Curating virtual tours

Abstract

To provide systems and methods for creating a customizable curated tour of three-dimensional virtual environments.SOLUTION: Curation inputs may include selecting a virtual environment and selecting an ordered set of various locations within the virtual environment. A curated tour may be launched such that designated avatars may be placed in a first selected location of the ordered set and receive a subset of information about the first selected location. The subset of information may include a user-generated content regarding the first selected location. The selected three-dimensional virtual environment may correspond to an in-game environment of an interactive content title, and specifically about one or more in-game activities in which one or more other users have participated in at the first selected location.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This technology relates to providing curated virtual tours. More specifically, this technology can provide a curated virtual tour in a three-dimensional virtual environment associated with an interactive content title.

Background Art

[0002] Virtual environments can include replicas of real-world environments or fantasy worlds (e.g., virtual environments within games) from various points in history to the present, as well as digital environments and applications associated with other media sources (e.g., movies, television). The various virtual environments may attract various interests for individuals who are enthusiasts of certain games, movies, travel, history, art, etc.

[0003] Games and other media platforms may propose engagement with such virtual environments, but such engagement may generally be limited to the virtual environments associated with the gameplay of the game title. Such gameplay may further include many challenges that require the user's attention, and the user may not have enough time or attention to focus on enjoying or experiencing the virtual environment. In such cases, interaction with elements within the virtual environment (e.g., competing in a race, fighting an opponent) can actually prevent the user from fully understanding the details of the virtual environment, including visual, technical, historical, or artistic details.

[0004] Furthermore, the gameplay of a particular game title can prevent a group from visiting various virtual environments together, as different users may be virtually targeted or eliminated at various points during a gameplay session as a result of each gameplay (by losing a race, being shot during a gunfight, or losing a martial arts contest). Therefore, it can be difficult for a user to visit multiple game environments together with other users within the same game title, let alone a series of game environments spanning multiple different game titles, media content titles, and other virtual applications.

[0005] Therefore, in this field, there is a need for improved systems and methods for creating coordinated, customizable, curated tours of three-dimensional virtual environments. [Overview of the project]

[0006] Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, computer-readable media, and circuits for providing a curated virtual tour in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes storing a plurality of datasets, each dataset corresponding to a different three-dimensional virtual environment; receiving curation input from a curator device associated with a curator via a communication network, wherein the received curation input includes one selected of three-dimensional virtual environments and an ordered set of one or more selected locations within the selected three-dimensional environment; and initiating a curated tour in response to a trigger based on the received curation input, wherein initiating a curated tour includes positioning one or more designated avatars at the first selected location within the ordered set of the selected three-dimensional virtual environments, wherein a subset of datasets corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment is presented at the first selected location; and in response to a subsequent trigger, automatically repositioning the designated avatars at the next selected location using the ordered set of the selected three-dimensional virtual environments.

[0007] For example, a virtual tour curation server stores multiple datasets, each dataset corresponding to a different 3D virtual environment, receives curation inputs from a curator device associated with a curator via a communication network, the received curation inputs include an ordered set of one selected 3D virtual environment and one or more selected locations within the selected 3D environment, and initiates a curated tour in response to a trigger based on the received curation input, initiating a curated tour includes placing one or more specified avatars at the first selected location within the ordered set of selected 3D virtual environments, a subset of datasets corresponding to the selected 3D virtual environment being presented at the first selected location, and in response to the next trigger, automatically repositioning the specified avatars at the next selected location using the ordered set of selected 3D virtual environments.

[0008] In another embodiment, a virtual tour curation server is provided for providing curated virtual tours in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment. The virtual tour curation server is configured to store multiple datasets, each dataset corresponding to a different 3D virtual environment. The dataset receives curation inputs from a curator device associated with the curator via a communication network, and the received curation inputs are then processed in a 3D virtual environment. The system includes one or more processors (e.g., implemented by a circuit) configured to include one selected environment and an ordered set of one or more selected locations within the selected 3D environment, to initiate a curated tour in response to a trigger based on an received curation input, and initiating a curated tour includes placing one or more specified avatars at the first selected location within the ordered set of selected 3D virtual environments, a subset of datasets corresponding to the selected 3D virtual environment being presented at the first selected location, and to automatically reposition the specified avatars at the next selected location using the ordered set of selected 3D virtual environments in response to a subsequent trigger. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This illustrates an exemplary network environment in which a system for creating customizable curated tours of a 3D virtual environment may be implemented. [Figure 2] This shows a block diagram of an exemplary curated tour server for creating customizable curated tours in a 3D virtual environment. [Figure 3A] This describes a universal data system that provides data used to create customizable, curated tours of a 3D virtual environment. [Figure 3B]A table illustrating various objects and associated events according to the aspects of this disclosure is provided below. [Figure 4] This shows an exemplary graphical user interface in which a specified avatar engages in a curated tour in a 3D virtual environment. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart showing how to create a customizable curated tour of a 3D virtual environment. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic entertainment system that may be used in embodiments of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Aspects of this disclosure include a system and method for creating a customizable curated tour of a three-dimensional virtual environment. Curation input may include selecting a virtual environment and selecting an ordered set of various locations within the virtual environment. A curated tour may be initiated such that a designated avatar is placed at the first selected location in the ordered set and can receive a subset of information about the first selected location. If there is a feature discovery mode, the locations of one or more designated avatars may be further monitored so that the avatars are offered the option to be presented with a subset of information based on a predetermined proximity to the first selected location. The subset of information may include user-generated content about the first selected location. The selected three-dimensional virtual environment may specifically correspond to an in-game environment of an interactive content title about one or more in-game activities in which one or more other users participated at the first selected location. The selected location may correspond to a real-world location and may further correspond to a real-world location over multiple different time periods. Users associated with a designated avatar may also be given the option to play games together, such as the option associated with the first selected location.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an exemplary network environment 100 in which a system for creating customizable curated tours of a three-dimensional virtual environment may be implemented. The network environment 100 may include one or more interactive content source servers 110, which provide streaming content (e.g., interactive content titles, game titles, interactive videos, podcasts, etc.), one or more platform servers 120, one or more user devices 130, and one or more databases 140.

