System and method configured to unlock content within a videogame

• US 9,364,746 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Chudley, Martyn Richard, Howard, Craig, Kerby, Paul, Wilson, Gareth George, Talbot, Gerard-Lee, Ward, Ben James
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US14/275,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A system and method are configured to provide a videogame to one or more players. The videogame may involve a series of different sets of content within which players perform activities. A group of players may be associated with the content sets. The players may include virtual players controlled by artificial intelligence and one or more real world players. Players may progress through the videogame by moving from content sets to content sets, performing objectives in the various content sets, and interacting with the players within those content sets.

Claims

1. A system for providing a player with a videogame, the system comprising:

one or more physical processors programmed to execute computer program instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more physical processors to;

manage multiple virtual geographic locations within the videogame, wherein the multiple virtual geographic locations include a first virtual geographic location that is accessible to the player engaging in the videogame and a second virtual geographic location and a third virtual geographic location that are not accessible to the player initially within the videogame, the second virtual geographic location is associated with a first set of criteria, and the third virtual geographic location is associated with a second set of criteria different from the first set of criteria;

unlock the second virtual geographic location for the player to enable the player to access the second virtual geographic location responsive to the player fulfilling the first set of criteria, wherein the first set of criteria includes one or more of performance of one or more first tasks available via the first virtual geographic location or successful participation in one or more first events available via the first virtual geographic location;

unlock the third virtual geographic location for the player to enable the player to access the third virtual geographic location responsive to the player fulfilling the second set of criteria, wherein the second set of criteria includes one or more of performance of one or more second tasks available via the first virtual geographic location or successful participation in one or more second events available via the first virtual geographic location;

implement artificial intelligence to control one or more virtual players within the videogame, wherein the one or more virtual players includes a first virtual player at the first virtual geographic location;

wherein the first set of criteria further includes achievement of a disposition mode for a relationship between the player and the first virtual player; and

wherein unlocking the second virtual geographic location for the player further comprises unlocking the second virtual geographic location for the player responsive to the player achieving the disposition mode for the relationship between the player and the first virtual player.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein unlocking the second virtual geographic location for the player comprises unlocking, prior to unlocking the third virtual geographic location for the player, the second virtual geographic location for the player responsive to the player fulfilling the first set of criteria prior to fulfilling the second set of criteria.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

enable, prior to unlocking the third virtual geographic location for the player, the player to interact with a set of content available via the second virtual geographic location responsive to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location, wherein the set of content is not available to the player within the videogame prior to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

enable the player to return to the first virtual geographic location after the player travels to the second virtual geographic location, wherein unlocking the third virtual geographic location for the player comprises unlocking, after the player returns to the first virtual geographic location from the second virtual geographic location, the third virtual geographic location for the player responsive to the player fulfilling the second set of criteria.

5. The system of claim 1, where the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

enable, without the player completing the first virtual geographic location, the player to interact with a set of content available via the second virtual geographic location responsive to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location, wherein the set of content is not available to the player within the videogame prior to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the player fulfills the first set of criteria and the second set of criteria, and the second virtual geographic location and the third virtual geographic location are unlocked for the player such that the player is enabled to access the second virtual geographic location and the third virtual geographic location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

monitor one or more activities of the player to determine whether the player has fulfilled one or more of the first set of criteria or the second set of criteria, wherein the player is determined to have fulfilled one or more of the first set of criteria or the second set of criteria based on the monitoring of the one or more activities.

8. The system of claim 1, where the one or more virtual players include a first group of virtual players and a second group of virtual players, the first group of virtual players includes virtual players with which the player completes at the first virtual geographic location, and the second group of virtual player includes virtual players against which the player completes at the first geographic location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual players of the first group includes the first virtual player.

10. A computer-implemented method of providing a player with a videogame, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more physical processors executing computer program instructions which, when executed, perform the method, the method comprising:

managing, by the computer system, multiple virtual geographic locations within the videogame, wherein the multiple virtual geographic locations includes a first virtual geographic location that is accessible to the player engaging in the videogame and a second virtual geographic location and a third virtual geographic location that are not accessible to the player initially within the videogame, the second virtual geographic location is associated with a first set of criteria, and the third virtual geographic location is associated with a second set of criteria different from the first set of criteria;

unlocking, by the computer system, the second virtual geographic location for the player to enable the player to access the second virtual geographic location responsive to the player fulfilling the first set of criteria, wherein the first set of criteria includes one or more of performance of one or more first tasks available via the first virtual geographic location or successful participation in one or more first events available via the first virtual geographic location;

unlocking, by the computer system, the third virtual geographic location for the player to enable the player to access the third virtual geographic location responsive to the player fulfilling the second set of criteria, wherein the second set of criteria includes one or more of performance of one or more second tasks available via the first virtual geographic location or successful participation in one or more second events available via the first virtual geographic location;

implementing, by the computer system, artificial intelligence to control one or more virtual players within the videogame, wherein the one or more virtual players includes a first virtual player at the first virtual geographic location;

wherein the first set of criteria further includes achievement of a disposition mode for a relationship between the player and the first virtual player; and

wherein unlocking the second virtual geographic location for the player further comprises unlocking the second virtual geographic location for the player responsive to the player achieving the disposition mode for the relationship between the player and the first virtual player.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein unlocking the second virtual geographic location for the player comprises unlocking, prior to unlocking the third virtual geographic location for the player, the second virtual geographic location for the player responsive to the player fulfilling the first set of criteria prior to fulfilling the second set of criteria.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

enabling, by the computer system, prior to unlocking the third virtual geographic location for the player, the player to interact with a set of content available via the second virtual geographic location responsive to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location, wherein the set of content is not available to the player within the videogame prior to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

enabling, by the computer system, the player to return to the first virtual geographic location after the player travels to the second virtual geographic location,

wherein unlocking the third virtual geographic location for the player comprises unlocking, after the player returns to the first virtual geographic location from the second virtual geographic location, the third virtual geographic location for the player responsive to the player fulfilling the second set of criteria.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

enabling, by the computer system, without the player completing the first virtual geographic location, the player to interact with a set of content available via the second virtual geographic location responsive to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location, wherein the set of content is not available to the player within the videogame prior to the unlocking of the second virtual geographic location.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the player fulfills the first set of criteria and the second set of criteria, and the second virtual geographic location and the third virtual geographic location are unlocked for the player such that the player is enabled to access the second virtual geographic location and the third virtual geographic location.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring, by the computer system, one or more activities of the player to determine whether the player has fulfilled one or more of the first set of criteria or the second set of criteria, wherein the player is determined to have fulfilled one or more of the first set of criteria or the second set of criteria based on the monitoring of the one or more activities.

17. The method of claim 10, where the one or more virtual players include a first group of virtual players and a second group of virtual players, the first group of virtual players includes virtual players with which the player completes at the first virtual geographic location, the second group of virtual player includes virtual players against which the player completes at the first geographic location, and the virtual players of the first group include the first virtual player.