Massively multiplayer educational online role playing game

• US 8,016,678 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trion World ABC LLC
• Original Assignee: Gazillion, Inc. (Samarion SE)
• Inventors: Hutter, Robert, Devaney, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myhr; Justin
• Application Number:
  US11/285,896
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/9, 434/128, 434/322, 434/350
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• 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 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 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A massively multiplayer educational online game presents a computer generated gameplay world where acquiring and demonstrating mastery of educational skills is a requirement for survival and advancement of a learner'"'"'s game character. The game provides a method for effectively teaching a set of target educational skills by motivating the learner to improved understanding of the skills by having to demonstrate the skills as part of the game. The skills become immediately meaningful and relevant to the learner within the game itself, as feedback on skill understanding is provided directly, indirectly, or both directly and indirectly through game performance, motivating the learner to improve understanding of the skills.

Claims

1. A method of providing a massive multiplayer educational role playing game to a learner comprising:

a. connecting a learner'"'"'s computer to a learner connection containing a learner profile and a billing system;

b. validating the learner'"'"'s credit;

c. updating the learner'"'"'s profile for game access;

d. selecting a multiplicity of target education skills;

e. providing the learner one or more persistent characters used in the game with a starting character game level;

f. using an activity module to provide a multiplicity of activities;

g. requiring demonstration of target education skills in a first group of activities to provide the character a PGO;

h. varying the type of PGO provided in first group activities dependent on errors in demonstration of target education skills;

i. providing a second group of activities without target education skills;

j. arranging the activity module to require a predetermined type and amount of PGO'"'"'s produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity;

k. updating the learner'"'"'s profile upon successful completion of activities for demonstration of target education skills; and

l. charging the learner'"'"'s credit card on a periodic basis whereby for a payment of money, a learner is motivated by indirect feedback to learn target education skills.

2. The method of providing the game as in claim 1 where the variation in type of PGO in item h is modified by:

a. providing a tutorial in first group activities to assist the learner in demonstrating target education skills;

b. relating use of the tutorial to an error in target education skill demonstration;

c. providing an unvarying type of PGO when a target education skill error is made.

3. The method of providing the game as in claim 1 further comprising enabling a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s, whereby required objects are obtained by exchange.

4. The method of providing the game as in claim 3 further comprising providing activities that provide a community inventory.

5. The method of providing the game as in claim 1 further comprising providing PGO enhancements in first group activities where the activity module requires a predetermined type and amount of PGO'"'"'s and PGO enhancements produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity.

6. The method of providing the game as in claim 5 further comprising enabling a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s and PGO enhancements whereby the required object is obtained by exchange.

7. The method of providing the game as in claim 6 further comprising providing activities that provide a community inventory.

8. The method of providing the game as in claim 5 further comprising providing PGO enhancements with variable performance characteristics in first group activities where the activity module also requires a predetermined performance characteristic PGO enhancement produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity.

9. The method of providing the game as in claim 8 further comprising enabling a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s, PGO enhancements, and PGO enhancements with variable performance characteristics whereby the required object is obtained by exchange.

10. The method of providing the game as in claim 9 further comprising providing activities that provide a community inventory.

11. The method of providing the game as in claim 8 further comprising providing character enhancements with variable performance characteristics in first group activities where the activity module also requires a predetermined performance characteristic character enhancement produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity.

12. The method of providing the game as in claim 11 further comprising enabling a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s, PGO enhancements, character enhancements, PGO enhancements with variable performance characteristics, and character enhancements with variable performance characteristics whereby the required object is obtained by exchange.

13. The method of providing the game as in claim 1 further comprising providing character enhancements in first group activities where the activity module requires a predetermined type and amount of PGO'"'"'s, PGO enhancements, and character enhancements produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity.

14. The method of providing the game as in claim 13 further comprising enabling a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s, PGO enhancements, and character enhancements whereby the required object is obtained by exchange.

15. The method of providing the game as in claim 14 further comprising providing activities that provide a community inventory.

