Activision Publishing, Inc.

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Nathan T Lewis

Michael David Marr

Keith Stuart Kaplan

Kenneth D Ray

Eric P Traut

Jacob Kappeler Oshins

David Rudolph Wooten

Jeffrey Kinsey

Peter L Johnston

Paul England

James Morris Alkove

Cristian Marius Ilac

Rene Antonio Vega

Bryan M Willman

Octavian Tony Ureche

Jerry Jay Dunietz

Patrik Schnell

Niels Thomas Ferguson

Innokentiy Basmov

Andrew John Thornton

Adrian J Oney

Magnus Bo Gustaf Nyström

Pavel Zeman

Charles Glenn Jeffries

Lonny Dean McMichael

Michael A Halcrow

Matthew Charles Setzer

Nils Dussart

Kevin M Litwack

Jason Hills

Bryan Mark Willman

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 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

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

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 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

Matchmaking system and method for multiplayer video games

System and method for simulating gameplay of nonplayer characters distributed across networked end user devices

A soft reservation system and method is provided facilitates an unrequested reservation of a gameplay session in multiplayer video games. A soft reservation may include a match between two or more players for one or more subsequent gameplay sessions that are reserved for the players. The system may, for instance, anticipate an interest by players in a gameplay session and make a soft reservation for the players, who may not have explicitly requested the reservation, to play in the gameplay session. A soft reservation may be made for a player based on a match score, a game profile, a player profile, and/or other information.

Soft reservation system and method for multiplayer video games

System and method for providing continuous gameplay in a multiplayer video game through an unbounded gameplay session

An anti-cheating system may comprise a combination of a modified environment, such as a modified operating system, in conjunction with a trusted external entity to verify that the modified environment is running on a particular device. The modified environment may be may be modified in a particular manner to create a restricted environment as compared with an original environment which is replaced by the modified environment. The modifications to the modified environment may comprise alternations to the original environment to, for example, detect and/or prevent changes to the hardware and/or software intended to allow cheating or undesirable user behavior.

Trusted entity based anti-cheating mechanism

A system and method is provided that drives microtransactions in multiplayer video games. The system may include a microtransaction arrange matches to influence game-related purchases. For instance, the system may match a more expert/marquee player with a junior player to encourage the junior player to make game-related purchases of items possessed/used by the marquee player. A junior player may wish to emulate the marquee player by obtaining weapons or other items used by the marquee player.

System and method for driving microtransactions in multiplayer video games

Growing community of inventors

Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Nathan T Lewis