Methods, systems, and computer readable media for online community-driven computer game development

Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for online community-driven computer game development. According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a method for community-driven computer game development is provided. The method includes providing at least one server comprising one or more computers programs for receiving a plurality of computer game idea submissions from members of an online community, where each computer game idea submission includes a description of a computer game to be developed. At least one of a number of votes and a rating is received from the online community for each of the computer game idea submissions. One or more finalists are determined from the plurality of computer game submissions based on the relative number of votes or the rating for each of the computer game idea submissions, where the finalists are a subset of the computer game idea submissions. At least one of a number of votes and a rating is received from the online community for each of the one or more finalists. A winner is selected from the one or more finalists based on the relative numbers of votes or the rating for each of the one or more finalists. A computer game based on the game idea submission of the winner is developed.

1 . A method for online community-driven computer game development, the method comprising:
 providing at least one server comprising one or more computers programs for:
 receiving a plurality of computer game idea submissions from members of an online community, each computer game idea submission including a description of a computer game to be developed; 
 receiving, from the online community, at least one of a number of votes and a rating for each of the computer game idea submissions; 
 based on the relative number of votes or the rating for each of the computer game idea submissions, determining one or more finalists from the plurality of computer game submissions, wherein the finalists are a subset of the computer game idea submissions; 
 receiving, from the online community, at least one of a number of votes and a rating for each of the one or more finalists; and 
 based on the relative numbers of votes or the rating for each of the one or more finalists, selecting a winner from the one or more finalists and developing a computer game based on the game idea submission of the winner. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising receiving comments from the online community regarding one or more of the computer game submissions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising receiving additional content from the online community regarding one or more of the computer game submissions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  comprising providing a user ranking for members of the online community and at least one of providing a reward and increasing the user ranking based on a level of community involvement of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein increasing the user ranking may include increasing the user ranking based on at least one of: submitting a game idea, having a game idea be selected as a finalist, having a game idea be selected as a winner, commenting on a game idea submission, linking to a game idea submission, providing additional content for a game idea submission, having a game idea receiving the most votes in a predetermined time period, having a game idea submission associated with the most links, and submitting the most game ideas in a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein providing a reward includes providing at least one of money, trips, meetings with a professional game developer, and advertising. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  comprising providing at least one of selling and distributing the computer game developed based on the game idea submission of the winner. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving a plurality of computer game submissions includes receiving computer game submissions via one of a social networking website and email. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving a plurality of computer game submissions includes receiving one of a video, a flash animation, a text document, and an audio file. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the computer game submissions are for one of: a dedicated closed-box computer game platform, a handheld computer device, a mobile phone, a smart phone, and a personal computer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of game submissions each have a first scope and each of the finalists have a second scope, wherein the second scope is larger than the first scope. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining one or more finalists from the plurality of computer game submissions includes holding a contest, wherein the contest is held periodically or at one or more variable time periods. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein developing a computer game based on the game idea submission of the winner includes creating at least one of: a game design document, a prototype-quality game, an alpha-quality game, a beta-quality game, and a release-quality game. 
     
     
         14 . A system for online community-driven computer game development, the system comprising:
 a community input module for:
 receiving a plurality of computer game idea submissions from members of an online community, each computer game idea submission including a description of a computer game to be developed; 
 receiving, from the online community, at least one of a number of votes and a rating for each of the computer game idea submissions; and 
 receiving, from the online community, at least one of a number of votes and a rating for each of one or more finalists, wherein the finalists are a subset of the computer game idea submissions; 
   a game idea contest module for:
 determining one or more finalists from the plurality of computer game submissions based on the relative number of votes or the rating for each of the computer game idea submissions; and 
 selecting a winner from the one or more finalists based on the relative numbers of votes or the rating for each of the one or more finalists; and 
   a game development module for developing a computer game based on the game idea submission of the winner.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  comprising a commenting module for receiving comments from the online community regarding one or more of the computer game submissions. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  comprising a community-based content creation module for receiving additional content from the online community regarding one or more of the computer game submissions. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  comprising a ranking module for providing a user ranking for members of the online community and at least one of providing a reward and increasing the user ranking based on a level of community involvement of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the ranking module is configured to increase the user ranking based on at least one of: submitting a game idea, having a game idea be selected as a finalist, having a game idea be selected as a winner, commenting on a game idea submission, linking to a game idea submission, providing additional content for a game idea submission, having a game idea receiving the most votes in a predetermined time period, having a game idea submission associated with the most links, and submitting the most game ideas in a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the ranking module is configured to provide at least one of money, trips, meetings with a professional game developer, and advertising. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  comprising an e-commerce module for providing at least one of selling and distributing the computer game developed based on the game idea submission of the winner. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14  wherein receiving a plurality of computer game submissions includes receiving computer game submissions via one of a social networking website and email. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14  wherein receiving a plurality of computer game submissions includes receiving one of a video, a flash animation, a text document, and an audio file. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the computer game submissions are for one of: a dedicated closed-box computer game platform, a handheld computing device, a mobile phone, a smart phone, and a personal computer. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of game submissions each have a first scope and each of the finalists have a second scope, wherein the second scope is larger than the first scope. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14  wherein determining one or more finalists from the plurality of computer game submissions includes holding a contest, wherein the contest is held periodically or at one or more variable time periods. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14  wherein developing a computer game based on the game idea submission of the winner includes creating at least one of: a game design document, a prototype-quality game, an alpha-quality game, a beta-quality game, and a release-quality game. 
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:
 receiving a plurality of computer game idea submissions from members of an online community, each computer game idea submission including a description of a computer game to be developed;   receiving, from the online community, at least one of a number of votes and a rating for each of the computer game idea submissions;   based on the relative number of votes or the rating for each of the computer game idea submissions, determining one or more finalists from the plurality of computer game submissions, wherein the finalists are a subset of the computer game idea submissions;   receiving, from the online community, at least one of a number of votes and a rating for each of the one or more finalists; and   based on the relative numbers of votes or the rating for each of the one or more finalists, selecting a winner from the one or more finalists and developing a computer game based on the game idea submission of the winner.