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 at least partially automating content generation of blog entries chronicling an entity's interaction with a multiuser environment. The same may combine automatic data generation with user-generated and/or user-edited or created narrative. The systems and methods may be employed for automatically generating and publishing descriptions, such as posting blog articles. In one implementation, a system automatically posts blog articles with automatic screenshots and automatically-generated descriptive copy of events that occur within a video game, such as in a massive multiplayer online role-playing game.

Abstract: The described systems regulate the transmission and playback of multiple streams of audio data, e.g., for a multiplayer game, and provide sequential playback of audio, buffered while the listener is listening to a different stream, time-compressed if necessary. The systems thus solve a problem of users “talking over each other” by: (1) regulating access to audio channels; and (2) treating the spoken audio as distinct blocks so as to play the messages, e.g., from multiple channels, sequentially to users. The messages may be played back at a later time at time-compressed rates or aborted as directed by the user or by a separate automated process.

Abstract: A method of transferring online privileges, comprising: receiving a request for a payment including one or more non-financial items; debiting the one or more non-financial items from a second account; and crediting the one or more non-financial items to a first account, wherein the first account and the second account are accounts residing in a points server.

Abstract: Implementations of systems and methods according to present principles enhance and improve current methods of object creation. In such systems and methods, in addition to keeping track of a seller of an object (as seen, e.g., by an auction house notation), the identities and contributions are maintained of creators of component or subcomponent parts, or those who provided or crafted materials, either for a component or for the finished item, or those whose skills or talents contributed to the creation or obtaining of an item, component, subcomponent, or material, allowing subsequent benefits to such creators, including compensation or recognition.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of creating enhancements in a computer game for a recipient experiencing a performance, the method including: selecting an enhancement to apply to a recipient; modifying the enhancement; and applying the modified enhancement to the recipient, wherein the modified enhancement is effective for a fixed duration of time proportional to the time spent by the recipient experiencing the performance. Keywords include MMO, buffs, packages and performance.

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: Implementations of systems and methods according to present principles provide new ways to share digital objects in computing environments, improving the user experience and also enhancing communication and relationships among people. The “sharings” can occur as a transfer of an object from one user to another or the transfer of the object into an environment (or vice versa). In one example, a user in a game designs and builds a digital object for a tower and then sells the tower in the game. The tower becomes popular and is used by many other players of the game, including as a part of their own constructions, and also begins to appear in system-generated structures. The creator of the original tower, as well as creators of components constituting the tower, may be provided with compensation for their efforts from such sales of subsequent towers or constructions using such towers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to integrate, within a first application, a second application. In this way, multiple client systems, each running a first application, can access other players and mutually consume a second application. A lobby facility is provided to which client systems may access. First and second client systems may then be associated so that the same are configured to mutually consume a second application. The systems and methods also provide for cross-platform consumption of a second application by a plurality of client systems, each running respective first applications. The system includes a lobby facility module situated on a network-accessible server, the lobby facility module configured to allow communications between the network-accessible server and each of a first client system and a second client system.

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 managing physics interactions in a computer simulation, such as the interactions of objects in an online computer game. Objects in the simulation are or can become physics objects that then behave according to the rules of the physics simulator in operation. Different implementations can use different rules for how items become physics objects and for what rules are used to manage physics objects. Since physics object interactions are determined on the basis of their physical properties rather than adherence to predefined interactions, the resulting interactions are emergent and not scripted.

Abstract: Provided is an automation suite designed to automate game and web testing. The system may be driven by a scripting engine that makes use of OCR and object recognition and rapid image analysis to perform its automation tasks. The system may perform its tasks individually or collectively, potentially spawning numerous clients capable of communication and coordinating with one another.

Abstract: Consumers may appear to be featured in videos by being appropriately photographed and their image mapped onto a character in a video. A pre-existing video file has a computer-generated (“CG”) actor rendered throughout, except in, e.g., a head region, where a consumer's image data will be mapped. The consumer's image data is mapped onto the CG actor, and the CG actor's animation track is mixed with the remainder of the video, completing the same. The consumer may choose from among several videos, depending on the genre they prefer. The system and method may also apply to marketing and advertising methods, especially with regard to targeted advertising and product placement.

Abstract: Consumers may appear to be featured in videos by being appropriately photographed and their image mapped onto a character in a video. A pre-existing video file has a computer-generated (“CG”) actor rendered throughout, except in, e.g., a head region, where a consumer's image data will be mapped. The consumer's image data is mapped onto the CG actor, and the CG actor's animation track is mixed with the remainder of the video, completing the same. The consumer may choose from among several videos, depending on the genre they prefer. The system and method may also apply to marketing and advertising methods, especially with regard to targeted advertising and product placement.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for rule-based procedural generation of terrain in real time for a virtual world. By describing the terrain with rules rather than storing the actual geometry data, a drastic savings in terms of memory and disk space is achieved by generating terrain procedurally on the fly in real time when it is necessary. Using the terrain editor tool, the terrain system allows defining and modifying the terrain height, color, shaders, textures, flora, and environment, for example. Additionally, generating the terrain procedurally allows for almost limitless detail by changing the parameters used to create the terrain geometry. These rules can also be added and removed dynamically, leading to terrain modification in real time.

Abstract: Generating a profile of a word, including: receiving the word including at least one phoneme; determining the at least one phoneme in the word; selecting at least one characteristic for each of the determined at least one phoneme in the word using a dictionary of sound symbolism rules; and generating the profile of the word by combining all of the selected at least one characteristic for the at least one phoneme.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of growing and incubating custom creatures in a computer game, including: obtaining genetic properties; combining the genetic properties in combinations of attributes, skills, and appearances; incubating a creature with role-specific properties using the combined genetic properties; and displaying an egg object of the incubated creature on a display for transaction. Keywords include MMO, incubation, genetic properties, and egg object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing an environment for a crafting player to craft a role-playing content and/or quests in a computer game, the method including: obtaining tokens that represent in-game assets; placing the tokens to craft the role-playing content and/or quests; inviting other players to participate in the role-playing content and/or quests; running the role-playing content and/or quests; receiving at least one reward based on the rating entered by the other players; and saving a layout and composition of the crafted role-playing content and/or quests in a blueprint. Keywords include MMO, role-playing event, quests, and souvenirs.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a target language markup language (ML) text template comprise translating one or more words in a source language ML text template to one or more words in the target language so as to generate a target language ML text template, and defining a target language localized template for the target language ML text template using the translated words. The method may also include adding and modifying metadata for variant text associated with a source language text string according to attributes of a target language, wherein the target language localized template is defined using the modified metadata in addition to the translated words.

Abstract: A method of generating a markup language text template comprises identifying a variable text element in a source language text string and assigning a first predefined symbol to the variable text element, identifying a grammatical rule for the variable text element and assigning a second predefined symbol to the variable text element based on the identified grammatical rule, determining whether to assign supplemental information to the variable text element, wherein the first predefined symbol, the second predefined symbol, and the supplemental information if assigned represent a token, and repeating the identification of a grammatical rule, assignment of first and second predefined symbols, and determination of whether to assign supplemental information for remaining variable text elements in the source language text string so as to complete a markup language text template comprising one or more tokens.