U.S. patent application number 10/769332 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-07 for video architecture and methodology for family of related games.
Invention is credited to Sitrick, David.
Application Number | 20050075155 10/769332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34396025 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050075155 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sitrick, David |
April 7, 2005 |
Video architecture and methodology for family of related games
Abstract
This invention relates to video games, their design,
architecture, methodology, and more particularly to an architecture
and methodology for providing interchangeable reward provision. The
present invention provides for a nucleus of game application core
and fixed image database and sound database, which are utilized in
conjunction with interchangeable linked image databases including
visual and sound, so as to permit a single video game design effort
to have multiple lives and additional revenues.
Inventors: |
Sitrick, David; (Highland
Park, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SITRICK & SITRICK
8340 N LINCOLN AVENUE SUITE 201
SKOKIE
IL
60077
US
|
Family ID: |
34396025 |
Appl. No.: |
10/769332 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60443729 |
Jan 30, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/52 20140902;
A63F 13/95 20140902; A63F 2300/407 20130101; A63F 2300/50 20130101;
A63F 13/35 20140902; A63F 13/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/001 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A video game system for providing a display presentation, the
system comprising: core game application logic for providing video
game logic associated with a video game and a respective display
presentation therefor as associated with the video game, Core Image
Database (CID) comprising a core set of video image data and audio
image data in a structure comprising a Core Image Database Fixed
portion (CIDF) and a Core Image Database Variable (CIDV) portion,
and an image-mapper for providing control for managing and
selecting of video image data and audio image data from a
combination of the CIDF portion and the CIDV portion, to provide
all content needed to provide the display presentation, responsive
to the core game application logic.
2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the CIDV is comprised at least
in part of logical association with a defined area in the display
presentation for insertion of a visual image; and wherein said
image-mapper provides control for managing and selecting of linked
video image data for a defined video image, to provide all content
needed to provide the display presentation, responsive to the core
game application logic and to the CIDV for insertion of the defined
video image into the defined area.
3. The system as in claim 1, further comprising: a Linked Image
Database (LID), providing at least one of variable audio image data
and variable video image data, wherein the image-mapper provides
for replacement of at least one of the video image data and the
audio image data from the CID, as otherwise associated with the
video game, with the at least one of the variable audio image data
and the variable video image data from the LID, while retaining the
video game logic as associated with the video game.
4. The system as in claim 3, wherein said LID has an associated
Linked Databases Index (LDI) utilized by the image-mapper to
integrate a combination of the CID and the LID.
5. The system as in claim 4, wherein there is a plurality of LIDs;
and wherein each of said LIDs has an associated LDI utilized by the
image-mapper to integrate a combination of the CID and the
respective LID to provide an integrated video game with an
associated integrated display presentation.
6. The system as in claim 4, wherein the respective LID and the LDI
are provided as stored content separate from the CID.
7. The system as in claim 6, wherein the stored content is provided
on a non-volatile storage medium.
8. The system as in claim 7, wherein the non-volatile storage
medium is, at least, one of; a CD (compact disk), a DVD,
semiconductor memory, and a hard disk.
9. The system as in claim 5, wherein the LIDs and the LDI are
utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of the CIDF
and the LID to create the representative display presentation
uniquely for each of the combinations.
10. The system as in claim 4, wherein the LID is representative of
at least one of a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character,
additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music, music
video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short,
an interactive performance of a user input based music composition
performance, a change of at least one color in the display
presentation of the video game, and at least one of new audio,
video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a display
presentation.
11. The system as in claim 2, wherein the defined area is displayed
with a default presentation responsive to no associated linked
image data being present.
12. The system as in claim 2, wherein the wherein the CIDV is
selectively updated via online linkage for associating the CIDV
portion with the linked video image.
13. (canceled)
14. The system as in claim 4, wherein the LDI provides for a
mapping index defining the mapping of the LID into the CIDV
portion.
15. The system as in 14, wherein the LID is coupled to the system
via online linkage to provide for online integration and mapping of
the LID into the CIDV portion responsive to the LDI.
