Squad vs. squad video game

• US 7,789,741 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fields, Timothy V., York, James R. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US10/377,385
• Time in Patent Office: 2,748 Days
• Field of Search: 463/2
• 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 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• 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 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• 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 versus squad shooter video game receives input from one or more players via their respective use of controllers in communication with one or more console-based video game systems. The input from each controller is interpreted as a command to a squad in a competition against one or more other squads that are respectively commanded by one or more players via their respective use of controllers. Each squad includes a plurality of characters. Each player is assigned to one of the squads. Actions of each character in the video game are a function of commands given to that character by one of the players. Players can join or exit their assigned squad during game play.

Claims

1. For use with one or more console-based video game systems, a storage medium storing a squad-based shooter video game having instructions that, when executed on the one or more video game systems, cause the one or more console-based video game systems to perform acts comprising:

receiving input from one or more players via their respective use of controllers in communication with one or more console-based video game systems;

interpreting the input from each controller as a command to a squad in a competition against one or more other squads that are respectively commanded by one or more players via their respective use of controllers, wherein;

each squad includes a plurality of characters, the plurality of characters including a predetermined number of predefined characters;

input from each of the one or more players is assigned to one of the squads; and

action of each character in the video game is a function of one or more commands given to that character by one of the one or more players;

while any player is actively commanding a squad, generating a join condition within the video game as a result of a new player connecting a game controller to the video game system running the squad-based shooter video game; and

upon the new player joining the squad-based shooter video game, automatically generating a generic fighter to be directly controlled by the new player when it is determined that the predefined characters are being controlled by other players and when it is determined that dead predefined characters cannot be re-generated.

2. The storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the acts further comprise:

detecting, while any player is actively commanding a squad within the squad-based shooter video game, an exit condition indicating that that one of the players is quitting play of the squad-based shooter video game; and

upon detecting the exit condition;

determining the existence of a first condition or a second condition, wherein;

the first condition occurs, where the exiting player is the only player commanding the squad to which the exiting player is assigned; and

the second condition occurs when the other input from the players are also assigned to command the squad to which the exiting player'"'"'s input is assigned;

if the existence of the first condition is determined, then determining if the assigned squad of the exiting player'"'"'s input is to be;

extinguished from the playing the squad-based shooter video game;

or

controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) rather than by any player;

if the existence of the second condition is determined, then associating a character to which the exiting player'"'"'s input was associated to another player'"'"'s input that is assigned to the same squad as the exiting player; and

eliminating a viewing panel of the exiting player.

3. The storage medium as defined in claim 2, wherein the exit condition is generated as a result of the exiting player disconnecting a game controller from a video game system running the squad-based shooter video game.

4. The storage medium as defined in claim 2, wherein the exit condition is generated as a result of the disconnection of a video game system running the squad-based shooter video game from another video game system running the squad-based shooter video game.

5. A storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein each player can provide input via their respective controller to:

directly command one character on their input'"'"'s assigned squad; and

indirectly command all of the characters on the their input'"'"'s assigned squad that are not be directly commanded by another player, wherein any indirect command is interpreted by artificial intelligence (AI) to control any action of the indirectly commanded characters.

6. A storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein each player can provide input via their respective controller to directly command one character on their input'"'"'s assigned squad to engage in combat with a correspondingly directly commanded character of another squad.

7. A storage medium as recited in claim 6, wherein, during combat, each player can see a display that includes the directly commanded character of another squad.

8. A storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein any action of any character in the video game is a function of input from one player via a respective controller.

9. A storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein any action of any character in the video game is a function of a specific command individually given directly to the character by one player.

10. A storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein each player'"'"'s input:

is assigned to one squad such that the player can control and give commands to the characters thereof;

directly commands one character on their input'"'"'s assigned squad and sees a display of a first or third person view corresponding to directly commanded character; and

can give commands to any character of their input'"'"'s assigned squad that is not being directly command another player.

11. A storage medium as recited in claim 10, wherein each player can provide input via their respective controller to enter into a player versus player mode during which their directly commanded character on their input'"'"'s assigned squad engages in combat with the directly commanded character of another squad.

12. A storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein during the player versus player mode, each player can see a viewing panel that includes a display of the directly commanded character of another squad.

13. A storage medium as recited in claim 10, wherein each player can provide input via their respective controller to enter into a player versus player mode during which each player can see the directly commanded character of another squad.

14. A storage medium as recited in claim 10, wherein each player can provide input via their respective controller to enter into a player versus AI mode during which their directly commanded character on their input'"'"'s assigned squad engages in combat with one or more characters of another squad that are not being directly commanded.

15. A storage medium as recited in claim 14, wherein during the player versus AI mode, each player can see the one or more characters of another squad that are not being directly commanded.

16. A storage medium as recited in claim 10, wherein each player can provide input via their respective controller to enter into a player versus AI mode during which the player can see a display of one or more characters of another squad that are not being directly commanded.

17. A storage medium as recited in claim 10, wherein each player can provide command switching input via their respective controller so as to directly command another character on their input'"'"'s assigned squad and see a display of a first or third person view corresponding thereto, wherein the another character was not being directly commanded by another player'"'"'s input.

18. A storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein each player can give simultaneous commands to a plurality of characters of their input'"'"'s assigned squad.

19. A storage medium as recited in claim 1, wherein:

each controller that is in communication with the one or more console-based video game systems comprises a unitary housing that includes one or more input mechanisms useable by one player to make input to the squad-based shooter video game being executed on the one or more video game systems; and

the input mechanisms are selected from the group consisting of one or more joysticks, one or more surface buttons, one or more triggers, and a combination of the foregoing.