[0012] An interactive content source server 110 (including a game server) may maintain, stream, and host interactive media that can be streamed over a communication network onto a user device 130. Such an interactive content source server 110 may be implemented in the cloud (e.g., one or more cloud servers). Each piece of media may contain one or more sets of object data that can be made available for user participation (e.g., viewing or interacting with an activity). Data relating to the objects shown in the media may be stored in an object file ("object file") by the interactive content server 110, the platform server 120, and / or the user device 130, as will be discussed in detail with respect to Figures 3A and 3B.

[0013] The interactive content source server 110 may include a 3D virtual environment engine 115 that creates associated 3D virtual environments based on a dataset associated with the positions of avatars placed in the associated 3D virtual environments. The interactive content source server 110 may use the 3D virtual environment engine 115 to generate associated 3D virtual environments for curated tours based on a dataset associated with positions within the associated 3D virtual environments.

[0014] The platform server 120 may be responsible for communicating with different interactive content source servers 110, databases 140, and user devices 130. Such a platform server 120 may be implemented on one or more cloud servers. The platform server 120 may include a curated tour server 125 that operates in conjunction with a curated tour database 155 and a 3D virtual environment engine 115 to provide curated tours in the associated 3D virtual environment.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the curate tour server 125 may query the user database 150, or the curator database 210 associated with the user database 150, for datasets associated with a curate tour of the relevant 3D virtual environment. The datasets may be associated with initiating a curate tour in the relevant 3D virtual environment, such as one or more datasets associated with a selected location within the relevant 3D virtual environment. Based on the stored datasets associated with the relevant 3D virtual environment, the curate tour server 125 may configure the relevant 3D virtual environment itself using the internal 3D virtual environment engine 205 (see Figure 2), or it may query the 3D virtual environment engine 115 associated with a particular interactive source content server 110.

[0016] In another embodiment, if a 3D virtual environment is associated with a real-world location and the virtual environment database 160 contains 3D rendering information relating to the real-world location, the curated tour server 125 may initiate a curated tour without querying the interactive source content server 110. In yet another embodiment, if a 3D virtual environment is associated with an in-game environment, the curated tour server 125 may query the associated 3D virtual environment engine 115 of the associated interactive source content server 110 to generate and initiate a curated tour of the associated 3D in-game virtual environment. For any of these examples, the virtual environment database 160 may store data points associated with locations that may be part of a curated tour, which can be customized into an ordered set of curated tours.

[0017] The interactive content source server 110 may communicate with multiple platform servers 120, but the interactive content source server 110 may be implemented on one or more platform servers 120. The platform servers 120 may execute commands to receive user requests from a user to stream streaming media (i.e., games, activities, videos, podcasts, user-generated content ("UGC"), publisher content, etc.). The platform servers 120 may further execute commands to stream streaming media content titles, for example. Such streaming media may have at least one set of objects associated with at least a portion of the streaming media. Each set of object data may have data about objects displayed during at least a portion of the streaming media (e.g., activity information, zone information, actor information, mechanic information, game media information, etc.).

[0018] The streaming media and at least one set of associated object data may be provided through an Application Programming Interface (API), which enables various types of interactive content source servers 110 to communicate with different platform servers 120 and different user devices 130. The API may be specific to the computer programming language, operating system, protocol, etc., of the interactive content source server 110 that provides the streaming media content titles, the platform server 120 that provides the media and at least one set of associated object data, and the user device 130 that receives the same. In a network environment 100 that includes multiple different types of interactive content source servers 110 (or platform servers 120 or user devices 130), there may similarly be a corresponding number of APIs.