16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the core application logic
selectively updates via the online linkage substituting the CIDV
portion with the LID responsive to the LDI.
17. The system as in claim 16, wherein basic game rules and game
play stays consistent with a change in the display presentation
responsive to the substituting.
18. The system as in claim 16, wherein basic game rules and game
play stays consistent before and after the substituting, with a
change in the display presentation of providing at least one of new
audio, video and audiovisual content in the display presentation
responsive to the substituting and to the core game logic.
19. The system as in claim 18, wherein the at least one of new
audio, video and audiovisual content in the display presentation
is, at least, one of: a reward, an advertisement, a substitute
character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, and vehicles.
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. The system as in claim 19, wherein the reward is an interactive
performance of a user-created music composition provided by at
least one third party performer.
23. The system as in claim 19, wherein the reward is utilized to
facilitate music education.
24. The system as in claim 1, wherein at least some of the video
image data and audio image data are grouped into one of game play
content and reward content; and wherein the display presentation is
provided responsive to at least one of the game play content and
the reward content.
25. (canceled)
26. The system as in claim 24, wherein the display presentation is
provided responsive to the game play content until a reward
threshold is reached, and wherein the display presentation is at
least in part provided responsive to the reward content, for at
least a minimum defined period of time, responsive to the reward
threshold being reached.
27. The system as in claim 24, wherein the reward content is
comprised of at least one of music videos, movie trailers,
television commercials, advertisements, an audiovisual
presentation, an audio presentation, a video presentation, and a
change in game play appearance.
28. The system as in claim 1, wherein the CIDV can be utilized by
and among a family of a plurality of interchangeable Liked Image
Databases (LID)s to provide a plurality of video games all with a
common family core game operability and identity and each with at
least in part different appearance in the display presentation
responsive to the respective LID.
29. The system as in claim 1, further comprising: means for
utilizing the CIDV to change at least a pad of underlying
audiovisual imagery associated with game play.
30. The system as in claim 3, further comprising: means for
utilizing the LID to provide additional content beyond the content
normally associated with the display presentation of the video
game.
31. (canceled)
32. The system as in claim 1, wherein the CIDV portion is
associated with a change in the audiovisual game imagery normally
associated with the display presentation of the video game.
33. (canceled)
34. The system as in claim 4, wherein integration of said LID into
the display presentation creates an associated new appearance video
game responsive to the video game logic of the core game
application logic.
35. The system as in claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of
separate ones of said LIDs each structured for integration into the
display presentation of the video game, responsive to the video
game logic of the core game application logic, and wherein each of
said plurality of said LIDs creates an associated new appearance to
the display presentation of the video game responsive to the core
game application logic.
36. The system as in claim 1, wherein the core game application
logic is utilized to support a common identity game structure
supportive of a common single development environment utilizing
core game application software with the image-mapper and the CIDF
portion, utilized in conjunction with the CIDV portion to provide
all content needed to provide the display presentation, wherein
said CID provides a CIDV index defining mapping into the CIDV
portion to provide for integration of a Linked Image Database (LID)
providing at least one of LID video image data and LID audio image
data utilized in the display presentation.
37. The system as in 36, wherein there are a plurality of the LIDs,
wherein the system provides for a family of a plurality of video
game entertainment products, each of the plurality utilizing the
common identity game structure supportive of a common single
development environment with each of the plurality utilizing a
different one of the plurality of the LIDs responsive to the CIDV
index.
38. The system as in claim 37, wherein for each said LID, a CIDV
index is provided defining the mapping of the LID into the CIDV
portion to provide all content needed to provide the display
presentation.
39. The system as in 38, wherein there are a plurality of the LIDs,
wherein the system provides for providing a family of a plurality
of vjdeo game entertainment products, each of the plurality
utilizing the common identity game structure supportive of a common
single development environment with each of the plurality utilizing
a different one of the plurality of the LIDs responsive to the CIDV
index.
