1. Field of the Invention
This application relates generally to a method and system for providing a virtual presentation with a three-dimensional (“3D”) interface, and more specifically to method and system for providing content to a user computer that allows a user of the user computer to develop a 3D activity within a virtual presentation and optionally share the 3D activity with another participant accessing the virtual presentation over a communication network via another user computer.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditionally, users can access a website to participate in a variety of different two-dimensional (“2D”) activities such as games and puzzles for entertainment purposes. More recently, websites have offered games and puzzles using the so-called two-and-a-half dimensional (“2.5D”) display. Such games displayed in 2.5D which involve graphical projections that create the impression of a three-dimensional display, but are actually limited to moving objects along two axes on a 2D plane. Graphics limited to a 2D plane offer limited amusement to participants. Traditional 2D website activities have also included a virtual character that users can use as a game piece on the website during game play. However, the characters available to users exist only within the virtual presentation of the website. Users lack a connection to their characters outside of the website, in the physical world.
Activities made available on such websites are also selected for inclusion on the website by the website's owner. Thus, there are a finite number of activities offering challenges to users on the website, and the particular challenges available are left to the discretion of the website's owner. The website's owner is also burdened with the responsibility of maintaining various other aspects of the website and tending to the business aspects of website ownership, so the activities available on the website have traditionally been slow to evolve.
According to one aspect, the subject application involves a method of developing user-generated challenges in a virtual environment. The method includes receiving registration information transmitted over a communication network, validating the registration information, establishing a user account on a computer and associating a first virtual character with the user account. A user is granted, via said user account, access to a course creation tool comprising a plurality of different course portions that are selectable to be arranged in different ways in the virtual environment to construct a course to be navigated from a start point to an end point. Access to the course is controlled to allow navigation of the course by another virtual character in the virtual environment that is different than the first virtual character. Included along the course, to be encountered by the another virtual character between the starting point and the end point, is a challenge region that is to interfere with a progression of the another virtual character along the course in a direction generally toward the end point. A plurality of virtual obstacles represented by icons are offered as being selectable for inclusion in the challenge region. The another virtual character will be required to interact with at least one of the virtual obstacles included in the challenge region before continuing the progression along the course beyond the challenge region.
According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of creating a user-generated challenge in a virtual environment. The method includes associating a first virtual character with a user account created for a user on a computer, and granting access to a maze creation tool based on the user account. The maze creation tool includes a plurality of maze portions that are selectable to be arranged in the virtual environment to construct a simulated three-dimensional maze to be navigated from a start point to an end point by another virtual character in the virtual environment. The another virtual character is associated with another user account created for a different user. Information indicative of a quantity of a plurality of the maze portions available for selection by the user to be included in the maze is transmitted. A second virtual character is associated with the user account. But prior to associating the second virtual character with the user account, the user is prohibited from accessing a previously-restricted maze portion for inclusion in the maze. Subsequent to associating the second virtual character with the user account, the user is granted access to the previously-restricted maze portion that is selectable for inclusion in the maze. The previously-restricted maze portion is different from the plurality of maze portions. The different user is granted, via another user computer, access to navigate the maze with the another virtual character.
According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of creating a user-generated challenge in a virtual environment. The method includes associating a plurality of virtual characters with a user account created for a user on a computer, and receiving an access request for the virtual environment from a user computer over a communication network. Access is granted to a maze creation tool, based on the user account. The maze creation tool includes a plurality of maze portions that are selectable by the user to be arranged in the virtual environment to construct a simulated three-dimensional maze that is to be navigated by another virtual character in the virtual environment. The another virtual character is associated with another user account created for a different user. Information indicative of a quantity of a plurality of the maze portions available for selection by the user from the maze creation tool to be included in the maze is transmitted. An instruction to perform a first build operation that adds at least one unit to the quantity of one or more of the maze portions available for selection by the user is received. Also received, over the communication network, is a designation of one or more of the virtual characters associated with the user account as selected virtual characters that are to be allocated to the first build operation. A length of time is required to elapse before a subsequent build operation involving at least one of the selected virtual characters allocated to the first build operation can be initiated. The length of time depends at least in part on a quantity of selected virtual characters allocated to the first build operation. The different user is granted, via another user computer, access to navigate the maze constructed using the maze portions with the another virtual character.
