Arcade game with keypad input

• US 6,572,477 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Matway Games West Incorporated
• Inventors: Hightower, Aaron Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/933,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/40, 463/41, 463/16, 463/18, 463/17, 463/19, 463/20, 463/1-8, 463/30-31, 463/29, 463/35, 463/25, 273/269, 273/274, 434/69, 434/29, 434/307.R, 434/62
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

An arcade game that has a numeric keypad for entering telephone numbers is disclosed. After a telephone number, or other unique number is entered into the keypad, default settings for the player are retrieved from a database. The default settings can relate to the type of car driven, type of track to use or whether automatic or manual shifting is preferred. Once the play of a game has been completed, the database is updated with any new preferences selected by the player. In addition, game statistics, such as the number of miles completed, number of laps completed and best lap time are stored to the database.

Claims

1. An arcade game that includes a system for rewarding players that have reached a predetermined goal, comprising:

a keypad configured to receive an alphanumeric code from a player;

a player database that receives the alphanumeric code and retrieves stored player statistics, wherein said database is stored within a memory in said arcade game;

a first memory configured to receive the stored player statistics and comprising instructions for determining whether any of the player statistics have reached a predetermined goal; and

a second memory configured to provide a reward to the player if the player statistics have reached the predetermined goal.

2. The arcade game of claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric code is a 10 digit telephone number.

3. The arcade game of claim 1, wherein the keypad is in the format of a telephone keypad.

4. The arcade game of claim 1, wherein the arcade game is a car driving game.

5. The arcade game of claim 4, wherein the predetermined goal is selected from the group consisting of:

a total number of laps driven, a total number of miles driven, a total number of games played and a specific lap time.

6. A method in an arcade game for rewarding players that have reached a predetermined goal, comprising:

receiving alphanumeric code from a keypad of an arcade game;

comparing the alphanumeric code against a player database to retrieve stored statistics on the player, wherein said player database is stored in a memory within said arcade game;

determining whether any of the stored statistics have reached a predetermined goal; and

providing a reward to the player if the stored statistics have reached the predetermined goal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the alphanumeric code is a 10 digit telephone number.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the keypad is in the format of a telephone keypad.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the arcade game is a car driving game.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined goal is selected from the group consisting of:

a total number of laps driven, a total number of miles driven, a total number of games played and a specific lap time.

11. An arcade game, comprising:

means for receiving alphanumeric code from a keypad of an arcade game;

means for comparing the alphanumeric code against a player database to retrieve stored statistics on the player, wherein said player database is stored within a memory in said arcade game;

means for determining whether any of the stored statistics have reached a predetermined goal; and

means for providing a reward to the player if the stored statistics have reached the predetermined goal.

12. The arcade game of claim 11, wherein the alphanumeric code is a 10 digit telephone number.

13. The arcade game of claim 11, wherein the alphanumeric code is in the format of a telephone keypad.

14. The arcade game of claim 11, wherein the arcade game is a car driving game.

15. The arcade game of claim 14, wherein the stored statistics comprise the total number of times that the player has played the game.

16. The arcade game of claim 14, wherein the stored statistics comprise the total number of miles driven by the player.

17. The arcade game of claim 14, wherein the stored statistics comprise the fastest lap time for the player.

18. The arcade game of claim 11, wherein the means for comparing is selected from the group consisting of:

a Random Access Memory, an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) and a hard disk.

19. An arcade game that includes a system for rewarding players that have reached a predetermined goal, comprising:

a keypad configured to receive an alphanumeric code from a player;

a player database that receives the alphanumeric code and retrieves stored player statistics;

a first memory configured to receive the stored player statistics and comprising instructions for determining whether any of the player statistics have reached a predetermined goal; and

a second memory configured to provide a special game feature to the player if the player statistics have reached the predetermined goal.

20. The arcade game of claim 19, wherein the arcade game is a car driving game.

21. The arcade game of claim 20, wherein said special game feature comprises a unique car color or a special car.

22. The arcade game of claim 19, wherein said special game feature comprises an enhancement of an existing game feature.

23. The arcade game of claim 19, wherein said special game feature is the provision of additional weapons.

24. A method in an arcade game for rewarding players that have reached a predetermined goal, comprising:

receiving alphanumeric code from a keypad of an arcade game;

comparing the alphanumeric code against a player database to retrieve stored statistics on the player;

determining whether any of the stored statistics have reached a predetermined goal; and

providing a special game feature to the player if the stored statistics have reached the predetermined goal.

25. The arcade game of claim 24, wherein the arcade game is a car driving game.

26. The arcade game of claim 25, wherein said special game feature comprises a unique car color or a special car.

27. The arcade game of claim 24, wherein said special game feature comprises an enhancement of an existing game feature.

28. The arcade game of claim 24, wherein said special game feature is the provision of additional weapons.