COLLABORATIVE ONLINE GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Granted: December 29, 2011
Application Number:
20110319175
A system, method, and computer program product for collaborative online gaming, including at least one of providing a central repository master browser system; providing an experience calibrated match-making service; providing a dynamic multiplayer server component auto deployment and aggregation system; providing a lobby centric simultaneous and collaborative client game play launching feature; and providing a video game screen over-layer technology giving users access to a control…
VIDEO GAME WITH SIMULATED EVOLUTION
Granted: March 3, 2011
Application Number:
20110053693
A video game that provides a player game play experience that simulates an evolution process is disclosed. In each stage of the evolution process, the player can create game content that is uploaded to a server. Other players' game content can also be downloaded into the player's game. In an embodiment of the present invention, the player-defined content can be automatically uploaded to a server, where it can be automatically downloaded to players' games in accordance with criteria such…
ELECTRONIC IN-APPLICATION POSTCARDS
Granted: December 17, 2009
Application Number:
20090313341
A system, method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a composite message representative of an application experience to be sent to a remote recipient by receiving a user input selecting multimedia information provided by an application, generating a message form from within the application to receive message information, combining the selected multimedia information and the message information into a composite message, and sending the composite message to the intended recipient. A…
Video game providing simulated disc jockey experience
Granted: April 9, 2009
Application Number:
20090093302
Embodiments of the present invention include methods for providing a simulated disc jockey experience in a video game. Embodiments are provided for playing video games on portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and/or portable music players and on conventional video game clients, such as video game consoles, personal computers, and/or handheld video game devices.
TRACK-BASED INTERACTIVE MUSIC TOOL USING GAME STATE TO ADAPT PLAYBACK
Granted: March 26, 2009
Application Number:
20090082105
An audio player for playing back a plurality of tracks, comprising a game state monitor for monitoring a state of an interactive video game being played by a user of a game device, a track controller for managing a plurality of audio tracks, and a track manager for playing out selected ones of the plurality of audio tracks wherein the selected ones are selected based on game logic and a current game state of the interactive video game.
USER INTERFACE FOR SELECTING ITEMS IN A VIDEO GAME
Granted: September 4, 2008
Application Number:
20080214304
In a computer program operating based on user inputs, a user input module receives user input from a view control portion of the user input device, the view control portion being input elements designated for user by the user to change a view, the view being a surface in a virtual space that is mapped to a display surface such that the user can see at least a portion of the contents of the virtual space that is visible through the view and the user can see different portions and/or…
Video game with simulated evolution
Granted: July 24, 2008
Application Number:
20080176658
A video game that provides a player game play experience that simulates an evolution process is disclosed. In each stage of the evolution process, the player can create game content that is uploaded to a server. Other players' game content can also be downloaded into the player's game. In an embodiment of the present invention, the player-defined content can be automatically uploaded to a server, where it can be automatically downloaded to players' games in accordance with criteria such…
LIVE HOSTED ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAME
Granted: June 19, 2008
Application Number:
20080146342
A live-hosted multiplayer online gaming system includes a plurality of game clients, a game controller, and a live-operator input. The game controller includes logic to operate a live-hosted multiplayer online game, logic to couple the game controller to the plurality of game clients via a network, and logic to receive inputs from and to send outputs to the plurality of game clients. The live operator console further includes logic to couple the live operator input to the game server to…
ELECTRONIC SIMULATION OF EVENTS VIA COMPUTER-BASED GAMING TECHNOLOGIES
Granted: December 27, 2007
Application Number:
20070296723
Systems and methods for electronic simulation of events via computer-based gaming technologies are provided. Data relating to an event such as a sports games is received containing event object information. Events objects can be, for example, players on a field or objects relating to the event environment. A game object processing module correlates the event objects to game event objects. A video game console performs a game simulation using the game event objects, by applying the event…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING USER INPUT TO CHARACTER ANIMATION
Granted: November 15, 2007
Application Number:
20070262998
The present invention provides a system that increases a user's control over character animation. Time-dependent signals are accepted from a user input device. The input is processed in real-time such that the user's input can be used to directly control the animation of an animated character. For example, the animation of a three-dimensional rendered character swinging a golf club in a golf game can be changed in mid-swing according to the user's operation of an input device. In general…
VIDEO GAME WITH SIMULATED EVOLUTION
