Linked portable and video game systems

• US 6,966,837 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert M. Best
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Best
• Inventors: Best, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US09/853,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 43
• US Class Current: 463/33
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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

Abstract

A video game system that includes a console and hand-held controllers with LCD screens. Each game operates in a simulated world populated with animated characters and static objects which are displayed on a TV screen, and are also displayed on the LCD screens of the hand-held controllers. While one part of the simulated world is displayed on the TV screen, different parts of the simulated world may appear on the LCD screens in a natural pictorial setting. Alternatively, some of the pictures displayed on LCD screens and TV screens may represent the same part of the simulated world at different times, or the same part at the same time. Pictures displayed on an LCD screen may appear concurrently or later on the TV screen. Objects and characters can be selected, moved, constructed, changed, or deleted by a player without revealing to other players these objects of interest or their disposition. This video game system will provide a new game experience in which hand-held controllers do more than just control a console game, and also do more than just a standalone hand-held game.

Claims

1. A method for use in a game system having a first game apparatus containing a first processor, and a separately housed portable game system containing a second processor and a touch screen positioned on a first discrete display device, the method of operating said game system comprising the steps of:

(a) executing a first game program in said first processor to generate first picture data that represents plural body parts of a first 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character moving in a first simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on a first display device;

(b) digitally transferring game data from said first processor through a data transmission link to said second processor;

(c) executing a second game program in said second processor to generate second picture data in accordance with said transferred game data in said portable game system, the second picture data representing plural body parts of a second 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character moving in a second simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on said first discrete display device in said portable game system;

(d) electronically sensing a manually operated object positioned at successive locations on said touch screen; and

(e) generating third picture data representing a simulated 3-dimensional object moving in said second simulated 3-dimensional game world in accordance with said successive locations on said touch screen for display on a second discrete display device in a portable game system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second discrete display devices are the same discrete display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said simulated object is at least one of said body parts of said second 3-dimensional animated character.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said simulated object is one of said second 3-dimensional character'"'"'s hands.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating picture data representing movement in 3-dimensions of said simulated object in said second simulated game world for display on at least one of said discrete display devices in response to control data from a second manually operated control device in cooperation with control data representing locations on said touch screen sensing said manually operated object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second manually operated control device is a touch sensor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said second manually operated control device is a 2-dimensional direction switch.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said second manually operated control device is an analog direction input device.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said second manually operated control device is a virtual data entry keyboard.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said third picture data represents said simulated object as a 3-dimensional animated hand moving in 3-dimensions for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said third picture data represents said hand grasping a second simulated object in said simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said second simulated object is at least one of said body parts of said second 3-dimensional animated character.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said second simulated object is at least one body part of a character from the group comprising:

arm, leg, hand, finger, head, face, eye, mouth, foot, claw, shoe, clothing, tool, orifice, and protuberance.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said body parts comprise at least one from the group comprising:

arm, leg, hand, finger, head, face, eye, mouth, foot, claw, shoe, clothing, tool, orifice, and protuberance.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said third picture data represents said simulated object as a location indicator for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said touch screen senses contact by said manually operated object that remains in contact with said touch screen at successive locations on said touch screen.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing said second game program in said first game apparatus; and

digitally transferring said second game program from said first game apparatus to said portable game system for execution in said second processor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said data transmission link comprises wireless transmission.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said first display device is a discrete display device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said first display device and said second discrete display device are the same discrete display device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said first game apparatus is a portable game system.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said second processor generates fourth data representing a map of at least a portion of one of said game worlds for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

transferring game data from said first game apparatus through a data transmission link to cause display of game images on a plurality of portable game systems.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein picture data representing said simulated object is generated from first and second viewpoints for display on said corresponding first and second discrete display devices.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said discrete display devices is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second player-controlled characters are substantially the same character.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second simulated 3-dimensional game worlds are substantially the same game world.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferred game data specifies a variable direction of movement of at least one of said body parts of said second player-controlled character.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferred game data specifies a variable location in said 3-dimensional game world of at least one of said body parts of said second player-controlled character.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating data representing movement of at least one body part of one of said player-controlled characters in response to manual operation of at least one control device in a portable game system.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

generating picture data that represents a portion of said second simulated game world expanded in size for display on at least one of said discrete display devices in response to manual operation of at least one control device.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

generating picture data that represents a portion of said second simulated game world reduced in size for display on at least one of said discrete display devices in response to manual operation of at least one control device.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating picture data that represents movement of body parts of said first player-controlled character in response to control data generated by a first manually operated control device, and

generating picture data that represents movement of body parts of said second player-controlled character in response to control data generated by a second manually operated control device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said first and second control devices are housed in the same controller.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said first and second control devices are housed in the same portable game system.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein said second processor generates picture data that represents said simulated object moving in accordance with said successive locations on said touch screen for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

electronically sensing a manually operated object at second successive locations on a second touch screen positioned on said second discrete display device in a second portable game system;

and

digitally transferring second game data specifying said second locations from said first processor in said second portable game system through a data transmission link to cause said second processor to generate picture data representing said second 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character moving in said second simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on said first discrete display device in accordance with said transferred second game data.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein said touch screen senses movements from the group comprising:

touching, guiding, sliding, following, pressing, rubbing, pulling, pushing, encircling, and tapping.

39. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

replaying a prior game display sequence on at least one of said discrete display devices in response to manual entry of a replay request.

40. A data carrier for use in a game apparatus containing a first processor that is digitally linked to a separately housed portable game system containing a second processor and a discrete display device and a touch screen positioned on the discrete display device, the data carrier carrying game program instructions comprising:

(a) first program instructions that cause said first processor to generate first picture data representing plural body parts of a first 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character moving in a first simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on a first display device;

(b) second program instructions that cause said first processor to transfer game data through a data transmission link to said second processor to cause said second processor to generate second picture data representing plural body parts of a second 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character moving in a second simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on said discrete display device in said portable game system, and to cause said second processor to process control data representing successive locations of a manually operated object sensed by said touch screen at said successive locations; and

(c) third program instructions that cause generation of third picture data representing a simulated 3-dimensional object moving in said second 3-dimensional game world in accordance with said successive locations for display on a second discrete display device in a portable game system.

41. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said first and second discrete display devices are the same discrete display device.

42. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said third picture data represents said simulated object as a hand moving in 3-dimensions for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

43. The data carrier of claim 42, wherein said third picture data represents said hand grasping a second simulated object in said simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

44. The data carrier of claim 43, wherein said second simulated object is at least one of said body parts of said second 3-dimensional character.

45. The data carrier of claim 43, wherein said second simulated object is at least one body part of a character from the group comprising:

arm, leg, hand, finger, head, face, eye, mouth, foot, claw, shoe, clothing, tool, orifice, and protuberance.

46. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said body parts comprise at least one from the group comprising:

arm, leg, hand, finger, head, face, eye, mouth, foot, claw, shoe, clothing, tool, orifice, and protuberance.

47. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said simulated object is at least one of said body parts of said second 3-dimensional character.

48. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said simulated object is one of said second 3-dimensional character'"'"'s hands.

49. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein at least a portion of said transferred game data is program instruction data for execution in said second processor.

50. The data carrier of claim 40, further comprising graphics data that said first processor transfers through a data transmission link to said second processor in said portable game system and from which said second processor generates picture data for display on said first discrete display device.

51. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said body parts are articulated and bendable under control of at least one manually operable control device.

52. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said body parts comprise articulated fingers that are controlled by at least one manually operable control device.

53. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said data transmission link comprises wireless transmission.

54. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said first display device is a discrete display device.

55. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said first display device and said first discrete display device are the same discrete display device.

56. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said first game apparatus is a portable game system.

57. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said second processor generates fourth data representing a map of at least a portion of one of said game worlds for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

58. The data carrier of claim 40, further comprising the step of transferring game data from said first game apparatus through a data transmission link to cause display of game images on a plurality of portable game systems.

59. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein picture data representing said simulated object is generated from first and second viewpoints for display on said corresponding first and second discrete display devices.

60. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein at least one of said discrete display devices is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.

61. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said first and second player-controlled characters are substantially the same character.

62. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said first and second simulated 3-dimensional game worlds are substantially the same game world.

63. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said second processor transfers control data to said first processor to cause said first processor to select program instructions from said data carrier for execution.

64. The data carrier of claim 40, further comprising graphics data and wherein said second processor transfers control data to said first processor to cause said first processor to generate third data from said graphics data for display on said first display device.

65. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said data carrier is a semiconductor data storage memory.

66. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said data carrier is an optically coded disk.

67. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said data carrier is an optically coded disk comprising a physical feature that is difficult to duplicate for authentication of said disk.

68. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said data carrier is a data storage disk.

69. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said data carrier is a portable memory device for storing digital data and programs.

70. The data carrier of claim 40, further comprising the steps of electronically sensing a manually operated object touching locations on a second touch screen positioned on said second discrete display device in a second portable game system;

and

digitally transferring second game data specifying said touched locations from said first processor in said second portable game system through said data transmission link to cause said second processor to generate picture data representing said second 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character moving in said second simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on said first discrete display device in accordance with said transferred second game data.

71. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said touch screen senses movements from the group comprising:

touching, guiding, sliding, following, pressing, rubbing, pulling, pushing, encircling, and tapping.

