Abstract: A portable electronic device may be configured for play of a video game, with user controlled game characters operated based on inputs received on first user inputs of the device and a virtual game world modified based on information from motion-related sensors of the device. The modification of the virtual game world may be rotation and/or translation of the virtual game world in a gravitational reference frame. The portable electronic device may also allow for user configuration of the virtual game world.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods track and continuously monitor data about a player or a multiple players and create a non-playing character (NPC) and/or modify an existing NPC that replicates the player(s) play style. The disclosed systems implement an artificial intelligence engine that monitors how a real player responds to one or more events in a game and correlates game outcomes with real player actions, with the actions or reactions of third players, and/or with an amount or extent of engagement. The engine may be used to generate, host, or otherwise provide data representative of one or more NPCs to multiple different games, being hosted by one or more servers, concurrently.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods that enable non-players to participate as spectators in online video games and, through a collective voting mechanism, determine the occurrence of certain events or contents of the gameplay in real time. Game event options are generated and presented to non-players. A specific one of the game event options is then selected based on a collective vote of the non-players. Once selected, the specific one or more of the game event options are then generated as actual gaming events and incorporated into a video game stream that is transmitted to the players as part of the gameplay session. In this manner, non-players may be able to directly affect the course of gameplay.

Abstract: A method of tracking phishing activity is disclosed. A request to download a webpage hosted as part of a legitimate website on a server is initiated. The request includes identification data pertaining to at least one user computing device. The identification data is extracted from the request. A unique identifier corresponding to the extracted identification data is generated. Fingerprint data is generated using at least a subset of the extracted identification data. The unique identifier, the extracted identification data and the fingerprint data is stored. The fingerprint data is encoded into a program and/or data associated with the webpage to generate a modified webpage. The modified webpage is transmitted from the server to the user computing device in response to the request.

Abstract: The specification discloses methods and systems for enabling users to configure one or more actuators in data communication with a user's computing device and positioned on a prop to generate and deliver feedback to a motion capture actor engaged with the prop. At least one graphical interface in the computing device is configured to enable the user to configure occurrence of at least one event during a scene, associate a time and duration of occurrence to the at least one event within an overall duration of the scene, select the prop, assign the at least one event and the associated time and duration of occurrence to at least one actuator on the prop, configure at least one parameter for the feedback, and activate the at least one actuator to generate and deliver the feedback to the actor in response to an occurrence of the at least one event.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A multiplayer game implementing a method for generating a plurality of training virtual areas; generating at least one GUI to display a list of the plurality of training virtual areas; using the at least one GUI, enabling a player to choose one of the plurality of training virtual areas, wherein said one of the plurality of training virtual areas is associated with at least one attribute; allowing the player to navigate a virtual character to said one of the plurality of training virtual areas; monitoring an activity of the virtual character in said one of the plurality of training virtual areas; determining a value of the at least one attribute based on the monitored activity; and updating a first attributes profile of the virtual character to a second attributes profile based on the determined value of the at least one attribute.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling a weapons-related video game on a touchscreen-based device. Aspects of the invention simplify the act of aiming at a target on a touchscreen-based device by: presenting a virtual environment from a first viewpoint and a user interface to a player, the user interface comprising at least one graphical user input element, the virtual environment including a plurality of targets, at least some of which has assigned priorities; assigning a priority to at least one of the targets; determining a highest-priority target out of the at least one of the targets that have been assigned a priority; receiving an indication that the at least one graphical user input element has been selected by a user; and, in response, determining a second viewpoint for viewing the virtual environment that is different from the first viewpoint for viewing the virtual environment, relative to the highest-priority target.