40. The system as in claim 38, wherein the system has a processing
system including local memory, wherein the CIDV index for the LID
is loaded into the local memory of the system to facilitate
selectively mapping the LID into the CIDV portion as needed to
provide content needed to provide the display presentation.
41. (canceled)
42. The system as in claim 1, wherein the core application logic is
comprised of core game application software structured for a target
genre of video game.
43. The system as in claim 42, wherein the target genre is, at
least, one of: musical education, role-playing game, action game,
mystery game, war-game, dance game, sports game, vehicle driving
game and simulator game.
44. (canceled)
45. The system as in claim 4, wherein the image-mapper logic
controls the selection from the CIDF portion, the CIDV portion and
the LID to provide all content needed to provide the display
presentation.
46. (canceled)
47. (canceled)
48. (canceled)
49. The system as in claim 4, wherein a mapping index is provided
by the LID, wherein LID) variables each having a LED variable name
are provided within the LID and are logically indexed in the
mapping index according to the LID variable names, wherein a
pointer provides a CID location to associate with a respective one
of the LID variable names in the mapping index.
50. The system as in claim 49, wherein the mapping index provides
for a mapping from the CID to the respective one of the LID
variable names to provide for selectively obtaining at least one of
audio, video and audiovisual content from the LID for use by the
image-mapper logic for integration and use in providing the
presentation output.
51. A method for providing a display presentation for a video game,
the method comprising: providing video game logic for providing a
respective display presentation associated with the video game;
providing a Core Image Database (CID) comprising a core set of
video image data and audio image data in a structure comprising a
Core Image Database Fixed portion (CIDF) and a core Image Database
Variable portion (CIDV); and providing image-mapper control for
managing and selecting of at least one of video image data and
audio image data from a combination of the CIDF portion and the
CIDV portion, to provide all content needed by the video game logic
to provide the display presentation.
52. (canceled)
53. The method as in claim 51, further comprising: providing a
Linked Image Database (LID), comprising at least one of variable
audio image data and variable video image data, and wherein the
providing image-mapper control provides for replacement of at least
one of the video image data and audio image data from the
combination of the CIDF portion and the CIDV, as otherwise
associated with the video game, with at least one of the respective
variables video image data and the respective variable audio image
data from the LID, while retaining the video game logic therefor as
associated with the video game.
54. The method as in claim 53, wherein said LID has an associated
Linked Databases Index (LDI) utilized by the image-mapper to
integrate a combination of the CID and the LID.
55. A video interactive entertainment system comprising: a core
image database (CID) comprising video image data and audio image
data, and further comprising a fixed portion (CIDF) and a variable
portion (CIDV) which together define the complete image content for
a presentation associated with interactive video entertainment;
mapping means for providing control for managing and selecting
certain ones of the video image data and the audio image data from
the Core Image Database (CID); and core interactive entertainment
application logic providing interactive video entertainment logic
utilized for providing the presentation responsive to the mapping
means.
56. The system as in claim 55, further comprising: at least one
Linked Image Database (LID) providing at least one of variable
audio image data and variable visual image data presentation
utilized in conjunction with the CID to provide for update of the
image content for at least a portion of the presentation.
57. The system as in claim 56, wherein there is a plurality of the
LIDs, each providing a different interactive entertainment
presentation, and with all LEDs sharing a common logic and response
utilizing a common application control logic.
58. The system as in claim 56, wherein the update of the image
content is comprised of at least one of music videos, movie
trailers, television commercials, video advertisements, and wherein
the reward content is linked and updated into the system.
59. The system as in claim 56, wherein the LID is utilized by the
mapping means to integrate a combination of the CID and the LID
into the core application software to provide the presentation.
60. The system as in claim 56, wherein the LID is comprised of at
least one of a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character,
additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, a specialty video
and movie trailers for various types of movies.
61. An entertainment system comprising: a controller comprising a
processor, memory, and user interface, and means for providing a
display presentation output; Core Entertainment Application
Software (CEAS); a Core Image Database (CID) a with Core Image
Database Fixed (CIDF) portion and a Core Image Database Variable
(CIDV) portion; an associative image-mapper with a CIDF portion and
a CIDV portion, wherein the controller is responsive to the CEAS
and the CID responsive to the image-mapper to selectively integrate
from both of the CIDF portion and CIDV portion of the CID to
provide a display presentation.