[0019] The user device 130 may include several different types of computing devices. For example, the user device 130 may include any number of different gaming consoles, mobile devices, laptops, and desktops. Such a user device 130 may be configured to access data from other storage media, such as memory cards or disk drives, which may be suitable in the case of downloaded services, but is not limited to these. Such a device 130 may include standard hardware computing components, such as network interfaces, media interfaces, non-temporary computer-readable storage devices (memory), and processors that execute instructions that can be stored in memory, but is not limited to these. These user devices 130 may also run using various different operating systems (e.g., iOS, Android®), applications, or computing languages ​​(e.g., C++, Java® Script). An exemplary user device 130 is described in detail herein with respect to Figure 5.

[0020] The database 140 may be stored on the platform server 120, the interactive content source server 110, on any of the servers, on the same server, on different servers, on a single server, across different servers, or on any of the user devices 130. Such a database 140 may store a set of streaming media and / or associated object data. Such streaming media may represent one or more objects (e.g., activities) in which a user can participate and / or user-generated content (UGC) (e.g., screenshots, videos, commentary, mashups, etc.) created by peers, publishers of media content titles and / or third-party publishers. Such UGC may include metadata for searching such UGC. Such UGC may also include information about the media and / or peers. Such peer information may be derived from data collected during peer interaction with objects of interactive content titles (e.g., video games, interactive books, etc.), and may be “bound” to and stored together with the UGC. Such bindings extend the UGC because the UGC may deep link to objects (e.g., directly invoke), provide information about the UGC objects and / or peers, and / or allow users to interact with the UGC. One or more user profiles may also be stored in the database 140. Each user profile may contain information about the user (e.g., user progress in activities and / or media content titles, user ID, user's game avatar, etc.) and may be associated with media.

[0021] Database 140 may further store information about the user (e.g., in a user profile), which includes one or more media sources and media titles that the user owns, subscribes to, or is otherwise able to access. Thus, the curated tour server 125 can retrieve such data from the user database and compile, in conjunction with the virtual environment database 160, a list of available virtual environments associated with such media sources and titles. In some embodiments, the user of the user device 130 may be able to request a set of virtual environments available to the entire group of users identified as potential tour participants.

[0022] The list of available virtual environments can be provided to the user device 130 for selection and curation of the selected virtual environments. For example, the user of the user device 130 may select a set of virtual environments (from the same or different sources), specify the order in which the virtual environments are to be visited during the virtual tour, and further specify supplementary data or media for each virtual environment. Such supplementary data or media can be presented using any combination of overlays, annotations, audiovisuals, pop-up windows, or can be incorporated into the display of the current virtual environment. Such supplementary data and media can provide additional context for recognizing the current virtual environment, including details of pre-selected histories, events to note, background stories, navigation hints, characters, creatures, and local colors of objects, as well as other types of data and media associated with the virtual environment. The user curating the tour can not only select from among predetermined data and media files to include in the tour, but can also record new content to be presented during the tour. Such tour data can be stored in the curated tour database 155 for use in actually conducting the virtual tour, for providing repeat tours, and as a template for new and revised curated tours.

[0023] The curated tour server 125 may then conduct a tour, which may automatically start at the position of the first virtual environment on the tour and transport all tour participants to that first position. There, a curator may provide a live commentary and conversation in conjunction with the presentation of supplementary data and media (via an avatar). The curator may also trigger an automatic start and virtual transport of the tour group to a second position of the tour. There, any combination of live content and predetermined content may be presented by the curator, and then the tour may proceed to yet another position selected by the curator.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram 200 of an exemplary curated tour server for creating a customizable curated tour of a three-dimensional virtual environment. In an exemplary embodiment, a user device 130 associated with a curator may transmit a curation input for selecting a three-dimensional virtual environment for a curated tour. The user device 130 may further select one or more positions within the three-dimensional virtual environment for an ordered set of positions. The selected three-dimensional virtual environment may be associated with an interactive source content server 110 or may be internally rendered based on a three-dimensional virtual environment engine 205.

[0025] In any embodiment, the curated tour server 125 may query a curator database 210, which may be within a user database 150 or associated with the user database 150. The curator database 210 may link a user account to stored curated tours created by the associated user account. The stored curated tours may be stored in a curated tour database 155. The curated tour database 155 may link to or copy a data set stored in a virtual environment database 160.

[0026] The virtual environment database 160 may store datasets associated with virtual environments such as a first virtual environment 215A, a second virtual environment 215B, and an nth virtual environment 215N. These virtual environments may be associated with the interactive source content server 110 or may be internally stored virtual environments containing datasets for rendering a three-dimensional virtual environment. For each virtual environment, the location and associated coordinates within each virtual environment may also be stored. For example, the first virtual environment 215A may include a first location 220A, a second location 220B, ... up to the nth location 220N; the second virtual environment 215B may include a first location 225A, a second location 225B, ... up to the nth location 225N; and the nth virtual environment 215N may include a first location 230A, a second location 230B, ... up to the nth location 230N. The virtual environment database 160 may include not only information about the coordinates of each location, but also curated user-generated content transmitted during the curated tour.

