Player character creation in a video game based on multiple players

Abstract

In a video game a new character can be created using attributes from one or more parent characters. Each parent character may contribute character attributes which are passed on to a new child character. Relationships can be formed among characters which permit the creation of a child character.

1 . A method performed by a computer, the method comprising:
 providing, by a computer, a video game comprising player characters wherein each player character has a set of attributes and each attribute is assigned a score,   receiving, by the computer, a request from a first parent player character to form a child character;   identifying, by the computer, first player attributes associated with the first parent player character;   assigning, by the computer, at least some of the first parent player attributes to the child character;   receiving, by the computer, a request from a second parent player character to form the child character;   identifying, by the computer, second player attributes associated with the second parent player character;   assigning, by the computer, at least some of the first player attributes and at least some of the second player attributes to the child character,
 in which at least one of the assigned attributes includes a character skill; 
   creating the child player character with the assigned player attributes; and   determining the score of the attributes for the child character based on the scores of the parent characters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the score of the attributes for the child character based on the scores of the parent characters comprises
 randomly selecting the score of the first parent character or second parent character for each attribute. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the score of the attributes for the child character based on the scores of the parent characters comprises, for each attribute, randomly selecting a value between first parent character score and the second parent character score. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the value of each attribute score fluctuates during the game and the value of the parent character attributes that is used to determine the child character attribute scores is the parent attribute score at the time of the child character's conception. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising fluctuating an attribute score based upon environmental considerations within the game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein an environmental consideration is how frequently a player character uses a given attribute during the game. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the value of each attribute score fluctuates during the game and the value of the parent character attributes that is used to determine the child character attribute scores is the parent attribute score at the time of the parent character's conception. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 identifying some attribute values as being dominant; and 
 assigning the dominant attribute value to the child player character when at least one of the parent player characters has the dominant attribute value. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 identifying some attribute values as being recessive; and 
 assigning the recessive attribute value to the child player character only when all of the parent player characters have the recessive attribute value. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising
 assigning at least some attributes that are not first or second player attributes to the child character. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising
 outputting an attribute profile of the child player character to at least one of the first and second player characters. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising
 requesting if the parent player character receiving the attribute profile would like to proceed with the child character creation request. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising
 receiving an affirmation that the parent player character would like to proceed with the child character creation request. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising
 creating a child player character having the attributes shown in the attribute profile. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining if the parent player character is eligible to form a child character. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein determining if the parent player character is eligible to form a child character comprises
 determining if the parent player character has entered into an eligible contractual relationship. 
 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium in communication with the processor;   in which the computer readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to perform a method comprising:
 providing, by a computer, a video game comprising player characters wherein each player character has a set of attributes and each attribute is assigned a score, 
 receiving, by the computer, a request from a first parent player character to form a child character; 
 identifying, by the computer, first player attributes associated with the first parent player character; 
 assigning, by the computer, at least some of the first parent player attributes to the child character; 
 receiving, by the computer, a request from a second parent player character to form the child character; 
 identifying, by the computer, second player attributes associated with the second parent player character; 
 assigning, by the computer, at least some of the first player attributes and at least some of the second player attributes to the child character,
 in which at least one of the assigned attributes includes a character skill; 
 
 creating the child player character with the assigned player attributes; and 
 determining the score of the attributes for the child character based on the scores of the parent characters. 
   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium in communication with the processor;   in which the computer readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to perform a method comprising:
 providing, by a computer, a video game comprising player characters wherein each player character has a set of attributes and each attribute is assigned a score, 
 receiving, by the computer, a request from a first parent player character to form a child character; 
 identifying, by the computer, first player attributes associated with the first parent player character; 
 assigning, by the computer, at least some of the first parent player attributes to the child character; 
 receiving, by the computer, a request from a second parent player character to form the child character; 
 identifying, by the computer, second player attributes associated with the second parent player character; 
 assigning, by the computer, at least some of the first player attributes and at least some of the second player attributes to the child character; 
   creating the child player character with the assigned player attributes; and   determining the score of the attributes for the child character based on the scores of the parent characters.