Game having a Plurality of Engines

• US 20130165224A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ayoub, Daniel M., Hermann, Gregory A., Ries, Dennis W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,132,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering

Abstract

A game having a plurality of engines is described. In one or more implementations, a computing device displays an output of a first engine of a game by a computing device. An input is received by the computing device to switch from the output of the first engine of the game to an output of a second engine of the game, the first and second engines being executed concurrently by the computing device. Responsive to the receipt of the input, the computing device switches from displaying of the output of the first engine of the game to displaying the output of the second engine of the game.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying an output of a first engine of a game by a computing device that includes a processor;

receiving an input by the computing device to switch from the output of the first engine of the game to an output of a second engine of the game, the first and second engines being executed concurrently by the computing device, the first and second game engines each including a corresponding engine renderer; and

responsive to the receiving, switching, at the computing device, from the displaying of the output of the first engine of the game to displaying the output of the second engine of the game.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first engine is executed concurrently with the second engine during the displaying of the output of the second engine.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the switching includes replacing the displaying of the output of the first engine of the game with the displaying the output of the second engine of the game.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the concurrent execution of the first and second engines enables the switching to be performed in real time.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the concurrent execution of the first and second engines is synchronized such that the first and second engines execute corresponding portions of the game concurrently.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the concurrent execution is synchronized at a frame-by-frame rate.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first engine corresponds to a first version of the game and the second engine corresponds to a second version of the game, the first version being an earlier version of the game than the second version.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the input is captured via a game controller, keyboard, touchscreen functionality, or a camera.

10. A system as described in claim 8, wherein the first and second engines are configured to switch back and from between displaying an output of the first and second engines responsive to an input received by the computing device from a user, the input being received via a natural user interface that recognizes interactions that do not involve touch.

11. A system as described in claim 10, wherein the switching includes replacing a display of an output of the first engine of the game with a display of an output of the second engine of the game.

12. A system as described in claim 10, wherein the execution of the first and second engines is configured to be performed concurrently to enable the switching to be performed in real time.

13. A system as described in claim 8, wherein the execution is synchronized at a frame-by-frame rate.

14. A system as described in claim 8, wherein the first engine corresponds to a first version of the game and the second engine corresponds to a second version of the game, the first version being an earlier version of the game than the second version.

9. A system comprising:

a first engine of a game configured for execution by a computing device; and

a second engine of the game configured for execution with the first game engine, the execution of the first and second game engines synchronized to execute corresponding portions of the game concurrently by the computing device, the first and second game engines each including a corresponding engine renderer.

15. One or more computer-readable storage memories comprising instructions stored thereon that responsive to execution by a computing device causes the computing device to perform operations comprising:

providing a rendered output of a first engine of a game for display on a display device communicatively coupled to the computing device;

responsive to receipt of an input during the providing of the rendered output of the first engine, switching from the providing of the rendered output of the first engine of the game to providing a rendered output of a second engine of the game for display on the display device, the rendered output of the first engine being provided via a first renderer corresponding to the first engine and the rendered output of the second engine being provided via a second renderer corresponding to the second engine; and

responsive to receipt of the input during the providing of the rendered output of the second engine, switching from the providing of the rendered output of the second engine of the game to providing the rendered output of the first engine of the game for display on the display device.

16. One or more computer-readable storage memories as described in claim 15, wherein the first and second engines are executed concurrently by the computing device.

17. One or more computer-readable storage memories as described in claim 15, wherein execution of the first and second engines is synchronized to execute corresponding portions of the game concurrently by the computing device, respectively.

18. One or more computer-readable storage memories as described in claim 15, wherein the switching from the providing of the rendered output of the first engine of the game to providing a rendered output of a second engine of the game for display on the display device is performed to replace the rendered output of the first engine with the rendered output of the second engine.

19. One or more computer-readable storage memories as described in claim 15, wherein the switching from the providing of the rendered output of the first engine of the game to providing a rendered output of a second engine of the game for display on the display device is performed in real time.

20. One or more computer-readable storage memories as described in claim 15, wherein the first and second engines are part of a single game.