SCHEDULED PROGRAMMATIC GAME CONTENT

• US 20090325711A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Hao, Gupta, Manoj, Riley, Colin, Hall, Gary, Bronstein, Manuel, Van Gorder, Matt, Alvarado, Ivann
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,529 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 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/577 for watching a game played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting

Abstract

Scheduled programmatic multiplayer game content in a console service is provided. A plurality of multiplayer game events is scheduled. Each event has a fixed start time and fixed end time. Requests from users to participate in event are received and a determination is made as to whether users electing to participate in the game are eligible to participate. If the user is eligible to participate in the game, instructions are provided to a console to allow the user to participate in the game. If the user is not eligible to participate in the game, instructions may be provided to a console to allow a user to view activity in the game.

Claims

1. A method for providing a multiplayer game to a plurality of users, at least a portion of the game executing on a client device coupled to a network, comprising:

(a) scheduling a multiplayer game event, the game event having a fixed start time and a fixed end time;

(b) receiving requests from users to participate in the multiplayer game event;

(c) determining whether each of the users is eligible to participate in the multiplayer game;

(d) providing instructions to each console to allow at least a subset of the plurality of users to participate in the game;

(e) starting the game at the fixed start time; and

(f) ending the game at the fixed end time.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of

providing a plurality of multiplayer games;

repeating steps (b)-(f) for each of the plurality of multiplayer games.

3. The method of claim 2 further including providing scheduling information to a console to display the plurality of multiplayer game events to a user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing scheduling information includes scheduling a plurality of multiplayer game events into a sequence of timed events, and the step of providing scheduling information includes providing multiple sequences of events organized by theme and presented as a channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further includes maintaining status information on each user request to participate in a game in advance of the fixed start time for the game.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of providing scheduling information for one or more games for which a user has made a request to participate in advance of the fixed start time for the game.

7. The method of claim 5 further including providing a reminder for the game.

8. The method of claim 5 further including the step of providing user-specific scheduling information in a separate channel rendered by the console.

9. The method of claim 5 further including the step of status information for friends of a user who have been determined eligible to participate in a game.

10. A method for providing multiplayer gaming experience in a multiplayer gaming environment, comprising:

scheduling a plurality of multiplayer game events, each event having a fixed start time and fixed end time;

for each of the plurality of game events,

receiving requests from users to participate in the multiplayer game event up to the fixed end time;

determining whether each of the users is eligible to participate in the multiplayer game;

if the user is eligible to participate in the game, providing instructions to a console to allow the user to participate in the game and if the user is not eligible to participate in the game, providing instructions to a console allowing the user to view activity in the game;

starting the game at the fixed start time; and

ending the game at a fixed end time.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of providing a common set of game instructions for the plurality of games to the console.

12. The method of claim 11 further including outputting game specific instructions to each console, the game specific instructions being provided in response to a determination that the user is eligible to participate in the game.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the game specific instructions are ordered to first provide instructions for rendering portions of the game event before all elements of the game event are ready for game play by a user.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of determining whether each of the users is eligible to participate in the multiplayer game determines a player is ineligible to play after the fixed start time for the game.

15. A method for providing live commentary in a gaming experience, comprising:

providing a plurality of multiplayer games including game play rules and instructions for a console to enable each of the plurality of multiplayer games on a console;

scheduling at least some of the plurality of multiplayer games into game events having a fixed duration;

receiving requests from users to participate in ones of the game events;

determining whether each of the users is eligible to participate in each of the game events for which a request to participate is made;

providing instructions to each console to allow a user at the console participate in the game event for which a request to participate is made;

starting each game; and

ending each game after the fixed duration.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein each game event has a fixed start time and a fixed end time.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein multiple game events, each for a different multiplayer game, may be scheduled at the same start time.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of providing scheduling information to the console, the scheduling information including multiple sequences of events organized by theme and presented as a channel.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the method further includes maintaining status information on each user request to participate in a game in advance of the fixed start time for the game and providing status information for friends of a user who have scheduled to participate in game events.

20. The method of claim 19 further including the step of providing user-specific scheduling information in a separate channel rendered by the console