According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of interacting in a virtual world. The method includes associating a virtual character representing a purchased toy with a user account created for a user on a computer that has a connection to a communication network. A plurality of non-player characters are associated with each of a plurality of virtual zones of the virtual world. Subsequent to associating the virtual characters with the plurality of virtual zones, commands input via the communication network are received to control the virtual character within a three-dimensional rendering of the virtual world. The commands input request an interaction between the virtual character and one or more of the non-player characters within the three-dimensional rendering of the virtual world. In response to receiving the commands, the requested interaction between the virtual character and the one or more of the non-player characters is established, resulting in a communication from the one or more of the non-player characters to the virtual character. Subsequent to associating the virtual character, content is served over the communication network to be received by the user computer. The content represents a three-dimensional rendering of a virtual course that is to be navigated by the virtual character.
According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of developing a user-generated challenge in a virtual environment. The method includes entering registration information into a user computer and transmitting the registration information over a communication network for validation. First information indicative of successful validation of the registration information is received, and second information for creating a user account is provided. Subsequent to providing the second information, a virtual character associated with the user account is accessed. Using a course creation tool on the user computer, one of a plurality of different course portions that are selectable to be arranged in the virtual environment is selected. Using said course creation tool to select others of said plurality of different course portions, to select plural course portions is also performed. The plural different course portions are arranged in the virtual environment to construct a course to be navigated from a start point to an end point. The method also includes selecting for inclusion along the course, to be encountered a virtual character travelling between the starting point and the end point, a challenge region that is to interfere with a progression of the virtual character along the course in a direction generally toward the end point. A plurality of virtual obstacles are selected for inclusion in the challenge region. The virtual character will be required to interact with at least one of the virtual obstacles included in the challenge region before continuing the progression along the course beyond the challenge region. The course is submitted for publication to allow the course to be accessed and navigated by at least one of the virtual character and another virtual character.
According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of creating a user-generated challenge in a virtual environment. The method includes transmitting, over a communication network, a request to register a first virtual character and associate the first virtual character with a user account, and accessing a maze creation tool comprising a plurality of maze portions. The plurality of maze portions are selected and arranged into a three-dimensional maze in the virtual environment that is to be navigated from a start point to an end point by another virtual character in the virtual environment. The another virtual character is associated with another user account created for a remotely-located user. An indication of a quantity of a plurality of the maze portions available to be included in the maze is received. The method also includes transmitting, over the communication network, a request to register a second virtual character and associate the second virtual character with the user account. Subsequent to transmitting the request to register the second virtual character, a previously-restricted maze portion is selected for inclusion in the maze, the previously-restricted maze portion being different from the plurality of maze portions. The maze is submitted for publication to allow the maze to be accessed by the remotely-located user, via a user computer, and navigated with the another virtual character.
According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of creating a user-generated challenge in a virtual environment. The method includes requesting registration of a plurality of virtual characters to be associated with a user account, accessing a maze creation tool including a plurality of maze portions, and selecting the plurality of maze portions and arranging the plurality of maze portions selected to construct a three-dimensional maze in the virtual environment to be navigated by another virtual character in the virtual environment. The another virtual character is associated with another user account created for a remotely-located user. An indication of a quantity of a plurality of the maze portions available for selection from the maze creation tool to be included in the maze is received. Performance of a first build operation is requested to add at least one unit to the quantity of one or more of the maze portions available for selection. One or more of the virtual characters associated with the user account are designated as selected virtual characters that are to be allocated to the first build operation. A length of time before a subsequent build operation involving at least one of the selected virtual characters allocated to the first build operation can be initiated depends at least in part on a quantity of selected virtual characters allocated to the first build operation. The maze is submitted for publication to allow the maze to be accessed by the remotely-located user, via a user computer, and navigated with the another virtual character.
