Replacing a Departing Player in a Game with a Waiting Player

Abstract

In an embodiment, if a departing player requests to leave a game before the game is complete, a waiting player is selected and the waiting player replaces the departing player in the game. Replacing the departing player with the waiting player includes assigning a play state of the departing player to the waiting player. The play state is then updated in response to game control input events received from the waiting player. In various embodiments, the waiting player is selected based on skill levels, play styles, time preferences, or game stage preferences of the players, or based on an input criteria specified by the departing or remaining players. In various embodiments, the play state may include a location within the game, an inventory, or a score.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining that a departing player requests to leave a game before the game is complete;   selecting a waiting player;   replacing the departing player with the waiting player in the game, wherein the replacing further comprises assigning a play state of the departing player to the waiting player; and   updating the play state in response to a game control input event received from the waiting player after the replacing.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the waiting player further comprises:
 determining whether the waiting player has a skill level that is within a skill threshold of the skill level of the departing player.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the waiting player further comprises:
 selecting the waiting player that has a play style that matches the play style of the departing player.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the waiting player further comprises:
 determining whether the waiting player has a time preference that is within a time threshold of a time period that remains before the game is complete.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the waiting player further comprises:
 determining whether the waiting player has a game stage preference that matches a stage of the game.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the waiting player further comprises:
 determining whether the waiting player meets an input criteria specified by the departing player.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the waiting player further comprises:
 determining whether the waiting player meets an input criteria specified by a remaining player in the game.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning the play state further comprises:
 assigning a location within the game of the departing player to the waiting player.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning the play state further comprises:
 assigning an inventory of the departing player to the waiting player.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning the play state further comprises:
 assigning a score of the departing player to the waiting player.   
   
   
       11 . A signal-bearing medium encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions when executed comprise:
 determining that a departing player requests to leave a game before the game is complete;   selecting a waiting player;   replacing the departing player with the waiting player in the game, wherein the replacing further comprises assigning a play state of the departing player to the waiting player, and wherein the assigning the play state further comprises assigning a location, an inventory, and a score of the departing player to the waiting player; and   updating the play state in response to a game control input event received from the waiting player.   
   
   
       12 . The signal-bearing medium of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending information supplied by the departing player to the waiting player.   
   
   
       13 . The signal-bearing medium of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 allowing the waiting player to view game play between a remaining player and the departing player for a time period after the selecting and before the replacing.   
   
   
       14 . The signal-bearing medium of  claim 11 , wherein the replacing the departing player with the waiting player further comprises:
 replacing the departing player with the waiting player if the waiting player consents.   
   
   
       15 . The signal-bearing medium of  claim 11 , wherein the selecting the waiting player further comprises:
 selecting the waiting player that has a play style that matches the play style of the departing player.   
   
   
       16 . The signal-bearing medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 calculating the play style, wherein the calculating further comprises categorizing the game control input events by type and number.   
   
   
       17 . The signal-bearing medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 calculating the play style, wherein the calculating further comprises categorizing the inventory by type and number.   
   
   
       18 . The signal-bearing medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 calculating the play style, wherein the calculating further comprises categorizing the location by time and number.   
   
   
       19 . A method for configuring a computer, wherein the method comprises:
 configuring the computer to determine that a departing player requests to leave a game before the game is complete;   configuring the computer to select a waiting player;   configuring the computer to replace the departing player with the waiting player in the game, wherein the configuring the computer to replace further comprises assigning a play state of the departing player to the waiting player, and wherein the assigning the play state further comprises assigning a location, an inventory, and a score of the departing player to the waiting player; and   configuring the computer to update the play state in response to a game control input event received from the waiting player.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the configuring the computer to select the waiting player further comprises:
 configuring the computer to determine whether the waiting player meets an input criteria specified by the departing player.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the configuring the computer to select the waiting player further comprises:
 configuring the computer to determine whether the waiting player meets an input criteria specified by a remaining player in the game.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 configuring the computer to send information supplied by the departing player to the waiting player.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 configuring the computer to allow the waiting player to view game play between a remaining player and the departing player for a time period after the select and before the replace.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 configuring the computer to receive a new player; and   configuring the computer to replace the waiting player with the new player if the waiting player is an artificial intelligence player and the skill level of the new player is within the skill threshold of a remaining player.