Abstract: An approach is provided for streaming of media streams (e.g., from a game console). In one implementation, a media stream that includes a secondary view of the game world may be generated at the game console. The secondary view may be of a lower-quality version of a primary view of the game world. The generation of the media stream may include: prefetching, to a cache of the game console, portions of the primary view and/or instructions for encoding the portions; and encoding, based on the prefetching, the portions to produce the secondary view. In another implementation, game play information may be executed to reproduce previous game play of a previous game session during a reproduction of the previous game session. Augmentation content may be added to the reproduced game session during the reproduction of the previous game session, creating an augmented game session having one or more views for streaming.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that automatically annotates gameplay based on triggering events that occur during a gameplay session. The system may automatically annotate the gameplay in real-time, such as during a gameplay session associated with an electronic-sports tournament. For example, the system may obtain and parse a game log corresponding to the gameplay session, identify triggering events based on the game log, obtain an annotation rule associated with the triggering event, generate an annotation item based on the annotation rule, and cause the annotation item to be presented in association with video of the gameplay session. An annotation item may be displayed interactively such that, when selected, causes the system to take an action. The action may include obtaining additional information relating to the selected annotation item; saving, sharing, liking/disliking or commenting on the selected annotation item; removing the selected annotation item from a display, and/or other actions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for imparting dynamic, non-linear and realistic movement and look and feel to a player's/virtual character's first-person limbs and hand-held object model, and procedurally animating a first-person virtual camera such that it simulates the movement of a camera handheld by the player/virtual character. To impart chaotic or random motion to the first-person limbs and hand-held object model a first module defines and implements first and second two dimensional mass-spring-damper systems, each of which is linked to the player's/virtual vector's view vector. Procedural animation or rotational shake is implemented by a second module by applying a coherent noise function to each of the six axes of the first-person virtual camera.

Abstract: In a multiplayer video game, virtual cameras are controlled by continually assessing and ranking storylines relating to the interactions of various players during a game session. A ranking for each storyline may be based on various factors such as, but not limited to, what the players can see, the distance between certain players, nearby game items or in-game. Subsequently, at least one virtual camera is navigated to provide a view of the highest-ranking storyline, subject to certain limitations on how the camera can move, transition, or otherwise display the interactions between players. In embodiments, a set of rules including rules of cinematography, are used to provide additional control of the movement of the virtual camera. In embodiments, movements of a human camera-person are used on a mocap system to control the movement of the virtual camera.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present specification provide systems and methods to provide a 3D experience in a 2D game, while using the same underlying gaming engine. A 2D game space representing an axonometric projection is overlaid with 3D visuals, in a way that the original 2D simulation can still be used to run the game. In embodiments, a set of custom tools are used to map the 2D ground plane to a 3D ground plane. The 2D objects are then mapped into 3D objects. The 3D game environment corresponding to the original 2D game layout is created at backend by one or more individuals, using custom graphic tools. Dynamic player remap in 3D is generated in real time while the player engages with the 2D game. Therefore, while a player is playing the 2D game, a dynamic equivalent of the game in 3D is rendered.

Abstract: The specification describes methods and systems for increasing a dimensional depth of a two-dimensional image of a face to yield a face image that appears three dimensional. The methods and systems identify key points on the 2-D image, obtain a texture map for the 2-D image, determines one or more proportions within the 2-D image, and adjusts the texture map of the 3-D model based on the determined one or more proportions within the 2-D image.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present specification describes a system and method for aggregating user results, rankings and statistical data associated with playing video games across two or more games, normalizing the aggregated data to unified values and presenting the aggregated and unified data via an interface, such that data from one game may be fairly combined and/or compared to data from another game. The present system enables users of one game to trade game-related virtual items with users of another game by providing a normalized score or value for virtual items, thereby permitting virtual items associated with one game to be fairly compared against virtual items of another game.

Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of physical toys and/or toy parts near or on the peripheral device. Each of the toy parts and toys includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys parts may be combined to form a toy assembly which may be associated with a corresponding game character or object. The toy parts included in a toy assembly may store information about the status of the corresponding character or object in the game, for example, a name of characters configured using the toy part, a score, a number of times the toy part has been used, and/or a video game level achieved during video game play by a video game character associated with the toy part. The information about the toy part and configured toy assembly may be updated during game play.

Abstract: A multiplayer game implementing a method for generating a plurality of training virtual areas; generating at least one GUI to display a list of the plurality of training virtual areas; using the at least one GUI, enabling a player to choose one of the plurality of training virtual areas, wherein said one of the plurality of training virtual areas is associated with at least one attribute; allowing the player to navigate a virtual character to said one of the plurality of training virtual areas; monitoring an activity of the virtual character in said one of the plurality of training virtual areas; determining a value of the at least one attribute based on the monitored activity; and updating a first attributes profile of the virtual character to a second attributes profile based on the determined value of the at least one attribute.

Abstract: The application describes methods and systems for dynamically generating a music clip for rendering at client devices in a multi-player gaming network. Player data and event data are acquired and classified into two or more profiles. The music clip is then generated by identifying a mood based on one of the two or more event profiles and one of the two or more player profiles and modulating one or more music elements of a segment of audio data based on the identified mood.