[0027] User-generated content may be generated by user devices 130 associated with an interactive content source account that provides content generated for curated tours provided by a user account associated with the platform server 120 and / or a producer of interactive content titles utilizing the curated tour server 125, and that also provides more bonus content associated with the 3D virtual environment in the form of curated tours. User accounts associated with the platform server 120 may also create curated tours for friend accounts or as public curated tours, for various locations within the virtual environment supplied from the interactive content source server 110 or from the 3D virtual environment rendered by the platform server 120, such as via the 3D virtual environment engine 205 associated with the curated tour server 125.

[0028] A three-dimensional virtual environment can correspond to real-world locations. For example, the first virtual environment 215A may be associated with a specific university. The first location 220A may be associated with a historical monument, and the second location 220B with its oldest building, and so on. The datasets associated with these locations may contain information about interesting facts. The datasets may also correspond to multiple different time periods with respect to the three-dimensional virtual environment. In this example, the three-dimensional virtual environment may provide renderings associated with these locations set in different time periods, and may further provide historical facts.

[0029] In a 3D virtual environment, a feature discovery mode may be added as part of a curated tour. The avatar may be given the option to explore the 3D virtual environment, and the avatar's position may be a monitor. If the avatar is within a given proximity range of a location that is part of a selected set of locations in the curated tour, options may be presented to the avatar. The options may be other activities, including learning more about that location, changing the duration of viewing the same location, playing a game / quiz associated with the location, or custom selections of data from datasets, modified data, and / or new curated data to add to the dataset.

[0030] As described above, the 3D virtual environment may also correspond to an in-game environment of an interactive content title maintained, streamed, and / or hosted by an associated interactive source content server 110, which renders the associated 3D virtual environment using an associated 3D virtual environment engine 115.

[0031] In the exemplary Universal Data System 300 in Figure 3A, an example console 328 (e.g., user device 130) and an example server 318 (e.g., streaming server 320, activity feed server 324, UGC server 332, and object server 326) are shown. The Universal Data System 300 can record activity data stored in media files 312 and object files 316, which can be selected and used as part of a curated tour. For example, the recorded object file 316 may be retrieved by the curated tour server 125 to determine a virtual environment stored in the virtual environment database 160.

[0032] Console 328 may be implemented on platform server 120, cloud server, or server 318. Console 328 may further include content recorder 302 and object recorder 306, which are described in more detail below, in which case content (e.g., media) may be recorded and output through console 328. Various interactive content titles 330 may run on console 328. Alternatively, or in addition, content recorder 302 may be implemented on platform server 120, cloud server, or server 318. Such content recorder 302 may receive content (e.g., media) from interactive content title 330 (e.g., interactive content source server 110) and record it on content ring buffer 308. Such a ring buffer 308 can store multiple content segments (e.g., v1, v2, and v3), start times for each segment (e.g., V1_START_TS, V2_START_TS, V3_START_TS), and end times for each segment (e.g., V1_END_TS, V2_END_TS, V3_END_TS). Such segments can be stored by the console 328 as media files 312 (e.g., MP4, WebM, etc.). Such media files 312 (e.g., part of streaming media) can be uploaded to the streaming server 320 for storage and subsequent streaming or use, but media files 312 can be stored on any server, cloud server, any console 328, or any user device 130. Media files 312 can be uploaded periodically and / or in real time or near real time. The start and end times for each segment can be stored by the console 328 as a content timestamp file 314. Such a content timestamp file 314 may also include a streaming ID that matches the streaming ID of the media file 312, thereby associating the content timestamp file 314 with the media file 312.Such content timestamp files 314 may be uploaded to and stored on the activity feed server 324 and / or the UGC server 332, but the content timestamp files 314 may be stored on any server, cloud server, any console 328, or any user device 130.

[0033] As the content recorder 302 receives and records content from the interactive content title 330, the object library 304 receives object data from the interactive content title 330, and the object recorder 306 tracks the object data to determine when an object starts and ends. Such object data may be uploaded periodically and / or in real time or near real time. The object library 304 and object recorder 306 may run on one of the platform server 120, the cloud server, or server 318. When the object recorder 306 detects the start of an object, it receives object data from the object library 304 (e.g., if the object is an activity, user interaction with the activity, activity ID, activity start time, activity end time, activity result, activity type, etc.) and records the activity data on the object ring buffer 310 (e.g., ActivityID1, START_TS; ActivityID2, START_TS; ActivityID3, START_TS). Such activity data recorded on the object ring buffer 310 may be stored in an object file 316. Such an object file 316 may also contain the activity start time, activity end time, activity ID, activity result, activity type (e.g., competition, quest, task, etc.), and user or peer data related to the activity. For example, the object file 316 may store data about items used during the activity. Such an object file 316 may be stored on the object server 326, but the object file 316 may be stored on any server, cloud server, any console 328, or any user device 130.

