Systems and methods for simulating game state changes responsive to an interrupt condition

• US 20030216161A1
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Busse, Marco, Chiang, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 6,733,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A simulation module simulates events that may occur during a cautionary period based on, e.g., current relative position of vehicles, vehicle and driver attributes and current game statistics for vehicles, and compiles new statistics and attributes that are used in the resumed race. A full race simulation option and a partial race simulation option are also provided. For example, in a season mode, the simulation module simulates events that may occur during a race and compiles statistics that can be used later, e.g., in a later race, for season standings, etc. A complete race may be simulated, or a partial race may be simulated, for example, if a user desires to terminate a race before it is finished, using the compiled statistics, and a new set of statistics compiled to track the simulated race events. Real world statistics are imported and used in some aspects. For example, real world standings, performance statistics and attribute information are stored in a database and are used as a basis for AI-controlled vehicle performance and AI-generated simulation results.

Claims

1. A method of simulating game state changes responsive to an interrupt condition in a computer-implemented racing game, comprising:

generating an interrupt condition during the racing game at a first game state, the first game state having a first set of statistics associated therewith;

responsive to said interrupt condition, simulating events that occur after the first game state based on the first set of statistics so as to produce a second set of statistics associated with a second game state; and

resuming the racing game in the second game state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interrupt condition is a computer generated condition.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interrupt condition includes a user entered selection responsive to the computer generated condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer generated condition includes a yellow flag cautionary event, and wherein the user entered selection includes a decision to make a pit stop.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the computer generated condition is a randomly generated cautionary event including one of a crash, debris on the track and [ . . . ].

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interrupt condition is a user generated interrupt.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user generated interrupt includes a decision to terminate the race.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second set of statistics includes statistics associated with an end of the game.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein resuming includes displaying final results associated with the second set of statistics.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of statistics includes, for each race participant, one or more of remaining fuel, tire wear, vehicle wear, and a relative order.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of statistics includes driver attributes for each race participant.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the driver attributes includes at least one of aggressiveness, control and race history information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second game state is a completed game state, and wherein the second set of statistics includes statistics associated with a completed race.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein resuming includes displaying final results associated with the second set of statistics.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second set of statistics includes a final order of race participants for the completed race.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of statistics includes a first order of race participants, and wherein the second set of statistics includes a second order of race participants different from the first order.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein resuming includes displaying at least a portion of the race participants in said second order.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein resuming includes restarting the race with the participants in said second order.

19. A computer-readable medium including code for controlling a processor to simulate game state changes responsive to an interrupt condition during a race in a racing game, the code including instructions to:

retrieve a first set of statistics associated with a first game state from a database in response to an interrupt condition;

simulate events that occur after the first game state based on the first set of statistics so as to produce a second set of statistics associated with a second game state; and

store the second set of statistics to the data base.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the interrupt condition is based on user input.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the interrupt condition includes a user entered selection responsive to a computer generated interrupt condition.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the computer-generated interrupt condition includes a yellow flag cautionary event, and wherein the user entered selection includes a decision to make a pit stop.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the code further includes instructions to resume the game in the second game state.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the interrupt condition includes a user entered selection to terminate the race.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the code further includes instructions to generate the interrupt event based on a portion of the first set of statistics.