Interactive DVD multi player board game

• US 20070066404A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Igameworks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Igameworks Incorporated
• Inventors: Adams, Peter, Hindorff, William, Leong, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/385,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• 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 13/95 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 3/00006 Board games played along a linear track, e.g. game of goose, snakes and ladders, along an endless track A63F3/00028 - A63F3/00157, A63F3/04 take precedence

Abstract

An interactive multi player DVD gaming system comprising a DVD containing game data and a game manager program for playing an interactive DVD board game on a display, and a DVD media player configured for accessing and displaying the game data on the DVD in response to receiving user selected inputs. At least one user operated control is provided for generating the user selected inputs sent to the DVD media player. The DVD media player has multiple general parameter register memories (GPRM'"'"'s), the game program manager configured to direct the GPRM'"'"'s for supporting multiplayer game play with display of a virtual game board.

Claims

1. An interactive multi player DVD gaming system comprising a DVD containing game data and a game manager program for playing an interactive DVD board game on a display, a DVD media player configured for accessing and displaying the game data on the DVD in response to receiving user selected inputs, at least one user operated control for generating the user selected inputs sent to the DVD media player, the DVD media player having multiple general parameter register memories (GPRM'"'"'s), the game program manager configured to direct the GPRM'"'"'s for supporting multiplayer game play with display of a virtual game board.

2. The DVD gaming system of claim 1 wherein the game program manager has program instructions for using one or more GPRM'"'"'s for generating a random number for supporting game play.

3. The DVD gaming system of claim 2 further comprising means for displaying the random number as a single dice roll, a double dice roll or as a wheel spin.

4. The DVD gaming system of claim 1 wherein the user operated control is a remote control.

5. The DVD gaming system of claim 1 wherein the user operated control is a game controller adapted for use with the DVD media player and having specific functions corresponding to game configured inputs.

6. The DVD gaming system of claim 1 wherein the game data readable by the DVD media player displays on a monitor a border region having discrete segments simulating a typical game board where a player moves from space to space, the game program manager controlling the display of game progress and game play.

7. The DVD gaming system of claim 6 wherein the game program manager provides each game player with a representative indicator located in a particular segment, corresponding to the players progress through the game, the indicator selected from the group consisting of a symbol, color, icon, text or a combination thereof

8. The DVD gaming system of claim 6, wherein each segment is linked to an aspect of the game.

9. The DVD gaming system of claim 8 wherein the game aspect is selected from the group consisting of a challenge to a player, a question, an automatic displacement, and combinations thereof whereby the player may advance, retreat, or stay on the segment, and landing on the segment triggers a generation of the aspect of the game, such as soliciting input from the player or automatically transferring the player to a new segment for continued game play.

10. The DVD gaming system of claim 2 wherein the random number generated in response to a user input is used for determining each players'"'"' moves.

11. The DVD gaming system of claim 1 wherein the game program manager uses logic to store more than one value in a GPRM using AND/OR functionality to access smaller portions of a GPRM, to increase the data bit storage for supporting interactive game play.

12. The DVD gaming system of claim 11 wherein the game program manager uses logic for configuring one or more GPRM'"'"'s to generate a random number in response to a user input.

13. A method for providing a segmented game board for display when playing a DVD game comprising providing a game control manager on a DVD, using the game control manager to configure GPRM'"'"'s on the DVD to allow user input to simulate a board game using video and audio content stored on the DVD, and storing the player scores and interactions on the GPRM'"'"'s to track game play.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating a random number in response to a user input, displaying the random number to the user and moving a player around the board game the displayed number of spaces.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the random number is displayed as one or more dice faces, or as a number indicated on a wheel.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing more than one value in a GPRM using AND/OR functionality to access smaller portions of a GPRM, to increase the data bit storage for supporting interactive game play.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating a random number in response to user input.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising using logic for configuring one or more GPRM'"'"'s to generate a random number in response to a user input.