Systems and methods for a unified game experience in a multiplayer game

• US 9,751,011 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Harvey, Roy, Do, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH-VO V
• Application Number:
  US13/902,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 463 31, 715756
• 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 13/12 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 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system comprises game state information, a first user device, a second user device, and a processing server. The first and second user devices may include a first and second user interface modules configured to receive first and second user selections, respectively, associated with gameplay of a multiplayer game. The processing server may include a communication module, a simulation module, and rendering module. The communication module may be configured to receive the first and second user selections. The simulation module may be configured to generate simulation results based on the game state information, game rules, and the first and second user selections. The rendering module may be configured to render a first video based on the simulation results and render a second video based on the simulation results, the first and second video to be displayed by the first and second user devices, respectively.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

first game state information;

a first user interface module on a first user device, the first user interface module configured to generate first user game input options associated with gameplay of a multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the first user interface module further configured to present the first user game input options to a first player associated with the first user device, the first user interface module further configured to receive a first user selection associated with one or more of the first user game input options;

a second user interface module on a second user device, the second user interface module configured to generate second user game input options associated with gameplay of the multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the second user interface module further configured to present the second user game input options to a second player associated with the second user device, the second user game input options being different than the first user game input options, the second user interface module further configured to receive a second user selection associated with one or more of the second user game input options; and

a processing server including;

a communication module configured to receive the first and second user selections from the first and second user devices, respectively;

a simulation module configured to generate simulation results based on the first game state information, game rules, and the first and second user selections; and

a rendering module configured to perform multiple first renderings based on the simulation results and separately perform multiple second renderings based on the simulation results, the multiple first and multiple second renderings being rendered independent of each other, the multiple first and multiple second renderings to be displayed by the first and second user devices, respectively,

wherein the first user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the first user interface module generates the first user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple first renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device,

wherein the second user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the second user interface module generates the second user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple second renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device,

wherein a perspective among multiple perspectives of the multiple first renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the first user device, or a perspective among multiple perspectives of the multiple second renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the second user device, and

wherein each of the multiple first renderings and each of the multiple second renderings are videos.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the perspective of the multiple first renderings is from a perspective of the first player and the perspective of the multiple second renderings is from a perspective of the second player.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the game is turn based.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple first and multiple second renderings are similar.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user interface module is further configured to generate the first user game input options in at least one menu to the first player based on the first game state information and the game rules.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the simulation module of the processing server is further configured to generate second game state information based on the simulation results.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication module of the processing server is further configured to provide updated game state information to the first and second user devices.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second user interface modules on the first and second user devices are each further configured to generate a menu to receive user input based on the second game state information and the game rules, the menu generated by the first user interface module including information different than the information included in the menu generated by the second user interface module.

9. A system comprising:

first game state information; and

a processing server including;

a communication module configured to receive first and second user selections from a first user interface module on a first user device and a second user interface module on a second user device, respectively, the first user interface module configured to generate first user game input options associated with gameplay of a multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the first user interface module further configured to present the first user game input options to a first player associated with the first user device, the first user interface module further configured to receive the first user selection associated with one or more of the first user game input options, the second user interface module configured to generate second user game input options associated with gameplay of the multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the second user interface module further configured to present the second user game input options to a second player associated with the second user device, the second user game input options being different than the first user game input options, the second user interface module further configured to receive the second user selection associated with one or more of the second user game input options;

a simulation module configured to generate simulation results based on the first game state information, game rules, and the first and second user selections; and

a rendering module configured to perform multiple first renderings based on the simulation results and separately perform multiple second renderings based on the simulation results, the multiple first and multiple second renderings being rendered independent of each other, the multiple first and multiple second renderings to be displayed by the first and second user devices, respectively,

wherein the first user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the first user interface module generates the first user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple first renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device,

wherein the second user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the second user interface module generates the second user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple second renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device, and

wherein a perspective among multiple perspectives of the multiple first renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the first user device, or a perspective among multiple perspectives of the multiple second renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the second user device, and

wherein each of the multiple first renderings and each of the multiple second renderings are videos.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the perspective of the multiple first renderings is from a perspective of the first player and the perspective of the multiple second renderings is from a perspective of the second player.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the game is turn based.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the multiple first and multiple second renderings are similar.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first user interface module is further configured to generate the first user game input options in at least one menu to the first player based on the first game state information and the game rules.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the simulation module of the processing server is further configured to generate second game state information based on the simulation results.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication module of the processing server is further configured to provide the second game state information to the first and second user devices.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second user interface modules on the first and second user devices are each further configured to generate a menu to receive user input based on the second game state information and the game rules, the menu generated by the first user interface module including information different than information included in the menu generated by the second user interface module.

17. A method comprising:

receiving first game state information;

receiving, by a processing server, first and second user selections from first and second user devices, respectively, the first user device configured to generate for first user game input options associated with gameplay of a multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the first user device further configured to present the first user game input options to a first player associated with the first user device and to receive the first user selection associated with one or more of the first user game input options, the second user device configured to generate second user game input options associated with gameplay of the multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the second user device further configured to present the second user game input options to a second player associated with the second user device and to receive the second user selection associated with one or more of the second user game input options, the second user game input options being different than the first user game input options;

generating, by the processing server, simulation results based on the first game state information, game rules, and the first and second user selections;

performing, by the processing server, multiple first renderings based on the simulation results, the multiple first renderings to be displayed by the first user device; and

performing, by the processing server, multiple second renderings based on the simulation results, the multiple second renderings being rendered separate and independent of the multiple first renderings, the multiple second renderings to be displayed by the second user device,

wherein the first user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the first user interface module generates the first user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple first renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device,

wherein the second user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the second user interface module generates the second user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple second renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device, and

wherein a perspective among multiple perspective of the multiple first renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the first user device, or a perspective among multiple perspective of the multiple second renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the second user device, and

wherein each of the multiple first renderings and each of the multiple second renderings are videos.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the perspective of the multiple first renderings is from a perspective of the first player and the perspective of the multiple second renderings is from a perspective of the second player.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the game is turn based.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the multiple first and multiple second renderings are similar.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first user device is configured to receive the first user selection by displaying at least one menu to the first player based on the first game state information and the game rules.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating, by the processing server, second game state information based on the simulation results.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing, by the processing server, the second game state information to the first and second user devices.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second user devices are each further configured to generate a menu to receive user input based on the second game state information and the game rules, the menu generated by the first user device including information different than information included in the menu generated by the second user device.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, the instructions being executable by a processor for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving first game state information;

receiving, by a processing server, first and second user selections from first and second user devices, respectively, the first user device configured to generate first user game input options associated with gameplay of a multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the first user device further configured to present the first user game input options to a first player associated with the first user device and to receive the first user selection associated with one or more of the first user game input options, the second user device configured to generate second user game input options associated with gameplay of the multiplayer game based on the first game state information, the second user device further configured to present the second user game input options to a second player associated with the second user device and to receive the second user selection associated with one or more of the second user game input options, the second user game input options being different than the first user game input options;

generating, by the processing server, simulation results based on the first game state information, game rules, and the first and second user selections;

performing, by the processing server, multiple first renderings based on the simulation results, the multiple first renderings to be displayed by the first user device; and

performing, by the processing server, multiple second renderings based on the simulation results, the multiple second renderings being rendered separate and independent of the multiple first renderings, the multiple second renderings to be displayed by the second user device,

wherein the first user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the first user interface module generates the first user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple first renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device,

wherein the second user device and the processing server are configured to split processing resources whereby the second user interface module generates the second user game input options, and the processing server performs the multiple second renderings subsequent to receiving the first user selection from the first user device and the second user selection from the second user device, and

wherein a perspective among multiple perspectives of the multiple first renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the first user device, or a perspective among multiple perspectives of the multiple second renderings is identified for rendering based on rendering resources associated with the second user device, and

wherein each of the multiple first renderings and each of the multiple second renderings are videos.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the perspective of the multiple first renderings is from a perspective of the first player and the perspective of the multiple second renderings is from a perspective of the second player.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the game is turn based.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the multiple first and multiple second renderings are similar.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising generating, by the processing server, second game state information based on the simulation results.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, the method further comprising providing, by the processing server, the second game state information to the first and second user devices to enable the first and second user devices to each generate a menu to receive user input based on updated first game state information and the game rules, the menu to be generated by the first user device including information different than information included in the menu to be generated by the second user device.