System and method for linking a player computer system directly to a predetermined shared game environment

Abstract

The invention provides a game server computer system, including at least one storage medium, at least one processor connected to the storage medium, and a set of instructions stored on the storage medium for execution by the processor, the set of instructions including a communications module to transmit signals to remote player computer systems over the network, a shared game environment displayed by the remote player computer systems, at least one game component associated with each remote player computer system located in the shared game environment at each remote player computer system, and being movable relative to the shared game environment utilizing the respective remote player computer system, a plurality of player scores stored on a computer system, each player score corresponding to a respective one of the remote player computer systems, game thresholds being reached as a result of movement of the game components relative to the shared game environment, and the player scores being updated when the game thresholds are reached, and a URL generator that generates a game-specific URL, the game-specific URL being utilizable at the selected remote computer system to at least retrieve the selected game environment.

1 . A game server computer system, comprising:
 at least one storage medium;   at least one processor connected to the storage medium; and   a set of instructions stored on the storage medium for execution by the processor, the set of instructions including:   a communications module to transmit signals to remote player computer systems over the network;   a shared game environment displayed by the remote player computer systems;   at least one game component associated with each remote player computer system located in the shared game environment at each remote player computer system, and being movable relative to the shared game environment utilizing the respective remote player computer system;   a plurality of player scores stored on a computer system, each player score corresponding to a respective one of the remote player computer systems, game thresholds being reached as a result of movement of the game components relative to the shared game environment, and the player scores being updated when the game thresholds are reached; and   a URL generator that generates a game-specific URL, the game-specific URL being utilizable at the selected remote computer system to at least retrieve the selected game environment.   
   
   
       2 . The game server computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of shared game environments stored on the storage medium and a plurality of parties stored on the storage medium, each comprising a respective subset of the remote player computer systems, associated with each shared game environment. 
   
   
       3 . The game server computer system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a party move selector selectable at one of the remote player computer systems associated with a first one of the parties and a first one of the shared game environments to transmit a party move signal from the respective remote player computer system to the server computer system; and   a party move module stored on the game server computer system which, in response to the party move signal, associates all the remote player computer systems associated with the first party in unison with a second one of the shared game environments.   
   
   
       4 . A computer communications method, comprising:
 storing the shared game environment on a game server computer system for transmittal to remote player computer systems;   transmitting the shared game environment to the remote player computer systems;   storing the player scores on the game server computer system;   transmitting the player scores to the remote player computer systems;   updating the player scores as game thresholds are reached as a result of movement of the game components relative to the shared game environment utilizing a plurality of remote player computer systems;   generating a game-specific URL;   transmitting the game-specific URL to a selected one of the remote player computer systems; and   utilizing the game-specific URL at the selected remote computer system to at least view the shared game environment.   
   
   
       5 . The computer communications method of  claim 4 , wherein the shared game environment is a selected shared game environment among a plurality of shared game environments, further comprising:
 generating a game-specific URL;   transmitting the game-specific URL to a selected one of the remote computer systems; and   utilizing the game-specific URL at the selected remote computer system to at least view the selected shared game environment.   
   
   
       6 . The computer communications method of  claim 4 , further comprising.
 storing a plurality of shared game environments on the game server computer system; and   associating a respective party comprising a respective subset of the remote player computer systems with each shared game environment.   
   
   
       7 . The computer communications method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 selecting a party move selector at one of the remote player computer systems associated with a first one of the parties and a first one of the shared game environments, to transmit a party move signal from the respective remote player computer system to the server computer system; and   in response to the party move signal; associating all the remote player computer systems associated with the first party in unison with a second one of the shared game environments.   
   
   
       8 . The computer communications method of  claim 4 , further comprising
 running a first browser application residing on a first remote computer system, the first browser having a view that displays components received in the signal; and   utilizing a first plug-in on the first remote computer system to enhance functionality of the browser,   wherein the first plug-in enhances functionality of the first browser by communicating with a second remote computer system over the network.   
   
   
       9 . The computer communications method of  claim 8 , wherein the browser has browser functionality and the plug-in places a view of the shared game environment in the browser, and the game has game functionality. 
   
   
       10 . The computer communications method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 running a second browser application residing on a second remote computer system, the second browser having a view that displays components received in the signal; and   utilizing a second plug-in on the second remote computer system to enhance functionality of the browser,   wherein the first plug-in enhances functionality of the first browser by communicating with the second plug-in on the second remote computer system over the network.   
   
   
       11 . The computer communications method of  claim 4 , wherein the shared game environment, the at least one game component, the movement of the at least one game component, the player scores, and the game thresholds are game parameters, further comprising:
 utilizing a first protocol to communicate at least a first of the game parameters over the network; and   utilizing a second protocol to communicate at least a second of the game parameters over the network.   
   
   
       12 . The computer communications method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 creating a three-dimensional rendering of the shared game environment and the game components.   
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer, executes a communications method, comprising:
 storing the shared game environment on a game server computer system for transmittal to remote player computer systems;   transmitting the shared game environment to the remote player computer systems;   storing the player scores on the game server computer system;   transmitting the player scores to the remote player computer systems;   updating the player scores as game thresholds are reached as a result of movement of the game components relative to the shared game environment utilizing a plurality of remote player computer systems;   generating a game-specific URL;   transmitting the game-specific URL to a selected one of the remote player computer systems; and   utilizing the game-specific URL at the selected remote computer system to at least view the shared game environment.   
   
   
       14 . A network system, comprising:
 a plurality of remote player computer systems connected to a network, a signal being transmitted from a first to a second of the remote player computer systems over the network, the signal including components for display by the remote player computer receiving the signal;   a game server computer system, the shared game environment and the player scores being stored on the game server computer system and being transmitted to the remote player computer system;   a shared game environment stored on the game server computer system, transmitted from the game server computer system and displayed by the remote player computer systems;   at least one game component stored on the game server computer system, transmitted from the game server computer system to and associated with each remote player computer system located, the game components being located in the shared game environment at each remote player computer system, and being movable relative to the shared game environment utilizing the respective remote player computer system;   a plurality of player scores stored on the game server computer system, each player score corresponding to a respective one of the remote player computer systems, game thresholds being reached as a result of movement of the game components relative to the shared game environment, and the player scores being updated when the game thresholds are reached; and   a URL generator that generates a game-specific URL for transmission to a selected one of the remote computer systems, the game-specific URL being utilizable at the selected remote computer system to at least view the selected game environment.