Multisite multiplayer interactive electronic entertainment system having a partially player defined universe

• US 5,674,127 A
• Filed: 03/07/1995
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keats B. Horstmann, Stephen Fergeson
• Original Assignee: Habilas, Inc.
• Inventors: Horstmann, Keats B., Fergeson, Stephen L., Deckler, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/400,035
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/46, 472/59, 472/60, 472/130, 434/38, 434/43, 434/44, 434/45, 434/48
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/02 for teaching control of vehicles or other craft
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

A multisite multiplayer interactive electronic entertainment system has a number of cockpits driven by each of several local processors. Each cockpit has a number of high resolution color displays mounted therein, and is mounted on a full motion base. Each cockpit represents a spacecraft in a partially player defined universe. A hub processor connected to each of the several local processors is responsible for maintaining a database of players and player virtual personae, for maintaining a description of a game universe, and for communicating between local processors.

Claims

1. An entertainment system for use by a plurality of players comprising:

a plurality of cockpits each having a plurality of computer graphical display devices disposed therein, wherein at least one of said computer graphical display devices further comprises a color display of not less than 1024 by 768 pixels resolution, where each of said cockpits is disposed upon a full motion base;

a plurality of local processors each for driving the computer graphical display devices of a plurality of cockpit shells;

a hub processor responsible for maintaining a database of players and player virtual personae, for maintaining a description of a game universe, for communicating audio signals between local processors, and for communicating locations of craft between local processors.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the audio signals are communicated in digital form.

3. The entertainment system of claim 2 wherein the full motion base is of the electropneumatic type.

4. The entertainment system of claim 3 wherein each cockpit further comprises a front section within which the computer graphical display devices are disposed, and a back section within which a seat for the player is disposed, wherein the back section is linearly separated from the front section when the player enters or exits from the cockpit, and wherein the back section is disposed against a rear surface of the front section when the full motion base moves.

5. The entertainment system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of computer graphical display devices disposed within each cockpit are so positioned as to subtend a visual field of a player seated within the cockpit of one hundred sixty degrees.

6. A cockpit for a multiplayer immersive computer driven game comprising:

a front section within which at least three computer graphical display devices are disposed;

a full motion base that may move;

a back section within which a seat for a player is disposed, wherein the back section is linearly separated from the front section when the player enters or exits from the cockpit, and wherein the back section is disposed against a rear surface of the front section when the full motion base moves, thereby enclosing the player when the full motion base moves;

wherein the front section and the back section are disposed upon the full motion base;

control means through which a player may enter control inputs to the computer driving the game;

apparatus for separating the back section from the front section and for securing the back section to the front section when the full motion base moves; and

apparatus for securing the player to the seat when the full motion base is active.

7. The cockpit of claim 6 wherein the control means further comprises a joystick.

8. The cockpit of claim 7 wherein the control means further comprises a touch panel.

9. The cockpit of claim 8 further comprising a reader for a magnetically encoded card, where said reader is disposed within the front section of said cockpit.

10. An entertainment system for use by a plurality of players comprising:

a plurality of cockpits each having a plurality of computer graphical display devices disposed therein, where each of said cockpits is disposed upon a full motion base;

a plurality of local processors each for driving the computer graphical display devices of a plurality of cockpit shells;

a hub processor responsible for maintaining a database of players and player virtual personae, for maintaining a description of a game universe, for communicating audio signals between local processors, and for communicating locations of craft between the local processors.

11. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein at least one cockpit further comprises a front section within which the computer graphical display devices are disposed, and a back section within which a seat for a player is disposed, wherein the back section is linearly separated from the front section when the player enters or exits from the cockpit, and wherein the back section is disposed against a rear surface of the front section, thereby enclosing the player, when the full motion base moves.

12. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the hub processor is linked to at least one home computer.

13. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein a first cockpit of the plurality of cockpits is located at a different retail establishment from a second cockpit of the plurality of cockpits.