Internet of things based video game play

Abstract

A virtual game world may have game locations based on electronic devices with communications capabilities. In some embodiments electronic devices with communications capabilities are identified to a server, which forms a game location for the identified devices, or at least some of them. The game locations may have non-player controlled game characters as inhabitants of the game locations. One or more characteristics of the inhabitants of a game location may be based on an aspect relating to the electronic device with communication capability with which the game location is associated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing for video game play, comprising:
 for a plurality of electronic devices with communication capabilities, associating each of the electronic devices with communication capabilities with a corresponding one of a plurality of game locations;   determining at least some characteristics of non-player controlled game characters associated with each game location based on information relating to the electronic device with communication capability associated with the game location;   receiving a selection of a particular game location; and   providing information of the non-player controlled game characters associated with the game location to a game device, for use in providing game play, on the game device, including interactions with the non-player controlled game characters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a server associates the each of the electronic devices with communication capabilities with the corresponding ones of the plurality of game locations. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a server determines the at least some characteristics of non-player controlled game characters associated with each game location based on information relating to the electronic device with communication capability associated with the game location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information relating to the electronic devices with communication capability comprises a type of electronic device with communication capability. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information relating to the electronic devices with communication capability comprises a locale of the electronic devices with communication capability. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information relating to the electronic devices with communication capability comprises a business associated with the electronic devices with communication capability. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information relating to the electronic devices with communication capability comprises a geographic location of the electronic devices with communication capability. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information relating to the electronic devices with communication capability for at least some of the electronic devices with communication capability is provided by a game device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing game play, on the game device, including interactions with the non-player controlled game characters, with the interactions with the non-player controlled game characters including presenting messages from the non-player controlled game characters by the game device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing game play, on the game device, including interactions with the non-player controlled game characters, with the interactions with the non-player controlled game characters including transporting at least some non-player controlled game characters from a first game location to a second game location. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable memory storing program instructions, the program instructions comprising program instructions to configure at least one processor to:
 associate an identified electronic device with communication capability with a game location in a virtual game world;   determine at least one characteristic for inhabitants of the game location, based on information relating to the identified electronic device; allocate inhabitants to the game location;   receive a request from a game device for game play involving the game location; and   transmit information regarding the inhabitants of the game location to a game device.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable memory of  claim 11 , wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions to:
 receive a request for available game locations; and   provide available game locations to the game device.