Dynamic modifications of single player and multiplayer mode in a video game

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12427428-B2
Application number	US-202418601602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2024
Priority date	Mar 26, 2019
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A video game includes a single player mode where completion of storyline objectives advances the single player storyline. The video game also includes a multiplayer mode where a plurality of players can play on an instance of a multiplayer map. Storyline objectives from the single player mode are selected and made available for completion to players in the multiplayer mode, and the single player storylines can be advanced by players completing respective storyline objectives while playing in the multiplayer mode. Combinations of storyline objectives are selected from pending storyline objectives for players connecting to a multiplayer game for compatibility with multiplayer maps. Constraints can be used to determine compatibility.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving a first request associated with a plurality of storyline objectives and at least a first videogame environment map of a plurality of videogame environment maps in a videogame, wherein individual video game environment maps define a spatial layout of a virtual environment in which virtual characters can interact with each other and virtual objects within in the virtual environment;
determining a compatibility of the first videogame environment map with a plurality of storyline objectives associated with the videogame;
identifying a first subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map;
identifying a second subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein individual;
for individual storyline objectives of the second subset of storyline objectives identifying elements that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map;
determining, using a machine learning model, one or more modifications to at least a first storyline objective of the second subset of storyline objectives; and
modifying the first storyline objective such that it is compatible with the first videogame environment map.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining constraints of the first videogame environment map that restrict compatibility of the plurality of storyline objectives with the first videogame environment map.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining one or more modifications to one or more constraints of the first videogame environment map that increases a number of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising, wherein the constraints include lore constraints, storyline constraints, map constraints, player level constraints, resource constraints, and matchmaking rules.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a combination of storyline objectives that is compatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein a second objective and a third objective are part of the combination of storyline objectives.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that the second objective and the third objective are simultaneously compatible with the first videogame environment map based at least in part on:
a first constraint associated with the second objective;
a second constraint associated with the third objective; and
a third constraint associated with the first videogame environment map.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein determining that the combination of storyline objectives is compatible with the first videogame environment map is performed using at least one of: a directed search or a compatibility database.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first request is associated with two or more of the plurality of videogame environment maps.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining whether any plurality of videogame environment maps are compatible with less than a threshold number of storyline objectives.

10. A computing system comprising:
a memory;
one or more data stores including computer-readable instructions; and
one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to perform operations comprising:
receiving a first request associated with a plurality of storyline objectives and at least a first videogame environment map of a plurality of videogame environment maps in a videogame, wherein individual video game environment maps define a spatial layout of a virtual environment in which virtual characters can interact with each other and virtual objects within in the virtual environment;
determining a compatibility of the first videogame environment map with a plurality of storyline objectives associated with the videogame;
identifying a first subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map;
identifying a second subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein individual;
for individual storyline objectives of the second subset of storyline objectives identifying elements that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map;
determining, using a machine learning model, one or more modifications to at least a first storyline objective of the second subset of storyline objectives; and
modifying the first storyline objective such that it is compatible with the first videogame environment map.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:
determining constraints of the first videogame environment map that restrict compatibility of the plurality of storyline objectives with the first videogame environment map.

12. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:
determining one or more modifications to one or more constraints of the first videogame environment map that increases a number of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map.

13. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the constraints include lore constraints, storyline constraints, map constraints, player level constraints, resource constraints, and matchmaking rules.

14. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:
determining a combination of storyline objectives that is compatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein a second objective and a third objective are part of the combination of storyline objectives.

15. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:
determining that the second objective and the third objective are simultaneously compatible with the first videogame environment map based at least in part on:
a first constraint associated with the second objective;
a second constraint associated with the third objective; and
a third constraint associated with the first videogame environment map.

16. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the first request is associated with two or more of the plurality of videogame environment maps.

17. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:
determining whether any of the plurality of videogame environment maps are compatible with less than a threshold number of storyline objectives.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
receiving a first request associated with a plurality of storyline objectives and at least a first videogame environment map of a plurality of videogame environment maps in a videogame, wherein individual video game environment maps define a spatial layout of a virtual environment in which virtual characters

Assignees

• Electronic Arts Inc

Inventors

• Chaput Harold Henry
• Harder Jesse Hans Stokes
• Kading Daniel Lee
• Epler John Christopher
• Kolen John
• Aghdaie Navid
• Zaman Kazi Atif-Uz
• Moss Kenneth Alan
• Perlinski Thomas Murray
• Scott Graham Francis

Classifications

• A63F13/48

  Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session · CPC title

• A63F13/493

  Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure · CPC title

• A63F13/822

  Strategy games; Role-playing games (A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence) · CPC title

• A63F13/47

  involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time · CPC title

• A63F13/335

  using Internet · CPC title