SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THE PRESENTATION OF CONTENT IN A MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME
Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a method, a system, and an article for managing the presentation of content in a multiplayer online game. An example method can include: providing, to a plurality of users, a multiplayer online game having a virtual environment; assigning, to at least one of the users, a timeline defining times at which items of content will be introduced into the virtual environment for the at least one user; advancing the virtual environment forward in time; and introducing the items of content into the virtual environment according to the times defined by the timeline.
1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
providing a multiplayer online game to a plurality of users, the online game comprising a virtual environment;
assigning a timeline to at least one of the users, the timeline defining times at which items of content will be introduced into the virtual environment for the at least one user;
advancing the virtual environment forward in time; and
introducing the items of content into the virtual environment according to the times defined by the timeline.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiplayer online game comprises a lifecycle comprising a plurality of phases.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the timeline corresponds to a single phase from the plurality of phases.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each phase comprises at least one distinct timeline.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one phase comprises overlapping timelines.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the lifecycle comprises a series of timelines, and wherein each timeline in the series comprises a portion of the lifecycle.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user comprises a group of new players of the online game.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the timeline comprises a tree structure comprising nodes and branches.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the items of content comprise at least one of a game event, a game feature, a game rule, a virtual item, a virtual character, and any combination thereof.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the virtual environment forward in time comprises running a game clock for the online game.
11 . A system, comprising:
one or more computer processors programmed to perform operations comprising:
providing a multiplayer online game to a plurality of users, the online game comprising a virtual environment;
assigning a timeline to at least one of the users, the timeline defining times at which items of content will be introduced into the virtual environment for the at least one user;
advancing the virtual environment forward in time; and
introducing the items of content into the virtual environment according to the times defined by the timeline.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the multiplayer online game comprises a lifecycle comprising a plurality of phases.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the timeline corresponds to a single phase from the plurality of phases.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein each phase comprises at least one distinct timeline.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one phase comprises overlapping timelines.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the lifecycle comprises a series of timelines, and wherein each timeline in the series comprises a portion of the lifecycle.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one user comprises a group of new players of the online game.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the timeline comprises a tree structure comprising nodes and branches.
19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein advancing the virtual environment forward in time comprises running a game clock for the online game.
20 . An article, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the computer processors to perform operations comprising:
providing a multiplayer online game to a plurality of users, the online game comprising a virtual environment;
assigning a timeline to at least one of the users, the timeline defining times at which items of content will be introduced into the virtual environment for the at least one user;
advancing the virtual environment forward in time; and
introducing the items of content into the virtual environment according to the times defined by the timeline.