WO2017021739A1

WO2017021739A1 - Personalised video game

Info

Publication number: WO2017021739A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/052443
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil Matthews
Original assignee: Cheeseballer Games Limited
Priority date: 2015-08-06
Filing date: 2016-08-05
Publication date: 2017-02-09
Also published as: GB2541020A; GB201513937D0

Abstract

A system for providing a personalised video game comprises a front end computer system (322). The front end computer system allows a customer to select which of the customisable elements of one of a number of templates he or she wishes to customise. The system includes a recording facility (302), which can for example be located at a retail location. The recording facility has a so-called "green screen" or "green room" (304), or other similar feature, in front of which a person can be recorded. The recording facility has a number of physical objects (308), (310, 312) with which the person 314 to be recorded can interact during a recording.The system (300) comprises a processing device (320), such as a computer or a network server, which receives the recording data from the recording device (306), processes the recording data and inserts the processed recording data into the video game template.

Description

PERSONALISED VIDEO GAME Field of Invention

The invention relates to video games, and in in particular to a system and a method for providing personalised video games.

Background of the Invention

Video games are an increasingly popular form of entertainment and are played by video game players of all ages. In order to increase the appeal of video games, methods of increasing enjoyment of video games, as well as the immersion of the video game players in their video games, are needed. This can be achieved by personalising the video game, so as to allow a game player to feel more immersed in the game by seeing a representation of themselves, or hearing their own voice, in the video game. However, known personalised video games are typically very costly or time consuming to manufacture, thus prohibiting the majority of video game players from acquiring a personalised video game. Alternatively, personalised video games merely allow a video game player to add an image of themselves, for example a photograph, into the video game. Rather than provide added immersion, such images tend to be incongruous with the remainder of the video game, thereby reducing the sense of immersion for the video game player. The present invention seeks to address at least some of these problems.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing a personalised video game, the method comprising: selecting a first video game template from a plurality of video game templates, the first video game template defining a plurality of customisable elements; creating customised data based on at least one of the customisable elements; integrating the customised data into the first video game template; forming a completed video game from the first video game template; and distributing the completed video game.

The plurality of customisable elements may comprise at least one action performed by a video game character. The step of creating customised data may comprise providing a recording of a person performing the at least one action to be performed by a video game character. The step of creating customised data may further comprise processing the customised data.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for providing a personalised video game, the system comprising: an interaction means for selecting a first video game template from a plurality of video game templates; one or more recording means for creating customised data based on the first video game template; a first processing means for integrating the customised data into the first video game template; a second processing means for forming a completed video game from the video game template; and a distribution means for distributing the completed video game to a user.

Further aspects, features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a method for providing a customised video game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a video game template to be used in the method of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates schematically a system for providing a customised video game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary screen from a customised video game; and

Figure 5 illustrates another exemplary screen from a customised video game. Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to Figure 1 , a method 100 for providing a personalised video game according to the invention will now be explained.

A customer, who wants a personalised video game, selects a particular video game template 102 from a number of available video game templates. The selection can be made from a predetermined list of templates, or the template can be entirely custom made based on input from the customer.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary template 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The template consists of a number of elements which in unison make up the video game template. The template comprises background art files 202 (e.g. landscape backdrops) and background audio files 204 (e.g. background music and/or background sound effects to be played during gameplay). Further, the template comprises a plurality of files relating to a first player character 206 of the video game. The files 206 comprise art files relating to the first character, such as animations that are used during gameplay for the first player character. These include (but are not limited to) walking, running, jumping, turning, and performing one or other, more specific, actions. Further, the files 206 comprise audio files for the first character, such as dialogue lines spoken by the first character during gameplay. Optionally, the template comprises files relating to a second player character 208. Additionally, the template optionally comprises files for one or more non-player characters 210. The files for non-player characters are functionally identical to those for player characters. The main difference between a player character and a non- player character is that a player playing the video game cannot, typically, select to play a non-player character. Non-player characters are typically used to portray antagonists to player characters, or to portray characters that aid the player characters. The files 210 for the non-player characters contain all animations used during gameplay for the non-player characters as well as any lines of dialogue spoken by the non-player characters during gameplay. It is of course to be understood that the files described above are exemplary only, and that other types of files, as well as file structures, may be associated with both player and non-player characters. It is further to be understood that a video game template may comprise any suitable number of player characters and non-player characters. In the present example, all of the files relating to the first player character and the second player character, as well as the files relating to the non-player characters, are customisable by a customer. In other terms, the template comprises a number of customisable elements. Elements that are customisable by the customer are highlighted to indicate, to the customer, that the respective elements can be customised. The highlighting may take any convenient form, e.g. via highlighting text on a screen or via an audio cue. The template indicates the nature of the customisation, as well as any specific requirements for the customisation (such as specific actions to be performed by a person). For example, a template may indicate that a particular video game character, such as a default player character, is customisable. If the customer selects to replace the animations of a default player character in the video game with a customised animation, thereby to create a customised player character, the template indicates the physical actions that need to be performed. In another example, a template may indicate that a particular audio element, e.g. a line of dialogue or a sound, is customisable. In case of a line of dialogue, the template will e.g. show the line to be spoken, or a descriptive passage of the line of dialogue. In case of a customisable sound, the template will show a description of the sound to the customer.

