U.S. Patent No. 10,850,204: Interactive gameplay playback system
Issued December 1, 2020, to Electronic Arts Inc.
Filed: March 11, 2019 (claiming priority to June 30, 2016)
Overview:
U.S. Patent No. 10,850,204 (the ‘204 patent) relates to a video playback system within a game application or a similar interactive environment. The ‘204 patent details a method of generating video playback during a gameplay session by receiving a request to generate a first playback event, storing the event’s game state information, and generating a playback event link. The first playback event link provides access to first-event-associated media and game state information for viewing the first playback event. A request for access from a second computing system is received through the first playback link, and a request to initiate a streaming gameplay session of the game application is received. In response, a second gameplay session of the game application is executed using the game state information associated with the first playback event, so the second session loads the first game state. Finally, the second gameplay session is streamed to the second computing system, in the first game state, allowing viewing of the first event. The ‘204 patent could allow in-game viewing of gameplay playbacks.
Abstract:
The disclosure provides a video playback system for use within a game application and/or other interactive computing environments. The video playback system can be used to capture gameplay during execution of a game application. The captured gameplay video can be processed and stored within the game application or in a network accessible location.
Illustrative Claim:
- A computer-implemented method comprising: by one or more computing systems comprising computer hardware configured with specific computer-executable instructions, receiving a request to generate a first playback event during a first gameplay session of a game application on a first computing system; storing game state information associated with the first playback event, wherein the game state information includes a plurality of game states of a virtual environment of the game application; generating a first playback event link, the first playback event link providing configured to provide access to media data for viewing the first playback event, and the game state information; receiving, via the first playback event link, a request from a second computing system to access the media data for viewing the first playback event on a network-based media player; receiving, via the network-based media player, a request to initiate a streaming gameplay session of the game application; executing a second gameplay session of the game application using the game state information such that the virtual environment of the second gameplay session loads in a first game state of the plurality of game states; and streaming the second gameplay session to the second computing system in the first game state of the plurality of game states.