Facilitating customization of a virtual space based on accessible virtual items

• US 8,986,115 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Vignocchi, John G., Blackburn, John, Bals, Jared, Fisher, Marcus, Leavitt, Troy, Gosztyla, Jeffrey, Bunker, Jeffrey, Lowe, Robert, Neber, Manfred, Liddell, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US13/727,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20140181820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/32, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions

Abstract

Virtual items may be unlocked in a virtual space responsive to physical token detection. A common virtual item repository may be provided in the virtual space. Once unlocked, a given virtual item may be accessible to multiple characters in the virtual space via the virtual item repository. Customization of a virtual space may be facilitated. The customization may be based on the virtual items accessible via the virtual item repository.

Claims

1. A system configured to facilitate customization of a virtual space based on accessible virtual items, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured by computer program instructions to;

implement the virtual space to determine views of the virtual space;

provide a virtual item repository within the virtual space, the virtual item repository being configured to provide access by a plurality of characters to a plurality of virtual items, the plurality of characters including a first character and a second character, the plurality of virtual items including a first virtual item associated with the first character and a second virtual item associated with the second character, the first virtual item being accessible to the second character via the virtual item repository and the second virtual item being accessible to the first character via the virtual item repository; and

facilitate modifications to one or more aspects of the virtual space, the modifications being based on individual ones of the plurality of virtual items made accessible by the virtual item repository;

wherein the modifications to one or more aspects of the virtual space include a modification to objectives associated with the virtual space such that a first objective is either introduced or changed to a second objective responsive to the first virtual item being accessible via the virtual item repository, a given objective being a purpose or goal that efforts or actions within the virtual space are intended to attain or accomplish.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more aspects include an environment of the virtual space, the environment being an aggregate of surroundings and conditions of the virtual space.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more aspects include a theme of the virtual space, the theme of the virtual space being a unifying subject associated with the virtual space.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by computer program instructions to provide a space editor interface, the space editor interface configured to receive user input associated with the one or more aspects of the virtual space, the modifications to the virtual space being based on the user input.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user input is restricted based on individual ones of the plurality of virtual items made accessible by the virtual item repository.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the user input provided by a given user is restricted based on one or more virtual items accessed by a given character, the given character being associated with the given user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the modifications to the virtual space are made automatically based on individual ones of the plurality of virtual items made accessible by the virtual item repository.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by computer program instructions to unlock individual ones of a plurality of virtual items responsive to individual tokens being detected based on signals received from a token reader, a given token being a standalone physical object, a previously locked virtual item becoming accessible to one or more characters responsive to being unlocked, the plurality of virtual items including the first virtual item and the second virtual item, the first virtual item being unlocked responsive to the first token being detected and the second virtual item being unlocked responsive to the second token being detected.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the modifications made to individual ones of the one or more aspects of the virtual space are associated with individual characters, a first modification associated with the first character causing the virtual space to be perceived in a first manner by the first character, and a second modification associated with the second character causing the virtual space to be perceived in a second manner by the second character, the first manner being different from the second manner.

10. A computer-implemented method to facilitate customization of a virtual space based on accessible virtual items, the method comprising:

executing computer program instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium using one or more processors to;

implement the virtual space to determine views of the virtual space;

provide a virtual item repository within the virtual space, the virtual item repository being configured to provide access by a plurality of characters to a plurality of virtual items, the plurality of characters including a first character and a second character, the plurality of virtual items including a first virtual item associated with the first character and a second virtual item associated with the second character, the first virtual item being accessible to the second character via the virtual item repository and the second virtual item being accessible to the first character via the virtual item repository; and

facilitate modifications to one or more aspects of the virtual space, the modifications being based on individual ones of the plurality of virtual items made accessible by the virtual item repository;

wherein the modifications to one or more aspects of the virtual space include a modification to objectives associated with the virtual space such that a first objective is either introduced or changed to a second objective responsive to the first virtual item being accessible via the virtual item repository, a given objective being a purpose or goal that efforts or actions within the virtual space are intended to attain or accomplish.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more aspects include an environment of the virtual space, the environment being an aggregate of surroundings and conditions of the virtual space.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more aspects include a theme of the virtual space, the theme of the virtual space being a unifying subject associated with the virtual space.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a space editor interface, the space editor interface configured to receive user input associated with the one or more aspects of the virtual space, the modifications to the virtual space being based on the user input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user input is restricted based on individual ones of the plurality of virtual items made accessible by the virtual item repository.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the user input provided by a given user is restricted based on one or more virtual items accessed by a given character, the given character being associated with the given user.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the modifications to the virtual space are made automatically based on individual ones of the plurality of virtual items made accessible by the virtual item repository.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising unlocking individual ones of a plurality of virtual items responsive to individual tokens being detected based on signals received from a token reader, a given token being a standalone physical object, a previously locked virtual item becoming accessible to one or more characters responsive to being unlocked, the plurality of virtual items including the first virtual item and the second virtual item, the first virtual item being unlocked responsive to the first token being detected and the second virtual item being unlocked responsive to the second token being detected.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein modifications made to individual ones of the one or more aspects of the virtual space are associated with individual characters, a first modification associated with the first character causing the virtual space to be perceived in a first manner by the first character, and a second modification associated with the second character causing the virtual space to be perceived in a second manner by the second character, the first manner being different from the second manner.