Systems and Methods for Capture and Use of Local Elements in Gameplay
A computer-implemented method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay. Access is provided to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact with the video game according to a storyline. A player location is detected and stored. A local element is retrieved from a database based on the player location and the local element is correlated to a local element script actuatable in the video game. This local element script is retrieved and actuated in the video game to supplement or replace the video game's storyline.
1 . A computer-implemented method of enabling virtual gameplay on a computing device in communication with a storage means, the method comprising the steps of:
providing access to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact with the video game according to a storyline;
detecting at the computing device a player location, and storing the location on the storage means;
retrieving from a database using the computing device a local element based on the player location and correlating the local element to a local element script actuatable in the video game; and
using the computing device to retrieve and actuate the local element script in the video game, the local element script supplementing or replacing the storyline.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a second or subsequent location in the course of gameplay, and retrieving a second or further local element script, the second or further local element script being related to the second or subsequent location and its local element.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the correlating of the local element takes account of an operating context within the game.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the video game includes at least one virtual character, and the local element script modifies the virtual character's appearance, facial or body expression or health.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the video game includes at least one virtual character, and the local element script modifies the tools, weapons, equipment or clothing of the virtual character.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local element script modifies character statistics of a virtual character.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the local element is used to determine overall mood or tension of a location, and the local element script modifies character statistics representing mood or aggression in the virtual character.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storyline comprises one or a combination of plot, plot nodes, character interactions, encounters, scene, setting, aesthetics, levels, premise, or theme.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the local element script modifies the scene or setting of the storyline.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local element script modifies or introduces non-player characters, game monsters, enemies, traps or puzzles corresponding to the local element.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local element comprises one or a combination of local events, local indicators, and local celebrities or news figures.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local element is a local news item and the local element script modifies the storyline to reflect that news item.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein, if the news item refers to a crowd of people, the local element script introduces a crowd of non-player characters into the storyline.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local element is a weather, social, political, economic, stock market, demographic, traffic, crime, or construction indicator relevant to the location, and the local element script modifies the storyline to reflect that indicator.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local element is a local celebrity or news figure, and the local element script modifies the storyline to introduce a non-player character representing that local celebrity or news figure.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the local element comprises a keyword extracted from a news stream of local news items.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location is re-detected at intervals, and in the event of a change in the location, a virtual character is shown moving to a new scene in the storyline.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein if a null location is detected or the detected location is unsupported, a default or random storyline is provided.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein if the location does not match a local element in the database, an approximate match is used.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage means is provided by one or a combination of: a local fixed memory, a local removable memory, a remote fixed memory, a remote removable memory, and a virtual memory.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage means is selected from the group consisting of: a local data storage of a game console, a local inbuilt memory, a user provided memory, an online server, and a shared folder on a network.
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step includes retrieving player location from a sensor.
23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the player is enabled to play the game using a game device, and the player location is detected by an on-board sensor on the game device.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the game device is a mobile device.
25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step includes retrieving player location from one or a combination of GPS, A-GPS, WiFi, IP address, account or billing address, and player provided location information.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the player provided location information is a fantasy location.
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step further includes retrieving at least one map from a map database in response to the detected location.
28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location is detected at login.
29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location is detected during gameplay.