Patent Publication Number: US-2020298133-A1

Title: Networked games, rides and attractions

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/859,521 filed Jun. 10, 2019 and now pending. This Application is a Continuation-In-Part of International Application No. PCT/US2019/019775 filed Feb. 27, 2019 and now pending which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/910,915 filed Mar. 2, 2018 and now abandoned, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/760,809 filed Nov. 13, 2018. These Applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     The field of the application is rides, theater presentations and themed and game attractions as often provided in theme or amusement parks or game arcade-type locations. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various theme park rides, shows, game locations and other attractions, collectively referred to here as attractions, have been created to provide guests with unique experiences. In ride attractions, guests typically sit in a vehicle that travels along a fixed indoor or outdoor path or track. In theater-type attractions, guests watch moving images on a screen, with or without live actors and/or special effects. Various walk-through attractions with thematic show elements and/or moving props and live actors, have also been widely used. Arcade-type attractions typically have large numbers of individual video games, pinball machines, dance games, shooting games, etc. In these types of conventional attractions, the guest experience is largely fixed. The guest generally sees, hears and feels the same thing with each visit to the attraction. The guest also is also necessarily a passive observer or player and has no input into any aspect of the attraction. These factors may tend to reduce the excitement or enjoyment of the attraction over time. 
     As one example, rides have been built with multi-passenger vehicles that travel along a fixed path and allow guest to shoot at real targets in the physical environment or at virtual targets in a virtual reality space. Independently, mobile gaming has evolved to allow players to create virtual characters and upgrade them through accomplishments, in-games purchases, or other rewards, providing an ever-changing gaming environment. Combining gaming features with a ride allows guests to compete in games of skill, with added excitement created by the movement of the vehicle, or of a motion base supporting seating on the vehicle. Although a repeat rider may be familiar with the general path of the ride, the gaming aspect may create interest during second and subsequent rides. 
     However, regardless of such enhancements to these passenger vehicle rides, repeat riders may over time feel the ride experience is no longer interesting or exciting. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved attractions and systems that can offer new effects and enhanced experiences. 
     BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a method for operating an attraction includes receiving an input selection from a guest relating to a characteristic of the attraction. The guest is assigned a viewing position, an active prop, a seat or a vehicle of the attraction. The attraction is then operated with the input selection influencing the characteristic of the attraction as perceived by the guest. Generally, this may be performed by accessing a previously created profile of the guest stored in a memory. The profile may be changed by the current input selection made by the guest, with the changed profile stored for the guest&#39;s subsequent visit to, or participation in, the attraction. Guests may make their input selections using an app on their mobile phone, or by accessing a website of the attraction. Alternatively, guests may use an input device at the attraction, such as a kiosk, at the attraction venue. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a guest is assigned to a vehicle that moves in the attraction and the characteristic of the attraction changed by the guest&#39;s input selection is at least one of a path of the vehicle, a motion profile of the vehicle, a special effect created proximate to the vehicle, on-screen visual content, and/or a scoring characteristic of a game element used by the guest. The motion profile of the vehicle may include the velocity and acceleration or braking of the vehicle at selected locations along the path, and/or movements of a motion base (such as pitch, roll, yaw) on the vehicle supporting the seats in the vehicle. 
     In a separate aspect, an overlay control system for an experience such as an attraction, ride, live event, activity, touchpoint, venue or app includes a first communication link between the experience&#39;s elements and a controller, and a second communication link between the controller and a user&#39;s smart phone or a kiosk used by the user. The controller is adapted to modify at least one characteristic of the experience based on an input selection made by the guest. The overlay control system may be added to an existing underlying local control system, for example, the local control system that controls a ride, attraction, or arcade-types of games. The present control system may also be provided as stand system provided as original equipment of a park, attraction or arcade. 
