IP Library Granted Patent US 9,901,818
Granted Patent B1
US 9,901,818 · App. 15/048,932 · Granted Feb 27, 2018

Systems and methods for regulating access to game content of an online game

Inventors: Kent Wakeford (Hillsborough, CA); Tomi Huttula (San Rafael, CA)
Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
A63F13/23A63F13/285A63F13/77A63F13/825
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,901,818
App. No.
15/048,932
Granted
Feb 27, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

Online games may include game content that may be played cooperatively by groups of users. The game content may include a group roles set for the users in individual groups. Users of an online game may interact with the online game via client computing platforms. The client computing platforms may include virtual reality platforms and non-virtual reality platforms. Access to the game content of the online game may be regulated by determining whether the users are attempting to play a game instance of the online game via the virtual reality platforms or the non-virtual reality platforms. A first set of group roles may be presented to users attempting to play the game instance via the virtual reality platforms. A second set of group roles may be presented to users attempting to play the game instance via the non-virtual reality platforms.

Claims (51)

1. A system that regulates access to game content of an online game, the system comprising:

one or more physical processors configured by machine readable instructions to:

execute a game instance of the online game and use the game instance to generate game state information that is transmitted to client computing platforms over a network, the game state information facilitating presentation of views of the online game to users via the client computing platforms, wherein execution of the game instance further enables interaction by the users with the online game and/or each other by performing operations in the game instance in response to commands received over the network from the client computing platforms, wherein the client computing platforms include virtual reality platforms and non-virtual reality platforms, the online game including the game content that is played cooperatively by groups of users and includes a group roles set for the users in individual groups, wherein the group roles set include a first set of group roles and a second set of group roles, the first set of group roles differing from the second set of group roles;

determine whether the users of the online game are attempting to play the game instance via the virtual reality platforms or the non-virtual reality platforms;

responsive to determination that an individual user is attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms, effectuate presentation of the first set of group roles to such individual user; and

responsive to determination that an individual user is attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms, effectuate presentation of the second set of group roles to such individual user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine readable instruction to:

determine changes in the client computing platforms used by the users to interact with the online game;

responsive to determination that an individual user changed from playing the online game via the one or more of the virtual reality platforms to the one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms, effectuate presentation of the second set of group roles to such individual user; and

responsive to determination that an individual user changed from playing the online game via the one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms to the one or more of the virtual reality platforms, effectuate presentation of the first set of group roles to such individual user.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of group roles is characterized by a first type of gameplay and the second set of group roles is characterized by a second type of gameplay, the first type of gameplay differing from the second type of gameplay.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein effectuating presentation of the first set of group roles includes:

receiving selection of a group role from the first set of group roles by the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein effectuating presentation of the first set of group roles includes:

selecting a group role from the first set of group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein effectuating presentation of the second set of group roles includes:

receiving selection of a group role from the second set of group roles by the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein effectuating presentation of the second set of group roles includes:

selecting a group role from the second set of group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality platforms include a virtual reality headset display.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual reality platforms include a motion controller.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual reality platforms include a haptic generator.

11. A method that regulates access to game content of an online game, the method comprising:

executing a game instance of the online game and using the game instance to generate game state information that is transmitted to client computing platforms over a network, the game state information facilitating presentation of views of the online game to users via the client computing platforms, wherein execution of the game instance further enables interaction by the users with the online game and/or each other by performing operations in the game instance in response to commands received over the network from the client computing platforms, wherein the client computing platforms include virtual reality platforms and non-virtual reality platforms, the online game including the game content that is played cooperatively by groups of users and includes a group roles set for the users in individual groups, wherein the group roles set include a first set of group roles and a second set of group roles, the first set of group roles differing from the second set of group roles;

determining whether the users of the online game are attempting to play the game instance via the virtual reality platforms or the non-virtual reality platforms;

responsive to determination that an individual user is attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms, effectuating presentation of the first set of group roles to such individual user; and

responsive to determination that an individual user is attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms, effectuating presentation of the second set of group roles to such individual user.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine readable instruction to:

determining changes in the client computing platforms used by the users to interact with the online game;

responsive to determination that an individual user changed from playing the online game via the one or more of the virtual reality platforms to the one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms, effectuating presentation of the second set of group roles to such individual user; and

responsive to determination that an individual user changed from playing the online game via the one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms to the one or more of the virtual reality platforms, effectuating presentation of the first set of group roles to such individual user.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first set of group roles is characterized by a first type of gameplay and the second set of group roles is characterized by a second type of gameplay, the first type of gameplay differing from the second type of gameplay.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein effectuating presentation of the first set of group roles includes:

receiving selection of a group role from the first set of group roles by the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein effectuating presentation of the first set of group roles includes:

selecting a group role from the first set of group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the virtual reality platforms.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein effectuating presentation of the second set of group roles includes:

receiving selection of a group role from the second set of group roles by the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein effectuating presentation of the second set of group roles includes:

selecting a group role from the second set of group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms; and

implementing the selected group roles for the users attempting to play the game instance via one or more of the non-virtual reality platforms.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the virtual reality platforms include a virtual reality headset display.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the virtual reality platforms include a motion controller.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the virtual reality platforms include a haptic generator.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2018
From: AFTERSHOCK SERVICES, INC.
To: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
Reel/Frame 045474/0300 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2017
From: KABAM, INC.
To: AFTERSHOCK SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042211/0425 →
TERMINATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT, RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 039268/0910 Recorded Mar 2, 2017
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: KABAM, INC.
Reel/Frame 041857/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2016
From: KABAM, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 039268/0910 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2016
From: WAKEFORD, KENT; HUTTULA, TOMI
To: KABAM, INC.
Reel/Frame 037780/0816 →