According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of providing a virtual presentation. The method includes requesting registration of a virtual character representing a purchased toy and association of the virtual character with a user account. The method also includes transmitting an instruction requesting an interaction between the virtual character and at least one of a plurality of non-player characters associated with a virtual zone forming a portion of a virtual world. The interaction between the virtual character and the at least one of the non-player characters is to occur within a three-dimensional rendering of the virtual world. A communication is received from the one or more of the non-player characters in response to the interaction between the virtual character and the at least one of the non-player characters. And subsequent to associating the virtual character with the user account, a three-dimensional rendering of a virtual course that is to be navigated by the virtual character is displayed.
The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
a shows a first orientation of a tubular segment being included in a maze under construction in a maze editor;
b shows a second orientation of the tubular segment shown in
Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.
A web server 14 can also be included as part of the computer system 10. The web server 14 can host a website comprising the virtual world as well as other features that are to appear within the virtual world. The web server 14 can serve content via a communication network 16 to a first user computer 18 and a second user computer 20, each being remotely located from the web server 14 and each other. Although shown as separate entities in
A registration component 24 is also provided to receive registration information transmitted by the user computer 18 over the communication network or otherwise conveyed to the administrative server 12 for validation purposes. The registration information can optionally include a registration code or any other information associated with a purchased product possessed by a user of the user computer 18. For example, the registration code can optionally be a unique code 26 (
Also shown in
For other embodiments, the user may transmit registration information associated with a plush toy animal other than a hamster such as that offered for sale by GANZ as part of the Webkinz® line of products. Registering such information commonly results in the association of a virtual character having an appearance other than a hamster (such as a virtual replica of the plush animal) being associated with a user account. However, according to the present embodiment, the user can be provided with the option to receive access to a virtual character with an appearance representing a hamster rather than the plush toy animal associated with the registration information. For such an embodiment, the offer to receive a virtual hamster as the virtual character can optionally be extended during a limited time, such as during an initial introduction of the virtual hamster to the virtual world.
A virtual world content component 32 in
The components can be software modules in a single computer or in multiple connected computers, or can be separate processors or computers.
The content served by the virtual world content component 32 can be used by the user computer 18 to display a simulated 3D graphical representation of the virtual world, such that virtual characters and other objects can be moved along three virtual axes that respectively represent the three dimensions of width, height and depth (often referred to as X, Y and Z axes). Such a 3D graphical representation is to be contrasted with a so-called 2.5D representation, where techniques are employed to create the appearance of a 3D game, but game play is limited to a two-dimensional plane or grid, such that a user can only freely move a virtual character along two axes. In some cases such 2.5D representation will allow the user to control some limited movement of the character along a third axis, for example to simulate jumping, ducking, dodging or the like. In some 2.5D representations the game may automatically move a character along a third axis (outside of the users control), for example to allow the character to follow the terrain up and down as the user moves character in a two-dimensional plane. By contrast, for the virtual world rendered in the 3D graphical representation the virtual character is able to travel through the virtual world in all three dimensions as desired.
A non-player character (“NPC”) component 34 can maintain a graphical representation and attributes associated with NPCs that are to be encountered by the virtual character in the virtual world. As described below, the virtual character can approach a NPC in the virtual world to interact with the NPC. Examples of such interactions can include receiving and/or transmitting a written communication from/to the NPC; receiving a challenge from the NPC to be performed by the virtual character that, if successful, results in the virtual character receiving a reward; giving the NPC a gift; or any combination thereof. Any of the interactions between the virtual character and a NPC can bolster a relationship there between as described below. This relationship level can optionally be associated with the user account by the user account management component 30. In one embodiment, there can be a relationship ‘bar’ that shows the amount or other indication of the quality of the relationship between the virtual character and the NPC. Users can also establish a list of NPCs that the user considers to be friends, or at least an acquaintance. Thus, a user can initiate an interaction with NPCs on the list by selecting the respective name of the NPC and an option to interact with that NPC.