62. The system as in claim 61, wherein the system operates to
provide at least one of a live-action movie presentation, an
animated movie presentation, a video game system, and an
interactive video entertainment system.
63. The system as in claim 61, wherein the video game system
operates to provide a video game presentation providing at least
one of musical education, role-playing game, action game, mystery,
war-game, dance game, sports game, vehicle driving game and
simulator game.
64. The system as in claim 61, further comprising: means for
providing for coupling of a Linked Image Database (LID), comprising
at least one of variable audio image data and variable video image
data, wherein the image-mapper provides for associatively mapping
the CID variable portion with the LID, and wherein the controller
is responsive to the CEAS to provide a display presentation
responsive at least in part to the LID.
65. The system as in claim 61, wherein online linkage is provided
for the system to provide for online updating of the CIDV.
66. The system as in claim 64, wherein online linkage is provided
for the system to provide for online updating of the LID.
67. The system as in claim 65, wherein accounting is provided for
the updates.
68. The system as in claim 61, further comprising: a family of
entertainment products, utilizing a common core of the CEAS and the
CIDF; and wherein each of the entertainment products of the family
utilizes a different CIDV portion.
69. The system as in claim 68, wherein audio-visual imagery and
rewards change within the family, and wherein basic visual
appearance rules and interaction remain consistent within the
family.
70. The system as in claim 61, wherein online linkage is provided
for the system to provide for online updating of the CIDV.
71. The system as in claim 61, wherein the video game system
operates to provide a video game presentation wherein the CIDV is,
at least, one of a reward, an advertisement, a substitute
character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music,
music video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated
short, an interactive performance of a user input based music
composition performance, a change of at least one color in the
display presentation of the video game, and at least one of new
audio, video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a
display presentation.
72. The video game system, as in claim 61, wherein the CEAS
provides video interactive entertainment logic and a respective
display presentation therefor as associated with the video game;
wherein the CID comprises a video image data and audio image data
in a structure within the CIDF portion and the CIDV portion; and
wherein the mapping means provides control for managing and
selecting of the video image data and the audio image data from a
combination of the CIDF portion and the CDV portion, to provide the
display presentation, responsive to the core game application
logic.
73. The system as in claim 72, further comprised of a Linked Image
Database (LID) providing variable audio image data and variable
video image data; wherein the image-mapper provides for utilization
in the display presentation of at least one of the video image data
and the audio image data from the LID in place of at least one of
the CIDV portion.
74. The system as in claim 73, wherein said LED has an associated
Linked Database Index (LDI) utilized by the image-mapper to
integrate a combination of the CID and the LID.
75. The system as in claim 74, wherein the LID is utilized to
transition between active play segments of the display presentation
for a video game.
76. A video entertainment system comprising: a processing
subsystem; a user interface and display generation subsystem; a
specific core game application software written for a target genre
of game, wherein said core game application software is further
comprised of image-m-Dapper logic which defines specific locations
in the core game application software utilizing image database
content, wherein the image-mapper logic controls the selection
process from the image database content, wherein the image database
content is comprised of at least one of a fixed portion and a
variable portion; at least one Linked Image Database (LID) and a
Linked Databases Index (LDI) associated with the at least one LID;
and wherein the image-mapper provides for inclusion of content, as
necessary, from the LID, associatively indexed to the image
database variable portion, utilized in conjunction with the fixed
portion of the image database, to provide all image content for a
video game presentation.
77. The method as in claim 51, further comprising: grouping at
least some of the video image data and the audio image data into
one of game play content and reward content, and providing the
display presentation responsive to at least one of the game play
content and the reward content.
78. The method as in claim 77, further comprising: providing the
display presentation responsive to the game play content until a
reward threshold is reached, and providing the display presentation
is at least in part responsive to the reward content, for a defined
period of time responsive to the reward threshold being
reached.
