U.S. Patent no. 9,492,740: Remote and/or distributed equipping of video game characters

Issued November 15, 2016 to Activision Publishing, Inc.
Priority Date June 7, 2012

Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 9,492,740 (the ‘740 Patent) relates to customization and equipping of items on a video game character. This customization relates to both cosmetic fashion items equipped to a character as well as functional items that change the abilities of a character. However, this customization process can take a large amount of time and be tedious for the player who simply wants to start playing the game. The ‘740 Patent addresses this problem by allowing for remote equipping of items on video game characters. The invention provides for a method using a computer system which acquires information about the personalization options for a character and then allows for the selection of different customization options. These options can be remotely accessed with a device using the Internet for example. When the player then returns to the game console or device they may have the option to accept or reject the changes they made remotely. Remote customization allows the player to fully customize their character depending on the gameplay or narrative goals of the video game, while also providing a method to avoid lost gameplay time customization entails.

Abstract:
Video game characters of a video game may have associated attributes, such as their equipment, modified using a device which may be both remote from a device used to play the video game and incapable of playing the video game. A server in communication with both devices may communicate video game character information to the device remote from the game play device, check validity of modifications to video game character equipment requested by the remote device, save information of the modifications, and provide the information of the modifications to the device used to play the video game. The device used to play the video game may allow for acceptance, and use thereafter, of the equipment modifications during game play.

Illustrative Claim:
1. A method for distributed equipping of video game characters comprising: receiving, over a network, a request regarding possible personalization selections for a video game character of a video game; transmitting, over the network, information regarding equipment for the video game character to a first compute device not configured for play of the video game; receiving a personalization selection for the video game character from the first compute device; checking validity of the personalization selection for the video game character by comparing availability of the personalization selection against information stored in memory reflecting allowable personalization selections for the video game character; storing the personalization selection for the video game character in the memory; transmitting the personalization selection for the video game character to a second compute device configured for play of the video game; presenting, by the second compute device, an option to accept the personalization selection; modifying, by the second compute device, information of the video game character to reflect the personalization selection upon selection of the option; and providing, by the second compute device, game play of the video game with the video game character equipped in accordance with the personalization selection; wherein the personalization selection is capabilities related to use of equipment of the video game character.