20. For use with one or more console-based video game systems, a storage medium storing a squad-based shooter video game having instructions that, when executed on the one or more video game systems, performs acts comprising:

receiving input from one or more players via their respective use of controllers in communication with one or more console-based video game systems; and

interpreting the input from each controller as a command to a squad in a competition against one or more other squads that are respectively commanded by one or more players via their respective use of controllers, wherein;

each squad includes a plurality of characters, the plurality of characters including a predetermined number of predefined characters;

input from each of the one or more players is assigned to one of the squads; and

action of each character in the video game is a function of one or more commands given to that character by one of the one or more players;

detecting, while any player'"'"'s input is actively commanding a squad in the squad-based shooter video game, a join condition indicating that a new player would like to join in playing the squad-based shooter video game; and

upon detecting the join condition;

determining whether the new player'"'"'s input is to form a new squad or to control an existing member of an actively commanded squad, wherein each existing player can either allow or disallow the new player to form a new squad;

providing a screen display such that each of the new player and the other players view action through different, respective viewing panels;

facilitating play of the squad-based shooter video game by the new player and the other players with the respective squads that they command; and

automatically generating a generic fighter to be directly controlled by the new player when it is determined that the predefined characters are being controlled by other players and when it is determined that dead predefined characters cannot be re-generated.

21. The storage medium as defined in claim 20, wherein the join condition is generated as a result of a video game system running the squad-based shooter video game being connected by the new player to another video game system running the squad-based shooter video game.

22. The storage medium as defined in claim 21, wherein the connection of the video game system to the another video game system is selected from the group consisting of:

an electrical cable that is connected to each video game system; and

a network with which each video game system is in communication.

23. The storage medium as defined in claim 20, wherein the acts further comprise, prior to the providing a screen display, presenting a join menu to indicate a new player is joining the game.

24. The storage medium as defined in claim 20, wherein the acts further comprise, when it is determined that the new player is to join an existing squad, associating a first character from one squad with the input from the one player and associating a second character of the one squad with the input from the new player such that each player controls one different character of the squad.

25. The storage medium as defined in claim 20, wherein the acts further comprise, when it is determined that the new player is to form a new squad, assigning one of the new squad of characters to the input from the new player.

26. A video game console system, comprising:

means for executing a video game;

means for receiving input from one or more players to the video game;

means for interpreting the input as a respective command from a respective player;

means for applying each command to a squad in a competition against one or more other squads that are respectively commanded by one or more players via their respective use of the means for receiving input, wherein;

each squad includes a plurality of characters, the plurality of characters including a predetermined number of predefined characters;

input from each of the plurality of players is assigned to one squad; and

action of each character in the video game is a function of a command given to that character by one player;

means for generating a join condition as a result of a second video game console system running the video game being physically connected to a first video game console system running the video game using an electrical cable to make the physical connection, wherein the join condition is generated while input from a player is actively controlling at least one character of the one squad; and

means for automatically generating a generic fighter to be directly controlled by a new player when it is determined that the predefined characters are being controlled by other players and when it is determined that dead predefined characters cannot be re-generated.

27. The video game console system as defined in claim 26, further comprising:

means for detecting, while any player'"'"'s input is actively controlling at least one character of one squad of the video game, a join condition indicating that a new player would like to join in playing the video game; and

means, upon detecting the join condition, for;

determining whether input from the new player is to form a new squad or join an existing squad;

providing a screen display such that each of the new player and the other players view action through different, respective viewing panels; and

facilitating play of the video game by the new player and the other players with the respective squads that input commands.

28. The video game console system as defined in claim 27, wherein the join condition is generated as a result of the new player connecting a game controller to a video game system running the video game.

29. The video game console system as defined in claim 27, further comprising means, prior to the providing a screen display, for presenting a join menu to indicate a new player is joining the game.

30. The video game console system as defined in claim 27, further comprising means, when it is determined that the new player is to join an existing squad, for associating a first character from one squad with input from one player and associating a second character of the one squad with input from the new player such that each player'"'"'s input controls one different character of the squad.

31. The video game console system as defined in claim 27, further comprising means, when it is determined that the new player is to form a new squad, for assigning of the new squad of characters to the input from the new player.

32. The video game console system as defined in claim 26, further comprising means for:

detecting, while any player is playing the video game, an exit condition indicating that that one of the players is quitting play of the video game; and

upon detecting the exit condition;

determining the existence of a first condition or a second condition, wherein;

the first condition occurs, where the exiting player is the only player commanding the squad to which the exiting player'"'"'s input is assigned; and

the second condition occurs when the other players'"'"' inputs are also assigned to command the squad to which the exiting player'"'"'s input is assigned;

if the existence of the first condition is determined, then determining if the assigned squad of the exiting player'"'"'s input is to be;

extinguished from the playing the video game;

or

controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) rather than by any player;

if the existence of the second condition is determined, then associating a character to which the exiting player'"'"'s input was associated to another player'"'"'s input that is assigned to the same squad as the exiting player; and

eliminating a viewing panel of the exiting player.

33. The video game console system as defined in claim 32, wherein the exit condition is generated as a result of the exiting player disconnecting a game controller from a video game system running the video game.

34. The video game console system as defined in claim 32, wherein the exit condition is generated as a result of the disconnection of a video game system running the video game from another video game system running the video game.

35. A video game console system as recited in claim 26, wherein the means for interpreting and the means for applying comprise artificial intelligence (AI).

36. A video game console system as recited in claim 26, wherein each player can give simultaneous commands to a plurality of characters of their input'"'"'s assigned squad.