Video game with customizable character appearance

• US 20040152512A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CCVG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CCVG, Inc.
• Inventors: Prendergast, William F., Collodi, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/360,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20040152512A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player

Abstract

A video game system operable to create a customized 3-D game character in a game space is disclosed. The video game system includes a converter and a game device. The converter is operable to convert an image of an individual into a file having three-dimensional information representing a physical likeness of the individual. The game device includes an input port and a processor. The input port is operable to receive the file regarding the physical likeness of the individual. The processor is operable to run a video game program for a game. The processor is also adapted to create the customized 3-D game character with the information from the file and generate a display signal including information regarding the customized 3-D game character whereby the customized 3-D game character resembles the individual shown in the image.

Claims

1. A video game system that creates a first customized 3-D game character in a game space, the video game system comprising:

a converter operable to convert a 2-D image of an individual into a file having 3-D information representing a physical likeness of the individual;

a game device including an input port and a processor, the input port operable to receive the file, and the processor operable to run a video game program for a game, the processor having logic adapted to create the first customized 3-D game character with the information from the file and generate a display signal including information regarding the first customized 3-D game character whereby the first customized 3-D game character resembles the individual shown in the image.

2. The video game system of claim 1 wherein the individual is a person.

3. The video game system of claim 1 wherein the individual is a fictional character.

4. The video game system of claim 1 wherein the input port includes a modem.

5. The video game system of claim 1 wherein the information representing the physical likeness represents only 3-D facial features of the individual.

6. The video game system of claim 1 wherein the image is from a photograph.

7. The video game system of claim 6 wherein the image is from a digital photograph.

8. The video game system of claim 7 wherein more than one image of the individual is used by the converter.

9. The video game system of claim 7 wherein the converter provides for the 3-D information to be customized.

10. The video game system of claim 9 wherein the converter provides for the alteration of at least one element selected from a group consisting of hair color, hair appearance, eyes, facial structure, and facial skin tones.

11. The video game system of claim 1 further comprising a second customized 3-D game character based a second image of a second individual, the first customized 3-D game character and the second customized 3-D game character are operable in a game space.

12. The video game system of claim 11 wherein the first and the second customized 3-D game characters are operable from remote locations.

13. The video game system of claim 12 wherein the first and the second customized 3-D game characters operate in the game space wherein a first player and a second player are interconnected via the internet.

14. The video game system of claim 13 wherein the converter is remote from the game device.

15. The video game system of claim 14 wherein the converter can communicate to the processor over a communications network.

16. A video game system that creates a game space that includes a first customized 3-D game character and a second customized 3-D game character, said video game system comprising:

a first file having information regarding an appearance of a first individual created by converting an image of a face of the first individual into 3-D information and a second file having information regarding an appearance of a second individual created by converting an image of a face of the second individual into 3-D information;

a first game device having a first processor that is adapted to receive the first file regarding the appearance of the first individual, replace the first preexisting game character data and generate a first customized 3-D game character in the game space, the first customized 3-D game character resembling the appearance of the first individual and a second game device having a second processor that is adapted to receive the second file regarding the appearance of the second individual, replace the second preexisting game character data and generate a second customized 3-D game character in the game space, the second customized 3-D game character resembling the appearance of the second individual;

a first communications port connected to the first game device and adapted to

     1) receive the first file and

     2) communicate with the processor, and a second communications port connected to the second game device and adapted to

     1) receive the second file and

     2) communicate with first processor, the first communications port and the second communications port operable to communicate over a communications network whereby a game space is created that includes the first customized 3-D character and the second customized 3-D character.

17. The video game system of claim 16 wherein the individual is a person.

18. The video game system of claim 17 wherein the person is a game player.

19. The video game system of claim 16 wherein the individual is a fictional character.

20. The video game system of claim 16 wherein the first and second communications ports include a modem.

21. The video game system of claim 20 wherein the image is from a digital photograph.

22. The video game system of claim 21 further comprising a converter operable to create the first file and the second file.

23. The video game system of claim 22 wherein the converter provides for the 3-D information to be customized.

24. A video game system that creates a customized 3-D game character in a game space using a file having customized 3-D information representing a physical likeness of an individual, the video game system comprising:

a game device including an input port and a processor, the input port operable to receive the file regarding the physical likeness of the individual, and the processor operable to run a video game program for a game, the processor having logic adapted to create the customized 3-D game character with the information from the file and generate a display signal including information regarding the customized 3-D game character whereby the customized 3-D game character resembles the individual.

25. The video game system of claim 25 wherein the processor has logic adapted to replace preexisting character data.

26. The video game system of claim 25 wherein the individual is a person.

27. The video game system of claim 26 wherein the 3-D information in the file is based on a composite set of feature points on the individual.

28. The video game system of claim 27 wherein the 3-D information in the file includes color information.

29. The video game system of claim 28 wherein the color information includes a hair color of the individual.

30. The video game system of claim 29 wherein the color information includes a skin color.