72. The data carrier of claim 40, wherein said touch screen senses touching by said manually operated object that remains in contact with said touch screen as successive locations on said touch screen are touched.

73. A game system comprising:

(a) a first game apparatus containing a first data memory;

(b) a first processor in said first game apparatus for executing a first game program to generate first picture data in said first data memory representing a first 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character having plural body parts moving in a first simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on a first display device;

(c) a data transmission link for transferring game data from said first processor to a separately housed portable game system having a first discrete display device and a second data memory;

(d) a second processor in said portable game system for executing a second game program to generate second picture data in said second data memory representing a second 3-dimensional player-controlled animated character having plural body parts moving in a second simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on said first discrete display device in accordance with said transferred game data;

(e) a touch screen positioned on said first discrete display device for electronically sensing a manually operated object positioned at successive locations on said touch screen; and

(f) means for generating third picture data representing a simulated 3-dimensional object moving in said second simulated 3-dimensional game world in accordance with said successive locations on said touch screen for display on a second discrete display device in a portable game system.

74. The game system of claim 73, wherein said first and second discrete display devices are the same discrete display device.

75. The game system of claim 73, wherein said simulated object is at least one of said body parts of said second 3-dimensional animated character.

76. The game system of claim 73, wherein said simulated object is one of the hands of said second 3-dimensional animated character.

77. The game system of claim 73, further comprising a second touch sensor, wherein said second processor generates picture data representing movement in 3-dimensions of said simulated object in said second simulated game world for display on at least one of said discrete display devices in response to first control data representing touched locations on said touch screen in cooperation with second control data representing touched locations on said second touch sensor.

78. The game system of claim 73, wherein said third picture data represents said simulated object as a 3-dimensional animated hand moving in 3-dimensions for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

79. The game system of claim 78, wherein said third picture data represents said hand grasping a second simulated object in said simulated 3-dimensional game world for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

80. The game system of claim 79, wherein said second simulated object is at least one of said body parts of said second 3-dimensional animated character.

81. The game system of claim 79, wherein said second simulated object is at least one body part of a character from the group comprising:

arm, leg, hand, finger, head, face, eye, mouth, foot, claw, shoe, clothing, tool, orifice, and protuberance.

82. The game system of claim 73, wherein said body parts comprise at least one from the group comprising:

arm, leg, hand, finger, head, face, eye, mouth, foot, claw, shoe, clothing, tool, orifice, and protuberance.

83. The game system of claim 73, wherein said data transmission link comprises wireless transmission.

84. The game system of claim 73, wherein said touch screen senses contact by said manually operated object that remains in contact with said touch screen at successive locations on said touch screen.

85. The game system of claim 73, wherein said second game program is stored in said first data memory and is digitally transferred from said first data memory to said portable game system for execution in said second processor.

86. The game system of claim 73, wherein said first display device is a discrete display device.

87. The game system of claim 73, wherein said first display device and said first discrete display device are the same discrete display device.

88. The game system of claim 73, wherein said first game apparatus is a portable game system.

89. The game system of claim 73, wherein said second processor generates fourth data representing a map of at least a portion of one of said game worlds for display on at least one of said discrete display devices.

90. The game system of claim 73, wherein said second processor comprises a graphics co-processor.

91. The game system of claim 73, wherein at least one of said discrete display devices is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.

92. The game system of claim 73, wherein picture data representing said simulated object is generated from first and second viewpoints for display on said corresponding first and second discrete display devices.

93. The game system of claim 73, wherein said first and second player-controlled characters are substantially the same character.

94. The game system of claim 73, wherein said first and second simulated 3-dimensional game worlds are substantially the same game world.

95. The game system of claim 73, wherein said touch screen senses movements from the group comprising:

touching, guiding, sliding, following, pressing, rubbing, pulling, pushing, encircling, and tapping.

96. The game system of claim 73, wherein said transferred game data specifies a variable direction of movement of at least one of said body parts of said second player-controlled character.

97. The game system of claim 73, wherein said transferred game data specifies a variable location in said 3-dimensional game world of at least one of said body parts of said second player-controlled character.

98. The game system of claim 73, further comprising a second touch screen positioned on said second discrete display device for electronically sensing a manually operated object at second locations on the second touch screen to cause said second processor to generate picture data representing one of said 3-dimensional player-controlled animated characters moving in one of said simulated 3-dimensional game worlds for display on said first discrete display device in accordance with said second locations.

99. The game system of claim 73, further comprising a manually operated control device in said portable game system for controling movement of at least one body part of said first player-controlled character.

100. The game system of claim 73, further comprising a separately housed manually operated control device for controlling movement of at least one body part of said second player-controlled character.

101. A program storage medium having stored therein at least a portion of said first game program and said second game program for causing said game system to function in accordance with claim 73.