Systems and methods for enabling audience participation in bonus game play sessions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11278813-B2
Application number	US-201916703431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2019
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods enable most valuable players (MVPs) of a gameplay session to play a bonus gameplay session where other players (non-MVP players) participate as player-spectators in online video games and, through a collective voting mechanism or through active interaction, determine the occurrence of certain events or contents of the bonus gameplay in real time. In this manner, non-MVP players are able to directly affect the course of the bonus gameplay.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for generating a bonus gameplay session and incorporating at least one input from at least one non-most valuable player (non-MVP) player into the bonus gameplay session being played by at least one most valuable player (MVP), wherein the at least one MVP comprises a player having met a predefined criterion in a multi-player video game gameplay session completed prior to the bonus gameplay session and the at least one non-MVP player comprises any player in the multi-player video game gameplay session that is not the MVP, wherein the bonus gameplay session is at least partially generated by a computer system and at least partially transmitted to a plurality of end user devices and wherein the computer system includes one or more processors executing a video game streaming application for generating and streaming the gameplay session, the method comprising:
determining if a threshold number of the non-MVP players exists to trigger a generation of a plurality of game event options for potential inclusion in the bonus gameplay session;
based on said determination, generating the plurality of game event options;
transmitting data indicative of a user interface to at least some of the end user devices, wherein, when executed by at least some of the end user devices, the user interface presents the generated plurality of game event options and receives non-MVP player inputs indicative of a desire to include at least one of the plurality of game event options into the gameplay session;
determining a function of the non-MVP player inputs;
selecting at least one of the plurality of game event options based on the function of the non-MVP player inputs; and
incorporating the selected at least one of the plurality of game event options into a data stream representative of the bonus gameplay session.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one non-MVP player comprises a teammate of the at least one MVP from the multi-player video game gameplay session or a player from an opposing team of the at least one MVP from the multi-player gameplay session.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold number of non-MVP players is at least one.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-MVP players include individuals participating in the bonus gameplay session remotely on at least some of the end user devices or individuals participating in the bonus gameplay session live at a competitive video gaming event.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of game event options includes an occurrence of one or more earthquakes, meteor showers, storms, rain, wind, fires, lightning, or other natural disasters, or an occurrence of available items for purchase during the bonus gameplay session.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of game event options includes a timing and content of supplies and rewards available to specific players in the bonus gameplay session.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of game event options includes a placement or existence of armor, weapons, treasure, or other resources available to specific players in the bonus gameplay session, or a placement or existence of hazards, threats, or challenges presented to the most valuable players in the bonus gameplay session.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of game event options includes changes in a layout of a bonus game map.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of game event options is randomly generated.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of game event options are generated to benefit the at least one MVP based on a number of non-MVP players supporting, or opposing, the at least one MVP.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising iteratively generating a new plurality of game event options depending on events occurring within the bonus gameplay session and the selected at least one of the plurality of game event options previously incorporated into the data stream representative of the bonus gameplay session, wherein iteratively generating the new plurality of game event options includes generating game event options that were not historically presented to the non-MVP players.

12. A system for generating a bonus gameplay session and incorporating at least one input from at least one non-most valuable player (non-MVP) player into the bonus gameplay session being played by at least one most valuable player (MVP), wherein the at least one MVP comprises a player meeting a predefined criterion in a multi-player video game gameplay session completed prior to the bonus gameplay session and the at least one non-MVP player comprises any player in the multi-player video game gameplay session that is not the MVP, wherein the system comprises a computer system for at least partially generating the bonus gameplay session and transmitting it to a plurality of end user devices and wherein the computer system includes one or more processors executing a video game streaming application for generating and streaming the bonus gameplay session and executing a non-MVP player input application, wherein, when executed, the non-MVP player input application:
determines if a threshold number of non-MVP players exists to trigger a generation of a plurality of game event options for potential inclusion in the bonus gameplay session;
based on said determination, generates the plurality of game event options;
transmits data indicative of a user interface to at least some of the end user devices, wherein, when executed by at least some of the end user devices, the user interface presents the generated plurality of game event options and receives non-MVP player inputs indicative of a desire to include at least one of the plurality of game event options into the bonus gameplay session;
determines a function of the non-MVP player inputs;
selects at least one of the plurality of game event options based on the function of the non-MVP player inputs; and
causes the selected at least one of the plurality of game event options to be incorporated into a data stream representative of the bonus gameplay session.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one non-MVP player comprises a teammate of the at least one MVP from the multi-player video game gameplay session or a player from an opposing team of the at least one MVP from the multi-player gameplay session.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the threshold number of non-MVP players is at least one.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of game event options includes an occurrence of one or more earthquakes, meteor showers, storms, rain, wind, fires, lightning, or other natural disasters or an occurrence of available items for purchase during the bonus gameplay session.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of game event options includes a timing and content of supplies and rewards available to specific players in the bonus gameplay session.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of game event options includes a placement or existence of armor, weapons, treasure, or other resources available to specific players in the bonus gameplay session, a placement or existence of hazards, threats, or challenges presented to the players in the bonus gameplay session, or changes in a layout of a bonus game map.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the non-MVP player input application is configured to randomly generate the plurality of game event options.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the non-MVP player input application is configured to gener

Assignees

• Activision Publishing Inc

Inventors

• Lin Jason
• Yan Paul Derek
• Stout Michael James
• Neil Daniel
• Fricks Brian Thomas

Classifications

• A63F13/88

  Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded · CPC title

• A63F13/85

  Providing additional services to players · CPC title

• A63F13/79

  involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories · CPC title

• A63F13/45

  Controlling the progress of the video game · CPC title

• A63F13/795

  for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list · CPC title