[0034] Such object data (e.g., object file 316) may be associated with content data (e.g., media file 312 and / or content timestamp file 314). In one embodiment, object server 326 stores the content timestamp file 314 and associates it with object file 316 based on a match between the streaming ID of the content timestamp file 314 and the corresponding activity ID of the object file 316. In another embodiment, object server 326 may store object file 316 and receive queries for object file 316 from UGC server 332. Such queries may be performed by searching for the activity ID of object file 316 that matches the streaming ID of content timestamp file 314 sent with the query. In yet another embodiment, a query of a stored content timestamp file 314 may be performed by comparing the start and end times of the content timestamp file 314 with the start and end times of the corresponding object file 316 sent with the query. Such object file 316 may also be associated with a matched content timestamp file 314 by the UGC server 332, and this association may be performed by any server, cloud server, any console 328, or any user device 130. In another embodiment, the object file 316 and the content timestamp file 314 may be associated by the console 328 during the creation of each file 314,316.

[0035] As illustrated in Table 350 of Figure 3C, such object data (e.g., object file 316) may be associated with event information regarding changes in activity availability, or with other objects having related object information. The binding between media and objects can form telemetry between the streaming media and objects that appear in at least part of the streaming media. For example, such object data may be a zone data file 352, an actor data file 354, a mechanic data file 356, a game media data file 358, and other gameplay-related data files.

[0036] Such object data (e.g., object file 316) may be classified as in progress, open-ended, or conflicting. Such object data may include optional characteristics such as a longer description of the activity, an image associated with the activity, whether the activity is available to the player before the game is launched, whether completion of the activity is required to complete the game, whether the activity can be played repeatedly in the game, and whether there are nested tasks or associated child activities. Such object data may also include an activity availability change event, which may indicate a list or array of currently available activities to the player. For example, this may be used to determine which activities to display in the game plan.

[0037] Such a zone data file 352 may indicate an area of ​​the game world with a single coordinate system. A zone may have an associated 2D map which may be used to display a position on the zone. Where a zone data file 352 is applicable, each zone may include a zone ID and a short, localizable name for the zone. Such a zone data file 352 may be associated with a view projection matrix (4x4) to convert from 3D world coordinates to 2D map positions. Such a zone data file 352 may be associated with a position change event that indicates an update to the player's current in-game position. Such position change events may be posted periodically or whenever the player's in-game position changes significantly. The platform server 120 may store the latest values ​​in "State". Such a zone data file 352 may include the x, y, z positions of the player's character within the zone, and a, b, c vectors indicating the orientation or direction of the player's character. Such a zone data file 352 may be associated with an activity start event and / or an activity end event, in the case of an activity end event, the result of completion, failure, or abandonment may be associated with the activity (e.g., activity ID).

[0038] Such actor data files 354 may be associated with an entity along with its in-game behavior, may be player controllers, or may be game-controlled, and may change dynamically during gameplay. Such actor data files 354 may include the actor's actor ID, the actor's localizable name, the actor's image, and / or a brief description of the actor. Such actor data files 354 may be associated with actor selection events that indicate a change in the player's selected actor(s). The selected actor(s) may represent actors that the player is controlling in the game and may be displayed in the player's profile and other spaces via the platform server 120. More than one actor may be selected at a time, and each game may replace the list of actors when loading saved data.

[0039] Such a mechanic data file 356 may be associated with items, skills, or effects that can be used by the player or the game to affect gameplay (e.g., bows, arrows, stealth attacks, fire damage) and may exclude items that do not affect gameplay (e.g., collectibles). Such a mechanic data file 356 may include the mechanic's mechanic ID, the mechanic's abbreviated name, the mechanic's image, and / or a brief description of the mechanic. Such a mechanic data file 356 may be associated with a mechanic availability change event that indicates a change in the mechanics available to the player. Available may mean that the mechanic is available for the player to use in the game world, but the player may need to go through several steps to acquire it in their inventory (e.g., buy it from a shop, obtain it from the world) before they can use it. Each game may replace the list of mechanics when loading saved data.

[0040] Such a mechanic data file 356 may be associated with a mechanic inventory change event, indicating that the player's inventory has been modified. The inventory may refer to mechanics that the player can use immediately without having to take any additional steps in-game before using them. Inventory information is used to estimate the player's readiness for various activities that may be transferred to the platform server 120. The game may replace the list of mechanic inventories when loading saved data. Mechanics on cooldown may be considered part of the inventory. Mechanic counts with any non-zero value (e.g., attack means, recovery points) may be treated as "in inventory". Inventory mechanics may be considered a subset of available mechanics.

[0041] Such a mechanic data file 356 may be associated with a mechanic use event indicating that a mechanic was used by or against a player, and may be used to display as a mechanic use in a UGC context. Such a mechanic data file 356 may include a list or array of mechanics used (e.g., fire arrows, fire damage), or whether the initiator is the player, such as whether the mechanic was used by or against the player. Such a mechanic data file 356 may include the initiator actor ID, the initiator actor's current zone ID, and / or the initiator actor's current x, y, z position. Such a mechanic data file 356 may be associated with a mechanic effect event indicating that a mechanic had an impact on gameplay (e.g., an arrow hitting an enemy), and may be used to display a mechanic image in a UGC context. Mechanic use and mechanic image events do not have to be linked. Such a mechanic data file 356 may include an initiator action ID, the initiator actor's current zone ID, the initiator actor's current x, y, z position, the target actor ID, the target actor's current zone ID, the target actor's current x, y, z position, and any mitigation mechanics that may mitigate the initiator mechanic.

