Video game feedback system and method

• US 20060128471A1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lonmo, Victor, Willis, Daniel, Godse, Dhananjay
• Granted Patent: US 8,267,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/45 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

In order to track the behaviour of a gamer with a virtual environment of a video game, the virtual environment is provided with a set of predetermined objectives. The completion of the predetermined objectives is monitored and recorded. This information is then provided to a game developer. In addition, comparing the record of the predetermined objectives with current game assets associated with the gamer serves to inhibit authorized duplication of game assets.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a set of predetermined objectives within a video game;

providing a video game session on a computing device;

receiving gamer input signals;

determining that an objective of the set of predetermined objectives is achieved in response to the gamer input signals;

upon determining that an objective of the set of objectives has been achieved;

storing data in a gamer history record, the data relating to the achievement of the objective;

establishing a data communications link between the computing device and a feedback server via a public network;

uploading data relating to the gamer history record from the computing device to the feedback server.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising reviewing data relating to the gamer history records and wherein the set of predetermined objectives comprises a plurality of objectives, the method comprising choosing objectives of the plurality of objectives such that a relative difficulty of specific portions within the video game is optionally determined by reviewing the data relating to the gamer history record.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the computing device comprises a non-volatile storage memory and prior to uploading data relating to the gamer history record, a plurality of video game sessions are provided on the computing device, each of the video game sessions generating data, the data used as an input data to update the gamer history record.

4. A method according to claim 3 comprising:

reviewing gamer history records to determine a length of time in which a gamer has spent playing the video game to go from achieving a first predetermined objective to achieving a second predetermined objective.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein, uploading data relating to the gamer history record comprises:

determining statistical parameters in dependence upon data provided within a plurality of gamer history records; and

,

determining an average period of time used by gamers to achieve a second predetermined objective after achieving a first predetermined objective, the first and second predetermined objectives being objectives of the set of predetermined objectives, the second predetermined objective being an objective sequentially completed after the first predetermined objective.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein video game software used to provide the video game session comprises a unique identifier and the data relating to the gamer history record comprises data generated in dependence upon the unique identifier.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein:

uploading data relating to the gamer history record comprises;

receiving a plurality of gamer history records associated with a same video game; and

,

associating gamer history records having common unique identifiers.

8. A method according to claim 7 comprising:

determining statistical parameters in dependence upon data provided by associated gamer history records;

determining an average period time for garners to achieve a second predetermined objective after achieving a first predetermined objective, the first and second predetermined objectives being objectives of the set of predetermined objectives, the second predetermined objective being an objective sequentially completed after the first predetermined objective.

9. A method according to claim 7 comprising:

after associating gamer history records having common unique identifiers, determining a number of unique copies of the video game software that were played by gamers who achieved a specific predetermined objective.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein, the specific predetermined objective is associated with an end game sequence.

11. A method according to claim 7 comprising:

after associating gamer history records having common unique identifiers, determining a number of copies of the video game software that are estimated as pirated.

12. A method according to claim 7 comprising:

after associating gamer history records having common unique identifiers, determining a number of copies of the video game software that are estimated as resale copies of the video game.

13. A non-volatile storage medium comprising instructions for being executed by a computing device, the instructions comprising:

providing a video game session on the computing device;

receiving a set of predetermined objectives from the non-volatile storage medium;

receiving gamer input signals;

determining that an objective of the set of predetermined objectives is achieved in response to the gamer input signals;

upon determining that an objective of the set of objectives has been achieved;

storing data in a gamer history record, the data relating to the achievement of the objective;

establishing a data communications link between the computing device and a feedback server via a public network;

uploading data relating to the gamer history record from the computing device to the feedback server.

14. A storage medium according to claim 13 wherein, uploading data relating to the gamer history record comprises:

determining statistical parameters in dependence upon data provided within a plurality of gamer history records; and

,

determining an average period time used by gamers to achieve a second predetermined objective after achieving a first predetermined objective, the first and second predetermined objectives being objectives of the set of predetermined objectives, the second predetermined objective being an objective sequentially completed after the first predetermined objective.

15. A storage medium according to claim 13 wherein video game software used to provide the video game session comprises a unique identifier and the data relating to the gamer history record comprises data generated in dependence upon the unique identifier.

16. A method comprising:

generating a virtual environment for supporting a video game session;

providing predetermined objectives within the video game session;

receiving first gamer input signals from a first gamer;

determining that a first objective of the predetermined objectives has been achieved in response to the gamer input signals;

in response to determining that the first objective has been achieved;

providing a game asset within the virtual environment;

receiving second gamer input signals corresponding to associating the game asset with a second gamer;

in response to receiving the second gamer input signals;

providing an entry within an inventory database associated with the second gamer, the entry indicative of the game asset;

providing data to a gamer history record indicative of providing the entry of the game asset, the gamer history record associated with the second gamer.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein, at least a portion of the data within the gamer history record is ciphered.

18. A method according to claim 17 comprising:

providing a unique identifier associated with the second gamer and wherein the gamer history record comprises data determined in dependence upon the unique identifier.

19. A method according to claim 17 comprising:

providing a unique identifier associated with the inventory database and wherein the gamer history record comprises data determined in dependence upon the unique identifier.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the data determined in dependence upon the unique identifier and within the gamer history record is ciphered.

21. A method according to claim 20 comprising:

supporting an exchange of the game asset between the second gamer and a third gamer comprising;

establishing a first data communication path between a computing device associated with the second gamer and a game server via a public network;

establishing a second data communication path between a computing device associated with the third gamer and the game server via a public network;

providing data from the computing device associated with the second gamer to the gamer server, the data comprising;

data relating to the unique identifier and the gamer history record;

verifying that the data relating to the unique identifier and the gamer history record correspond to a same unique identifier;

upon verification that the data relating to the unique identifier and the gamer history record correspond to a same unique identifier, removing the data entry from the inventory database of the second gamer, removing data from the gamer history record of the second gamer indicative of providing the data, providing a data entry within a inventory database associated with the third gamer, the data entry indicative of the game asset and, providing data to a gamer history record associated with the third gamer indicative of providing the data entry; and

,

upon failing to verify that the data relating to the unique identifier and the gamer history record correspond to a same unique identifier other than transferring the game asset.

22. A method according to claim 21 comprising:

upon failing to verify that the data relating to the unique identifier and the gamer history record correspond to a same unique identifier reviewing the gamer history record for indications data manipulation corresponding to hacking.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the second gamer is the first gamer.

24. A method according to claim 22 wherein the video game session is supported by a non-volatile storage medium that stores software instruction data, the software instruction data for being executed by a computing device to provide the video game session, and wherein the software instruction data comprises a unique value and upon failing to verify that the data relating to the unique identifier and the gamer history record correspond to a same unique identifier, storing data associating the second gamer with hacking activity.