Method and system for using geographic data in computer game development

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method of using a source geographic database, the source geographic database comprising data representing real-world geographic road features including geographic coordinates of positions of roads, street names of the roads, address ranges along the roads, turn restrictions at intersections of the roads, road connectivity, and road shape, the method comprising:

• extracting a first dataset from the source geographic database;
• writing the first dataset to a first computer-readable medium;
• providing the first dataset to supply a navigation-related function in a real-world navigation system;
• extracting a second dataset from the source geographic database;
• writing the second dataset to a second computer-readable medium;
• and
• providing the second dataset and a geographic data tool set to each of a plurality of end-user computing platforms to develop a computer-game that depicts a real geographic locale as part of a play scenario having a preset storyline, wherein each of the plurality of end-user computing platforms uses at least a portion of the second dataset in the respective computer game to depict the real geographic locale as part of the play scenario of the computer game, wherein the play scenario corresponds to a virtual position for display on a user interface in which the virtual position is independent of a user's actual physical location,
• wherein the geographic data tool set is configured to extract data representing all road segments corresponding to a sub-area from the second dataset based on a location input.

A computer implemented method of using a source database for forming derived products, wherein the source database contains data that represent real-world geographic road features including geographic coordinates of positions of roads, street names of the roads, address ranges along the roads, turn restrictions at intersections of the roads, road connectivity, and road shape, the method comprising:

• providing a first set of data from the source database to a first developer, the first set of data stored in a first computer-readable medium, wherein the first developer uses the first set of data in systems that provide navigation-related features, wherein the first set of data represents at least some of the real-world geographic road features and further wherein the first set of data includes attributes configured to provide navigation-related functions;
• and
• providing a second set of data from the source database and a geographic data tool set to a plurality of end user computing platforms that use the second set of data in computer games installed on the end user computing platforms, the second set of data stored in a second computer-readable medium, wherein the end user computing platforms use the second set of data and the geographic data tool set to develop the computer games, wherein the second set of data represents at least some of the real-world geographic road features as part of play scenarios of the computer games including respective preset storylines, wherein a respective play scenario corresponds to a virtual position for display on a respective user interface in which the virtual position is independent of a respective user's actual physical location,
• wherein the geographic data tool set provides a spatial search function that retrieves data representing all road segments in a sub-area from the second set of data based on a location specific query that identifies the sub-area.

A computer implemented method of using a source geographic database, the source geographic database comprising data representing real-world geographic road features including geographic coordinates of positions of roads, street names of the roads, address ranges along the roads, turn restrictions at intersections of the roads, road connectivity, and road shape, the method comprising:

• extracting a first dataset from the source geographic database;
• writing the first dataset to a first computer-readable medium;
• providing the first dataset to supply a navigation-related function in a real-world navigation system;
• extracting a second dataset from the source geographic database;
• writing the second dataset to a second computer-readable medium;
• and
• providing the second dataset and a geographic data tool set to each of a plurality of end-user computing platforms to develop a computer-game that depicts a real geographic locale as part of a play scenario of a preset storyline, wherein each of the plurality of end-user computing platforms uses at least a portion of the second dataset in the respective computer game to depict the real geographic locale as part of the play scenario of the computer game, wherein the play scenario corresponds to a virtual position for display on a user interface in which the virtual position is independent of a user's actual physical location,
• wherein the geographic data tool set is configured to request data representing road segments within a selected area from the second dataset as a function of a spatial query, the spatial query defining the selected area, and wherein the selected area is defined by a longitude and latitude point and a radial distance from the longitude and latitude point.

A computer implemented method of facilitating development of computer games, the method comprising:

• extracting a dataset from a source geographic database, wherein the source geographic database includes data that represent roads in a road network in a real world geographic locale including
• (i) geographic coordinates of positions of the roads,
• (ii) street names of the roads,
• (iii) address ranges along the roads,
• (iv) turn restrictions at intersections of the roads,
• (v) road connectivity, and
• (vi) road shape;
• writing the dataset to a computer-readable medium;
• and
• providing the dataset and a geographic data tool set to each of a plurality of end-user computing platforms to develop a computer-game that depicts the roads in the real world geographic locale as part of a play scenario of the computer game including a preset storyline, wherein each of the plurality of end-user computing platforms uses at least a portion of the dataset in the respective computer game to depict the real world geographic locale as part of the play scenario of the computer game, wherein the play scenario corresponds to a virtual position for display on a user interface in which the virtual position is independent of a user's actual physical location,
• wherein the geographic data tool set is configured to request data representing road segments within a selected area from the dataset as a function of a spatial query, the spatial query defining the selected area.