System and method for providing a multi-player game experience

• US 9,352,225 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Game Nation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Game Nation, Inc.
• Inventors: Ruke, Daniel T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaarup, Jason
• Application Number:
  US13/590,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20130045804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 463/5, 463/30, 463/34, 463 50- 53, 472/1, 472/14, 472 16- 18, 472 28- 30, 472/35, 472/43, 472/44, 472 57- 62, 297/344.23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00

Abstract

A system and method for providing a multi-player game experience through a computerized theme-park ride. The system includes a ride control module configured to manage ride control parameters and settings of a computerized theme park ride. The system includes a ride interface module configured to provide an interface to operate and navigate the computerized theme park ride. The ride interface module include a plurality of interface devices. The system includes a ride engine module, including a processor, configured to operate a multi-player game experience. The system includes a communications module configured to bridge communications between the ride engine module, the ride interface module, and the ride control module over a computerized network. The system includes an account module configured to provide player specific information to the ride control module.

Claims

1. A method for providing a multi-player game experience through a computerized theme-park ride, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computerized theme park ride including one or more ride chassis, a plurality of display devices, a motor, a plurality of computerized user interfaces each having an interface module and a ride engine module functionally coupled to the one or more ride chassis, the display devices and the motor, the ride engine module being configured to operate a multi-player game experience according to predefined game parameters including game operation and game media parameters;

b) managing game media parameters of the multi-player game experience through a ride control module in communication with the ride engine module;

c) receiving game media parameter selections from a plurality of players through a ride interface module including an interface device in communication with the ride control module;

d) performing a multi-player game session through the computerized theme-park ride, with the plurality of players inside the one or more ride chassis, wherein the ride engine module, using a processor, presents a game experience for each of the plurality of players the game operation parameters are identical for each player and the game media parameters are dynamically set before or during gameplay to be consistent with the received game media parameter selections for each player, respectively, thereby providing a synchronized and coordinated, yet disparate, game experience for the plurality of players over the provided computerized user interfaces inside the one or more ride chassis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ride engine module is functionally coupled to a steering device disposed within the ride chassis and further comprising the step of receiving player information associated with a particular player from an account module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more ride chassis include a vehicle simulation interface, and further comprising the step of automatically selecting a game media parameter based on the received player information.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more ride chassis are a plurality of chassis that provide a parallel-style interactive experience for a plurality of users wherein each ride chassis includes at least two user interfaces, one being a driver and the other not being a driver of the ride chassis, further comprising the step of automatically suggesting a game media parameter based on received player information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface device is selected from the group of interface devices consisting of:

smart phones, tablets, personal computers, personal digital assistants, kiosks, and terminals and further comprising a media blocking structure adjacent the computerized user interfaces that blocks line of sight between players.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ride chassis is functionally coupled to tracks and further comprising the step of prompting a player for game media parameter selections when an interface device associated with the player approaches within a predefined physical proximity to the computerized theme park ride.

7. A system for providing a multi-player game experience through a computerized theme-park ride, comprising:

a) a computerized theme park ride including one or more ride chassis, a plurality of display devices coupled to the one or more ride chassis, a motor and a communication module functionally coupled to the one or more ride chassis, the plurality of display devices, and the motor;

b) a ride control module in communication with the communication module functionally coupled to the one or more ride chassis, the plurality of display devices and the motor, and configured to manage ride control parameters and settings of a computerized theme park ride;

c) a ride interface module in communication with the ride control module and configured to provide an interface to operate and navigate the computerized theme park ride, wherein the ride interface module includes a plurality of interface devices in communication with a plurality of rider account modules associated with a plurality of players; and

d) a ride engine module, including a processor, in communication with the ride control module and the ride interface module and configured to operate a multi-player game experience according to predefined game parameters including game operation and game media parameters and to present a game experience for each of the plurality of players via the plurality of display devices wherein the game operation parameters are identical for each player and the game media parameters are consistent with the received game media parameter selections for each player, respectively, thereby providing a synchronized and coordinated yet disparate game experience for the plurality of players.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the ride interface module includes a feedback module configured to receive feedback from a player and associate the feedback received with a data set associated with a particular game session.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a toy weapon including a sensor functionally coupled to the ride control module, and wherein the feedback module is in communication with an account module in communication with the ride interface module and communicates received feedback to the account module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the toy weapon includes a remote interface module with a display screen, and wherein the ride interface module proffers a suggested game media selection based on information stored in the account module.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the ride interface module selects a game media selection based on information stored in the account module.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the interface device is selected from the group of interface devices consisting of:

smart phones, tablets, personal computers, personal digital assistants, kiosks, and terminals.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the ride interface module prompts a player for game media parameter selections when an interface device associated with the player approaches within a predefined physical proximity to the computerized theme park ride.

14. The system of claim 7, further comprising a communications module in communication with a network and configured to bridge communications between the ride engine module, the ride interface module, and the ride control module over a computerized network.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the game media parameters are selected from the group of game media parameters consisting of:

interface skin, game genre, maturity rating, presence of gore, background graphics, background sound, effects graphics, effects sounds, non-player character graphics, non-player character sounds, equipment skins, game board skins, game environment sounds, and game environment graphics.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the game operation parameters are selected from the group of game operation parameters consisting of:

object creation/destruction triggers, event creation/termination triggers, player stat increment/decrement triggers, player location/movement rules, non-player location/movement rules, victory/loss conditions, field of view rules, game start conditions, and award conditions.

17. The system of claim 7, further comprising an account module in communication with the ride interface module and configured to provide player specific information to the ride control module.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the player specific information includes information related to the age of the associated player.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the player specific information includes game media parameter preference information.

20. A system for providing a multi-player game experience through a computerized roller coaster comprising:

a) a computerized roller coaster including a ride chassis on tracks;

b) a communication module functionally coupled to the ride chassis on tracks;

c) a ride control module in communication with the communication module and configured to manage ride control parameters and settings of a computerized theme park ride;

d) a ride interface module in communication with the ride control module and configured to provide an interface to operate and navigate the computerized theme park ride, wherein the ride interface module include a plurality of interface devices disposed within the ride chassis and having media blocking structures therebetween and in communication with a plurality of rider account modules associated with a plurality of players;

wherein the ride interface module includes a feedback module configured to receive feedback from a player and associate the feedback received with a data set associated with a particular game session;

wherein the feedback module is in communication with an account module in communication with the ride interface module and communicates received feedback to the account module;

wherein the ride interface module proffers a suggested game media selection based on information stored in the account module;

wherein the ride interface module selects a game media selection based on information stored in the account module;

wherein the ride interface module prompts a player for game media parameter selections when an interface device associated with the player approaches within a predefined physical proximity to the computerized theme park ride;

e) a ride engine module, including a processor, in communication with the ride control module and the ride interface module and configured to operate a multi-player game experience according to predefined game parameters including game operation and game media parameters and to present a game experience for each of the plurality of players wherein the game operation parameters are identical for each player and the game media parameters are consistent with the received game media parameter selections for each player, respectively, thereby providing a synchronized and coordinated yet disparate game experience for the plurality of players;

f) a communications module in communication with a network and configured to bridge communications between the ride engine module, the ride interface module, and the ride control module over a computerized network; and

g) an account module in communication with the ride interface module and configured to provide player specific information to the ride control module;

wherein the player specific information includes information related to the age of the associated player;

wherein the player specific information includes game media parameter preference information.