79. The method as in claim 77, wherein the reward content is
comprised of at least one of a redeemable form of: a reward, an
advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons,
clothing, vehicles, music, music video, dance video, exercise
video, movie trailers, animated short, an interactive performance
of a user input based music composition performance, a change of at
least one color in the display presentation of the video game, and
at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content utilized
in providing a display presentation.
80. The method as in claim 53, wherein the LID is representative of
at least one of: a reward, an advertisement, a substitute
character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music,
music video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated
short, an interactive performance of a user input based music
composition performance, a change of at least one color in the
display presentation of the video game, and at least one of new
audio, video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a
display presentation.
81. The method as in claim 54, further comprising: coupling the LID
to the video game via online linkage, and providing for online
integration and mapping of the LID into the CIDV portion responsive
to the providing the image-mapper control.
82. The method as in claim 81, further comprising: selectively
updating said LID via the online linkage, and substituting at least
part of the CIDV portion with the LID responsive to the providing
the image-mapper control.
83. The method as in claim 82, further comprising: maintaining
basic game rules and game play while providing a change in the
display presentation responsive to the substituting.
84. The method as in claim 82, further comprising: maintaining
consistent audio, video and audio-visual content in the video game
presentation before and after the substituting; while providing a
change in, at least one of: basic game rules and basic game play,
responsive to the substituting.
85. The method as in claim 83, further comprising: maintaining
basic game rules and game play consistent before and after the
substituting, while providing a change in a video game display
presentation of at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual
content responsive to the substituting.
86. The method as in claim 85, wherein the CIDV provides for a
change in the display presentation comprising, at least one of: a
reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional
scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music, music video, dance
video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short, an
interactive performance of a user input based music composition
performance, a change of at least one color in the display
presentation of the video game, and at least one of new audio,
video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a display
presentation.
87. The method as in claim 86, wherein the interactive performance
of a music composition is provided by at least one third party
performer.
88. The method as in claim 83, further comprising: utilizing the
reward to facilitate music education.
89. The system as in claim 2, wherein the defined area is an
otherwise empty space in the display presentation into which a
secondary video image is integrated.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from the Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/443,729, filed: Jan. 30, 2004.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to video games, their design,
architecture, methodology, and more particularly to an architecture
and methodology for providing interchangeable reward provision.
[0004] In the past, each new video game system design required a
total rewrite of a new game. Thus, each new video game provided,
such as football gen 1, football gen 2, etc. would have a new game
logic design put together, comprising application program, and
imagery and sound created for that game. As the cost of developing
video games has gone up from tens of thousands to millions of
dollars per game, the risk of a bad game is more than nominal, it
can be devastating. Thus, anything that can be done to spread the
game development cost over future designs would be very beneficial.
In addition, anything to increase revenues for a particular game
further reduces the risk.
[0005] In the past, there have been the abilities to change players
on teams, so that you can choose from predefined settings. Most
recently, you can add characters to be interchanged as players, so
that you can choose the football or baseball team. This is
consistent with the teachings of present applicant's earlier issued
patents, including the U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,014; U.S. Pat. No.
5,553,864; U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,065; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,825
patents.
[0006] Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide
for a nucleus of game application core and fixed image database and
sound database, which are utilized in conjunction with
interchangeable linked image databases including visual and sound,
so as to permit a single video game design effort to have multiple
lives and additional revenues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
video game architecture, system and methodology are provided
wherein a core game application logic provides video game logic and
a predefined set of visual and audio imagery and a fixed database
image-mapper for providing control for managing and selecting video
and audio imagery from a combination of a core image database
comprising a fixed portion (CIDF) and a variable portion (CIDV)
which together form the complete audio/visual presentation
associated with the video game, movie, or other interactive
entertainment.
[0008] Additionally, a linked image database (LID), or a plurality
of image linked databases provide the variable audio and visual
images in the linked video game operation, permitting update of
reward content and audio/visual content otherwise associated with
the video game to be replaced, while retaining the core video game
rules and identifiable logic, and perhaps a portion of the original
audio/visual imagery, that portion being variable from minimal to a
considerable amount depending on the designer's choices.
