Activision Publishing, Inc.

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Keith Stuart Kaplan

Michael David Marr

Nathan T Lewis

Jonathan David Wiswall

Paul England

Bryan M Willman

Gunnar Mein

Syed Mansoor Jafry

Walter J Kennamer

Kenneth D Ray

Marcus Peinado

Neal Robert Christiansen

Vishal Vikram Ghotge

Praerit Garg

Brian LaMacchia

Thomas Jay Miller

Akhilesh Kaza

Alan Geller

Blair Brewster Dillaway

David Golds

Peter T Brundrett

James W Kelly

Jianrong Gu

Robert P Reichel

Brian D Andrew

Daniel Edward Lovinger

Kerry Woolsey

Gary D Kimura

Lucia Darsa

Eileen C Brown

Varugis Kurien

Nimesh I Amin

Peter M Bergler

Shawn Patrick Henry

Ted T Chen

Michael Alfred Aday

Eric Bie

Tony Seeley

A Perry Clarke

Vij Vasu

Neil R Kaethler

L Felipe Cabrera

Steve Serdy

George Floyd Goley, Iv

Selena Wilson

A system and method is provided for continuous gameplay in a multiplayer video game through an unbounded gameplay session. Players may join, exit, and later rejoin a given unbounded gameplay session at any time. A given unbounded gameplay session may therefore continue indefinitely so long as at least one player wishes to continue to gameplay. To facilitate an unbounded gameplay session, the system may score players using time-based or other parameters in a manner that is fair to players who have been playing in the unbounded gameplay session longer than other players.

Systems and methods for converting a bounded gameplay session to an unbounded gameplay session

A system and method is provided that generates a game log that specifies game events during gameplay to enable efficient distribution of video game playback, facilitates the annotation of gameplay through content from users and others, and generates a video game stream that includes the game log and content. The system facilitates the efficient sharing of video game playback, as well as annotations from users and others. For example, e-sportscasters may use the system to broadcast video game playback with their commentary and/or graphical overlays. Video game players may use the system to share video game playback efficiently with other users. The system may also facilitate the sharing of loadout conditions and micro-transactions relevant to video game playback.

Methods and systems for enabling users to experience previously hidden information during a playable recreation of a video game session

A system and method is provided that simulates gameplay of non-player characters (NPCs) distributed across networked end user devices. The system may identify end user devices that are connected to the system through a network and are available to participate in a simulation in which each participating end user device is provided with one or more NPCs to be executed. An end user device may be available to participate when it has sufficient computing capacity, such as when in an idle or standby state. As such, the system may leverage spare computing capacity of networked end user devices to execute NPCs at networked end user devices during a simulation. In this manner, the behavior of an NPC may be tested using real-world conditions that may affect gameplay, such as a network connection quality, user-to-user game engine coordination and data exchanges, and/or other real-world conditions associated with networked end user devices.

Methods and systems for continuing to execute a simulation after processing resources go offline

A system and method for providing dynamically variable maps in a video game is disclosed. A map is provided that defines a playable space available to one or more game players in a video game. Gameplay is monitored in real-time for the detection of a trigger event. Upon detection of a trigger event, a map management engine dynamically modifies a configuration of the map to improve the gameplay experience based on the type of trigger event. Dynamic modification of a map may comprise altering one or more of the map boundary, and/or the location, position, size, number, state, etc. of one or more static map objects or dynamic map objects. As a result of the dynamic modification of the map, the map may transform from its initial (or first or beginning) configuration to a modified (or new or second) configuration.

System and method for providing dynamically variable maps in a video game

Methods and systems for generating a video game stream based on an obtained game log

Systems and methods for distributing the generation of nonplayer characters across networked end user devices for use in simulated NPC gameplay sessions

Systems and methods for initiating conversion between bounded gameplay sessions and unbounded gameplay sessions

System and method of generating and distributing video game streams

Methods and systems for generating and providing virtual objects and/or playable recreations of gameplay

A matchmaking system and method is provided that facilitates optimization of player matches for multiplayer video games. The system may provide a generalized framework for matchmaking using historical player data and analytics. The framework may facilitate automatic determinations of an optimal mix of players and styles to produce the most satisfying user experiences. The system may dynamically update analytical processes based on statistical or otherwise observed data related to gameplay at any given time. In this manner, the system may continually tune the matchmaking process based on observations of player behavior, gameplay quality, and/or other information.

Systems and methods for dynamically weighing match variables to better tune player matches

A method for monitoring the health of a compute resource includes determining a baseline for the amount of time required for the resource to complete a specific task, monitoring the resource to measure the amount of time actually used by the resource to complete the task in a given instance, comparing the baseline time to the measured time, and determining if the resource is operating within acceptable tolerances based on the comparison. An alert may be created or other remedial action may be taken if the resource is not operating within acceptable tolerances.

Compute resource monitoring system and method associated with benchmark tasks and conditions

A system and method is provided that recommends group compositions in multiplayer video games. The system may suggest a composition of a group of players using a matchmaking process. For example, one or more players may wish to form or join a group of players for a given game, but not know what would be an appropriate mix of player styles, player roles, skill levels, and/or other player characteristics that would make an optimal group, given the player's own characteristics. The system may identify optimal groups based on matchmaking related information such as, without limitation, game profile, player profile, prior match scores, prior quality scores, and/or other information. Optimal groups may be those that have performed successfully (e.g., accomplished the most wins, objectives, etc.), are associated with the highest player enjoyment (e.g., based on match and/or quality scores), and/or otherwise are deemed to be desirable.

Group composition matchmaking system and method for multiplayer video games

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Keith Stuart Kaplan