Baseball videogame having pitching meter, hero mode and user customerization features
First Claim
1. In a videogame system including a player-operable controller, a method comprising:
- allowing a player to create an image using the player-operable controller during execution of a software program stored on a memory device of the videogame system, the software program executable by the videogame system to provide an interactive sports videogame configured to display one or more virtual game characters and a virtual sports venue;
allowing the player to select a portion of the virtual sports venue;
applying the player-created image onto the selected portion of the virtual sports venue;
displaying the virtual sports venue having the applied player-created image so that the player-created image contributes to the overall atmosphere in which interactive game play of the sports videogame is provided to the player, so that the one or more virtual game characters of the sports videogame controllable by the player in playing the sports videogame are located within the virtual sports venue, and so that the applied player-created image is applied to the selected portion of the virtual sports venue at a fixed virtual location, selected by the player, via the player-operable controller, from among a plurality of predefined virtual locations within the virtual sports venue, and as a part of the virtual sports venue, regardless of how the one or more virtual game characters within the sports venue are controlled during the interactive game play; and
providing interactive game play of the sports videogame within the virtual sports venue in response to input received on the player-operable controller, such that the one or more virtual game characters are separate, and separated and distinct from, the virtual sports venue in which the one or more virtual game characters play;
wherein selection of the portion of the virtual sports venue is independent of any player control of the one or more virtual game characters; and
wherein (a) the image is created by editing a preexisting image that is loaded into the videogame system by reading data from a card with a card reader, or (b) applying the player-created image onto the portion of the virtual sports venue includes processing the player-created image to convert the player-created image into a texture and texture mapping the texture onto the selected portion of the virtual sports venue at the fixed virtual location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sports videogame such as a baseball videogame allows a user to control the release time of a pitch in order to control the timing of a break on the pitched ball. Other implementations of a baseball videogame allow a user to put extra spin on a pitched ball to thereby create a greater break on the pitch or allow the user to play in a hero mode which enables the user to control a videogame character in a series of specific game play scenarios designed to allow the user to immediately control the videogame character to perform unique skills. Game play may also be customized by allowing the user to incorporate user-created images into screens of game play and/or allow the user to incorporate recorded audio messages into game play.
40 Citations
30 Claims
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1. In a videogame system including a player-operable controller, a method comprising:
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allowing a player to create an image using the player-operable controller during execution of a software program stored on a memory device of the videogame system, the software program executable by the videogame system to provide an interactive sports videogame configured to display one or more virtual game characters and a virtual sports venue; allowing the player to select a portion of the virtual sports venue; applying the player-created image onto the selected portion of the virtual sports venue; displaying the virtual sports venue having the applied player-created image so that the player-created image contributes to the overall atmosphere in which interactive game play of the sports videogame is provided to the player, so that the one or more virtual game characters of the sports videogame controllable by the player in playing the sports videogame are located within the virtual sports venue, and so that the applied player-created image is applied to the selected portion of the virtual sports venue at a fixed virtual location, selected by the player, via the player-operable controller, from among a plurality of predefined virtual locations within the virtual sports venue, and as a part of the virtual sports venue, regardless of how the one or more virtual game characters within the sports venue are controlled during the interactive game play; and providing interactive game play of the sports videogame within the virtual sports venue in response to input received on the player-operable controller, such that the one or more virtual game characters are separate, and separated and distinct from, the virtual sports venue in which the one or more virtual game characters play; wherein selection of the portion of the virtual sports venue is independent of any player control of the one or more virtual game characters; and wherein (a) the image is created by editing a preexisting image that is loaded into the videogame system by reading data from a card with a card reader, or (b) applying the player-created image onto the portion of the virtual sports venue includes processing the player-created image to convert the player-created image into a texture and texture mapping the texture onto the selected portion of the virtual sports venue at the fixed virtual location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for playing a sports videogame comprising:
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a player-operable controller configured to receive input from a player; and at least one processor that communicates with the player-operable controller and executes a software program, the software program providing a sports videogame configured to display one or more virtual game characters and a virtual sports venue so that at least the following can be performed; allowing a player to create an image using the player-operable controller; allowing the player to select a virtual location from among a plurality of predefined locations of the virtual sports venue; applying the player-created image onto the selected location, selected by the player via the player-operable controller, of the virtual sports venue as a part of the virtual sports venue, independent of one or more virtual game characters of the sports videogame that are player-controllable during the interactive game play; displaying the virtual sports venue having the applied player-created image so that the player-created image contributes to the overall atmosphere in which interactive game play of the sports videogame is provided to the player, so that one or more virtual game characters of the sports videogame controllable by the player in playing the sports videogame are located within the virtual sports venue; and providing the interactive game play of the sports videogame within the virtual sports venue in response to input received on the player-operable controller, such that the one or more virtual game characters are separate, and separated and distinct from, the virtual sports venue in which the one or more game characters play; wherein selection of the virtual location of the virtual sports venue is independent of any player control of the one or more game characters; and wherein (a) the image is created by editing a preexisting image that is loaded into the videogame system by reading data from a card with a card reader, or (b) applying the player-created image onto the portion of the virtual sports venue includes processing the player-created image to convert the player-created image into a texture and texture mapping the texture onto the selected virtual location of the virtual sports venue. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions executable by a computer to control game play in a sports videogame configured to display one or more virtual game characters and a virtual sports venue, wherein the player interactively controls the one or more virtual game characters in the virtual sports venue using a player-operable controller, the instructions carrying out functionality comprising:
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allowing a player to create an image using the player-operable controller; allowing the player to select a portion of the virtual sports venue; applying the player-created image onto a portion of the virtual sports venue, the portion being selected by the player, via the player-operable controller, from among a plurality of predefined locations; controlling a non-player controlled virtual game character of the sports videogame; receiving player input from the player-operable controller requesting an animated action be performed by the one or more virtual game characters; and displaying the performance of the animated action within the virtual sports venue having the applied, player-created image so that the player-created image is fixed therein as a part of the virtual sports venue and contributes to the overall atmosphere in which the animated action is performed, so that the one or more game characters are located within the virtual sports venue and are separated and distinct from the virtual sports venue; wherein selection of the portion of the virtual sports venue is independent of any player control of the game characters; and wherein (a) the image is created by editing a preexisting image that is loaded into the videogame system by reading data from a card with a card reader, or (b) applying the player-created image onto the selected portion of the virtual sports venue includes processing the player-created image to convert the player-created image into a texture and texture mapping the texture onto the selected portion of the virtual sports venue. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification