Creating, playing and monetizing user customizable games

Abstract

The present invention allows a user to select between playing a predefined game provided via a game application, or customize a game and share the customized game with friends via a global network. In certain embodiments, the user customizes the game by authoring content and incorporating the authored content and if desired sampled content (like a DJ) into the customized game. For example, a user may mesh together pieces of music (blocks of digital data) to author a new piece of music, and the customized game might be a multimedia presentation of the user's new piece of music. The user can then share or publish the new piece of music (custom content) as a published customized game.

1 . A computer implemented method comprising: 
 assembling a plurality of computer files used to customize a game;    submitting said plurality of computer files for publishing; and    preparing said plurality of computer files for use on a plurality of supported platforms.    
   
   
       2 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 1  wherein assembling said plurality of files includes: 
 preparing said plurality of files for use by said game;    testing said plurality of files within said game; and    troubleshooting and fixing said plurality of files so that said plurality of files are suitable for publishing.    
   
   
       3 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform is a handheld platform.  
   
   
       4 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform is a desktop platform.  
   
   
       5 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform is a cellular based platform.  
   
   
       6 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform is a Wi-Fi based platform.  
   
   
       7 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform is a JAVA platform.  
   
   
       8 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform is a LINUX platform.  
   
   
       9 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform in a WINDOWS platform.  
   
   
       10 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said supported platform is a UNIX platform.  
   
   
       11 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said computer files are authored by a user.  
   
   
       12 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said computer files are proprietary to a party monetizing said computer implemented method.  
   
   
       13 . A computer implemented method for publishing a customized game comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of customization files submitted for publication wherein several of the files include user authored content;    performing a verification operation on said plurality of customization files;    when said verification operation is passed, preparing said plurality of customization files for execution on a plurality of platforms;    performing a test operation on said verified plurality of customization files; and    when said test operation is passed, publishing said plurality of customization files as suitable for said plurality of platforms.    
   
   
       14 . A computer implemented method for launching a computer application operable to provide a customized game, the launch method comprising: 
 initiating an executable code segment on a user device, said executable code segment operable to identify for starting the desired computer application on the user device;    identifying a first version of said computer application, said first version being available and desired;    starting said first version of said computer application; and    identifying and loading desired game files for use by a first version of said computer application in order to provide a customized game.    
   
   
       15 . A computer implemented application launch method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein identifying said first version of said computer application includes downloading and installing a newer version of said computer application.  
   
   
       16 . A computer implemented application launch method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein identifying said first version of said computer application includes finding said first version in memory local and coupled to said user device.  
   
   
       17 . A computer implemented application launch method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said memory is integral to said user device.  
   
   
       18 . A computer application that allows a user to compose a plurality of custom games that in certain circumstances may be shared with and played by others, the computer application comprising: 
 at least one game template, wherein at least a portion of said game template can be edited by said user via said computer application;    an interface enabling said user to provide instructions regarding a custom game and edit said game template; and    a game execution engine to generate said custom game based on said game template, said user edits and said user instructions.    
   
   
       19 . A computer application as recited in  claim 18 , wherein at least one game template includes a plurality of game files for use in customizing said custom game.  
   
   
       20 . A computer application as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of game files are assembled.  
   
   
       21 . A computer application as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of game files are in a format suitable for publishing.  
   
   
       22 . A computer application as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of game files are prepared and published for use on at least one specific platform.  
   
   
       23 . A computer application as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said at least one specific platform is JAVA.  
   
   
       24 . A computer application as recited in  claim 22 , wherein at least some of said plurality of game files are stored in an encrypted format.  
   
   
       25 . A computer application as recited in  claim 24  further comprising an encryption engine suitable for encrypting and decrypting said plurality of game files.  
   
   
       26 . A computer application as recited in  claim 22 , wherein at least some of said plurality of game files are proprietary to a party monetizing the computer application.  
   
   
       27 . A computer application as recited in  claim 18  wherein said user must pay a monetary fee directly or indirectly for using the computer application.  
   
   
       28 . A computer application as recited in  claim 18  wherein said interface enables said user to author original content.  
   
   
       29 . A computer application as recited in  claim 28  wherein said user authored original content includes at least one of user authored music, user sampled clips of music, sampled clips of music, text, video, animation, computer graphics and any audio.  
   
   
       30 . A computer implemented business method for providing a customizable computer game to a user, the method comprising: 
 in exchange for compensation, providing an executable application that enables a user to author a custom game on a plurality of platforms; and    in exchange for compensation, providing content to support said custom game.    
   
   
       31 . A computer implemented business method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein said content includes a plurality of files.  
   
   
       32 . A computer implemented business method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein at least one of said plurality of files is stored in an encrypted format that is only available to said user after a verification process.  
   
   
       33 . A mobile computing device comprising: 
 a process implementing a computer application as recited in  claim 8 .    
   
   
       34 . A game template comprising: 
 a plurality of game files for use in customizing a custom game.    
   
   
       35 . A game template as recited in  claim 34  wherein said plurality of game files are assembled.  
   
   
       36 . A game template as recited in  claim 34  wherein said plurality of game files are in a format suitable for publishing.  
   
   
       37 . A game template as recited in  claim 36  wherein said plurality of game files are prepared and published for use on at least one specific platform.  
   
   
       38 . A game template as recited in  claim 37  wherein said plurality of game files are stored in an encrypted format.  
   
   
       39 . A game template as recited in  claim 37  wherein at least some of said plurality of game files are proprietary to a party monetizing an application for customizing said custom game.