Granted: October 11, 2007
Application Number:
20070238499
A video game that provides a player game play experience that simulates an evolution process is disclosed. In each stage of the evolution process, the player can create game content that is uploaded to a server. Other players' game content can also be downloaded into the player's game. In an embodiment of the present invention, the player-defined content can be automatically uploaded to a server, where it can be automatically downloaded to players' games in accordance with criteria such…
ONLINE PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION USING FINGERPRINT AND ENCRYPTION
Granted: June 21, 2007
Application Number:
20070143212
An online product distribution method provides copyright protection and enhanced control over user access to an online product through the use of a fingerprint combined with a double encryption method that provides two layers of protection against unauthorized access to a product prior to a release date. The double encryption is carried out by using two different keys, a first key which is a customer-specific key and a second key which is a failsafe key. The failsafe key is a protection…
Positive-return gambling
Granted: December 14, 2006
Application Number:
20060281540
A method and system of providing players with positive return in a gambling game. Tokens are won or lost in a manner that assures net positive return. Token value is determined based on the total number of outstanding tokens, or on the total number that have been issued in a predetermined time period, so that the total prize payout is predetermined and constant. In one embodiment, tokens act as lottery tickets, and prizes are awarded to winners of the lottery, so that a player's chance…
ADAPTIVE CONTACT BASED SKELETON FOR ANIMATION OF CHARACTERS IN VIDEO GAMES
Granted: December 7, 2006
Application Number:
20060274068
Equilibrium forces and momentum are calculated using character skeleton node graphs having variable root nodes determined in real time based on contacts with fixed objects or other constraints that apply external forces to the character. The skeleton node graph can be traveled backwards and in so doing it is possible to determine a physically possible reaction force. The tree can be traveled one way to apply angles and positions and then traveled back the other way ‘to calculate’…
Computer simulation of body dynamics including a solver that solves for position-based constraints
Granted: November 23, 2006
Application Number:
20060262113
Computer simulation of the dynamics of rigid bodies interacting through collisions, stacks and joints is performed using a constraint-based system in which constraints are defined in terms of the positions of the bodies.
Computer simulation of body dynamics including a solver that solves in linear time for a set of constraints using vector processing
Granted: November 23, 2006
Application Number:
20060262114
Computer simulation of the dynamics of rigid bodies interacting through collisions, stacks and joints is performed using a constraint-based system in which constraints are defined in terms of the positions of the bodies. Displacements caused by reaction forces necessary to ensure that the bodies comply with the position constraints can be calculated and can be done iteratively by updating equations defining the reaction forces and the displacements such that the computation time and…
Analog stick input replacement for lengthy button push sequences and intuitive input for effecting character actions
Granted: November 9, 2006
Application Number:
20060252538
An interactive game programmed according to game rules including at least some game rules for mapping analog input movement to character actions for a character controlled by a player, the interactive game including program code to effect game state changes corresponding to moves made by a character controlled by the user, database or tables of operations wherein an operation represents a series of actions taken by a character in response to a particular user input using the analog input…
System and method for testing human interactive applications including computer games
Granted: November 9, 2006
Application Number:
20060253741
An interactive application testing system allows a human tester to operate an interactive application and record user inputs and outputs for later replay for a debugger. By synchronizing recordation of inputs and outputs, testing sessions can be easily replayed. Where the tester is a human user, a test session can be dynamic and respond to human user feedback of game events.
Computer simulation of body dynamics including a solver that solves in linear time for a set of constraints
Granted: September 28, 2006
Application Number:
20060217945
Computer simulation of the dynamics of rigid bodies interacting through collisions, stacks and joints is performed using a constraint-based system in which constraints are defined in terms of the positions of the bodies. Displacements caused by reaction forces necessary to ensure that the bodies comply with the position constraints can be calculated and can be done iteratively by updating equations defining the reaction forces and the displacements such that the computation time and…
Computer game with game saving including history data to allow for play reacquaintance upon restart of game
Granted: July 6, 2006
Application Number:
20060148571
In a computer game, game state is saved when indicated and a history of previous game play is also recorded. Upon resumption, the history of previous game play is presented to the user and the game does not accept user input to alter the replaying game sequence. Then, once the replay is at an end, the game resumes with user control and with the saved game state. In this manner, the user can be refamiliarized with the particular instance of the game that was saved before having to take…
