System, method and handheld controller for multi-player gaming
First Claim
1. A multi-player game system for facilitating a multi-player game comprising:
- a game server configured to run a game software to facilitate a multi-player game, the game server further configured to provide display signals for displaying the multi-player game;
a display system having primary display means, the display system being configured to provide a primary game display of the multi-player game on the primary display means in response to the display signals;
a plurality of handheld game controllers, each handheld game controller of the plurality of handheld game controllers having secondary display means and input means; and
a communication controller for enabling communication between the game server and each handheld game controller of the plurality of handheld game controllers,wherein the plurality of handheld game controllers are located in proximity to the primary display means such that the primary display means is visible to game players manipulating input means of respective handheld game controllers of the plurality of handheld game controllers,wherein for each handheld game controller of the plurality of handheld game controllers, that handheld game controller is configured to download independently a game software module prior to initiation of the multi-player game, the game software module being executable by that handheld game controller toenable the game player manipulating the input means of that handheld game controller to participate in the multi-player game, andprovide a secondary game display on the secondary display means of that handheld game controller in response to player input received at the input means of that handheld game controller, andwherein the multi-player game system is a dynamically scalable system configured to enable a variable number of handheld game controllers to participate in the multi-player game and to enable handheld game controllers to be added to and removed from participation in the multi-player game during the course of the multi-player game.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A multi-player game system for facilitating a multi-player game comprising:
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a game server configured to run a game software to facilitate a multi-player game, the game server further configured to provide display signals for displaying the multi-player game; a display system having primary display means, the display system being configured to provide a primary game display of the multi-player game on the primary display means in response to the display signals; a plurality of handheld game controllers, each handheld game controller of the plurality of handheld game controllers having secondary display means and input means; and a communication controller for enabling communication between the game server and each handheld game controller of the plurality of handheld game controllers, wherein the plurality of handheld game controllers are located in proximity to the primary display means such that the primary display means is visible to game players manipulating input means of respective handheld game controllers of the plurality of handheld game controllers, wherein for each handheld game controller of the plurality of handheld game controllers, that handheld game controller is configured to download independently a game software module prior to initiation of the multi-player game, the game software module being executable by that handheld game controller to enable the game player manipulating the input means of that handheld game controller to participate in the multi-player game, and provide a secondary game display on the secondary display means of that handheld game controller in response to player input received at the input means of that handheld game controller, and wherein the multi-player game system is a dynamically scalable system configured to enable a variable number of handheld game controllers to participate in the multi-player game and to enable handheld game controllers to be added to and removed from participation in the multi-player game during the course of the multi-player game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A multi-player game system for facilitating a multi-player game comprising:
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a game server configured to run a game software to facilitate a multi-player game, the game server further configured to provide display signals for displaying the multi-player game; a display system having primary display means, the display system being configured to provide a primary game display of the multi-player game on the primary display means in response to the display signals; a plurality of game controllers, each game controller of the plurality of game controllers having secondary display means and input means; and a communication controller for enabling communication between the game server and each game controller of the plurality of game controllers, wherein the plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the primary display means such that the primary display means is visible to game players manipulating input means of respective game controllers of the plurality of game controllers, wherein for each game controller of the plurality of game controllers, that game controller is configured to download independently a game software module prior to initiation of the multi-player game, the game software module being executable by that game controller to enable the game player manipulating the input means of that game controller to participate in the multi-player game, and provide a secondary game display on the secondary display means of that game controller in response to player input received at the input means of that game controller, and wherein the multi-player game system is a dynamically scalable system configured to enable a variable number of game controllers to participate in the multi-player game and to enable game controllers to be added to and removed from participation in the multi-player game during the course of the multi-player game. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification