Interactive DVD gaming systems

• US 20060111165A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Zielinski, James, Keifer, Jim, MacIver, Peter, Ciociola, Ryan, Thorne, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 8,382,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/202 the game platform being a DVD player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to DVD gaming systems that include DVD game remote systems having card readers, and methods of playing games using those DVD gaming systems.

Claims

1. A DVD game remote system configured to selectively control a DVD player having a DVD game medium, comprising:

a game card;

a DVD game remote configured to selectively control the DVD player; and

a card reader subsystem incorporated with the DVD game remote and configured to obtain game information from the game card,

wherein the DVD game remote is configured to transmit one or more game signals to the DVD player responsive, at least in part, to the game information, and wherein the one or more game signals are configured to selectively control the DVD player and to facilitate game play.

2. The DVD game remote system of claim 1, wherein the game card includes a player-readable portion and a machine-readable portion, and wherein the card reader subsystem is configured to obtain the game information at least by reading the machine-readable portion.

3. The DVD game remote system of claim 2, wherein the player-readable portion includes one or more questions related to the game medium.

4. The DVD game remote system of claim 2, wherein the player-readable portion includes one or more answers related to the game medium.

5. The DVD game remote system of claim 2, wherein the machine-readable portion of the game card includes a barcode.

6. The DVD game remote system of claim 2, wherein the machine-readable portion of the game card includes a magnetic stripe.

7. The DVD game remote system of claim 2, wherein the machine-readable portion of the game card includes a microprocessor.

8. The DVD game remote system of claim 1, wherein the DVD game remote includes a card holder configured to removably secure the game card relative to the DVD game remote.

9. The DVD game remote system of claim 8, wherein the DVD game remote includes a window configured to allow a player to view a player-readable portion of the game card when the game card is secured to the card holder.

10. The DVD game remote system of claim 9, wherein the window includes a filter and the player-readable portion of the game card includes one or more parts configured to be readable through the filter.

11. The DVD game remote system of claim 1, wherein the DVD game remote includes a display configured to show at least some of the game information obtained from the game card.

12. The DVD game remote system of claim 11, wherein the game information includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the display is configured to show the first portion and the DVD player is configured to show the second portion.

13. The DVD game remote system of claim 1, wherein the DVD game remote includes at least one player control configured to selectively control the DVD player and to facilitate game play.

14. The DVD game remote system of claim 13, wherein the player-readable portion of the game card includes a label section configured to identify the function of the at least one player control.

15. The DVD game remote system of claim 14, wherein the DVD game remote includes a card holder configured to removably secure the game card relative to the DVD game remote, and a window adjacent the at least one player control to allow a player to view the label section when the game card is secured by the card holder.

16. The DVD game remote system of claim 1, further comprising a set of rules, wherein the set of rules provides that a round of game play includes one or more of:

drawing the game card;

processing the game card via the card reader subsystem of the DVD game remote;

viewing one or more sections of the DVD game medium; and

activating a player control of the DVD game remote.

17. A DVD gaming system for playing a game, comprising:

a DVD game medium;

a DVD player configured to play the DVD game medium;

a game card;

a DVD game remote configured to selectively control the DVD player; and

a card reader subsystem incorporated with the DVD game remote and configured to obtain game information from the game card,

wherein the DVD game remote is configured to transmit one or more game signals to the DVD player responsive, at least in part, to the game information, and the one or more game signals are configured to selectively control the DVD player and to facilitate game play.

18. The DVD gaming system of claim 17, wherein the DVD game medium is primarily intended for non-game uses.

19. The DVD gaming system of claim 17, wherein the game card includes a player-readable portion and a machine-readable portion, and wherein the card reader subsystem is configured to obtain the game information at least by reading the machine-readable portion.

20. The DVD gaming system of claim 19, wherein the player-readable portion includes at least one of one or more questions and one or more answers related to the game medium.

21. The DVD, gaming system of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable portion of the game card includes at least one of a barcode, a magnetic stripe, and a microprocessor.

22. The DVD gaming system of claim 17, wherein the DVD game remote includes a card holder configured to removably secure the game card relative to the DVD game remote, and wherein the DVD game remote includes a window configured to allow a player to view a player-readable portion of the game card when the game card is secured to the card holder.

23. The DVD gaming system of claim 22, wherein the window includes a filter and the player-readable portion of the game card includes one or more parts configured to be readable through the filter.

24. The DVD gaming system of claim 17, wherein the DVD game remote includes a display configured to show at least some of the game information obtained from the game card.

25. The DVD gaming system of claim 17, wherein the DVD game remote includes at least one player control configured to selectively control the DVD player and to facilitate game play.

26. The DVD gaming system of claim 17, further comprising a set of rules, wherein the set of rules provides that a round of game play includes one or more of:

drawing the game card;

processing the game card via the card reader subsystem of the DVD game remote;

viewing one or more sections of the DVD game medium; and

activating a player control of the DVD game remote.

27. A method of playing a game with a DVD game remote and a DVD player having a DVD game medium, comprising:

drawing a game card;

processing the game card via a card reader of the DVD game remote; and

viewing one or more sections of the DVD game medium to facilitate game play.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein processing the game card includes inserting the game card into the card reader of the DVD game remote.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the game card includes at least one question.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein viewing one or more sections of the DVD game medium includes viewing at least one answer to the at least one question.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising answering the at least one question before viewing the one or more sections of the DVD game medium.

32. The method of claim. 27, wherein viewing one or more sections of the DVD game medium includes viewing at least one question.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the game card includes two or more answers to the at least one question.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising activating a player control of the DVD game remote associated with one of the two or more answers.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising determining whether the player control associated with the correct answer was activated.