Integrated game system, method, and device

• US 20060040720A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Shelton E. Harrison Jr
• Inventors: Harrison, Shelton E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,704,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/04 Card games combined with other games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2402 Input by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2433 Voice-actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/02 Chess; Similar board games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated game with five subsystems: (i) electronic spell-casting system, (ii) card game system, (iii) user-created card system, (iv) system for replacing the use of dice and/or random number generation; and (v) board game system. Spell-casting system provides a physical input mechanism, e.g., sensor-equipped “magic wand”, and a verbal input mechanism which together trigger a spell. Cards form formations affecting their powers and are marked as “spent” by being placed under another card. Users create their own cards through a Web-accessible site. Random number (generated by computer or dice) usage is replaced by “challenges,” i.e., player-performed tasks. Chess pieces follow standard rules but are deployed one-by-one, as are squares of the chess board. Licensing information is available through www.inventerprise.com.

Claims

1. A game method, said game method comprising at least one step selected from the group consisting of step 1, step 2, step 3, step 4, and step 5, wherein:

said step 1 comprises the step of triggering a first game spell when and only when both a first physical input pattern and a first verbal input pattern are recognized;

said step 2 comprises the step of placing a first card under a second card to indicate that said first card has been used in a first round of play and cannot be used again during said first round;

said step 3 comprises (i) the step of providing an electronic mechanism through which a first user can select a first feature and a second feature of a first user-created card and (ii) the step of assigning a power rating to said card, wherein said power rating is at least partly related to said first feature or said second feature;

said step 4 comprises (i) the step of deploying a first tile and (ii) the step of deploying a first chess piece on said first tile only after said first tile has been deployed; and

said step 5 comprises (i) the step of offering a first task to a first user during a first game at a time during said first game when a random number is needed and (ii) treating the results of said first task as though the results of said first task were attained through dice roll or computer generation of a random number.

2. The method in claim 1 wherein said step 1 is performed.

3. The method in claim 1 wherein said step 2 is performed.

4. The method in claim 1 wherein said step 3 is performed.

5. The method in claim 1 wherein said step 4 is performed.

6. The method in claim 1 wherein said step 5 is performed.

7. The method in claim 2 wherein said physical input pattern is input to a computer using a physical input apparatus, said physical input apparatus being selected from the group consisting of a wand, a gesture interface, a bottle, a cauldron, a utensil, a broomstick, a crystal ball, a voodoo doll, and a laser tag weapon.

8. The method in claim 2 wherein said verbal input pattern comprises a word or phrase in a first database record, said first database record being related to a second database record, said second database record containing information pertaining to said first game spell.

9. The method in claim 3 additionally comprising the following step:

placing said first card on top of said second card so that certain information on a first face of said second card can still be viewed, even while said first card is on top of said second card.

10. The method in claim 3 wherein said first card can be deployed only after said second card has been deployed and only if a third card has not been placed on or under said second card.

11. The method in claim 3 wherein said first card (i) relates to, (ii) is incorporated in, or (iii) is revealed during the telling of a story created by a first user.

12. The method in claim 3 wherein said first card is associated with a first power rating, said first power rating being suitable for use in calculation of a second power rating, said second power rating being an indication of power of a first deck.

13. The method in claim 3 wherein said first card comprises a first face, said first face comprising information that is only relevant when a first effect is in place, said first effect being selected from the group consisting of a mood, a month, a season, or a formation.

14. The method in claim 3 wherein an ability associated with said first card is determined in part by the position of said second card relative to a third card.

15. The method in claim 5 wherein said first tile comprises a first indicator, said first indicator indicating an action a first user can take during and only during a first turn.

16. The method in claim 6 wherein said first task is selected from the group consisting of (i) an academic-related task, (ii) an education-related task, (iii) a standardized test-related task, and (iv) a task drawn from a second game, said second game not being said first game.

17. The method in claim 6 wherein said first game is a computer game and said first task is conducted by a first task program, said first task program being designated by a first user for random-number-replacement use in connection with said first game.

18. The method in claim 6 wherein said first game is a role-playing game and said first task is performed collaboratively by a first user and a second user.

19. A game method, said game method comprising the following steps:

inputting a first verbal stimulus into a data processing system;

inputting a first physical stimulus into a data processing system; and

triggering a first game event when and only when both said first verbal stimulus matches a first pattern and said first physical stimulus matches a second pattern.

20. A game method, said game method comprising the following steps:

deploying a first game piece upon a first surface; and

deploying a second game piece, wherein said second game piece is deployed by being placed upon said first game piece only after said first game piece has been deployed, and

wherein said second game piece is selected from the group consisting of a playing card and a chess piece.