Automated player control takeover in a video game

US10864446B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Electronic Arts Inc. · US

Inventors

• Igor Borovikov · Foster City, US
• Mohsen Sardari · Redwood City, US
• John Kolen · Rue de l'Église, US
• Navid Aghdaie · San Jose, US
• Kazi Atif-Uz Zaman · Foster City, US
• Kenneth Alan Moss · Redwood City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 27, 2019
• Grant date: Dec 15, 2020
• Expiry date: Mar 27, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A63F13/77
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for converting a player-controlled character or virtual entity in a video game to at least temporarily be under emulated control when certain criteria is met, such as when the player's device has lost its network connection to a game server. The character or virtual entity may continue to behave in the game in a manner that emulates or mimics play of the actual player until the end of the game session or until the underlying connection problem or other issue is resolved, such that other players participating in the game session have the same or similar gameplay experience as they would have had if the disconnected player had continued to play.