[0009] Thus, music videos, movie trailers, even television
commercials that are music video advertisements, can all be linked
and updated into the video game. Each time a new video game in a
new packaging can be sold as a separate new video game comprising
the core game application software (CGS), including the
image-mapper (IM), the core image database (CID) comprising the
core image database fixed portion (CIDF) and the core image
database variable portion (CIDV). The CGS and CID are provided in
common on all of the game family members sharing the common
identity, and each separate CD or video game package provides the
linked image databases and the linked databases index needed to
provide an integrated video game system. As used herein, video game
system is not limited to, and extends to all formats of home
entertainment including home video game systems such as the SONY
Playstation, Nintendo Cube, or Microsoft Xbox, and further includes
use of CDs and DVDs in personal computers running any operating
system (including Windows, LINUX, MacIntosh, or other computer
operating system) Web-TV, etc. The linked image databases (LID) can
be provided via flashRAM, ROM, CDROM, DVD, hard disk, provided
responsive to user generation, via online download, etc.
[0010] The linked image databases (LID) and the linked database
index (LDI) are utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a
combination of the core image database and the linked image
database or databases into the core game application software to
provide the video/audiovisual entertainment product. For example,
the linked image database can be music videos and each separate
database can represent a genre such as rap, classic rock, 60's pop,
70's pop, 80's pop. Or, it can be comprised of movie trailers for
various types of movies including action, romance, chick-flicks,
guy-flicks, etc. Or, it can be comprised of specialty videos, such
as cooking, karaoke, dance, etc. Additionally, utilizing
audio-visual works produced by businesses as advertisements can be
provided such that Superbowl ads and Academy Award television
advertisements can be utilized to segue way between elements of the
game, and generate additional source of revenue for the game
manufacturer. Thus, a common single development of a core game
application software product and core image database, with
associated image-mapper, and CID fixed and CID variable portions,
can be re-utilized to create a family of entertainment products,
such as video games, utilizing a common identity CGS and CID, but
with each member of the family utilizing a different set of linked
image database and linked database index therefor.
[0011] The linked database index for each of the linked image
databases is preferably loaded into local RAM memory of the
computing system processing and running the video game, but can
also utilize remote indexes as appropriate, such as where online
linkage is provided for the video game system to provide for online
updates of linked image databases and linked database indexes
associated therewith, to provide for easier updates. Accounting can
be provided to charge the user, such as directly to a charge card
(e.g. Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover) which also
permits updates of advertising LIDs. Thus, the audio-visual imagery
and rewards change within a family, but the basic game rules and
game play stays consistent within the family. Thus, all the
benefits of learning and mastering a game and going to higher
levels are maintained, and the user continues to benefit from their
experience level. Secondly, since during the play of the game you
often have to repeat the lower levels, it adds a whole new level of
interest to the game to be able to be provided with new
audio-visual imagery for providing the same winning moves, creating
a whole new experience in playing that game. This can be done with
different types of audio-visual game imagery, or can be provided
with other types of audio-visual imagery as a reward, such as music
or dance videos, exercise videos, movie trailers, any sort of
audio-visual presentation, so forth.
[0012] In one preferred embodiment, the video game is provided in a
musical environment, and the LID and LDI are provided as music
videos, movie trailers, ads, and interactive performance of a
user-created music composition by a "star" or "stars", musical
group. This could be especially beneficial as a reward system in a
video game based music education and training system and
methodology. In this embodiment, the elements already present in
the video game system, such as a Playstation, etc., are utilized as
the processing system, user interface and display generation
system. Specific core game application software is written for the
target genre of game, such as musical education, role-playing game,
action game, mystery, etc. As a part of the core game application
software logic and development, image-mapper logic is provided
which defines specific locations in the core game application
software utilizing image database content. The image-mapper
controls the selection process from the core image database, either
fixed or variable portion, as well as to the linked image database
or databases via the linked database indexes associated with each
of the linked image databases. Control logic provided by the
image-mapper software manages indexing and accessing images as
necessary to provide the audio/visual imagery and rewards for each
unique member of the family.