A maze component 36 is also included to facilitate the participation in, and optionally the creation of an activity involving a 3D course having a start point and a finish point. One example of such a course is a maze that can: be navigated from the start to the finish, optionally include a collection of items to be found and collected by the virtual character to complete the maze, or a combination thereof.
A description of the virtual world and the activities therein that can be provided by the computer system 10 executing suitable computer-executable instructions is described below with reference to
In response to the user's agreement with the rules 40 and/or terms of use 42, a registration interface 48 (
A parent's or guardian's email address can optionally be entered into a suitable field 60 provided on the registration interface 48 for directing future communications involving the user account and/or other aspects of the virtual world that may only be properly addressed by an adult. For instance, communications concerning financial ramifications of visiting the virtual world may be directed to such an email address. Such an email address can also be aimed at granting supervisory privileges to a parent of a minor child who visits the virtual world. Fields 58, 60 allowing entry of the user's birth date and gender, respectively, can also be provided. Entry of information may be required in each of the fields 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58, while the gender information may be optional.
Following submission of the information entered into the registration interface 48 a preview of a virtual character 62 (
As mentioned above, the virtual world can be presented on the website in full 3D. For rendering the virtual world in 3D, a 3D graphics engine such as the Unity Web Player available from Unity Technologies may be required to be installed on the user computer 18. The Unity Web Player allows the 3D content to be displayed in a conventional web browser window. As shown in
With the player installed on the user computer 18 and the registration information validated, the user is granted access to the virtual character 62 in a home screen 76 of the virtual world as shown in
Upon selection of the Hamlet icon 78 an animation is performed using the 3D web player. The animation can optionally include a virtual character 62 running or otherwise passing through a generally-tubular interior passage having the appearance of a virtual hamster tube 174 (
Each of the daily activities 82, and optionally the explore option 84, can involve a type of virtual scavenger hunt during which the virtual character 62 is controlled by the user on the playing field 88 to collect predetermined virtual objects. Further, the daily activities 82 can optionally be performed by navigating the virtual character 62 in the same playing field 88 navigated by the virtual character 62 according to the explore option 84. However, unlike the explore option 84, selection of the daily activities 82 results in placement of virtual objects on the playing field to be collected by the virtual character 62 that are not available when the explore option 84 is selected. Further, the daily activities have an end goal that, when accomplished, concludes the activity. The explore option 84 can lack a predetermined end goal, allowing the user to determine when to conclude the activity.
For example, selection of the daily activity “Key Craze” 86 from among the available daily activities 82 brings the virtual character 62 to a virtual playing field such as that shown in
In the Key Craze daily activity, the user controls the virtual character 62 on the playing field 88 to uncover virtual keys. Each time the virtual character 62 collects such a virtual key the virtual character 62 is to return to a treasure chest also situated on the playing field 88. If the proper key that will unlock the treasure chest was recovered by the virtual character 62, the treasure chest will be opened and a prize will be give to the virtual character 62 as a reward. The prize can optionally include virtual currency that is not legal tender but can be spent to purchase virtual items in an electronic store 310 (
The dock 92 is a graphical representation of an inventory of items owned by the virtual character 62 and associated with the user account for the virtual character 62. Examples of virtual objects given to the virtual character 62 as a reward can include a maze portion such as a tubular segment 238 (
In the event that the key obtained by the virtual character 62 does not unlock the treasure chest, the user is to control the virtual character 62 to find another key disposed elsewhere on the playing field 88. This process is repeated until one of two conditions is met: the proper key is returned by the virtual character 62 to open the treasure chest and earn the reward, or a time limit for opening the treasure chest expires.
