Download Method and system for rendering virtual in

US 8,753,204 B2
17
18
unlocked areas but being restricted from accessing the locked
Method examples described herein can be machine or
area; and using one or more processors, applying a visual
effect to the locked area to distinguish the locked area from
the unlocked area, the visual effect revealing one or more
aspects of the unlocked area.
Disclosed in some examples is a system for providing a
computer-implemented at least in part. Some examples can
include a computer-readable medium or machine-readable
medium encoded with instructions operable to con?gure an
electronic device to perform methods as described in the
above examples. An implementation of such methods can
computer-implemented game, the system including a render
ing module con?gured to render a display of a virtual in-game
include code, such as microcode, assembly language code, a
higher-level language code, or the like. Such code can include
computer readable instructions for performing various meth
environment comprising an unlocked area and a locked area,
an in-game player character controlled by a player of the
ods. The code may form portions of computer program prod
game having access to the unlocked areas but being restricted
from accessing the locked area; and a visual effect module
con?gured to apply a visual effect to the locked area to dis
tinguish the locked area from the unlocked area, the visual
ucts. Further, in an example, the code can be tangibly stored
effect revealing one or more aspects of the unlocked area
using one or more computer processors.
media can include, but are not limited to, hard disks, remov
on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or non-volatile tan
gible computer-readable media, such as during execution or
at other times. Examples of these tangible computer-readable
able magnetic disks, removable optical disks (e.g., compact
disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes, memory
Disclosed in some examples is a machine readable medium
that stores instructions which when performed by a machine,
cause the machine to perform certain operations. In some
examples the operations can include rendering a display of a
virtual in-game environment comprising an unlocked area
and a locked area, an in-game player character controlled by
a player of the game having access to the unlocked areas but
20
cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read only
memories (ROMs), and the like.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not
restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or
one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with
each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of
or more processors, applying a visual effect to the locked area 25
ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §l.72(b),
to distinguish the locked area from the unlocked area, the
visual effect revealing one or more aspects of the unlocked
to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the
technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding
being restricted from accessing the locked area; and using one
area.
that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or
The above detailed description includes references to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed
meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Descrip
tion, various features may be grouped together to streamline
30
description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, spe
the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that
an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim.
Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all fea
tures of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the follow
ci?c embodiments in which the invention can be practiced.
These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.”
Such examples can include elements in addition to those
shown or described. However, the present inventors also con
35
template examples in which only those elements shown or
described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also
ing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Descrip
tion, with each claim standing on its own as a separate
embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments
contemplate examples using any combination or permutation
can be combined with each other in various combinations or
of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects
permutations. The scope of the invention should be deter
mined with reference to the appended claims, along with the
thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or
more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or
40
full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of providing a computer-implemented game,
one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.
All publications, patents, and patent documents referred to
in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In
the method comprising:
45
the event of inconsistent usages between this document and
rendering a display of a virtual in- game environment com
prising an unlocked area and a locked area, an in-game
player character controlled by a player of the game hav
those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in
the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supple
ing access to the unlocked areas but being restricted
mentary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsis
tencies, the usage in this document controls.
from accessing the locked area; and
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is
common in patent documents, to include one or more than
one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least
one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used
to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A
50
unlocked area, applying the visual effect to the locked
area including obscuring at least one property of one or
more game objects located in the locked area, the visual
55
locations of the one or more game objects located in the
locked area are revealed.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising revealing at
60
claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “?rst,”
objects.
least one obscured property of a particular game object of the
one or more game objects located in the locked area respon
includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term
in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that
“second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are
not intended to impose numerical requirements on their
effect revealing one or more aspects of the unlocked area
and being applied to the locked area such that respective
but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise
indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in
which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the
respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the
following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are
open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, or process that
using one or more processors, applying a visual effect to
the locked area to distinguish the locked area from the
65
sive to player interaction with the particular game object.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying a
message in association with the particular game object
responsive to player interaction therewith.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual effect is
applied to the locked area such that respective locations of the