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Networked video game systems

  • US 7,326,117 B1
  • Filed: 09/22/2003
  • Issued: 02/05/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for use in a multi-player game system having a first game apparatus operated by a first player and a second separately housed game apparatus operated by a second player, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) generating in said first and second game apparatus polygon vertex data that represent shapes of a 3-dimensional first player-controlled object controlled by said first player and moving in a simulated 3-dimensional game world that contains a simulated passageway between first and second portions of said game world;

    (b) rendering said polygon data to generate pixels that represent said first player-controlled object from variable viewpoints for display on a display device;

    (c) generating digital location data in said first game apparatus that specify variable locations of said first player-controlled object in said game world;

    (d) initiating transmission of said location data from said first game apparatus through a first data transmission link to said second game apparatus;

    (e) initiating transmission of data from said first game apparatus through said data transmission link to said second game apparatus to cause said second game apparatus to send first status data through said data transmission link to notify said first game apparatus of availability of said simulated passageway for use by said first player-controlled object;

    (f) receiving said first status data from said second game apparatus through said data transmission link that indicates to said first game apparatus that said simulated passageway is unavailable for use by said first player-controlled object;

    (g) storing said first status data in said first game apparatus as attribute data having a value of unavailable for said simulated passageway;

    (h) receiving second status data from said second game apparatus through said data transmission link that indicates to said first game apparatus that said simulated passageway is available for use by said first player-controlled object;

    (i) changing said value of said attribute data from unavailable to available for said simulated passageway in accordance with said second status data;

    (j) generating picture data for display on said display device that represents said first player-controlled object making use of said simulated passageway after said first game apparatus has determined from said attribute data that said simulated passageway is available for use by said first player-controlled object; and

    (k) initiating transmission of notification data from said first game apparatus through said data transmission link to notify said second game apparatus that said first player-controlled object has completed use of said simulated passageway.

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