Selection of the “Gift Grab” 94 activity from the daily activity menu 82 shown in
Also shown in
A world map 100 is also available to the user to open a map of the virtual world. The virtual world includes a plurality of different zones that the virtual character 62 can visit. Each zone can have its own theme such as the open meadow of the playing field 80 shown in
Each zone can optionally also include one or more NPCs (not shown), which can optionally have an appearance consistent with the theme of their respective zone. For example, for the playing field 88 shown in
The virtual character 62 can optionally establish a relationship with one or more of the NPCs. A relationship parameter is associated with the virtual character 62 to indicate a relative degree of closeness of the relationship between the virtual character 62 and one or more NPCs. Each interaction between the virtual character 62 and a NPC can serve to strengthen their relationship, and accordingly, increase a value of the relationship parameter. The relationship parameter between the virtual character 62 and an NPC can also optionally decrease over time during which there is an absence of interactions between the virtual character 62 and that NPC. Thus extended periods of time during which there are no interactions between the virtual character 62 and the NPC will result in a decrease in the value of the relationship parameter, which is indicative of a weakening relationship. Thus, the user is encouraged to interact with the NPC on a regular basis.
The interactions between the virtual character 62 and the NPCs can take many forms. For example, the user can simply control the virtual character 62 to approach a NPC and exchange a communication such as a chat message. According to alternate embodiments, the virtual character 62 can give a NPC a gift such as virtual currency that results in an increase of the relationship parameter. According to other embodiments, upon approaching the NPC, the virtual character 62 may be issued a test or challenge by the NPC. Successfully completing such a task or challenge can result in an increase of the relationship parameter. Yet other embodiments can increase the relationship parameter associated with the virtual character 62 for a particular NPC with the combination of any of the foregoing embodiments.
The degree of closeness between the virtual character 62 and NPC can fall into one of a plurality of different levels, and can change levels to reflect the changing nature of the relationship. For example, the virtual character 62 is considered a stranger to the NPC before any interactions between the two have occurred. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the virtual character 62 is considered to be a confidant of the NPC when the value of the relationship parameter exceeds a threshold value associated with that relationship level. There can be any number of levels in between those two extremes such as five intermediate levels that are achieved when the value of the relationship falls into different ranges associated with the different levels. The intervals between those levels may be the same, or optionally different to make it more difficult to advance relationship levels the closer the virtual character 62 gets to becoming a confidant of the NPC. A reward can also be granted to the virtual character 62 in response to any such interactions between that virtual character 62 and an NPC. The reward can also become greater in value as the relationship between the virtual character 62 in the NPC grows closer. An illustrative embodiment of the relationship levels possible between the virtual character 62 and an NPC include a plurality of the following relationship statuses, in order from most distant to closest: stranger, acquaintance, chum, peer, friend, ally and confidant. Further, the value of the relationship parameter to reach increasingly stronger relationship statuses can optionally set to make it more difficult to advance to the next closest level the closer that next closest level is. For example, it may take more time, interactions and/or effort by a virtual character to advance a relationship status with a NPC from ally to confidant than to advance the relationship status with that NPC from stranger to acquaintance.
Referring once again to
For example, an activity named “Find the Flags” 108 requires the virtual character 62 to locate and collect a predetermined number of flags distributed throughout the playing field 88. As shown in
Each of the activities represented in the challenge menu 102 in
Although Find the Flags 108 has been described in detail, the other activities available through the challenge menu 102 in
Likewise the Matching Pairs 122 activity requires the virtual character 62 to locate virtual objects distributed throughout the playing field 88. However, the virtual objects must be collected in pairs. So if a heart shaped object is located by the virtual character 62 the very next object collected by the virtual character 62 must also be a heart shaped object for the virtual character 62 to be credited with finding a pair. The particular object to be collected by the virtual character 62 may not be readily apparent to the user as the virtual character 62 approaches the virtual object before that virtual object has been collected for the first time. However once the virtual object has been collected and a subsequently-collected virtual object does not match the first virtual object, the first virtual object is returned to the spawn point from where it was originally collected. The identity of the first collected item can be, from that point forward, displayed on the playing field 88 in a readily-apparent manner. Thus, a first erroneous attempt to collect matching pairs is unlikely to be repeated. Again, the Matching Pairs 122 activity can include a series of levels to be completed, and additional reward can be granted upon successful completion of all levels.
