System and method for enhancing the experience of participant in a massively multiplayer game
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for enhancing the experience of a first player controlling a first avatar in a computer game by causing a speaker to play a theme, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) causing a processor to determine a context for the first avatar based on a first avatar'"'"'s location in a virtual world;
(b) causing a processor to select a groove level responsive to characteristics of the first avatar'"'"'s virtual location, wherein the groove level is indicative of one of an excitement and a tension level;
(c) causing a processor to play, at a non-zero output level, through a speaker, a background theme based on the first avatar'"'"'s location and the selected groove level;
(d) causing a processor to receive first instructions from the first player, the first instructions causing the first avatar to play a first melody, the first melody being chosen by the first player from among a plurality of available melodies;
(e) causing a processor to receive second instructions from a second player, the second instructions causing a second avatar to play a second melody, the second melody being chosen by the second player; and
(f) causing a processor to transform the first melody in response to the background theme and to the second melody by carrying out one of melody transposition and tempo matching.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for transforming music played by characters, objects and non-player characters in order to produce an enhanced audio experience for players within a massively multiplayer game.
350 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for enhancing the experience of a first player controlling a first avatar in a computer game by causing a speaker to play a theme, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) causing a processor to determine a context for the first avatar based on a first avatar'"'"'s location in a virtual world; (b) causing a processor to select a groove level responsive to characteristics of the first avatar'"'"'s virtual location, wherein the groove level is indicative of one of an excitement and a tension level; (c) causing a processor to play, at a non-zero output level, through a speaker, a background theme based on the first avatar'"'"'s location and the selected groove level; (d) causing a processor to receive first instructions from the first player, the first instructions causing the first avatar to play a first melody, the first melody being chosen by the first player from among a plurality of available melodies; (e) causing a processor to receive second instructions from a second player, the second instructions causing a second avatar to play a second melody, the second melody being chosen by the second player; and (f) causing a processor to transform the first melody in response to the background theme and to the second melody by carrying out one of melody transposition and tempo matching. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for enhancing the experience of a first player participating in a computer game, the system comprising:
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a context module for receiving, as input, coordinates specifying the location of a first avatar in a world, the first avatar being controlled by the first player, and for determining a context for the first avatar based on the coordinates; a groove module for selecting a groove level based on the number of other avatars present in the first avatar'"'"'s context and the number of non-avatar characters present in the first avatar'"'"'s context, wherein the groove level is indicative of one of an excitement and a tension level; a background theme database for storing a plurality of background themes; and a sound output module for selecting one of the plurality of background themes based on the first avatar'"'"'s context and the groove level; wherein the system is configured to transform a first melody played by the first avatar in response to both the selected background theme a second melody played by a second avatar, wherein transformation of the first melody is carried out by one of melody transposition and tempo matching. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-implemented method for allowing two or more players controlling corresponding avatars in a computer game to participate in a game'"'"'s musical environment by causing a speaker to play a background theme, the method comprising:
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causing a processor to select a groove level responsive to characteristics of the avatars'"'"' virtual locations, wherein the groove level is indicative of one of an excitement and a tension level; causing a processor to play, at a non-zero output level, through a speaker, a background theme based on the avatars'"'"' location and the selected groove level; causing a processor to receive, from the players, instructions for causing their corresponding avatars to each selectively generate a sound; and causing a processor to cause the selectively generated sounds to transform in response to each other and in response to the background theme wherein the transformation is carried out by one of melody transposition and tempo matching. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon software for enhancing the experience of a first player controlling a first avatar in a computer game, said software comprising instructions for:
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(a) determining a context for the first avatar based on a first avatar'"'"'s location in a virtual world; (b) selecting a groove level responsive to characteristics of the first avatar'"'"'s virtual location, wherein the groove level is indicative of one of an excitement and a tension level; (c) playing, at a non-zero output level, a background theme based on the first avatar'"'"'s location and the selected groove level; (d) receiving first instructions from the first player, the first instructions causing the first avatar to play a first melody, the first melody being chosen by the first player from among a plurality of available melodies; (e) receiving second instructions from a second player, the second instructions causing a second avatar to play a second melody, the second melody being chosen by the second player; and (f) transforming the first melody in response to the background theme and to the second melody by carrying out one of melody transposition and tempo matching.
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40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon software for allowing two or more players controlling corresponding avatars in a computer game to participate in a game'"'"'s musical environment, said software comprising instructions for:
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selecting a groove level responsive to characteristics of the avatars'"'"' virtual locations, wherein the groove level is indicative of one of an excitement and a tension level; playing, at a non-zero output level, a background theme based on the avatars'"'"' location and the selected groove level; receiving, from the players, instructions for causing their corresponding avatars to each selectively generate a sound; and causing the selectively generated sounds to transform in response to each other and in response to the background theme by carrying out one of melody transposition and tempo matching.
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Specification