Computer-based gaming teams

Abstract

Groups are formed, in a computer-based (e.g., on-line) gaming environment, based on social relationships between players. Teams are formed from members of the group. Team formation is based on a game related interest. Each team is assigned an identity that is maintained within a single game and across multiple sessions of a game. The team can interact within the gaming environment much like an individual user can interact. Teams can play games with other in-group and out-of-group teams. Team members can play games with each other. Team statistics and achievements can be accumulated and aggregated. Team profiles provide information about the team, such as a list of the members of the team. Via team profiles, a member of a team can see information about other members of the team, such as other teams to which they belong. Team members can send and receive intra-team messages.

1 . A method comprising:
 creating, via a computer, a group profile that represents a group comprising a plurality of group members, the group profile comprising an interactive group friends list; and   creating, via the computer, a team profile that represents a team comprising a plurality of team members selected from ones of the plurality of group members, the team profile comprising an interactive team friends list.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising assigning an identity to the group, the group identity configured to be maintained within a single game title, across multiple sessions of the single game title, and across multiple game titles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the group profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from the group or from others. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the group profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from a game or from a gaming system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising assigning an identity to the team, the team identity configured to be maintained within a single game title and across multiple sessions of the single game title. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the team profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from the group or from others. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the team profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from a game or from a gaming system. 
     
     
         8 . At least one storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
 creating a group profile that represents a group comprising a plurality of group members, the group profile comprising an interactive group friends list; and   creating, via the computer, a team profile that represents a team comprising a plurality of team members selected from ones of the plurality of group members, the team profile comprising an interactive team friends list.   
     
     
         9 . The at least one storage device of  claim 8 , the method further comprising assigning an identity to the group, the group identity configured to be maintained within a single game title, across multiple sessions of the single game title, and across multiple game titles. 
     
     
         10 . The at least one storage device of  claim 8  wherein the group profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from the group or from others. 
     
     
         11 . The at least one storage device of  claim 8  wherein the group profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from a game or from a gaming system. 
     
     
         12 . The at least one storage device of  claim 8 , the method further comprising assigning an identity to the team, the team identity configured to be maintained within a single game title and across multiple sessions of the single game title. 
     
     
         13 . The at least one storage device of  claim 8  wherein the team profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from the group or from others. 
     
     
         14 . The at least one storage device of  claim 8  wherein the team profile is configured to include information about the group that is provided from a game or from a gaming system. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 forming, via a computer, a group comprising a plurality of group members selected from ones of a plurality of users, wherein the forming the group is based on the selected ones of the plurality of users sharing a common social interest that is not required to be a common game-related interest; and   forming, via the computer, a team comprising a plurality of team members selected from ones of the plurality of group members, wherein the forming the team is based on the selected ones of the plurality of group members sharing a common game-related interest, and wherein the formed team is entitled to benefits enjoyed by individuals of the plurality of users   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising assigning an identity to the group, the group identity configured to be maintained within a single game title, across multiple sessions of the single game title, and across multiple game titles. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising creating a group profile that represents the group, the group profile configured to include information about the group that is provided from the group, from others, from a game, or from a gaming system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising assigning an identity to the team, the team identity configured to be maintained within a single game title and across multiple sessions of the single game title. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising creating a team profile that represents the team, the team profile configured to include information about the team that is provided from the team, from others, from a game, or from a gaming system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the team profile comprises an interactive team friends list.