Amusement game including video displays not related to the game

• US 6,264,555 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Midway Games Inc.
• Inventors: Glazman, Martin A., Suchocki, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, KATHLEEN MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US09/245,537
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1-20, 345/200-212, D21/370, 296/21
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/22 with advertising
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/027 electric

Abstract

A video display system for an amusement game includes a controller, a first source of information coupled to the controller, the first source of information containing video information related to the game. A second, alterable source of information is coupled to the controller, the second source of information containing video information not related to the game. A video display is coupled to the game controller, and is responsive to the controller for selectively displaying video information related to the game and video information not related to the game.

Claims

1. A video display system for an amusement game, said video display system comprising:

a controller;

a first source of information coupled to the controller, the first source of information containing video information related to the game;

a second source of information coupled to the controller, the second source of information containing video information not related to the game;

a video display coupled to the game controller, the display being responsive to the controller for selectively displaying video information related to the game and video information not related to the game; and

at least said second source of information comprising an alterable source of information;

wherein the video information not related to the game is displayed in response to predetermined events occurring during play of the game.

2. The display system of claim 1 wherein the video information not related to the game comprises advertising.

3. The display system of claim 1 wherein the video information not related to the game is displayed during an attract mode.

4. The display system of claim 1 wherein the first and second sources of information comprises a single source.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said video display comprises a CRT.

6. A video display system for an amusement game, said video display system comprising:

a controller;

an alterable source of information coupled to the controller, the source of information containing video information related to the game and video advertising information, so at least said video advertising information being alterable; and

a display coupled to the controller, the display being responsive to the controller for displaying the information related to the video game and for displaying the video advertising information;

wherein the video advertising information is displayed in response to predetermined events occurring during play of the game.

7. The display system of claim 6 wherein the video advertising information is displayed during an attract mode.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said display comprises a CRT.

9. An amusement game comprising:

a controller,

a first source of information coupled to the controller, the first source of information containing video information related to the game;

a second source of information coupled to the controller, the second source of information containing video information not related to the game;

a video display coupled to the game controller, the display being responsive to the controller for selectively displaying video information related to the game and video information not related to the game; and

at least said second source of information being alterable;

wherein the video information not related to the game is displayed in response to predetermined events occurring during play of the game.

10. The amusement game of claim 9 wherein the video information not related to the game comprises advertising.

11. The amusement game of claim 9 wherein the video information not related to the game is displayed during an attract mode.

12. The amusement game of claim 9 wherein said video display comprises a CRT.

13. The amusement game of claim 9 wherein the first and second sources of information comprise a single source.

14. An amusement game comprising:

a controller;

an alterable source of information coupled to the controller, the source of information containing video information related to the game and video advertising information at least said video advertising information being alterable; and

a video display coupled to the game controller, the display being responsive to the controller for displaying the video information related to the game and for displaying the video advertising information;

wherein the video advertising information is displayed in response to predetermined events occurring during play of the game.

15. The video game of claim 14 wherein the video advertising information is displayed during an attract mode.

16. The amusement game of claim 14 wherein said video display comprises a CRT.

17. A method of operating an amusement game video display system said method comprising the steps of:

providing an alterable source of information containing video information related to the game and video information not related to the game;

selecting information from said source for display; and

displaying the selected information;

wherein the step of selecting includes selecting video information not related to the game for display in response to predetermined events occurring during play of the game.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the video information not related to the game for display during an attract mode.

19. A method of operating a video display for an amusement game, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an alterable source of information containing video information related to the game and video advertising information;

selecting information from said source; and

displaying the selected information;

wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the video advertising information for display in response to predetermined events occurring during play of the game.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the video advertising information for display during an attract mode of the game.