Toy and associated computer game

• US 8,651,949 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Dixon, Mark, Francis, David, Urbanczyk, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US13/216,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/32
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

A series of co-packaged products, wherein each product includes a physical toy, action figure, or the like, along with an associated CD-ROM or other media encoded with software code or logic that includes a computer game that uses as a game character a rendering of the physical toy with which the CD-ROM is co-packaged. In an embodiment, each CD-ROM in the series includes all of the games that are associated with each respective game character in the series. Each CD-ROM is further configured, if it is a first such CD-ROM being installed on the computer, to generate and store a configuration file that indicates which ones of the game characters should be activated. Thus, once a first CD-ROM of the series is installed on the computer, a subsequent install of software encoded on another CD-ROM will result in, perhaps, only a modification of the configuration file, without having to install the entire computer game again.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

reading, by a computer, a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer game that includes at least two game characters, the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium being configured to cause only a first one of the game characters to be unlocked once the computer game is loaded and launched on the computer;

displaying a status screen that shows the at least two game characters, wherein the first one of the game characters is indicated as being unlocked as compared to a second one of the game characters, which is indicated as being locked;

reading, by the computer, a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the second non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon the computer game that includes the at least two game characters, the second non-transitory computer readable storage medium being configured to cause only the second one of the game characters to be unlocked; and

displaying, after the second non-transitory computer readable storage medium is read, the status screen, wherein the status screen indicates that both the first one and the second one of the at least two game characters are unlocked.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating that the first one of the game characters is unlocked by rendering the first one of the game characters in color;

and

indicating that the second one of the game characters is locked by showing a grayed-out rendering of the second one of the game characters.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving an indication that one of the at least two game characters has been selected, and

launching a specific portion of the computer game associated with the selected game character.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving an indication that a pointing device is hovering over one of the at least two game characters;

and

in response, generating audible status information regarding whether the game character over which the pointing device is hovering is locked or unlocked.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining, on the computer, configuration information that identifies which ones of the at least two game characters are unlocked.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising

loading substantially all of the computer game using the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and

updating the configuration information using the second non-transitory computer readable storage medium without loading the computer game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium and the second non-transitory computer readable storage medium are respective CD-ROMs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the respective CD-ROMs are sold with respective toys that resemble the first one of the game characters and the second one of the game characters.

9. A method, comprising:

co-packaging a first physical toy and associated first electronic media storing software code that includes a computer game that is configured to activate a first game character resembling the first the physical toy with which the first electronic media is co-packaged; and

co-packaging a second physical toy and associated electronic media storing the software code and that is configured to activate a second game character resembling the second physical toy with which the second electronic media is co-packaged.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising

configuring the software code to indicate that the first game character is unlocked by rendering on a display the first game characters in color;

and

configuring the software code to indicate that the second game character is locked by rendering on the display a grayed-out rendering of the second game character.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising

configuring the software code to receive an indication that the first or second game character has been selected, and

to launch a specific portion of the computer game associated with the selected first or second game character.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising

configuring the software code to receive an indication that a pointing device is hovering over one of the first or second game characters;

and

in response, to generate audible status information regarding whether the game character over which the pointing device is hovering is locked or unlocked.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising

configuring the software code to maintain configuration information on a computer that identifies which ones of the first and second game characters are activated and available for use in the computer game.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising

configuring the software code to load substantially all of the computer game using the first electronic media;

and

configuring the software code to update the configuration information using the second electronic media without loading the computer game on the computer.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first electronic media comprises a CD-ROM.

16. A set of co-packaged items, comprising:

a first co-packaged item comprising a first physical toy and associated first electronic media storing software code that includes a computer game that is configured to activate a first game character resembling the first the physical toy with which the first electronic media is co-packaged; and

a second co-packaged item comprising a second physical toy and associated electronic media storing the software code and that is configured to activate a second game character resembling the second physical toy with which the second electronic media is co-packaged.

17. The co-packaged items of claim 16, wherein

the software code is configured to indicate that the first game character is unlocked by rendering on a display the first game characters in color;

and

the software code is configured to indicate that the second game character is locked by rendering on the display a grayed-out rendering of the second game character.

18. The co-packaged items of claim 16, wherein

the software code is configured to receive an indication that the first or second game character has been selected, and

to launch a specific portion of the computer game associated with the selected first or second game character.

19. The co-packaged items of claim 16, wherein

the software code is configured to receive an indication that a pointing device is hovering over one of the first or second game characters;

and

in response, to generate audible status information regarding whether the game character over which the pointing device is hovering is locked or unlocked.

20. The co-packaged items of claim 16, wherein

the software code is configured to maintain configuration information on a computer that identifies which ones of the first and second game characters are activated and available for use in the computer game.

21. The co-packaged items of claim 16, wherein

the software code is configured to load substantially all of the computer game using the first electronic media;

and

the software code is configured to update the configuration information using the second electronic media without loading the computer game on the computer.

22. The co-packaged items of claim 16, wherein the first electronic media comprises a CD-ROM.