MULTIPLAYER ELECTRONIC GAMES

• US 20030190940A1
• Filed: 11/05/1998
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David P. Gordon, Meryl Greenwald Gordon
• Original Assignee: David P. Gordon, Meryl Greenwald Gordon
• Inventors: GORDON, DAVID P., GORDON, MERYL GREENWALD
• Application Number:
  US09/186,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2011/0095 with cooperation amongst players in competitive games, e.g. non zero sum games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

An electronic game for multiple, preferably two, players requires that the players act independently and cooperatively at different points in the game in order to complete the game. Different modes of cooperation are provided within the context of the game story and include, for example, holding a door for a player, handing a tool to a player, giving an item to a player, helping a player lift an object, etc. The cooperation required by the game includes requiring the result that only both players can complete the game together; neither player can complete the game without the other. A split-screen mode and a single-screen mode are utilized to enhance the difference between independent action and cooperative action. When players are cooperating, generally a single-screen mode is used and when players are acting independently, generally a split-screen mode is used. The game is preferably embodied in a medium readable by a personal computer such as a CDROM or DVD. However, the game may be embodied in any of several types of electronic game formats such as video game cartridges, dedicated hardware device, etc.

Claims

1. A multiplayer electronic game for use with a processing apparatus having a graphical display and input means for receiving input from at least two players simultaneously, said game comprising:

a) player location means for associating a game location with each player such that as each player moves through said game, each player'"'"'s game location is updated; and

b) split screen means for dividing the graphical display into separate portions of each player, said split screen means being responsive to said player location means such that when two players'"'"' game locations are within a preset range, the separate portions of the graphical display for the two players are merged into a single portion of the graphical display, and when the two players'"'"' game locations are outside the preset range, the graphical display for the two players is split into separate portions.

2. A game according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) joint action means for requiring said at least two players to act jointly with each other at certain points in said game.

3. A game according to claim 2, further comprising:

d) individual action means for requiring said at least two players to act individually at certain points in said game.

4. A game according to claim 2, wherein:

said joint action means requires said at least two players to act jointly in separate locations while said split screen means divides the display into separate portion for each player.

5. A game according to claim 2, wherein:

said joint action means requires said at least two players to act jointly in the same location while said split screen means merges the display into a single portion.

6. A game according to claim 2, wherein:

no player can complete the game without all players also completing the game.

7. An electronic game for use with a processing apparatus having a graphical display and input means for receiving input from two players simultaneously, said game comprising:

a) split screen means for dividing the graphical display into separate portions for each player and for merging the separate portions into a single graphical display shared by both players; and

b) game logic which requires each player to act individually and jointly with the other player at different points in said game, wherein

said split screen means is responsive to said game logic such that the graphical screen is split into separate portions when the players are acting individually and the separate portions are merged into a single portion when the players are acting jointly.

8. A game according to claim 7, wherein:

said game logic requires the players to act jointly in different ways at different points in said game.

9. A game according to claim 7, wherein:

no player can complete the game without all players also completing the game.

10. An electronic game for use with a processing apparatus having a graphical display and input means for receiving input from two players simultaneously, said game comprising:

a) character generator means for generating a separate character or pointer for each player;

b) split screen means for dividing the graphical display into separate portions for each player and for merging the separate portions into a single graphical display shared by both players; and

c) game logic which provides opportunities for each player to act individually and jointly with the other player at different points in said game, wherein

said split screen means is responsive to said game logic such that the graphical screen is split into separate portions when the players are acting individually and the separate portions are merged into a single portion when the players are acting jointly, said separate characters or pointers being separately controllable when the players are acting jointly and when the players are acting individually.

11. A game according to claim 10, wherein:

said game logic requires the players to act jointly in different ways at different points in said game.

12. A game according to claim 10, wherein:

no player can complete the game without all players also completing the game.

13. An electronic game for use with a processing apparatus having a graphical display and input means for receiving input from two players simultaneously, said game comprising:

a) individual action means for requiring the two players to act individually at certain points in said game; and

b) joint action means for requiring the two players to act jointly with each other at certain other points in said game, wherein

joint action required by said joint action means includes a plurality of different kinds of joint actions.

14. A game according to claim 13, further comprising:

c) split screen means for dividing the graphical display into separate portion for each player at some points in said game and for merging the display into a single portion for both players at other points in said game.

15. A game according to claim 14, wherein:

said joint action means requires the two players to act jointly in separate locations while said split screen means divides the display into a separate portion for each player.

16. A game according to claim 14, wherein:

said joint action means requires said at least two players to act jointly in the same location while said split screen means merges the display into a single portion.

17. A game according to claim 13, wherein:

neither player can complete the game without the other player also completing the game.

18. An electronic game for use with a processing apparatus having a graphical display and input means for receiving input from two players simultaneously, said game comprising:

a) individual action means for requiring the two players to act individually at certain points in said game; and

b) cooperative action means for requiring the two players to act cooperatively with each other at certain other points in said game, wherein

cooperative action required by said cooperative action means includes at least one cooperative action selected from the group consisting of both players operating on the same object at the same time, each player operating on a different object at the same time, one player operating on a first object before the other player operates on said first object, one player accomplishing one task while the other player accomplishes another task, one player accomplishing a first task before the other player accomplishes a second task.

19. A game according to claim 18, wherein:

cooperative action required by said cooperative action means includes at least one cooperative action selected from the group consisting of holding a door for a player, handing a tool to a player, giving an item to a player, helping a player lift an object.

20. An electronic game for use with a processing apparatus having a graphical display and input means for receiving input from two players simultaneously, said game comprising:

a) individual action means for requiring the two players to act individually at certain points in said game; and

b) cooperative action means for requiring the two players to act cooperatively with each other at certain other points in said game, wherein

neither player can complete the game without the other player also completing the game.

21. A game according to claim 20, wherein:

joint action required by said joint action means includes a plurality of different kinds of joint actions.