Dynamic views within gaming environments

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing dynamic views for video game programs are provided herein. Exemplary methods for providing a dynamic view of a gaming environment may include continually calculating a bounding area of a gaming environment, the bounding area being defined by locations of a plurality of players relative to one another within the gaming environment, the bounding area changing as the plurality of players move relative to one another, as well as continually generating a top down view of the bounding area of the gaming environment, the top down view being dynamically altered as the bounding area is dynamically adjusted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a dynamic view of a gaming environment, the method comprising:
 continually calculating a bounding area of a gaming environment, the bounding area being defined by locations of a plurality of players relative to one another within the gaming environment, the bounding area changing as the plurality of players move relative to one another; and   continually generating a top down view of the bounding area of the gaming environment, the top down view being dynamically altered as the bounding area is dynamically adjusted.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving selections of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein selecting the plurality of players comprises determining players included in a selected area of interest received from an end user. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising dynamically adjusting a zoom for the top down view. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising continually calculating a center of zoom for the top down view by determining a center of mass based upon the locations of the plurality of players as well as proximity between the plurality of players. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the top down view is further dynamically altered based upon the center of zoom. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein dynamically adjusting the zoom for the top down view comprises increasing the zoom when a distance between at least a portion of the plurality of players decreases and decreasing the zoom when a distance between at least a portion of the plurality of players increases. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising selectively adjusting a pan of the top down view based upon the dynamic adjustment of the bounding area. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising selectively adjusting a pan of the top down view based upon the dynamic adjustment of the zoom. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising removing a player from the bounding area if the player is determined to be inactive. 
     
     
         11 . A system for providing a dynamic view of a gaming environment, the system comprising:
 a memory for storing executable instructions; and   a processor for executing the instructions, the instructions comprising:
 a bounding area module that continually calculates a bounding area of a gaming environment, the bounding area being defined by locations of a plurality of players relative to one another within the gaming environment, the bounding area changing as the plurality of players move relative to one another; and 
 a view generator that continually generates a top down view of the bounding area of the gaming environment, the top down view being dynamically altered as the bounding area is dynamically adjusted. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the bounding area module receives selections of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the bounding area module determines locations of the plurality of players included in a selected area of interest received from an end user. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the view generator dynamically adjusts a zoom for the top down view. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the view generator continually calculates a center of zoom for the top down view by determining a center of mass based upon the locations of the plurality of players as well as proximity between the plurality of players. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the view generator further dynamically alters the top down view based upon the center of zoom. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the view generator dynamically adjusts the zoom for the top down view by increasing the zoom when a distance between at least a portion of the plurality of players decreases and decreasing the zoom when a distance between at least a portion of the plurality of players increases. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the view generator selectively adjusts a pan of the top down view based upon the dynamic adjustment of the bounding area. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the view generator selectively adjusts a pan of the top down view based upon the dynamic adjustment of the zoom. 
     
     
         20 . A method for providing a dynamic view of a gaming environment, the method comprising:
 determining a plurality of players within the gaming environment for the dynamic view;   continually tracking locations of the plurality of players;   continually calculating distances between the plurality of players relative to one another; and   continually generating a top down view that includes the plurality of players, a zoom of the top down view being automatically adjusted based upon the calculated distances.