Large screen gaming system and facility therefor

• US 6,346,045 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timeplay, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rider Mark
• Inventors: Rider, Mark, Creta, Gianni, Lacavera, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ashburn, Steven L.
• Application Number:
  US09/874,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/31, 463/34
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A system and facility for video games with a large number of user stations and a single screen upon which the video game images are displayed visible from each of the user stations. The system allows for simultaneous use by a large number of users who share the experience of playing the game and their combined reactions together. The system is particularly suited for installation in a motion picture theatre or similar entertainment facility.

Claims

1. A method of providing large screen, interactive computer gaming in a screening room of a motion picture theater having a projection screen on which game images can be displayed, said method comprising the steps of:

providing public access to user stations at a plurality of seats in said motion picture theater screening room;

allowing said users to engage as players in computer game play displayed on said screen;

initiating said game play when said screen is not being used to display a motion picture;

accepting manual inputs provided by said players via said user stations;

in response to said manual inputs, aggregating the user inputs to create game images;

projecting the created game images on said screen; and

terminating said game play before said screening room is used to display a motion picture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said game images comprise video game images.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of accepting and validating identification from said users at said user stations, before allowing said users to engage as players in said computer game play.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of debiting said user identification in an amount required as payment to engage in said game play.

5. A method of providing large screen, interactive computer gaming in a screening room of a motion picture theater, said method comprising the steps of:

after projecting motion pictures in said screening room, allowing users to engage as players in computer game play displayed on the screen of said screening room;

initiating said game play when said screening room is not being used to display a motion picture;

accepting manual inputs provided by said players via user stations at a plurality of seats in said motion picture theater screening room;

in response to said manual inputs, aggregating the user inputs to create game images; and

displaying the created game images on said screen at a time when no motion pictures are being projected thereon.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said game images comprise video game images.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of accepting and validating identification from said users at said user stations, before allowing said users to engage as players in said computer game play.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of debiting said user identification in an amount required as payment to engage in said game play.

9. A method of providing interactive entertainment in a motion picture theater screening room having a plurality of seats, comprising the steps of:

at some times displaying a motion picture in said motion picture theater screening room after admitting members of the public to view said motion picture; and

at other times, when not displaying a motion picture, operating computer game software that displays computer game images in said motion picture screening room in response to user manual inputs received from user stations disposed adjacent at least some of said seats, the images being created by a computer that responds to player input from the user stations.