Dynamic lighting and rendering techniques implemented in gaming environments

Abstract

Various aspects described or referenced herein are directed to different methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating dynamic, real-time adjustment and rendering of lighting, shading, and/or other display characteristics associated with stationary virtual objects and/or dynamically movable virtual objects. In at least one embodiment, the dynamic rendering of pixels for a selected virtual object within a given scene may be performed in real-time using predefined light source influence criteria representing the amount of light intensity or light influence which each individual light source (of the scene) has on the pixel being rendered.

1 . A gaming system in a gaming network, comprising:
 a gaming controller;   memory;   a first display;   at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in the gaming network;   the gaming system being operable to:   initiate a first active gaming session at the first gaming system;   identify a first virtual scene to be rendered for display during the first active gaming session;   identify a first virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the first virtual light source having associated therewith a first portion of lighting characteristics;   dynamically set the first portion of lighting characteristics to be in accordance with a first set of values;   dynamically render and display, during the first active gaming session and using the first portion of lighting characteristics, a first virtual object of the first scene, wherein the first rendered virtual object is displayed in accordance with a first set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a first visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object;   dynamically modify the first portion of lighting characteristics to be accordance with a second set of values; and   dynamically adjust the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object in response to the dynamic modification of the first portion of lighting characteristics, wherein the dynamic adjustment of the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object includes dynamically calculating, using the second set of values, a modified set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a modified visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 dynamically render and display, during the first active gaming session and using the first portion of lighting characteristics and second portion of lighting characteristics, the first virtual object of the first scene, wherein the first rendered virtual object is displayed in accordance with a third set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a third visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object; 
 dynamically modify the second portion of lighting characteristics to be accordance with a modified set of values; and 
 dynamically adjust the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object in response to the dynamic modification of the second portion of lighting characteristics, wherein the dynamic adjustment of the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object includes dynamically calculating, using the modified set of values, a second modified set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a second modified visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identify first light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 identify a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identify first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identify second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; and 
 dynamically calculate, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a visual appearance of the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 identify a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identify first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identify second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; and 
 dynamically calculate, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a composite light intensity of the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 identify a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identify first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identify second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identify a first current color profile associated with the first virtual light source; 
 identify a second current color profile associated with the second virtual light source; 
 dynamically calculate, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a composite light intensity of the first pixel; and 
 dynamically determine, during rendering of the first virtual object, at least one color characteristic of the first pixel using the set of first pixel lighting characteristics and using the first and second current color profiles. 
 
     
     
         7 . A computer implemented method for operating a gaming system in a gaming network, the method comprising:
 identifying a first virtual scene to be rendered for display during a first active gaming session at the gaming system;   identifying a first virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the first virtual light source having associated therewith a first portion of lighting characteristics;   dynamically set the first portion of lighting characteristics to be in accordance with a first set of values;   dynamically rendering and displaying, during the first active gaming session and using the first portion of lighting characteristics, a first virtual object of the first scene, wherein the first rendered virtual object is displayed in accordance with a first set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a first visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object;   dynamically modifying the first portion of lighting characteristics to be accordance with a second set of values; and   dynamically adjusting the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object in response to the dynamic modification of the first portion of lighting characteristics, wherein the dynamic adjustment of the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object includes dynamically calculating, using the second set of values, a modified set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a modified visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 dynamically rendering and displaying, during the first active gaming session and using the first portion of lighting characteristics and second portion of lighting characteristics, the first virtual object of the first scene, wherein the first rendered virtual object is displayed in accordance with a third set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a third visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object; 
 dynamically modifying the second portion of lighting characteristics to be accordance with a modified set of values; and 
 dynamically adjusting the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object in response to the dynamic modification of the second portion of lighting characteristics, wherein the dynamic adjustment of the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object includes dynamically calculating, using the modified set of values, a second modified set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a second modified visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identifying second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; and 
 dynamically calculating, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a visual appearance of the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identifying second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; and 
 dynamically calculating, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a composite light intensity of the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identifying second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 identifying a first current color profile associated with the first virtual light source; 
 identifying a second current color profile associated with the second virtual light source; 
 dynamically calculating, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a composite light intensity of the first pixel; and 
 dynamically determining, during rendering of the first virtual object, at least one color characteristic of the first pixel using the set of first pixel lighting characteristics and using the first and second current color profiles. 
 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product for operating a gaming system in a gaming network, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code comprising:   computer code for identifying a first virtual scene to be rendered for display during a first active gaming session at the gaming system;   computer code for identifying a first virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the first virtual light source having associated therewith a first portion of lighting characteristics;   dynamically set the first portion of lighting characteristics to be in accordance with a first set of values;   computer code for dynamically rendering and displaying, during the first active gaming session and using the first portion of lighting characteristics, a first virtual object of the first scene, wherein the first rendered virtual object is displayed in accordance with a first set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a first visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object;   computer code for dynamically modifying the first portion of lighting characteristics to be accordance with a second set of values; and   computer code for dynamically adjusting the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object in response to the dynamic modification of the first portion of lighting characteristics, wherein the dynamic adjustment of the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object includes dynamically calculating, using the second set of values, a modified set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a modified visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer code for identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 computer code for dynamically rendering and displaying, during the first active gaming session and using the first portion of lighting characteristics and second portion of lighting characteristics, the first virtual object of the first scene, wherein the first rendered virtual object is displayed in accordance with a third set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a third visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object; 
 computer code for dynamically modifying the second portion of lighting characteristics to be accordance with a modified set of values; and 
 computer code for dynamically adjusting the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object in response to the dynamic modification of the second portion of lighting characteristics, wherein the dynamic adjustment of the visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object includes dynamically calculating, using the modified set of values, a second modified set of rendered lighting characteristics relating to a second modified visual appearance of the first rendered virtual object. 
 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer code for identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 computer code for identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer code for identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 computer code for identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 computer code for identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 computer code for identifying second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; and 
 computer code for dynamically calculating, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a visual appearance of the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 computer code for identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 computer code for identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 computer code for identifying second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; and 
 computer code for dynamically calculating, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a composite light intensity of the first pixel. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer code for identifying a second virtual light source associated with the first virtual scene, the second virtual light second light source having associated therewith a second portion lighting characteristics; 
 computer code for identifying a first pixel associated with the first virtual object; 
 computer code for identifying first light source influence criteria relating to the identified first pixel, wherein the first light source influence criteria characterizes a first amount of light intensity or light influence which the first virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 computer code for identifying second light source influence criteria relating to the first pixel, wherein the second light source influence criteria characterizes a second amount of light intensity or light influence which the second virtual light source has over the first pixel; 
 computer code for identifying a first current color profile associated with the first virtual light source; 
 computer code for identifying a second current color profile associated with the second virtual light source; 
 computer code for dynamically calculating, during rendering of the first virtual object and using the first and second light source influence criteria, a set of first pixel lighting characteristics relating to a composite light intensity of the first pixel; and 
 computer code for dynamically determining, during rendering of the first virtual object, at least one color characteristic of the first pixel using the set of first pixel lighting characteristics and using the first and second current color profiles.