In the present embodiment, the customer selects to customise all of the customisable elements. However, it is of course possible for the customer to select to customise only some of the customisable elements. For example, the customer may select to replace the animations of one or more of the default player or non- player characters with customised animations. In another example, the customer may select to only customise the dialogue, but not to replace any of the characters. In yet another example, the customer may select to replace one or more of the video game characters in the video game and to customise their dialogue. It will of course be understood that these embodiments are exemplary only, and that any combination of customisable elements may be selected by a customer for customisation.

Subsequently to the selection step 102, customised data is created 104 based on the selections made by the customer and on the available customisable elements in the template. The customer, or another person, is recorded performing the physical actions that need to be performed for each of the characters to be customised, as defined in the video game template. For example, a particular player character may have the following actions defined: walking, running, jumping and turning. The person who is to represent the player character in the video game is recorded whilst performing the defined movements. Similar recordings are made for each of the customisable player characters and non-player characters. Further, customisable dialogue lines for each of the customisable player characters and non-player characters are recorded. The actions and sounds are typically recorded directly in a digital format, although, in principle, they could be recorded in a non-digital format and then be processed into a digital format after recording.

In step 106, the customised data is processed by a suitable processing unit, such as a computer or a server. The processing step ensures that the customised data is suitable for insertion into the video game template. The processing step may include, without limitation, compressing the recording data, image processing of individual images in the customised data, or removing unwanted portions of the customised data. In step 108, the processed customised data is integrated into the video game template.

In step 110, the completed video game is distributed to the customer via a suitable distribution channel or medium. In one embodiment, the completed video game is made available to the customer to download onto a device from a download server. In another embodiment, the completed video game is transmitted to the customer via a computer network. In a third embodiment, the completed video game is distributed to the customer on a physical medium, such as an optical disc, or a flash drive.

Figure 3 shows a system 300 for providing a personalised video game according an embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a front end computer system 322. The front end computer system comprises a display that allows the customer to see and edit the various video game templates. The front end computer system further allows the customer to select which of the customisable elements of a given template he or she wishes to customise. The system includes a recording facility 302, which can for example be located at a retail location. The recording facility has a so-called "green screen" or "green room" 304, or other similar feature, in front of which a person can be recorded. As will be known to the skilled person, a green screen or green room facilitates processing of the recorded video data. The recording facility has one or more recording devices 306, such as a video camera. The recording devices can be movable within the facility or can be mounted in fixed positions. The recording devices can of course be of any suitable type and record data on any suitable media device. The recording facility has a number of physical objects 308, 310, 312 with which the person 314 to be recorded can interact during a recording. In the present embodiment, the recording facility contains a set of steps, a ladder and a treadmill. It will of course be appreciated that the recording facility can comprise other objects that may be interacted with. Dependent on the movements required for the selected game, the movements of the person are recorded whilst the person interacts with one or more of the objects. For example, if a walking and running motion is required by the template, the person is recorded while walking or running on the treadmill. As a different example, if a climbing motion is required, the person is recorded during ascent and descent of the ladder. It will of course be understood that these physical objects are described for purposes of example only, and that a recording facility may include additional or alternate physical objects.

If a particular template requires movements of further persons 316, 318 to be recorded, these are recorded subsequently to recording the movements of the first person 314. It is, of course, also possible to record several persons simultaneously if required or desired.

The system 300 comprises a processing device 320, such as a computer or a network server. The processing device is, in one embodiment located at the same location as the recording facility (such as at a retail location). In another embodiment, the processing device is located remotely from the recording facility. As described with reference to Figure 2, the processing device receives the recording data from the recording device 306, processes the recording data and inserts the processed recording data into the video game template. The completed video game is transmitted from the processing device to the front end computer system. Using the front end computer system, the customer can select an appropriate delivery method for the completed video game. The delivery unit receives the completed video game from the processing unit 306. The delivery unit then delivers the completed video game to the customer, or the customer's device 324 via a suitable means. In one embodiment, the completed video game is delivered directly to the customer's device via a network connection or via a physical medium. In another embodiment, the completed video game is transmitted to a download server 326, from which the customer can download it at a convenient time.

Figure 4 shows an exemplary screen 400 from a video game according to an embodiment of the invention. It will of course be appreciated that, while a particular type of video game is depicted in the present example, the invention is applicable to any type of video game. The exemplary screen contains a first player character 402 and a second player character 404. The first player character 402 is a default player character which is defined in the video game template. The second player character 404 is a personalised player character, which is based on the recordings of a person performed in the recording facility, as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 5 shows a second example of a screen from a video game according to the invention. The second exemplary screen contains a first player character 502 and a second player character 504. The second player character 504 is identical to the first player character described with reference to Figure 4. In this example, the first player character 502, which in Figure 4 was a default player character, is a personalised player character, which is based on the recordings of a person performed in the recording facility, as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents

Claims

1. A method for providing a personalised video game, the method comprising:

selecting a first video game template from a plurality of video game templates, the first video game template defining a plurality of customisable elements;

creating customised data based on at least one of the customisable elements;

integrating the customised data into the first video game template; forming a completed video game from the first video game template; and

distributing the completed video game.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of customisable elements comprises at least one action performed by a video game character.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of creating customised data comprises providing a recording of a person performing the at least one action to be performed by a video game character.

4. A method according to any previous claim, wherein the step of creating customised data further comprises processing the customised data.

5. A system for providing a personalised video game, the system comprising means to carry out the method of any of claims 1 to 4.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising:

an interaction means for selecting a first video game template from a plurality of video game templates;

one or more recording means for creating customised data based on the first video game template;

a first processing means for integrating the customised data into the first video game template;

a second processing means for forming a completed video game from the video game template; and a distribution means for distributing the completed video game to a user.