Nemesis characters, nemesis forts, social vendettas and followers in computer games

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016279522-A1
Application number	US-201615081732-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 26, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods for managing non-player characters and power centers in a computer game are based on character hierarchies and individualized correspondences between each character's traits or rank and events that involve other non-player characters or objects. Players may share power centers, character hierarchies, non-player characters, and related quests involving the shared objects with other players playing separate and unrelated game instances over a computer network, with the outcome of the quests reflected in different the games. Various configurations of game machines are used to implement the methods.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
controlling, by a processor, game events in a computer-implemented game, the game events involving an avatar that is operated in response to input from a player, and a first non-player character that is controlled in response to a first set of character parameters defined in a computer memory and in response to operation of the avatar; detecting, by the processor, occurrence of a predefined game event involving the non-player character; changing, by the processor, a second set of character parameters defined in a computer memory for control of a second non-player character in the game based on the detecting; and outputting, to an output device, an indication of the second set of character parameters that are changed by the changing.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising triggering initiation of the changing based on a trigger event selected from the group consisting of the avatar death, passage of a specified amount of time during game play, or entry of the avatar into a new zone of play.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the second set of character parameters further comprises determining a change of status of the second non-player character in a faction of non-player characters, based at least in part on the one of the game events.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the faction is a ranked hierarchy of the non-player characters in which rank is positively correlated with game playing power, and changing the second set of character parameters comprises at least one of: changing a rank of the second non-player character in the hierarchy, or designating the second non-player character one of a ranked member of the hierarchy, or a non-member of the ranked hierarchy.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising changing a status parameter of a third non-player character in the faction, based on the change of the status of one or both of the first and second non-player character.

6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining, based on at least one of a game event or a user selection, to provide data characterizing the faction configured for use in an independently operating game instance to a remote server.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising providing the data characterizing the faction to a second processor for use in the independently operating game instance operated by another user.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising tracking whether a highest-ranking member of the faction is defeated by the another user in the independently operating game instance.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending data providing an in-game benefit to the independently operating game instance, based on the tracking.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending notice data to the processor executing the computer-implemented game, indicating that the another user has defeated the highest-ranking member.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the second set of character parameters comprises at least one of: changing a parameter controlling a rendered appearance of the second non-player character, changing a parameter controlling a behavioral personality trait of the second non-player character, changing a parameter controlling a game-playing ability of the second non-player character, changing a player interaction score that increases a probability that the second non-player character will succeed in future interaction with the player's avatar, or changing a power center attribute associated with the character parameters.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising altering a configuration of a power center associated with the second non-player character, based on the power center attribute.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting dialog for at least one of the first or second non-player character, based on the detecting the occurrence of the predefined game event.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing, by the processor, the first set of character parameters based on the detecting; and
outputting, to an output device, an indication of the first set of character parameters that are changed by the changing.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein changing the first set of character parameters further comprises determining a change of status of the first non-player character in a faction of non-player characters, based at least in part on the one of the game events.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the faction is a ranked hierarchy of the non-player characters in which rank is positively correlated with game playing power, and changing the first set of character parameters comprises at least one of: changing a rank of the first non-player character in the hierarchy, or designating the first non-player character one of a ranked member of the hierarchy, or a non-member of the ranked hierarchy.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein changing the first set of character parameters comprises changing a parameter controlling at least one of: a rendered appearance of the first non-player character, a behavioral personality trait of the first non-player character, a game-playing ability of the first non-player character, a player interaction score that increases a probability that the first non-player character will succeed in future interaction with the player's avatar, or a power center attribute associated with the first set of character parameters.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising altering a configuration of a power center associated with the first non-player character, based on the power center attribute.

19 . An apparatus for controlling a video game, comprising:
a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a display device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory holds instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus perform: controlling game events in a computer-implemented game, the game events involving an avatar that is operated in response to input from a player, and a first non-player character that is controlled in response to a first set of character parameters defined in a computer memory and in response to operation of the avatar; detecting occurrence of a predefined game event involving the non-player character; changing a second set of character parameters defined in a computer memory for control of a second non-player character in the game based on the detecting; and outputting, to an output device, an indication of the second set of character parameters that are changed by the changing.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for triggering initiation of the changing based on a trigger event selected from the group consisting of the avatar death, passage of a specified amount of time during game play, or entry of the avatar into a new zone of play.

21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for changing the second set of character parameters at least in part by determining a change of status of the second non-player character in a faction of non-player characters, based at least in part on the one of the game events.

22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for maintaining the faction as a ranked hierarchy of the non-player characters in which rank is positively correlated with game playing power, and changing the second set of character parameters comprises

Assignees

• Warner Bros Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• de Plater Michael
• Hoge Christopher Herman
• Roberts Robert Kenyon Hull
• Valerius Daniel Paul
• Newton Rocky Albert
• Stephens Kevin Leslie

Classifications

• A63F13/67 Primary

  adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use · CPC title

• A63F13/58

  by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level · CPC title

• A63F13/798

  for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame · CPC title

• A63F13/69

  by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions · CPC title