     The overlay control system allows a user to create a custom profile, which can then be used as an identity. The custom profile may include an avatar selected by the user. This identity system allows for metrics that are generated, stored and updated from each use, and later retrieved to provide custom and dynamic outcomes in the same or different use activity. These metrics can also be used to accrue points or other digital currencies within the activity&#39;s economy. Redemption can be both hard and soft and can be accomplished via customizations to the character profile, fast passes, food and beverage, prizes or even customized content in activity. Items for redemption can be both physical or digital. Physical can include food and beverage to prizes, while digital can be currency, upgrades, and limited-edition content only obtainable by engaging with the activity. These metrics can then be used to further personalize ongoing activities not only onsite, but at the user&#39;s home, or anywhere they carry their phone or personal device. 
     A networked gaming ride system combines elements of electronic gaming with elements of a theme park ride, to provide both custom gaming and custom rider experiences. The present networked gaming ride attraction uses a unique set of steps to connect a mobile gaming platform with a ride experience, allowing the gaming and ride aspects to influence each other. As riders visit the ride attraction, their mobile gaming experience may be improved via enhanced gaming features, points, or power. And conversely, as mobile gamers play the game, their on-ride experience can be improved with additional features, points, or power. The combination of these gaming and ride elements may provide an ever-changing ride and gaming platform. 
     In another aspect relating to multiple types of entertainment venues, including theme or amusement parks, game arcades, virtual reality and augmented reality entertainment venues, electronic and video gaming venues, including laser tag, paint ball and similar venues, a local server exchanges data with a cloud server. The local server controls and communicates with game or entertainment elements at the on-site location. The game or entertainment elements may be games at the location, input devices used by participants, such as smart phones, and/or audio and video devices. The remote server controls and communicates with the user&#39;s phone or appliance. The remote server and local server may constantly communicate and synchronize data over the internet. Together this ecosystem transforms traditional entertainment experiences into ongoing, evolving experiences through gamification, connection with guests, analytics, and other features. In the discussion below the various types of parks, arcades, games and venues described above are collectively referred to as an attraction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the same element number indicates the same element in each of the views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ride attraction. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating operation of a network gaming ride attraction. 
         FIG. 3  is side view of a theater-type attraction. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating operation of an attraction overlay control system. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating local and cloud server operations. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a ride attraction  10  has a path or track  12 , with vehicles  14  movable along the track  12 . Seats  16  of the vehicle are attached to a floor or seating platform  18  which optionally is supported on a motion base  26 , such as a flight simulator type of motion base  26 . The motion base  26  is attached to a chassis  24  typically having wheels which roll on a path or track  12 , although the vehicle may optionally be suspended from an overhead track, float on water, or use other support techniques such as magnetic-levitation, hover, etc. In some designs the vehicle may be designed to carry standing riders. The path or track  12  may be indoors to provide a dark ride, or be outdoors to provide a coaster type of ride, or include elements of both. Stationary, moving or animatronic figures, scenery and creative elements  34 , may be provided along the path or track  12 . The path or track  12  may also pass through un-themed space  36 . 
     The riders or guests  101  may be provided with objects or props  38 , such as magical wands, canes, gloves, etc., or fictional weapons such as ray guns, so-called phasors or similar objects, generally matching a specific storyline, such as a storyline from a movie, comic book, novel, etc. These objects  38  may be active in the sense that the ride system can detect whether a rider using the object has acquired or hit an intended target  40 . The intended target may be a real fixed or moving robotic target, or a projected or virtual character or inanimate target. The objects  38  may also provide sound, vibration and/or visual effects when activated by a rider. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , in operation riders  101  access the ride system  110  either through their smart phones (i. e, via the internet  102 ) or from a queue kiosk  104  while the riders are in the ride queue. From here riders have access to a rider or guest database  105  to create and modify their in-game character. Riders then board a ride vehicle  14 , for example in the ride  106  shown in  FIG. 1 . The ride  106  may have themed elements such as scenery  34  and targets  34  matching those of a mobile game played on a smart phone. Once on the ride vehicle  14 , the ride system pulls information from the database  105  and returns results back to the same database  105 . After a rider completes the ride, the system records that the rider completed ride (i.e., adding to the rider&#39;s ride count) and also records the rider&#39;s score in the database  105 . The system may then unlock features in the mobile game or other in-park rewards (such as a front-of-the-line pass, merchandise discounts, etc.). External applications  107 , such as additional mobile bases, can alternatively be used to access guest data from the database  105  and return information as riders increase their scores, or abilities. A pre-load kiosk  108  may be used to assign each rider to a specific seat or position in a specific ride vehicle  14 . Seat assignment may optionally be performed without a pre-load kiosk, for example with the ride system  110  providing each rider with an electronic boarding pass, or in other ways. 
