Abstract: A method of managing a live broadcast of multiplayer video game activity operates a multiplayer game server system to provide game data to a plurality of client devices, the game data defining a multiplayer video game environment that includes a plurality of game characters. The game server system receives a character identifier corresponding to a targeted game character, determines that a currently active altercation in the multiplayer video game environment involves the targeted game character and an opponent game character, and communicates altercation data to a client device operating in a spectator mode. The altercation data includes first gameplay attributes to display with a first user interface (UI) element associated with the targeted game character, and second gameplay attributes to display with a second UI element associated with the opponent game character.

Abstract: A method of managing a live broadcast of multiplayer video game activity operates a multiplayer game server system to provide game data to a plurality of client devices, the game data defining a multiplayer video game environment that includes a plurality of game characters. The game server system receives a character identifier corresponding to a targeted game character, determines that a currently active altercation in the multiplayer video game environment involves the targeted game character and an opponent game character, and communicates altercation data to a client device operating in a spectator mode. The altercation data includes first gameplay attributes to display with a first user interface (UI) element associated with the targeted game character, and second gameplay attributes to display with a second UI element associated with the opponent game character.

Abstract: A computer-based system maintains and provides a graphical authoring tool on a display device that enables a user to create a narrative storyline for uploading to a database system. The authoring tool operates to receive text content for a first passage of the narrative storyline, and text content for a second passage of the narrative storyline, establish a link from the first passage to the second passage, and assign user personality trait characteristics to the link. The trait characteristics influence personality trait profiles maintained by the database system for readers of the narrative storyline when the readers select the link to obtain the second passage. The authoring tool operates to upload the narrative storyline data from the computer-based system to the database system. The uploaded data includes the text content for the passages, the link, and the user personality trait characteristics assigned to the link.

Abstract: A system and related methodologies of delivering storyline content to users are presented herein. A server system maintains storyline data corresponding to an interactive narrative storyline having variable narrative paths that influence outcomes of the storyline. Storyline messages are communicated from the server system using a messaging service, wherein each communicated storyline message includes a portion of the narrative storyline. The server system receives messages generated from the subscriber device in response to communicated storyline messages, wherein each response message includes a user-specified storyline option. Subsequent storyline messages are retrieved by the server system based on the user-specified storyline options conveyed with the user responses.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to implement a technique for managing the response of a digital entity in a simulation to reflect its interaction with one or more players over time, such as managing a non-player character's responses to player characters in an online computer game. In the system, a computer system tracks the interaction of the digital entity with other entities and the occurrence or status of internal and external events to control how the digital entity reacts to current events and interactions.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating or evolving a virtual environment with a computer system. Steps of the method include: forming a plurality of layers of data, including a first layer and a second layer, each layer including a plurality of cells containing data corresponding to a variable; operating on the data from the cells in the first layer with a function to yield target data; distributing the target data to corresponding cells in the second layer; and altering the data in at least one of the plurality of cells in each layer according to a rule.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for building digital objects using component modular objects, such as block objects. The block objects have properties defining their appearance and interaction characteristics. When two or more block objects are placed together to form an object, their interaction characteristics define how they behave and so how the computer system will handle the representation of the block objects and the new object.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to alter one or more characteristics of a digital object or profile, such as developing a character in an online computer game. Using the systems and methods, a user of a computer system, e.g., a player of a computer game, can control how digital objects develop over time both through the direct use of that object by the user as well as by the passage of units of time.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to implement a technique for managing the response of a digital entity in a simulation to reflect its interaction with one or more players over time, such as managing a non-player character's responses to player characters in an online computer game. In the system, a computer system tracks the interaction of the digital entity with other entities and the occurrence or status of internal and external events to control how the digital entity reacts to current events and interactions.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating or evolving a virtual environment with a computer system. Steps of the method include: forming a plurality of layers of data, including a first layer and a second layer, each layer including a plurality of cells containing data corresponding to a variable; operating on the data from the cells in the first layer with a function to yield target data; distributing the target data to corresponding cells in the second layer; and altering the data in at least one of the plurality of cells in each layer according to a rule.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement a technique for generating interactive events in a simulation, such as creating encounters in an online computer game. In one implementation, encounters are created based on the players and the environment and allow for interaction that is different for different players. Players can select encounters for interaction and choose how to handle the encounter. Encounters may have one or more objectives for participating players to resolve. The objectives for the same encounter may be different for different characters depending on the characteristics of the player characters. If multiple player characters interact with the same encounter, they may each be presented with different objectives, some or all of which may be competing. In addition, the objectives for an encounter may change depending on how other objectives are resolved.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of reverse engineering items in a computer game, including: selecting a first loot item; selecting a reverse engineering tool; placing the first loot item in the reverse engineering tool; and implementing a reverse engineering function on the reverse engineering tool. Keywords include MMO, crafting, reverse engineer, and custom modifier.