[0013] In one embodiment, the image-mapper provides the linked
database index (LDI) as a pointer to the proper location in the
linked image database (LID) from the appropriate respective
location in the CIDF or CIDV. Variables within the linked image
database are logically indexed in the linked database index
according to assignment to variable names, and the pointer in the
core image database provides as its variable data the variable name
to point to the entry in the linked database index. The linked
database index provides a mapping from the variable name to the
specific location of the associated audio and visual images needed
to provide the necessary audio/visual content to the image-mapper
to integrate into the generation of the video game or other
entertainment system presentation output.
[0014] A video game system provides a display presentation for a
video game. The system is comprised of core game application logic,
a core image database, and an image-mapper. The core game
application logic provides video game logic and respective display
presentation therefor as associated with the video game, The core
image database comprises a core set of video image data and audio
image data in a structure comprising a core image database fixed
portion (CIDF) and a core image database variable portion (CIDV).
The image-mapper provides control for managing and selecting of
video image data and audio image data from a combination of the
core image database fixed portion (CIDF) and the core image
database variable portion (CIDV), to provide all content needed to
provide the display presentation, responsive to the core game
application logic. In one embodiment, a fixed database is provided
comprising a pre-defined set of video image data and audio image
data. In this embodiment, the image-mapper provides control for
managing and selecting of video image data and audio image data
from a combination of the fixed database and the core image
database, to provide all content needed to provide the display
presentation, responsive to the core game application logic.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the system is further comprised
of a linked image database (LID), providing variable audio image
data and variable video image data. The image mapper provides for
replacement of the video image data and audio image data from the
combination of the fixed database and the core image database, as
otherwise associated with the video game, with variable audio image
data and variable video image data from the linked image database,
while retaining the video game logic therefore as associated with
the video game. In one embodiment, the system is further
characterized in that said linked image database (LID) has an
associated linked databases index utilized by the image-mapper to
integrate a combination of the core image database and the linked
image database product. In a preferred embodiment, there are a
plurality of linked image databases (LID) wherein each of said
linked image database (LID) has an associated linked databases
index utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of
the core image database and the linked image database product to
provide an integrated video game with an associated integrated
display presentation. To facilitate family or genre core game
design, the linked image database and the Mapping Index (or the
linked database index or the CID Index) for each video game is
provided as stored content separate from the core image database.
The stored content is preferably provided on a non-volatile storage
medium, such as semiconductor memory (e.g. EEPROM, EPROM, Flash
Ram, CD-Rom, DVD, hard disk, etc.).
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the linked image databases (LID)
and the linked database index (LDI) (or other Mapping Index) are
utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of the core
image database and the linked image database product to create the
display presentation uniquely for each of the combinations. The
linked image database can be representative of music videos, movie
trailers, specialty videos, is representative of advertisements
utilized to transition between active play segments of the display
presentation for the video game, and so forth.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, a Mapping Index defines the
mapping of the Linked Image Database (LID) into the core image
database variable portion (CIDV). In one embodiment, the Linked
Image Database (LID) is coupled to the system via online linkage to
provide for online integration and mapping of the Linked Image
Database (LID) into the core image database variable portion (CIDV)
responsive to the Mapping Index. The core application logic
selectively updates via the online linkage substituting the core
image database variable portion (CIDV) with the Linked Image
Database (LID) responsive to the Mapping Index. Alternatively or
additionally, the core application logic selectively updates via
the online linkage substituting the core image database variable
portion (CIDV) with the Linked Image Database (LID) responsive to
the Mapping Index.
[0018] Since the family of games reutilizes a core portion of logic
and audiovisual content, the basic game rules and game play stays
consistent for all games within the same family of games, with only
the display presentation changing, responsive to the integrating of
the audio and/or video content from the Linked Image Database
(LID.