     Each individual rider&#39;s on-ride experience may be enhanced via software. Typically the enhanced features vary depending on the storyline and installation site. For example, riders reaching a higher level of a game, or riders earning a higher score may be provided with a more powerful magic wand or weapon. Ride effects may also be changed, such as lighting effects (strobes, lasers, etc.) appearing when a rider obtains a specified point score. Similarly, other enhancements may include special effects such as fog, wind, water spray, etc. or onscreen animation and/or character actions and dialog. 
     The ride path, special effects, onscreen graphics, etc. may be customized or specifically made for each specific rider. This may be achieved via the riders wearing a virtual reality headset or googles. Alternatively, some of the enhancements can be more group or vehicle based (special effects for example) with others made more personal such as a result from hitting a target. A vehicle may include various quantity of riders with different character attributes, so their powers appear differently, to help distinguish each rider&#39;s gameplay from adjacent riders in the same vehicle. For example, each rider&#39;s object  38  may emit light of a specific color or character. 
     As used here, smart phone includes equivalent devices such as laptops, tablets, phablets, etc. Path means a physical path, such as a track, as well as a virtual path, such as an instruction set saved in a memory. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a theater-type attraction  50  which typically has moving images displayed in front of a forward-facing audience, or in the example shown, with the audience on seating  52  facing radially inwardly or outwardly towards a surrounding screen  54 . The theater type attraction  50  may be designed for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,540,832, incorporated herein by reference. The seating  52  may be supported on a motion base or turntable  56 . The principles of the invention apply to these and other types of attractions as well, including walk through attractions, attractions using virtual reality or augmented reality, tour-type attractions, and attractions having live actors. 
     Regardless of the specific type of attraction, before entering or boarding the actual attraction, guests may queue up in a free-roam queue or pre-show area  106  (or series of rooms) where guests are able to wait for their allotted attraction time, explore a themed environment thematically tied to the attraction narrative, and/or also learn how to create and change their profile to vary the attraction experience. Interactive terminals and mini-games that feature the same interactive methods used in the attraction may be provided in the queue or pre-show areas, which may alternatively be outdoors. 
     In the attraction overlay system of  FIG. 4 , guests or riders  101  access the system  202  either through their smart phones (i. e, via the internet  102 ) or from a queue kiosk  104  by checking in or logging in using a personal identifier, e.g., password, fingerprint, voice print, retina scan, smart phone proximity, etc. The guests may check in while in the attraction queue area  106 , or elsewhere remote from the attraction. Upon checking in the overlay system  202  retrieves the guests profile from memory in the database  105 . The guest&#39;s profile contains information about the guest&#39;s preferences, and optionally past attraction experiences. The overlay system  202  then loads the guest&#39;s profile into the attraction controller  200 , or into a separate overlay controller  204 , if used, so that the guest&#39;s upcoming attraction experience is modified to better fit the guest&#39;s profile. The modifications may involve selecting the guest&#39;s role or character in the attraction, varying the speed and intensity of the attraction, selecting the type and timing of visual and sound effects, or changing the ease or difficulty of gaming elements and game mechanics. 
     In creating or altering their profile, guests may select custom characters (or avatars) for themselves to enrich their attraction or game experiences. This may also involve allowing the guest to unlock new tools, abilities, aesthetics, and lore to use and enjoy on repeat experiences. Additionally, the rewards and outcomes of each attraction experience for each guest may be added to the guest&#39;s profile. 
     After checking in, the guest enters the attraction, or in the example of  FIG. 1 , boards a ride vehicle  14 . Characteristics of the attraction are modified based on the guest&#39;s profile. The park operator may use an external applications module  107  to monitor or change guest profiles stored in the database  105 , to provide messaging with guests, and for other functions. A pre-load kiosk  108  may be used to assign each guest to a specific seat or position in an attraction or a specific ride vehicle  14 . Seat assignment may optionally be performed without a pre-load kiosk, for example with the overlay control system  202  providing each guest with an electronic boarding pass, or in other ways. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 4 , an existing conventional ride or attraction  10  is controlled by the attraction controller  200 . The attraction controller  200  is typically pre-programmed with parameters that control various aspects of the attraction  10 , which may include game characteristics, scoring, special effects, video/audio, motion base motion profiles, vehicle paths and movement profiles. The attraction controller may also handle other functions such monitoring sensors, performing load/unload functions, lighting, environmental elements, etc. The overlay system  202  may be retrofitted onto the controller  200 , or provided as an integral component of a purpose-built attraction. In many applications the overlay system  202  may be provided as a software supplement to the controller  200 . In this case no additional hardware may be needed, other than input devices, if used, such as the progressive web application (PWA)  103 , the queue kiosk  104 , the pre-load kiosk  108 , and the external applications module  107 . In other applications, the overlay system  202  may be provided as a separate controller  204  as shown in  FIG. 4 , which interfaces with the computer controller  200 , or directly with the attraction  10 . 
     In  FIG. 4  the guest database  105  is shown as a separate element (such as cloud storage) connected to the overlay controller  204  via communication links  110 . Optionally, the guest database  105  may be included in the overlay controller  204 . 
     At pre-determined points during the ride, the guest&#39;s performance or score can change operation of the attraction, influencing elements such as scene selection, varying a storyline, and/or changing a vehicle ride-profile or motion base movements. The overlay system  202  may also allow guests to change the attraction operation based on collective decisions with other guests that are made via voting or the outcome of their collective performance in a particular scene or throughout the entire attraction. Use of the overlay  202  may promote a sense of community in which large groups of people are empowered to collaborate and/or compete as a team. 
     The ride path or attraction movements, special effects, onscreen graphics, etc. may be customized or specifically made for each specific guest. This may be achieved via the guests wearing a virtual reality headset or googles. Alternatively, some of the enhancements can be more group or vehicle based (special effects for example) with others made more personal such as a result from hitting a target. A vehicle may include various quantity of guests with different character attributes, so their powers appear differently, to help distinguish each guest&#39;s gameplay from adjacent guests in the same vehicle. 
     After completing the attraction experience, guests can use terminals or their own mobile devices to explore and interact with the outcome of their experience. A guest&#39;s gaming statistics, customizations, awards, credits, rewards etc. may be fed back into the cloud or local webserver/DB guest profile allowing guests to access their accounts from any internet connected device. 
     The overlay system  202  encourages repeated guest engagement. The overlay system  202  may also provide guests with a method for comparing their own performance or results in the attraction to the performance or results of other guests in the same attraction event, a different attraction event at the same venue, or a different attraction event at a different geographic location. 
     With the overlay  202  storing and tracking the guest&#39;s profile and venue activities, the overlay  202  causes the guest&#39;s profile to evolve in real-time with each accumulated visit to the attraction and/or access of the guest&#39;s profile on line. The successes, choices, and rewards that a guest earns are maintained in the guest&#39;s profile. This can allow the guest to feel a tangible sense of ownership in the attraction experience. Moreover, with the overlay system  202  storing and updating the guest&#39;s profile each time the guest rides, participates in or views the attraction, the profile data may allow the guest to earn physical rewards from in and around the attraction, including real or virtual prizes, discounts, promotional deals, VIP attraction passes, and special retail souvenirs. 
