System and method of modifying attribute values of game entities based on physical token detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9898892-B2
Application number	US-201615008722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 28, 2016
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

Users may participate in instances of a virtual space through computing platforms associated with the users. User participation may include controlling game entities within the instances of the virtual spaces. Individual game entities may be defined by attribute values of one or more game entity attributes. One or more attribute values may be modified from their currently defined values based on detection of physical tokens communicatively coupled to token readers. By way of non-limiting example, tokens may store attribute modification information that may specify discrete amounts by which one or more attribute values may be changed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for modifying attribute values of game entities based on physical token detection, the system comprising:
one or more physical processor configured by non-transitory machine-readable instructions to:
execute instances of a virtual space and implement the instances of the virtual space to facilitate participation by users in the virtual space via computing platforms associated with the users, user participation including controlling game entities associated with the users within the virtual space, individual game entities defined by attribute values of appearance attributes and ability attributes, such that a first user participates in a first instance of the virtual space via a first computing platform associated with the first user, participation by the first user including controlling a first game entity within the first instance of the virtual space, wherein the first game entity is currently defined at least in part by a first attribute value of a first appearance attribute and a second attribute value of a first ability attribute;
detect tokens based on signals received from token readers, a first token reader being communicatively coupled with the first computing platform, individual tokens being standalone physical objects, the tokens including a first token, the first token being detectable based on a first signal conveying information associated with the first token;
obtain attribute modification information based on signals received from token readers, the attribute modification information facilitating making changes from currently defined attribute values of the game entities, such that first attribute modification information is obtained based on a second signal, the first attribute modification information facilitating making changes from currently defined attribute values of the first game entity; and
effectuate modifications from currently defined attribute values of game entity attributes responsive to attribute modification information being obtained, the modifications including a first modification configured to be effectuated responsive to the first attribute modification information being obtained, the first modification including a change from the first attribute value by a first amount, and from the second attribute value by a second amount.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein currently defined attribute values comprise one or both of default attribute values or attribute values defined based on gameplay within the virtual space.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein individual groups of game entities are associated with an individual game entity type, wherein game entities of an individual game entity type are associated with a set of default attribute values, such that the first game entity and a second game entity are of a first game entity type, and wherein the first game entity and second game entity are associated with the same set of default attribute values.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein attribute modification information is stored by the tokens and conveyed by signals received from the token readers, such that the second signal conveys the first attribute modification information.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein attribute modification information is stored in a location other the tokens, such that the first attribute modification information is obtained from a storage location that is not associated with the first token.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second signal conveys information used to look-up the first attribute modification information from the storage location.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modifications are effectuated in real-time responsive to attribute modification information being obtained.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein attribute values of appearance attributes define one or more of color, surface texture, special visual effects, or virtual clothing associated with individual game entities.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein attribute values of ability attributes define one or more abilities of individual game entities within the virtual space.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second attribute value of the first ability attribute of the first game entity specifies a first level of a first ability of the first game entity, and wherein the first attribute modification information specifies an increase in the level of the first ability by the second amount, such that the second attribute value is changed to a first modified attribute value that specifies a second level of the first ability that is greater than the first level by the first amount.

11. A method of modifying attribute values of game entities based on physical token detection, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more physical processor and storage media storing machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:
executing instances of a virtual space and implementing the instances of the virtual space to facilitate participation by users in the virtual space via computing platforms associated with the users, user participation including controlling game entities associated with the users within the virtual space, individual game entities defined by attribute values of appearance attributes and ability attributes, such that a first user participates in a first instance of the virtual space via a first computing platform associated with the first user by controlling a first game entity within the first instance of the virtual space, wherein the first game entity is currently defined at least in part by a first attribute value of a first appearance attribute and a second attribute value of a first ability attribute;
detecting tokens based on signals received from token readers, a first token reader being communicatively coupled with the first computing platform, individual tokens being standalone physical objects, the tokens including a first token, the first token being detectable based on a first signal conveying information associated with the first token;
obtaining attribute modification information based on signals received from token readers, the attribute modification information facilitating making changes from currently defined attribute values of the game entities, including obtaining first attribute modification information based on receiving a second signal, the first attribute modification information facilitating making changes from currently defined attribute values of the first game entity; and
effectuating modifications from currently defined attribute values of game entity attributes responsive to attribute modification information being obtained, including effectuating a first modification responsive to the first attribute modification information being obtained, the first modification including a change from the first attribute value by a first amount, and from the second attribute value by a second amount.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein currently defined attribute values comprise one or both of default attribute values or attribute values defined based on gameplay within the virtual space.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein individual groups of game entities are associated with an individual game entity type, wherein game entities of an individual game entity type are associated with a set of default attribute values, such that the first game entity and a second game entity are of a first game entity type, and wherein the first game entity and second game entity are associated with the same set of default attribute values.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein attribute modification information is stored by the tokens

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Peterson Derek
• Kharkar Sandeep

Classifications

• G07F17/3248 Primary

  involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value · CPC title

• G07F17/3262

  Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played · CPC title

• G07F17/323

  wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions · CPC title