[0042] Such a game media data file 358 may include the game media ID of the game media, a localizable name of the game media, the media format (e.g., image, audio, video, text, etc.), the category or type of media (e.g., cutscene, audio log, poster, developer commentary, etc.), a URL or server provisioning media file, and / or whether the game media is associated with a particular activity. Such a game media data file 358 may be associated with a game media start event indicating that a portion of a particular game media has just started in the game, and a game media end event indicating that a portion of a particular game media has finished.

[0043] Figure 4 shows an exemplary graphical user interface 400 in which a designated avatar engages in a curated tour in a three-dimensional virtual environment. In particular, the exemplary graphical user interface 400 displays a three-dimensional virtual environment associated with an interactive content title.

[0044] Avatars associated with user accounts that have chosen to experience a curated tour, such as avatars 410 and 415 in Figure 4, can be guided through a curated tour of the three-dimensional virtual environment of an interactive content title. For example, a guided avatar may be led via signs to traverse the three-dimensional virtual environment from the first selected location to the next selected location, or it may be teleported to the next location. As shown in Figure 4, the next location 420 is indicated as 150m ahead, and avatars 410 and 415 can move through the three-dimensional virtual environment to reach the next location 420. When avatars 410 and 415 are moving to the next location, or when avatars 410 and 415 arrive at the next location, the user device associated with each avatar 410 and 415 may receive and display user-generated content 430 associated with the next location 420. For example, Figure 4 shows avatars 410 and 415 heading towards Knights Trail, which is a bonus feature of the interactive content title. User-generated content 430 further indicates the objective of the Knights Trail and provides small historical information. The historical information indicates that the relevant activity was excluded from the final cut of the relevant interactive content title, Hallowing Trail, but is available as a bonus feature that can only be discovered upon successful completion of the previous mission. The user device may also be provided with a related activity play option 425 that allows the user to directly start the relevant activity, regardless of the presence of other user accounts on the curated tour.

[0045] Figure 5 shows an exemplary method 500 for overview purposes. While exemplary method 500 illustrates a specific sequence of operations, the sequence can be modified without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, some of the illustrated operations may be performed in parallel or in different sequences that do not substantially affect the functionality of method 500. In other embodiments, different components of an exemplary device or system implementing method 500 may perform their functions substantially simultaneously or in a specific sequence.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the method includes storing multiple datasets in step 510, where each dataset corresponds to a different 3D virtual environment. For example, the virtual environment database 160 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may store multiple datasets, each dataset corresponding to a different 3D virtual environment.

[0047] According to some embodiments, the method includes, in step 520, receiving a curation input from a curator device associated with a curator via a communication network, wherein the received curation input includes an ordered set of one selected 3D virtual environment and one or more selected locations within the selected 3D environment. For example, the curate tour server 125 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may receive a curation input from a curator device associated with a curator via a communication network, wherein the received curation input includes an ordered set of one selected 3D virtual environment and one or more selected locations within the selected 3D environment.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the method includes, in step 530, initiating a curated tour in response to a trigger based on received curation input. For example, the curated tour server 125 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may initiate a curated tour in response to a trigger based on received curation input. In some embodiments, initiating a curated tour includes placing one or more designated avatars at the first selected location within an ordered set of selected three-dimensional virtual environments. In some embodiments, a subset of datasets corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environments is presented at the first selected location.

[0049] According to some embodiments, the method includes, in step 540, automatically repositioning a specified avatar to the next selected location using an ordered set of selected three-dimensional virtual environments in response to the next trigger. For example, the curated tour server 125 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may automatically reposition a specified avatar to the next selected location using an ordered set of selected three-dimensional virtual environments in response to the next trigger.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the method includes storing curation inputs in memory. For example, the curate tour server 125 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may store curation inputs in memory. In some embodiments, the curation inputs are stored in relation to the feature discovery mode.

[0051] According to several embodiments, the method includes monitoring the position of one or more avatars in a selected three-dimensional environment. For example, the curated tour server 125 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may monitor the position of one or more avatars in a selected three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the monitored avatars are associated with a feature discovery mode. In some embodiments, the selected three-dimensional virtual environment corresponds to a real-world location. In some embodiments, the dataset corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment includes content relating to a real-world location over multiple different time periods. In some embodiments, the selected three-dimensional virtual environment corresponds to an in-game environment of an interactive content title. In some embodiments, the dataset corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment includes content relating to one or more in-game features of the in-game environment.

[0052] According to some embodiments, the method includes providing an option to present a subset of datasets corresponding to a selected 3D environment when an avatar is within a predetermined proximity range of the initially selected location. For example, the curated tour server 125 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may provide an option to present a subset of datasets corresponding to a selected 3D environment when an avatar is within a predetermined proximity range of the initially selected location. In some embodiments, the subset includes user-generated content relating to one or more in-game activities in which one or more other users participated at the initially selected location. In some embodiments, the curation input further includes custom data to be included in the subset. In some embodiments, the custom data includes at least one of a custom selection of data from the dataset, modified data from the dataset, and new curation data to add to the dataset.

