Video game methods and systems

• US 7,677,974 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/368,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 463 20- 25, 463/29, 705/1
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• 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 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

The disclosure provides novel video game methods and systems. The disclosure includes methods and systems: for forming relationships between player characters, to allow for karma points, death, and reincarnation of player characters, for inheritance between player characters, to allow a game that progresses in eras, that allow reverse outcomes of game parameters, to create in-game objects from digital images of real life objects, to provide inventory management of in-game items and attributes, to facilitate favors between player characters, and to allow for genetic crossbreeding of parents to form children.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer, the method comprising:

retrieving, by a Video Game Central Server, a plurality of player attributes;

determining, by the Video Game Central Server, if the plurality of player attributes qualify for a relationship;

if attributes qualify for a relationship, flagging, by the Video Game Central Server, character account as eligible for a relationship;

outputting, by the Video Game Central Server, relationship availability to player character;

retrieving, by the Video Game Central Server, a request to form a relationship contract;

outputting, by the Video Game Central Server, relationship contract parameters;

receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, relationship contract conditions;

creating, by the Video Game Central Server, a new relationship contract record based on relationship contract conditions;

receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, a request to sever the relationship contract;

determining, by the Video Game Central Server, if the request is permitted based upon relationship contract conditions; and

severing, by the Video Game Central Server, the relationship if the request is permitted.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising;

outputting, by the Video Game Central Server, additional conditions that must be met in order for the relationship to be severed if the request is not permitted.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving, by the Video Game Central Server, a relationship contract;

determining, by the Video Game Central Server, if contract is eligible to be severed;

outputting, by the Video Game Central Server, an offer to sever contract to player characters;

severing, by the Video Game Central Server, the contract if the offer is accepted; and

updating, by the Video Game Central Server, a relationship contract record to reflect the severed contract.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, an indication that a player character desires to enter into a parent-child contract; and

determining, by the Video Game Central Server, if a child relationship contract is available for the player character.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising outputting, by the Video Game Central Server, an available parent-child contract.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, an acceptance of the parent-child contract.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising generating, by the Video Game Central Server, a genetic profile of the child player character based on part on the genetic profile of at least one parent player character.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising creating, by the Video Game Central Server, a child player character with the generated genetic profile of the child.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor;

in which the computer readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to perform a method that includes

retrieving a plurality of player attributes;

determining if the plurality of player attributes qualify for a relationship;

if attributes qualify for a relationship, flagging character account as eligible for a relationship;

outputting relationship availability to player character;

retrieving a request to form a relationship contract;

outputting relationship contract parameters;

receiving relationship contract conditions;

creating a new relationship contract record based on relationship contract conditions;

receiving a request to sever the relationship contract;

determining if the request is permitted based upon relationship contract conditions; and

severing the relationship if the request is permitted.