PROVIDING SECRET INFORMATION IN A MULTIPLAYER GAME

• US 20090124380A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Beeman, Ellen
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• 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: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A system and methods for conveying private information to a player in a multiplayer game being viewed by multiple players on a single screen. Each player is provided with a controller, which in one embodiment, includes a first input device and a second input device. The game system displays instructions on the screen prompting each player to select the first input device on the controller to ask a first question or select the second input device of the controller to ask a second question. Based on which input device each player selects, the game system displays an answer on the screen. The answers are viewable by all players. However, only each player knows what question they asked the game system to answer.

Claims

1. A method for conveying secret information to a player in a multiplayer game being viewed by multiple players on a single screen, comprising:

providing each player with a controller, wherein each controller has a first input device and a second input device;

displaying instructions on the screen, wherein the instructions prompt each player to select the first input device on the controller to ask a first question or select the second input device of the controller to ask a second question;

receiving input from each controller, wherein the input from each controller is based on whether the player selected the first input device or the second input device;

displaying answers on the screen to the first question and the second question based on the input received from each controller.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a player identification on the screen for each player.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein displaying the answers to the first question and the second question comprises:

displaying each answer to the first question and the second question proximate to each player identification displayed on the screen.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the first answer and the second answer comprise one of the following:

“

yes” and

“

no”

.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining the number of players.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein receiving input from each controller comprises:

receiving input from each of the controllers for each of a plurality of players in the game.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein displaying answers on the screen comprises:

displaying an answer for each of a plurality of players in the game.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying the instructions on the screen occurs at the beginning of the multiplayer game.

9. A system for conveying private information to each player in a local multiplayer game, comprising:

a plurality of controllers, wherein each of the controllers includes a first input device and a second input device;

a screen;

a console for communicating with each of the plurality of controllers and the screen, wherein the console is configured to display instructions on the screen prompting the players to press the first input device of the controller to ask a first question and prompting the players to press the second input device of the controller to ask a second question, receive transmission signals from each of the controllers and display answers on the screen based on whether a player selected the first input device or the second input device.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the console comprises a personal computer.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the controller comprises a gamepad having a first button and a second button;

the first input device comprises the first button; and

the second input device comprises the second button.

12. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the console is further configured to display a player identifier on the screen for each player.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the player identifier includes one of the following:

the player'"'"'s name, an avatar, clip art, a photograph, an animation and a video clip.

14. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the console is configured to display the instructions on the screen at the beginning of the game.

15. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of controllers further includes a third input device and a fourth input device.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the console is further configured to display instructions on the screen prompting the players to press the third input device of the controller to ask a third question and prompting the players to press the fourth input device of the controller to ask a fourth question

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for programming a processor of a gaming system to perform a method for providing private information to each player in a multiplayer game, wherein the game is viewed on a single screen and each player has a controller having a first input device and a second input device, comprising:

assigning a first question to the first input device of each controller and a second question to the second input device of each controller;

displaying instructions on the screen, wherein the instructions prompt each player to select the first input device on the controller to ask the first question and select the second input device of the controller to ask the second question;

receiving input from each controller, wherein the input from each controller is based on whether the player selected the first input device of the controller or the second input device of the controller; and

displaying the answers to the first question and the second question on the screen based on the input received from each controller.

18. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions displayed on the screen are displayed at the beginning of the game.

19. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

starting the game after a predetermined amount of time has passed after displaying the answers to the first question and the second question.

20. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein displaying the answers to the first question and the second question comprising:

displaying the answers only after the input from each controller has been received by all of the controllers.