[0053] According to several embodiments, the method includes providing an option to start a game between one or more avatars during a curated tour. For example, the curated tour server 125 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may provide an option to start a game between one or more avatars during a curated tour.

[0054] Figure 6 shows an exemplary user electronic entertainment system that may be used to initiate interactive content and provide a dynamic interface, according to aspects of the present disclosure. The entertainment system 600 in Figure 6 includes a main memory 605, a central processing unit (CPU) 610, a vector unit 615, a graphics processing unit 620, an input / output (I / O) processor 625, an I / O processor memory 630, a peripheral interface 635, a memory card 640, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface 645, and a communication network interface 650. The entertainment system 600 further includes an operating system read-only memory (OS ROM) 655, an audio processing unit 660, an optical disc control unit 670, and a hard disk drive 665, which are connected to the I / O processor 625 via a bus 675.

[0055] The entertainment system 600 may be an electronic game console. Alternatively, the entertainment system 600 may be implemented as a general-purpose computer, set-top box, handheld game device, tablet computing device, virtual reality device, augmented reality device, or mobile computing device or telephone. The entertainment system may include more or fewer operating components depending on the specific form factor, purpose, or design.

[0056] The CPU 610, vector unit 615, graphics processing unit 620, and I / O processor 625 in Figure 6 communicate via the system bus 685. Furthermore, the CPU 610 in Figure 6 may communicate with the main memory 605 via a dedicated bus 680, and the vector unit 615 and graphics processing unit 620 may communicate via a dedicated bus 690. The CPU 610 in Figure 6 executes programs stored in the OS ROM 655 and the main memory 605. The main memory 605 in Figure 6 may contain pre-stored programs and programs transferred via the I / O processor 625 from a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or other optical disc (not shown) using the optical disc control unit 670. The I / O processor 625 in Figure 6 may also enable the introduction of content transferred over wireless or other communication networks (e.g., 4G, LTE, 1G, etc.). The I / O processor 625 in Figure 6 primarily controls data exchange between various devices of the entertainment system 600, including the CPU 610, vector unit 615, graphics processing unit 620, and peripheral interface 635.

[0057] The graphics processing unit 620 in Figure 6 executes graphics instructions received from the CPU 610 and the vector unit 615 to generate an image for display on a display device (not shown). For example, the vector unit 615 in Figure 6 may convert an object from three-dimensional coordinates to two-dimensional coordinates and send the two-dimensional coordinates to the graphics processing unit 620. Furthermore, the audio processing unit 660 executes instructions to generate an audio signal to be output to an audio device such as a speaker (not shown). Other devices may be connected to the entertainment system 600 via a USB interface 645 and a communication network interface 650 such as a wireless transceiver, and these may also be embedded within the system 600 or as part of some other component such as a processor.

[0058] The user of the entertainment system 600 in Figure 6 provides commands to the CPU 610 via the peripheral interface 635, thereby enabling the use of various different available peripheral devices known in the art (e.g., controllers). For example, the user may command the CPU 610 to store specific game information in a memory card 640 or other non-temporary computer-readable storage medium, or to command an in-game avatar to perform some specified action.

[0059] This disclosure relates to applications that may be operable on a variety of end-user devices. For example, an end-user device may be a personal computer, a home entertainment system (e.g., Sony PlayStation 2® or Sony PlayStation 3® or Sony PlayStation 4® or Sony PlayStation 5®), a portable game device (e.g., Sony PSP® or Sony Vita®), or a lower-end but different manufacturer's home entertainment system. The methods described herein are fully intended to be operable on a variety of devices. Aspects of this disclosure may also be implemented in cross-title neutrality and / or utilized across a variety of titles from various publishers.

[0060] Aspects of this disclosure may be implemented in applications that may operate using a variety of devices. Non-temporary computer-readable storage media refers to any media(s) involved in providing instructions to a central processing unit (CPU) for execution. Such media can take many forms, including but not limited to optical disks or magnetic disks and non-volatile and volatile media such as dynamic memory, respectively. Common forms of non-temporary computer-readable media include, for example, floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, any other magnetic media, CD-ROM disks, digital video disks (DVDs), any other optical media, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASHEPROM, and any other memory chips or cartridges.

[0061] Various forms of transmission media can be involved in conveying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to the CPU for execution. A bus transmits data to system RAM, and the CPU retrieves and executes instructions from system RAM. Instructions received by system RAM may optionally be stored on a fixed disk either before or after execution by the CPU. As with various forms of storage, other network interfaces and network topologies for implementing storage can also be implemented.

[0062] In some aspects of this disclosure, computer-readable storage devices, media, and memory may include cables or wireless signals, such as bitstreams. However, non-temporary computer-readable storage media, as referred to, expressly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals themselves.