16. A system for motivating learner success in target education skill practice when playing a massive multiplayer educational role playing game from a server communicated through a learner connection to a learner'"'"'s control module comprising:

a. a multiplicity of characters such that each learner controls one or more persistent characters,

b. the characters arranged such that they exist under the learner control during multiple sessions of game play;

c. an activity module arranged to provide a multiplicity of activities;

d. a multiplicity of target education skills chosen based on the learners educational attainment;

e. the activities arranged in a first group including a target education skill practice and a second group without the target education skill practice;

f. a character level system arranged to accumulate the experience and accomplishments of the character by allocating an experience point value when the character successfully completes a game activity;

g. a character profile that is translated to a learner profile representing progress in mastery of the target educational skills;

h. the character profile containing a profile of character game experiences including experience points;

i. the activities in the first group arranged to give the character a possession chosen from the group consisting of craft object and craft object enhancement with a variable appearance; and

j. the activities in the second group arranged to show one or more possessions with a variable appearance wherein the learner is motivated by indirect feedback to succeed in target education skill practice by the desire to display attractive character possessions.

17. The system as in claim 16 further comprising one or more communities with a multiple character community inventory such that first and second group activities are played in each community wherein the learner is motivated to succeed in target education skill practice to advance the community in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

18. The system as in claim 17 further comprising:

a. a multiplicity of professions arranged such that the learner chooses a profession for each character;

b. selected community activities arranged such that one or more characters participates in activities in a manner associated with the character'"'"'s profession;

c. selected group one activities arranged to provide a character with a profession-associated possession chosen from the group consisting of PGO, PGO attribute, and character attribute; and

d. one or more party, group, and community multi-character activities arranged to require one or more profession-associated possessions for successful completion of the activity, wherein the learner is provided motivation to succeed in target education skill practice to advance the character in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

19. The system as in claim 16 further comprising one or more domains arranged such that first and second group activities with thematically similar elements are played in each domain wherein the learner is motivated to succeed in target education skill practice to continue game play in another domain.

20. The system as in claim 19 further comprising in each domain, the activity module with a predetermined experience point value of first group activities in the domain required to successfully complete a second group activity in the domain wherein the learner is motivated to succeed in target education skill practice in order to complete second group activities in the second domain to advance the character in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

21. The system as in claim 19 further comprising a first domain and a second domain, the activity module with a predetermined experience point value of first group activities in the second domain required to successfully complete a second group activity in the second domain wherein the learner is motivated to succeed in target education skill practice in order to complete second group activities in the second domain to advance the character in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

22. The system as in claim 16 further comprising the activity module with a predetermined experience point value of first group activities required to successfully complete a second group activity wherein the learner is motivated to succeed in target education skill practice in order to complete second group activities to advance the character in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

23. The system as in claim 16 further comprising:

a. a character inventory that is arranged to record character possessions;

b. selected activities in the first group arranged to provide a character inventory with a possession chosen from the group consisting of PGO, PGO attribute, and character attribute; and

c. one or more possessions required in the character inventory for successful completion of selected second group activities wherein the learner is motivated to succeed in target education skill practice in order to advance the character in the game and to produce a favorable learner profile.

24. The system as in claim 16 further comprising:

a. a character inventory that is arranged to record character possessions;

b. selected activities in the first group arranged to provide a character inventory with one or more possessions with a variable performance attribute, the attribute improving with fewer errors in the skill practice; and

c. activities in the second group arranged to require one or more possessions with a selected minimum performance attribute to succeed in the activity wherein the learner is provided motivation to succeed in target education skill practice to advance the character in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

25. A system for educating multiple learners comprising:

a. a massive multiplayer role playing game server arranged with an activity module;

b. a multiplicity of learner control interfaces;

c. a communications means between the learner control interfaces and the game server;

d. the game server arranged to provide each learner one or more characters arranged with a character inventory containing possessions;

e. the activity module arranged with one or more first-type activities demonstrating one or more target education skills, and with one or more second-type activities without target education skills;

f. one or more first type activities performance arranged to award one or more of multiple character possessions used in one or more second type activities; and

g. a feedback means to each learner on target education skill demonstration errors arranged such that fewer errors in demonstration of target education skill activities provide the indirect feedback of increases in the number of available second type activities whereby each learner is motivated to learn education skills.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising a second feedback means arranged such that direct feedback is provided on errors in demonstration of target education skills.

27. The system of claim 26 where the feedback is varied including direct feedback, indirect feedback and both direct and indirect feedback.

28. The system of claim 25 further comprising-feedback means to each learner on target education skill demonstration errors arranged such that possessions used in second type activities have a degraded appearance with increasing errors.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising providing activities that provide a community inventory.

30. The system as in claim 29 further comprising a character object exchange arranged such that a character obtains a possession using a second possession from the community inventory.