Zum Roundup 124 also involves scavenging for virtual items arranged throughout the playing field 88. The so-called Zums to be collected appear as small flying creatures. Each Zum encountered by the virtual character 62 becomes coupled to the virtual character 62 and hovers above the virtual character 62 as the virtual character 62 travels throughout the playing field 88. The object of the Zum Roundup 124 is to collect a predetermined number of the Zums and return them to a gathering point on the playing field 88. And just as with the other activities in the Zum Roundup 124 can be divided into levels and optionally timed.
With reference once again to
The maze menu 128 also includes a collection of timed mazes 132. The timed mazes 132 can optionally include the same collection of mazes including hamster tubes 174 (
A collection of community mazes 134 is also included in the maze menu 128. The community mazes 134 include a plurality of different mazes created by users of the virtual world and published to be shared with other users as described in detail below.
The collection of challenge mazes 130 shown in
Details regarding the makeup of the group of mazes highlighted by the cursor 148 can be provided in a maze summary window 150. The maze summary window 150 includes a name of the group 152, a progress indicator 154 detailing any progress in completing the group of mazes, and the difficulty 156 of each of the constituent mazes. A summary 158 can also be provided detailing what must be done to successfully complete the mazes in the group. A silhouette 160 of a trophy to be awarded to the virtual character 62 for completing all mazes in the group can also be provided. The silhouette 160 is converted to a full-color image once all mazes within the group have been successfully completed.
Selection of a group 136 of mazes in
Before beginning a maze, the user has the option to select a walking option 170 that requires the virtual character 62 to navigate the maze on foot by walking and/or running A ball option 172 is also presented in the group detail page 162 that, when selected, requires the virtual character 62 to navigate the maze within a hamster ball 176 (
Once the user has started the challenge maze the virtual character 62 is required to navigate through a network of hamster tubes 174 in search for the virtual objects to be collected in order to complete the maze. According to the embodiment shown in
The 3D nature of the maze or other course along with the complexity of some of the mazes may cause the user to become disoriented and revisit the same portion of the maze believing that the portion has not yet been explored. In an effort to assist users, a portion of the maze may change in appearance once the virtual character 62 has traveled beyond the portion a first time. For example,
Upon successfully completing a maze, whether it is a challenge maze, a timed maze, or a community maze, the user may be prompted to rate the maze that was just completed. According to alternate embodiments the user may be required to submit a rating of the maze before being allowed to return to the menu corresponding to the maze completed and performing other activities in the virtual world.
Selecting the community mazes 134 in
Unlike the challenge mazes and the timed mazes, however, the community mazes are constructed by other users in the virtual world as described in detail below. Because the number of community mazes can be quite large, the community detail screen 182 can allow the user to sort the community mazes according to a plurality of different criteria. For example, a spotlight search icon 190 can be provided for selection by the user to present all mazes spotlighted by the website proprietor. The proprietor or other authorized party can spotlight any maze the proprietor considers to be unique. Likewise a publication date search icon 192 can be provided to arrange the community mazes in order based on a date the community mazes were published. Selecting the publication date icon 192 the first time can arrange the community mazes in ascending order and selecting the icon 192 again reverses the order. A favorite icon 194 can be selected to display only those mazes that the user has personally identified as being a favorite. Thus ratings from others in the virtual world do not affect the status of a maze as a favorite since that is a selection that is personal to the user. The ratings icon 196 can be selected to return those mazes have, on average, received the highest ratings from the users in the virtual world that have experienced those mazes. And a most played icon 198 can be selected to return those mazes in the virtual world that have been played the most often.
From the home screen 76 in
The maze editor 206 includes a three-dimensional workspace 208 in which individual maze portions 210 can be retrieved from a menu 212 and assembled into a three-dimensional maze under construction 214. Selected maze portions 216 can simply be dragged from the menu as icons and dropped at the desired location within close proximity to an existing maze portion already assembled in the workspace 208. The selected maze portion 216 can optionally snap into place once it is close enough to the existing maze portions to indicate a desired installation location.
