Methods of playing video games

• US 9,731,208 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Bradbury, Jonathan, Stelung, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENRY, THOMAS HAYNES
• Application Number:
  US12/351,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20090203446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,140 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40, 463 43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• 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: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 : Fighting without shooting

Abstract

Video game systems for executing instructions according to a video game contained on an item of first media including: an item of second media containing data defining an aspect of the video game; and a video game console including a housing, a first media device supported by the housing, a second media device supported by the housing, and a control unit supported by the housing and configured to control the first media device to read the item of first media and to control the second media device to read the item of second media.

Claims

1. A method of playing a video game, comprising:

commencing a video game using data stored on a first item of media, the first item of media configured to be received and read by a first media device;

selecting a character for play in the video game using data stored on a second item of media, the second item of media configured to be read by a second media device when the second item of media is located in proximity to the second media device for a predetermined period of time;

manipulating the character in the video game;

upon reaching a particular point in the game, modifying an attribute of the character using data stored on a third item of media, the third item of media configured to be read by the second media device when the third item of media is located in proximity to the second media device for a predetermined period of time; and

updating information relating to the character on the second item of media by relocating the second item of media in proximity to the second media device after locating the third item of media in proximity to the second media device to cause data representing the modified attribute of the character to be sent back to the second item of media.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the availability of the data on the third item of media has a limitation, the method further comprising:

determining whether the limitation on the availability of the data on the third item of media has been met during game play.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

modifying the limitation on the availability of the data on the third item of media, the modifying the limitation occurring in response to a predetermined manipulation of the character in the video game.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the limitation is based on the number of times that the data on the third item of media is accessed, the number of times being a stored value, and the modifying the limitation includes reducing the stored value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating information relating to the character includes writing updated data to the second item of media, the updated data relating to the character.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the character is a first attribute of the character, the particular point in the game is a first point in the game, the method further comprising:

modifying a second attribute of the character during the video game, the modifying a second attribute occurring after reaching a second point in the game, the second point in the game being later than the first point in the game.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the modifying a second attribute of the character includes locating a fourth item of media proximate to the second media device for a predetermined period of time and reading data stored on the fourth item of media with the second media device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

modifying an attribute of an opponent of the character in the video game, the modifying an attribute of an opponent including locating a fifth item of media proximate to the second media device for a predetermined period of time and reading data stored on the fifth item of media with the second media device.

9. A method of playing a video game, the video game including a video game console having a first media device and a second media device, a first item of media, a second item of media, and a third item of media, the method comprising:

causing the first item of media to be read by the first media device, the first item of media including instructions defining a video game;

locating the second item of media in proximity to the second media device for a predetermined period of time, the second media device reading the second item of media when the second item of media is in proximity to the second media device, the second item of media including data relating to a character in the video game, the second item of media being different than the first item of media, the reading the second item of media occurring at a first point of time during the video game;

locating the third item of media in proximity to the second media device for a predetermined period of time, the second media device reading the third item of media when the third item of media is in proximity to the second media device, the third item of media including data relating to an attribute of the character in the video game, the reading the third item of media occurring at a second point of time during the video game after the first point of time during the video game; and

relocating the second item of media in proximity to the second media device for a predetermined period of time, the second media device re-reading the second item of media when the second item of media is in proximity to the second media device, the relocating of the second item of media occurring at a third point of time during the video game after the second point of time during the video game.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the video game includes a fourth item of media, the fourth item of media being different than the first item of media, the fourth item of media containing data relating to a modification of the attribute of the character in the video game, the method further comprising:

locating the fourth item of media in proximity to the second media device for a predetermined period of time, the second media device reading the fourth item of media when the fourth item of media is in proximity to the second media device, the reading the fourth item of media occurring only after a third point of time during the video game, the third point of time being later than each of the first point of time and the second point of time, the reading the fourth item of media resulting in the modification of the attribute of the character.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reading the fourth item of media occurs only after the reading the third item of media has occurred.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein data on the fourth item of media has a limitation on accessibility, and the reading the fourth item of media results in the modification of the attribute of the character when the limitation on accessibility has not be met.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the video game includes a fifth item of media, the fifth item of media being different than the first item of media, the fifth item of media containing data relating to an attribute of an opponent of the character in the video game, the method comprising:

locating the fifth item of media in proximity to the second media device for a predetermined period of time, the second media device reading the fifth item of media when the fifth item of media is in proximity to the second media device, the reading the fifth item of media resulting in the modification of the attribute of the opponent of the character.

14. A method of playing a video game on a video game console, the video game console including a first media device and a second media device, comprising:

positioning a first media proximate to the first media device for a predetermined period of time during a video game, the first media including instructions for a video game;

positioning a second media proximate to the second media device for a predetermined period of time during a video game, the second media including data relating to a character, the data on the second media being read by the second media device and used in the video game when the second media is positioned proximate to the second media device;

positioning a third media proximate to the second media device for a predetermined period of time during the video game, the third media including data relating to an attribute of the character, the data on the third media being read by the second media device when the third media is positioned proximate to the second media device at a point in time after the positioning a second media proximate to the second media device; and

positioning a fourth media proximate to the second media device for a predetermined period of time during the video game, the fourth media including data relating to a modification of the attribute of the character, the data on the fourth media being read by the second media device when the fourth media is positioned proximate to the second media device at a point in time after the positioning a third media proximate to the second media device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

repositioning the second media proximate to the second media device, the second media device transmitting updated data relating to the character to the second media.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the positioning a fourth media proximate to the second media device includes while the character is manipulated in the game.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein accessibility of the data on the fourth media is limited.