Method and apparatus for dynamic management of formations in a video game

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions which, when read and executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to execute a method that comprises:

• maintaining a virtual three-dimensional environment;
• assembling causing a plurality of video game characters into a formation, each of the plurality of video game characters having a character type and a position in the virtual three-dimensional environment defined by spatial coordinates, the formation having a reference point and a formation type, the formation type being a first formation type;
• moving the formation along a path in the virtual three-dimensional environment in response to motion of a master element associated with the plurality of video game characters, wherein moving the formation along the path comprises moving the reference point of the formation in response to motion of the master element such that spatial coordinates of the reference point are determined as a function of the motion of the master element and wherein the function is defined by one or more parameters, each of the one or more parameters designating a characteristic of motion of the formation and comprising a value;
• and
• responsive to determining a change in characteristics of the path at a point in the virtual three-dimensional environment that is ahead of the formation, changing the formation type to a second formation type in advance of the change in characteristics of the path.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory storing data and instructions, the data representing a virtual three-dimensional environment;
• and
• an interface through which a user provides input and receives output,
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions in the memory for implementing a computer program that generates the output in response to the received input and, the computer program including at least one process that comprises:
• assembling a plurality of video game characters into a formation, each of the plurality of video game characters having a character type and a position in the virtual three-dimensional environment defined by spatial coordinates, the formation having a reference point and a formation type, the formation type being a first formation type;
• moving the formation along a path in the virtual three-dimensional environment in response to motion of a master element associated with the plurality of video game characters, wherein moving the formation along the path comprises moving the reference point of the formation in response to motion of the master element such that spatial coordinates of the reference point are determined as a function of the motion of the master element and wherein the function is defined by one or more parameters, each of the one or more parameters designating a characteristic of motion of the formation and comprising a value;
• and
• responsive to determining a change in characteristics of the path at a point in the virtual three-dimensional environment that is ahead of the formation, changing the formation type to a second formation type in advance of the change in characteristics of the path.