Systems, methods and techniques for safely and effectively coordinating video game play contests both on and off line

• US 8,747,231 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Cho, Wing, Shimura, Yukimi, Sakamoto, Akiya, Ikebata, Yoshihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/783,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25- 42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/203 for converged personal network application service interworking, e.g. OMA converged personal network services [CPNS]

Abstract

A game involves establishing a Wi-Fi connection for retrieving a template used to create a level for the game. A play test is conducted to determine if the created level of the game can be played. The created game level can be shared with other players and/or submitted as a contest for play and competition judging by other players.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for creating a game, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection for downloading information configured to allow play of a basic game to a user'"'"'s personal device and allow the user to create a new game by creating new game levels in the basic game using said downloaded information;

providing for the user to view and/or edit the created new game;

conducting a play test to determine playability of the created new game; and

sharing the created new game with other users.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the created new game comprises at least one created level that is shared for play by other players.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the created new game complies with special content information that the user must use to submit the created new game as a contest level for play and judging by other players.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising wirelessly delivering a tutorial on how to build game levels.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the tutorial includes practical hands on experience in building game levels.

6. A computer implemented method for creating a new level of a basic game, said method comprising:

establishing a wireless connection for downloading information configured to allow play of a basic game to a user'"'"'s personal device and for allowing a user to create at least one new level of a basic game by using said downloaded information; and

providing for the user to view and/or edit the created new level of the basic game.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the created new level complies with special content information that the user must use to submit the created new level as a contest level for play by others.

8. A game system which in addition to game play allows a user to create a new game, said system comprising:

at least one processor programmed for;

a) establishing a Wi-Fi connection for downloading game information configured to allow play of a basic game;

b) allowing a user to create at least one new level of the basic game by using said game information;

c) providing for the user to view and/or edit the created new level of the basic game; and

d) conducting a play test to determine if the created new level of the basic game can be played; and

a server for storing said downloaded information that is wirelessly accessible by said at least one processor.

9. The game system as claimed in claim 8, said server further storing a tutorial on how to build game levels for download to said at least one processor.

10. The game system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the created level complies with special content information that the user must use before uploading the created level to said server as a contest level for play and judging by other players.