Once positioned, the selected maze portion 216 can then be rotated or otherwise adjusted to achieve the desired arrangement in the three-dimensional workspace 208. For example, the selected maze portion 216 shown in
In addition to the maze portions 210 shown as tubular segments in
The menu 212 also includes a plurality of different designs 230 such as those shown in
As shown in
A quantity 236 of each tubular segment 238 in the virtual character's inventory is shown in
One or more of the rooms 224 included in the maze adjacent to at least one, and optionally between a plurality of maze portions 216 can form challenge regions 280 (
As shown in
The inventory of virtual obstacles available to be placed within the challenge region 280 can optionally be limited to a finite number for each challenge region 280. For instance, a limit of one of each geometric shape 284, 286 can be imposed for each challenge region 280. Alternately, the number of available virtual obstacles can be limited for the entire maze. For such embodiments, up to five of each virtual obstacle can be placed in rooms 224 throughout the maze. Thus, more than one of each virtual obstacle can be placed in a given challenge region, so long as the total number of a given virtual obstacle does not exceed the maximum throughout the entire maze. In other words, a plurality of virtual obstacles can be included in a first challenge region 280, but are not available to be, or are prohibited from being included in a second challenge region.
One or more of the virtual objects can optionally be made interactive. For instance, the pyramidal-shaped icon 288 in
The icons 284 in
The elevated experience level can optionally make additional, more complex virtual obstacle icons 284 available for selection from the dock 92. As the complexity of the virtual obstacle icons increases, the level of interactions required between virtual characters and the virtual obstacles placed in a challenge region 280 to allow the virtual characters to advance beyond that challenge region 280 can also optionally be increased. For instance, as shown in
Animated obstacles such as the pendulum icon 298 can be dragged from the dock 92 to a location adjacent to the door 296. Once in place within the challenge region 280, the pendulum icon 298 can appear animated, swinging back and forth in front of the exit 282. Thus, a virtual character navigating the maze would be required to contact the cubical icon 286 to open the door 296, then avoid the swinging pendulum 298 to exit, and advance beyond the challenge region 280. For such embodiments, the virtual character would be required to overcome a plurality of such virtual obstacles to advance beyond the challenge region 280.
Programming the icons allows the user to apply programming logic to the virtual objects placed in a challenge region 280 using a drag-and-drop interface. For example, a user could drag a button object (such as button 302 in
Likewise, the button 302, for example, could also be dragged and dropped onto another virtual obstacle such as the swinging pendulum 298, for example, placed in a challenge region 280, which can be a challenge region 280 other than where the button 302 will eventually be placed. Dragging and dropping the button 302 in such a manner establishes a link between the button 302 and the swinging pendulum 298. A virtual character navigating the maze can actuate the button 302 to start and/or stop the swinging pendulum 298 from swinging. Thus, pre-programmed virtual objects such as the swinging pendulum 298 made available for selection by the user can be further programmed by allowing the user to drag and drop other virtual obstacles such as the button 302 thereon to create a user-generated challenge in the virtual world, optionally without requiring the user to engage in the keyed-entry of code using a keyboard.
The user can arrange the icons representing the virtual obstacles to define the order in which the virtual character must interact with each virtual obstacle in order to open the door 296. For example, the push button 302 placed on top of a pedestal 304 must be stepped on by the virtual character to open the door 296, but is not initially reachable by the virtual character. Instead, a first lever 306 in the challenge region 280 must be actuated in order to cause a step 308 to rise from the floor, allowing the virtual character to climb to the top of the pedestal 304 and reach the push button 302 to open the door 296. The order in which a virtual character is required to interact with various different virtual obstacles can optionally be made adjustable, without requiring the user who constructed the maze to remove and replace the virtual obstacles in the desired order. According to alternate embodiments, the use can optionally require a virtual character to interact with a virtual obstacle in a separate room 224, other than the room in which the challenge region 280 is located to open the door 296, or at least gain access to another virtual obstacle at the challenge region 280 that will open the door 296.
