System and method for enabling user cooperation in an asynchronous virtual environment

Abstract

An asynchronous virtual environment may be provided to users in which synchronous, time-sensitive cooperation between the users is enabled in spite of the asynchronous nature of the virtual environment. Synchronous, time-sensitive cooperation between users may have an impact on gaining and/or retaining users in a virtual environment, such as a videogame or virtual space. For example, such cooperation between users may strengthen a sense of group, community, and/or camaraderie between cooperating users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to provide cooperative behavior between users in an asynchronous virtual environment, the system comprising:
 one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising:
 an environment module configured to provide views of an asynchronous virtual environment to the users; 
 an activity definition module configured to obtain activity criteria that define a group activity for a user group, wherein the group activity includes a task to be performed separately by individual users in the user group within the asynchronous virtual environment; and 
 an activity evaluation module configured to evaluate performance of the group activity by the user group, wherein evaluation of the performance of the activity is based on separate performances of the task within the asynchronous environment by the individual users in the user group and the activity criteria. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer program modules further comprise an activity consequence module configured to determine a consequence for the users in the user group based on the evaluation of performance of the group activity by the user group. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the activity consequence module is configured such that, responsive to the user group successfully completing the group activity, a reward is provided to at least one of the users in the user group as a consequence. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the activity consequence module is configured such that, responsive to the user group being unsuccessful in completing the group activity, a penalty is assessed to at least one of the users in the user group as a consequence. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activity definition module is configured such that the activity criteria comprise one or more of group parameters that define the user group, task parameters that define the task, timing parameters for performance of the task to satisfy the group activity, group participation parameters, or consequence parameters defining potential consequences for the group activity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activity definition module is configured to receive user selection of one or more group parameters from a user, and to define the user group based on the one or more group parameters. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer program module further comprise a group performance monitoring module configured to obtain performance reports corresponding to individual users in the user group, wherein the performance reports indicate whether the corresponding individual users have completed the task, and wherein the activity evaluation module is configured to evaluate performance of the group activity by the user group based on the performance reports. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the asynchronous virtual environment is an asynchronous videogame played individually and separately by the users. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer program modules comprise an activity initiation module configured to receive user selection from a user in the user group that commits the user group to performance of the group activity. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method of encouraging cooperative behavior between users in an asynchronous virtual environment, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more processors executing computer program modules, the method comprising:
 providing views of an asynchronous virtual environment to the users;   obtaining activity criteria that define a group activity for a user group, wherein the group activity includes a task to be performed separately by individual ones of the users in the user group within the asynchronous virtual environment; and   evaluating performance of the group activity by the user group, wherein the evaluation of the performance of the activity is based on separate performances of the task within the asynchronous environment by the users in the user group and the activity criteria.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining a consequence for the users in the user group based on the evaluation of performance of the group activity by the user group. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, responsive to the user group successfully completing the group activity, the consequence comprises a reward provided to at least one of the users in the user group. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, responsive to the user group being unsuccessful in completing the group activity, the consequence comprises a penalty is assessed to at least one of the users in the user group. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activity criteria comprise one or more of group parameters that define the user group, task parameters that define the task, timing parameters for performance of the task to satisfy the group activity, group participation parameters, or consequence parameters defining potential consequences for the group activity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving user selection of one or more group parameters from a user,   defining the user group based on the received one or more group parameters.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising obtaining performance reports corresponding to individual users in the user group, wherein the performance reports indicate whether the corresponding individual users have completed the task, and wherein the evaluation of the performance of the group activity by the user group is based on the performance reports. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the asynchronous virtual environment is an asynchronous videogame played individually and separately by the users. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a user selection from a user in the user group that commits the user group to performance of the group activity. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method of encouraging cooperation between users of an asynchronous videogame, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more processors executing computer program modules, the method comprising:
 providing the asynchronous videogame separately to the users such that individual users receive views of the asynchronous videogame, wherein the view provided to any given user includes an object under control of the given user, and wherein the view of the asynchronous videogame received by the given user does not include any object under control of another user;   presenting a common task to a user group within the individual views of the asynchronous videogame provided to the users in the user group;   determining whether the number of users in the user group to complete the common task reaches a threshold number of users; and   responsive to the number of users in the user group to complete the common task reaching the threshold number of users, providing a reward in the asynchronous videogame to at least one of the users in the group of users.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising responsive to the number of users in the user group to complete the common task not reaching the threshold number, assessing a penalty in the asynchronous videogame to at least one of the users in the group of users.