewing panel from a perspective of the second character.

22. For use with a physical console-based video game system, a storage medium storing a squad-based shooter video game in which a first player controls a squad of characters, the squad-based shooter video game having instructions that, when executed by a processor of the video game system, performs acts comprising:

the processor monitoring for a condition indicating that a second player wishes to join the first player in playing the squad-based shooter video game while in progress;

upon the processor detecting a join condition, the processor presenting on a physical display a join menu and the processor automatically splitting an image displayed on a physical display to present multiple viewing panels such that the first player views action through a first viewing panel and the second player views action through a second viewing panel, wherein the join condition is generated by a controller being connected to the physical game console; and

the processor dynamically joining the second player to the squad-based shooter video game while in progress without having to save and restart the squad-based shooter video game.

23. A storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein the squad-based shooter video game has further instructions that, when executed by the processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising presenting a join menu on the physical display indicating that the new player wishes to join in playing the video game.

24. A storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein the squad-based shooter video game has further instructions that, when executed by the processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising the processor detecting when the second player quits playing the squad-based shooter video game and the processor dynamically removing the second player from the squad-based shooter video game while in progress without having to save and restart the video game.

25. A storage medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the squad-based shooter video game has further instructions that, when executed by the processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising:

when the second player joins, the processor splitting an image displayed on the physical display to provide first and second viewing panels, the first viewing panel being for the first player and the second viewing panel being for the second player; and

when the second player quits, the processor unsplitting the image displayed on the physical display to remove the second viewing panel.

26. For use with a physical console-based video game system, a storage medium storing a squad-based shooter video game in which individual players control a squad of characters, the squad-based shooter video game having instructions that, when executed by a processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising:

the processor associating a first character from the squad with a first player;

the processor enabling the first player to switch control from the first character to other characters in the squad;

the processor detecting, while the first player is playing the squad-based shooter video game, a join condition indicating a second player would like to join in playing the squad-based shooter video game, wherein the join condition is generated by a controller being connected to the physical game console;

the processor ascertaining a second character from the squad that is not currently being controlled by another player and the processor associating the second character from the squad with the second player;

the processor splitting an image displayed on a physical display by presenting multiple viewing panels such that the first player views the squad-based shooter video game through a first viewing panel from a perspective of the first character and the second player views the squad-based shooter video game through a second viewing panel from a perspective of the second character; and

the processor enabling the first and second players to switch control from the first and second characters, respectively, to other characters in the squad.

27. A storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the squad-based shooter video game has further instructions that, when executed by the processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising:

the processor detecting addition of a third player while the first and second players are playing the squad-based shooter video game;

the processor associating a third character from the squad with the third player; and

the processor splitting an image displayed on the physical display by presenting three viewing panels such that the first player views the squad-based shooter video game through a first viewing panel from a perspective of the first character, the second player views the squad-based shooter video game through a second viewing panel from a perspective of the second character, and the third player views the squad-based shooter video game through a third viewing panel from a perspective of the third character.

28. A storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the squad-based shooter video game has further instructions that, when executed by the processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising:

the processor detecting addition of a fourth player while the first, second, and third players are playing the squad-based shooter video game;

the processor associating a fourth character from the squad with the fourth player; and

the processor splitting an image displayed on the physical display by presenting four viewing panels such that the first player views the squad-based shooter video game through a first viewing panel from a perspective of the first character, the second player views the squad-based shooter video game through a second viewing panel from a perspective of the second character, the third player views the squad-based shooter video game through a third viewing panel from a perspective of the third character, and the fourth player views the squad-based shooter video game through a fourth viewing panel from a perspective of the fourth character.

29. For use with a physical console-based video game system, a storage medium storing a squad-based video game in which individual players control a squad of N characters, the squad-based video game having instructions that, when executed by a processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising:

the processor detecting addition of an Nth+1 player after N players have begun playing the squad-based video game by detecting that a controller has been connected to the video game system;

the processor associating the Nth+1 player with a generic squad member independent of the N characters in the squad; and

the processor splitting an image displayed on a physical display by presenting N+1 viewing panels such that each player views the squad-based video game through a corresponding viewing panel from perspectives of the N characters and the generic squad member.

30. A storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the squad-based video game has further instructions that, when executed the processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising the processor detecting when one of the players quits playing the squad-based video game and the processor presenting an image displayed on the physical display having N viewing panels, omitting an Nth+1 viewing panel associated with said one player who quits.

31. A storage medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the squad-based video game has further instructions that, when executed by the processor of the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising the processor reassociating the Nth+1 player with a character previously associated with said one player who quits and removing the generic squad member.

32. A storage medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the squad-based video game has further instructions that, when executed the video game system, the processor performs acts comprising the processor detecting when another one of the players quits playing the squad-based video game and the processor returning control of the character associated with said another player who quits to artificial intelligence implemented in the squad-based video game.