In addition to the rooms 224 included in a maze, the user can elect to include virtual obstacles in a virtual home for the virtual character within the virtual world. The virtual home can optionally include virtual furnishings and represent a residence where the virtual character lives. By including the virtual obstacles in the virtual home and allowing other virtual characters under the control of other users in the virtual world, the virtual home can be a sort of funhouse, creating a challenge for other virtual characters to navigate.
To increase the inventory of the tubular segments 238, the user can retrieve the build interface 234 over the communication network 16 using the user computer 18 and locate the tubular segment 238 to be built. As an example, the building of a “Medium Rising Curve” 240 will be described, but a similar build operation can be performed to increase the quantity 236 of any of the accessible tubular segments 238. The Medium Rising Curve 240 is said to be accessible to the user, meaning that access to build such tubular segment 238 has been granted to the user as indicated by the construction icon 242 having an appearance of a hamster wearing a hard hat. Tubular segments 238 that are not available to be built are said to be locked, and are labeled with a lock icon 244. Access to locked tubular segment 246, such as the “Winding Snake” in
All tubular segments 238 in the virtual character's inventory appearing in the menu 212 are not necessarily accessible to be built via the build interface 234. As can be seen from
Access to build a unit of a locked tubular segment 246 in the build interface 234 can be granted to the user in response to any desired condition. For example, access to build one or more units of the Long Slide 248 can be granted in response to successful validation of additional registration information received by the administrative server 12 via the communication network and validated subsequent to successful validation of initial registration information. Two, three, four or more successful validations of subsequently-transmitted registration information can optionally be required to unlock, and grant a user access to build locked tubular segments 246. As explained above, the registration information to be validated before unlocking a locked tubular segment 246 or other maze portion may include a registration code associated with a toy or other item that has been purchased. Regardless of how a locked tubular segment 246 is unlocked,
Once the Long Slide 248 has been unlocked, the user can select that as the tubular segment to be built, and proceed to the construction editor 252 shown in
The quantity 264 of Long Slide 248 units in the inventory associated with the user account is incremented by one unit (from 0 to 1 in the illustrated example) as a result of the build operation. The quantity 264 can be incremented substantially immediately following selection of the Build It! button 262, making the new unit of the Long Slide 248 available for inclusion in a maze under construction 214. Following the execution of the build operation, however, the virtual characters 62a-62d will be required to rest, recover or otherwise delay before being available for use in a subsequent build operation. The length of time required before a subsequent build operation can be performed using at least one of the virtual characters 62a-62d can optionally depend on the number of virtual characters 62a-62d allocated to the build operation that the delay is to follow. For example, a rest time 266 of 30 minutes following execution of the build operation will be required for each of the virtual characters 62a-62d used in that build operation. If only two virtual characters 62a, 62b were used, the rest time 266 required will be greater than 30 minutes, and optionally doubled to 60 minutes since only half of the virtual characters 62a-62d were allocated to the build operation. Virtual characters 62e, 62f in
The quantity of a tube segment 238 and other maze portion in inventory is decremented by one unit when that tube segment or other maze portion is added to the maze under construction 214 as shown in
Maze portions with a numerical quantity, such as the tubular segments 238 for example, that are included in the maze under construction 214 and completed mazes that have been saved and associated with the user account are not returned to the inventory to be used for subsequent mazes. Thus, the quantity of maze portions in inventory is not the number available for each maze, but the total number of maze portions available. However, maze portions included in a maze or maze under construction 214 can be returned to the inventory by deleting those maze portions from the maze or maze under construction 214, or recycling the maze as a whole. The maze library 202 in
If the user wishes to share the newly-completed maze with other users in the virtual world, the user can publish the maze. As shown in
Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/292,317, filed Jan. 5, 2010, and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/417,826, filed Nov. 29, 2010, both of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61417826 | Nov 2010 | US | |
61292317 | Jan 2010 | US |