Claims

1. 1. A method for providing a curated virtual tour in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, comprising: storing a plurality of data sets, each data set corresponding to a different three-dimensional virtual environment; receiving a curation input over a communications network from a curator device, the received curation input including a particular order for a selected one of the three-dimensional virtual environments and an ordered set of one or more selected virtual locations within the selected three-dimensional virtual environment; initiating a curated tour session for a plurality of user devices in response to a trigger based on the received curation input, wherein initiating the curated tour session includes placing a group of one or more designated avatars corresponding to the user devices at an initial virtual location according to the particular order for the ordered set of the selected three-dimensional virtual environments, and a subset of the data set corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environments is presented at the initial virtual location; in response to a next trigger, automatically relocating the designated group of avatars to next virtual positions according to the specified order for the ordered set of positions within the selected three-dimensional virtual environment; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein an initial virtual location of the selected three-dimensional virtual environment corresponds to a real-world location, and the dataset corresponding to the initial virtual location of the selected three-dimensional virtual environment includes content relating to the real-world location across multiple different time periods.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein an initial virtual location of the selected three-dimensional virtual environment corresponds to an in-game environment of an interactive content title, and the data set corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment includes content related to one or more in-game features of the in-game environment.

4. storing the curation input in a memory, the curation input being stored in association with a function discovery mode; monitoring a virtual position of one or more avatars in the selected three-dimensional virtual environment, the monitored avatars being associated with the feature discovery mode; providing an option to present the subset of the data set corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment when an avatar is within a predetermined proximity range of the initially selected virtual location; The method of claim 1 further comprising:

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the subset includes user-generated content related to one or more in-game activities in which one or more other users participated at the initial virtual location.

6. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curation input further comprises custom data for inclusion in the subset, the custom data comprising at least one of a custom selection of data from the dataset, modified data from the dataset, and new curation data to add to the dataset.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an option to initiate a game between the one or more avatars during the curated tour session.

8. 1. A system for providing a curated virtual tour in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of data sets, each data set corresponding to a different three-dimensional virtual environment; a communications interface for communicating over a communications network, the communications interface receiving curation input over the communications network from a curator device, the received curation input including a particular order for a selected one of the three-dimensional virtual environments and an ordered set of one or more selected virtual locations within the selected three-dimensional virtual environment; 1. A processor configured to execute instructions, the processor comprising: instructions for initiating a curated tour session for a plurality of user devices in response to a trigger based on the received curation input, where initiating the curated tour session includes placing a group of one or more designated avatars corresponding to the user devices at an initial virtual location according to the particular order for the ordered set of the selected three-dimensional virtual environments, where a subset of the data set corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment is presented in the initial virtual location; and said processor executing instructions for automatically relocating said designated avatars to next virtual locations according to said particular order for said ordered set of locations within said selected three-dimensional virtual environment in response to a next trigger; A system comprising:

9. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein an initial virtual location of the selected three-dimensional virtual environment corresponds to a real-world location, and the dataset corresponding to the initial virtual location of the selected three-dimensional virtual environment includes content relating to the real-world location across multiple different time periods.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the selected three-dimensional virtual environment corresponds to an in-game environment of an interactive content title.

11. The memory further stores the curation input, the curation input being stored in association with a function discovery mode, and the processor: monitoring a virtual position of one or more avatars in the selected three-dimensional virtual environment, the monitored avatars being associated with the feature discovery mode; and providing an option to present the subset of the data set corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment when an avatar is within a predetermined proximity range of the initially selected virtual location; The system of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the subset includes user-generated content related to one or more in-game activities in which one or more other users participated at the initially selected virtual location.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the curation input further comprises custom data for inclusion in the subset.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor executes further instructions to provide an option for initiating a game between the one or more avatars during the curated tour session.

15. 1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a computing system to perform a method for providing a curated virtual tour in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, the method comprising: storing a plurality of data sets, each data set corresponding to a different three-dimensional virtual environment; receiving, over a communications network, a curation input from a curator device associated with a curator, the received curation input including a particular order for a selected one of the three-dimensional virtual environments and an ordered set of one or more selected virtual locations within the selected three-dimensional virtual environment; initiating a curated tour session for the user device in response to a trigger based on the received curation input, wherein initiating the curated tour session includes placing a group of one or more designated avatars corresponding to the user device at an initial virtual location according to the particular order for the ordered set of the selected three-dimensional virtual environments, and a subset of the data set corresponding to the selected three-dimensional virtual environment is presented at the initial virtual location; in response to a next trigger, automatically relocating the designated group of avatars to next virtual positions according to the specified order for the ordered set of positions within the selected three-dimensional virtual environment; The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the options include an option to engage in a virtual activity associated with the first virtual location.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the curation input further identifies supplemental data or media associated with the first virtual location and updates a display of the first virtual location in response to the curation input to show the supplemental data or media.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising displaying live content or live commentary in coordination with the portion of the dataset displayed at the first virtual location.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the curation input selects the supplemental data or media from a plurality of predefined files.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising: recording new content provided by the curator device; 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the new content is identified as the supplemental data or media by the curator device.

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