VIDEO GAME SYSTEMS

• US 20070087839A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Stelung, Daniel, Lister, Stephen, Bradbury, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,883,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 : Fighting without shooting

Abstract

Video game systems for executing instructions according to a video game contained on an item of first media including: an item of second media containing data defining an aspect of the video game; and a video game console including a housing, a first media device supported by the housing, a second media device supported by the housing, and a control unit supported by the housing and configured to control the first media device to read the item of first media and to control the second media device to read the item of second media.

Claims

1. A video game system for executing instructions according to a video game contained on an item of first media, comprising:

an item of second media containing data defining an aspect of the video game; and

a video game console including;

a housing;

a first media device supported by the housing;

a second media device supported by the housing; and

a control unit supported by the housing and configured to control the first media device to read the item of first media and to control the second media device to read the item of second media.

2. The video game system of claim 1, further comprising the first item of media.

3. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the video game is a character in the video game.

4. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the video game is an environment in the video game.

5. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the video game is a characteristic of an environment in the video game.

6. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the video game is a modification to an attribute of a character in the video game.

7. The video game system of claim 6, wherein the modification to the attribute of the character is a weapon, an energy level, a move, an appearance, a power level, a defense, an accessory, a skill, or a technique.

8. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the item of first media is an optically read disc.

9. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the item of second media is a card including a wireless transponder.

10. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the wireless transponder is a radio frequency transponder.

11. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the video game is a racing game.

12. The video game system of claim -1, wherein the video game is fighting game.

13. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the video game is a sports game.

14. The video game system of claim 13, wherein the sports game is a baseball game.

15. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the video game is a role-playing game.

16. A video game system:

comprising;

an item of first media containing instructions executable according to a video game;

a plurality of items of second media, each item containing data defining an aspect of the video game; and

a video game console including;

a housing;

a first media device supported by the housing;

a second media device supported by the housing; and

a control unit supported by the housing and configured to control the first media device to read the item of first media and to control the second media device to read the item of second media;

wherein the plurality of items of second media includes;

a first subset containing data defining a character in the video game; and

a second subset containing data defining a modification to an attribute of the character of the video game.

17. The video game system of claim 16, wherein the modification to the attribute of the character is a weapon, an energy level, a move, an appearance, a power level, a defense, an accessory, a skill, or a technique.

18. The video game system of claim 16, wherein the items of the second subset of second media are configured to limit access to the data defining a modification to an attribute of the character to a predetermined number of accesses by the second media device.

19. The video game system of claim 16, wherein the data defining a modification of an attribute of the character can only be accessed by the second media device a predetermined number of times.

20. A video game system, comprising:

a first type of media containing instructions executable according to one or more video games, the first type of media configured to be received and read by a video game console; and

a second type of media including data relating to the one or more video games, the second type of media being of a different type than the first type of media and configured to be wirelessly read by the video game console, wherein the second type of media includes a first subset including data relating to a first aspect of the video games and a second subset including data relating to a second aspect of the one or more video games.

21. The video game system of claim 20, further comprising the video game console.

22. The video game system of claim 20, wherein the second type of media is cards, each card including a wireless transponder containing the data relating to the one or more video games, the wireless transponder configured to be read by a reader housed within the video game consoles.

23. The video game system of claim 22, wherein the wireless transponder is a radio frequency transponder.

24. The video game system of claim 22, wherein the wireless transponder is a microwave transponder.

25. The video game system of claim 22, wherein the wireless transponder is an electromagnetic transponder.

26. The video game system of claim 22, wherein the wireless transponder operates in the approximately 10 Hz to 20 kHz range.

27. The video game system of claim 22, wherein the first type of media is optically read media.

28. The video game system of claim 20, wherein the first aspect defines characters of the one or more video games and the second aspect defines modifications to attributes of the characters of the one or more video games.

29. The video game system of claim 28, wherein the modifications to attributes include weapons, energy levels, moves, appearances, power levels, defenses, accessories, skills, or techniques.

30. The video game system of claim 28, wherein the first subset of the second type of media includes a first sub-subset and a second sub-subset, the first sub-subset being fewer in number than the second sub-subset.

31. The video game system of claim 30, wherein members of the first subset of the second type of media have a value assigned to each member of the first subset, and wherein members of the first sub-subset have a greater value than members of the second sub-subset.

32. The video game system of claim 31, wherein value is purchase price.

33. The video game system of claim 31, wherein value is conceived value to players of the video game system.

34. The video game system of claim 28, wherein the second subset of the second type of media includes a first sub-subset and a second sub-subset, the first sub-subset being fewer in number than the second sub-subset.

35. The video game system of claim 34, wherein members of the second subset of the second type of media have a value assigned to each member of the first subset, and wherein members of the first sub-subset have a greater value than members of the second sub-subset.

36. The video game system of claim 20, wherein the first subset of the second type of media includes a first sub-subset and a second sub-subset, the first sub-subset being fewer in number than the second sub-subset.

37. The video game system of claim 36, wherein members of the first subset of the second type of media have a value assigned to each member of the first subset, and wherein the members of the first sub-subset have a greater value than the members of the second sub-subset.

38. The video game system of claim 20, wherein the second subset includes items of media including data that can only be accessed a predetermined number of times.

39. The video game system of claim 20, wherein the second subset includes items of media that are configured to be used a predetermined number of times.

40. The video game system of claim 20, wherein the second subset includes items of media that are configured to limit access to the data relating to the second aspect to a predetermined number of accesses by the video game consoles.

41. The video game system of claim 20, wherein the second subset includes items of media that are configured to limit access to the data relating to the second aspect to a predetermined length of time by the video game consoles.