31. The system of claim 25 further comprising a feedback means to each learner on target education skill demonstration errors arranged such that character possessions used in second type activities have a degraded performance with increasing errors.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising providing activities that provide a community inventory.

33. The system as in claim 32 further comprising a character object exchange arranged such that a character obtains a possession using a second possession from the community inventory.

34. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

a. means for measuring game performance; and

b. performance in second type activities arranged to improve with added possessions.

35. A method of using a multiplayer game from a server to provide indirect feedback on educational skill practice results to learners with a control module connecting to a learner connection arranged to connect to the server comprising:

a. creating a game realm which provides a virtual world display on a learner control module;

b. providing a multiplicity of characters within the realm arranged such that each learner controls one or more characters;

c. keeping a character inventory of character possessions;

d. tracking a multiplicity of character attributes;

e. using an activity module to provide a multiplicity of activities;

f. defining a multiplicity of target education skills chosen based on the learners educational attainment;

g. arranging the realm activities in a first group including a target education skill practice and a second group without a target education skill;

h. determining errors in target education skill practice;

i. measuring game performance in second group activities;

j. using one or more first type activities to vary the possessions and character attributes provided for one or more second type activities dependant on errors in target education skill practice; and

k. arranging second type game activities to require one or more specified possessions and character attributes to improve game performance wherein the learner game performance provides indirect feedback on errors in target education skill practice.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

a. providing one or more possessions and character attributes with limited performance attributes if errors are made in the target education skill practice;

b. allowing participation in second type game activities using possessions and character attributes with limited performance attributes wherein the game performance is not improved;

c. requiring further participation in one or more first type game activity to obtain possessions and character attributes with improved performance; and

d. providing possessions and character attributes with improved performance when less errors are made in the practice wherein the learner game performance provides indirect feedback on errors in target education skill practice.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing a tutorial on the target education skill whereby direct feedback is also provided when the learner makes errors.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising varying the feedback between direct feedback and indirect feedback.

39. A multiplayer game for teaching learners a multiplicity of target education skills from a server communicated through a learner connection to a learner'"'"'s control module comprising:

a. means for engaging each learner in target education skill practice;

b. means for each learner to receive one or more game possessions for demonstrating the target education skills;

c. means for measuring game performance;

d. means for game activities without target education skills; and

e. means for a learner to receive feedback on errors in demonstration of target education skills by reduced game performance of possessions in game activities without target education skills.

40. The multiplayer game of claim 39 further comprising means for a learner to improve possession performance in game activities.

41. The multiplayer game of claim 39 further comprising means for a learner to improve character performance in game activities.

42. The multiplayer game of claim 39 further comprising means for a learner to increase available game activities.

43. The multiplayer game of claim 39 further comprising means for a learner to exchange game possessions with a second learner.

44. The multiplayer game of claim 39 further comprising means for providing a virtual economy between characters using monetary units.

45. The multiplayer game of claim 44 further comprising means for a learner to obtain monetary units through game activities.

46. The multiplayer game of claim 39 further comprising means for direct feedback to a learner on errors in demonstrating target education skills.

47. The multiplayer game of claim 46 further comprising means for varying the feedback to the learner on errors in demonstration of the target education skills wherein the feedback is direct feedback, indirect feedback, or both direct and indirect feedback.

48. A method of providing indirect feedback on education skill practice errors to a learner playing an educational game:

a. providing the learner one or more characters used in the game with a starting character game level;

b. selecting a set of target education skills;

c. requiring a first type of game activity including target education skill practice to obtain a character possession;

d. providing one or more character possessions with limited performance attributes if errors are made in the target education skill practice;

e. allowing participation in second type game activities without target education skills using possessions with limited performance attributes;

f. determining a game performance level on second type game activities;

g. requiring further participation in one or more first type game activity to obtain possessions that improve game performance level; and

h. providing possessions with improved performance when less errors are made in the practice wherein the learner game performance provides indirect feedback on errors in target education skill practice motivating the learner to reduce errors.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

a. providing a character inventory to maintain character possessions;

b. requiring specific character possessions in inventory to improve game performance level in second type activities; and

c. withholding character possessions required to improve game performance level when errors are made in first type activity target education skill practice whereby the learner receives indirect feedback on errors in target education skill practice from game performance.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising providing a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange possessions.

51. The method of claim 48 where item d. is:

d. providing one or more character possessions with limited performance attributes and a degraded appearance if errors are made in the target education skill practice;

whereby the learner receives indirect feedback on errors in target education skill practice from character possession appearance.