     For attractions involving scoring, high-score leaderboards in the park may visibly showcase guest&#39;s scoring. High-Scores may be awarded to individual guest avatars or collectively grouped factions from a storyline. The cumulative progress of a guest&#39;s individual avatar or of each global faction may then also be reviewed before and/or after visiting the attraction via an internet browser or mobile device. Guest refers to a person riding, using or experiencing the attraction. Rider refers to a guest using or experiencing a ride-type of attraction. 
     The methods described above may also be used at entertainment locations, such as game arcades having video games, such as shooting games, boxing, combat and fighting games, driving games, dance games, sports games, construction games, theme or amusement parks, virtual reality and augmented reality entertainment venues, electronic and video gaming venues, including laser tag, paint ball and similar venues, etc. These are referred to here as entertainment venues. Entertainment venue data means data provided at the entertainment venue, such as data entered by a participant, data recorded by, and provided from a game or entertainment apparatus, participant scores, times, actions, money spent or won, etc. In the example shown the attraction  10  in  FIG. 4  may be a game at an entertainment venue location. A game or app on the guest&#39;s smart phone (in the external applications  107  in  FIG. 4 ) connects to the overlay controller  204  via a wifi or cellular link, to allow exchange of data. Alternatively, the guest may check-in with a specific individual game via a wireless radio or optical link, such as wifi or near-field communication. The attraction may also be a museum exhibit or similar display, with the exhibit modified based on the guest&#39;s character profile. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a game system has two main parts, a local server and a cloud server. The local server, represented by the bottom half of  FIG. 5 , controls and communicates with game or entertainment elements at the on-site location. The cloud server, represented by the top half of  FIG. 5 , controls and communicates with off-site elements. The cloud server and local server are constantly communicating and synchronizing data over the internet. Together this ecosystem transforms traditional entertainment experiences into ongoing, evolving experiences through gamification, connection with guests and analytics. In  FIG. 5  I/O devices represent the physical action or end result of operation of the system, such as lights turning on/off, graphic displays, sounds, etc. 
     In  FIG. 6  showing a flow sequence of an embodiment of the present methods, a user  301  uses their device (phone, tablet, PC, Console etc.) to interface with the application  302  (progressive web application. web based game, mobile app, PC app, etc.). The application  302  directly communicates to the database  307  via a representational state transfer application programming interface (REST API)  303 . When the user achieves, for example, points or an achievement in the application, that “value” is then sent to the API or user interface  303 , which then securely commits it to the database  307 . 
     When user physically visits the attraction  305  (attraction, arcade, location-based-entertainment, etc.) , the user checks in via the kiosk  304  so the system is aware that the user  301  is now present. The user then can visit an attraction  306  within the physical confines of the experience location. 
     The user swipes in or logs in to the attraction. The attraction or experience receives the user data via the API  303  and selects the experience based on the users preferences or other profile parameters. Once the user  301  completes the experience, the data is sent back via the API  303  to the database  307 . This data is then available to other touchpoints such as food and beverage  304  locations or other internal or external applications. 
     After the user has engaged with the experience the user can continue interacting with their profile outside or inside the venue via the PWA, further adjusting their profile. The profile will reflect all aspects that were modified from the visit to the experience. 
     A user can decide to change the color of their outfit in their profile, so when they go to the attraction, the character onscreen will actually have the outfit that was selected. Also, if the user gains something within the attraction, that item is now available to the user when they are at home via the PWA. External Apps 8 may include POS systems, Retail, redemption, or any other devices that support communicating via the API. 
     In an overlay control system, a first communication link is provided between a user experience and a computer controller at an attraction. A second communication link is provided between the computer controller and a user&#39;s smart device or kiosk used by the user. The computer controller creates, stores and modifies the user&#39;s custom profile based on metrics generated and stored during the user&#39;s participation in the attraction. The metrics may be used to create custom features, outcomes, or experiences for use onsite at the attraction. The metrics may be used to accrue points or other digital currencies redeemable for physical or digital rewards. 
     As used here, entertainment element means an elements of a ride, a game, a show or a live event. 
     Thus, novel systems and methods have been shown and described. Various changes and substitutions may of course be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except to the following claims and their equivalents.