[0019] The change in the display presentation provides at least one
of new audio, video and audiovisual content in the display
presentation responsive to the substituting and to the core game
logic. The new audio, video and audiovisual content in the display
presentation is at least one of a reward, an advertisement, a
substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, and
vehicles. The new audio, video and audiovisual content in the
display presentation is at least one of additional video imagery,
additional audio content, and additional audiovisual content. In a
preferred embodiment, the reward is at least one music, music
video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short,
an interactive performance of a user input based music composition
performance, and a change of at least one color in the display
presentation of the video game. In one embodiment, the interactive
performance is of a user-created music composition is provided by
at least one third party performer (e.g. recording star or stars,
movie stars, etc.). In an alternate embodiment, the reward is
utilized to facilitate music education.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the video image data and audio
image data are grouped into one of game play content and reward
content. The display presentation is provided responsive to at
least one of the game play content and the reward content.
[0021] In one embodiment, the display presentation is provided
responsive to the game play content (e.g. non-reward content) until
a reward threshold is reached, and the display presentation is
provided responsive to the reward content for a defined period of
time responsive to the reward threshold being reached. The reward
content can be comprised one or more of music videos, movie
trailers, television commercials, an audiovisual presentation, and
audio presentation, and a change in game play appearance.
[0022] The linked image database can be selected from among a
family of a plurality of interchangeable linked image databases to
provide a plurality of video games all with a common family core
game operability and identity and each with a different appearance
in the display presentation responsive to the linked image
database.
[0023] The linked image database is utilized to change the
underlying audiovisual imagery associated with normal game play
that would occur absent the content of the linked image database.
The linked image database can provide additional said content
beyond the content associated with regular game play, or substitute
content for that otherwise associated with game play, or additional
content not associated with game play.
[0024] Thus, the linked image database can be associated with a
reward beyond the normal audiovisual game imagery. In a preferred
embodiment, the core image database variable portion (CIDV) is
associated with a reward beyond the normal audiovisual game
imagery.
[0025] The display presentation is comprised of a game portion
associated with normal audiovisual game imagery and a reward
portion associated with a reward beyond the normal audiovisual game
imagery. Integration of said linked image database (LID) into the
display presentation creates an associated new appearance video
game responsive to the video game logic of the core game
application logic.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of separate
ones of said linked image database each structured for integration
of any one of the plurality of said linked image databases (LID)
into the display presentation a video game consistently responsive
to the video game logic of the core game application logic for each
of the plurality of said linked image databases (LID) and wherein
each of said plurality of said linked image databases (LID) creates
an associated new appearance to the display presentation of the
video game responsive to the core game application logic. In one
embodiment, the core game application logic is utilized to support
a common identity game structure supportive of a common single
development environment utilizing a core game application software
with the image-mapper and the core image database fixed portion
(CIDF), utilized in conjunction with the core image database
variable portion (CIDV) to provide all content needed to provide
the display presentation. The core image database variable portion
(CIDV) provides a CIDV Index defining the mapping into core image
database variable portion (CIDV) to provide for integration of a
Linked Image Database (LID) providing LID video image data and LID
audio image data utilized in creating a reusable video game core.
Where there are a plurality of the Linked Image Databases (LIDs),
the system provides for a family of a plurality of video game
entertainment products, each of the plurality utilizing the common
identity game structure supportive of a common single development
environment with each of the plurality utilizing a different one of
the plurality of the Linked Image Databases (LIDs) responsive to
the CIDV Index.
[0027] The core system comprised of core game application logic, a
core image database, and an image-mapper is in one embodiment
further comprised of a Linked Image Database (LID) providing LID
video image data and LID audio image data, wherein the core game
application logic is utilized to support a common identity game
structure supportive of a common single development environment
utilizing a core game application software with the image-mapper
and the core image database fixed portion (CIDF), utilized in
conjunction with the core image database variable portion (CIDV) to
provide all content needed to provide the display presentation. The
Linked Image Database (LID) provides a LIDV Index defining the
mapping of the Linked Image Database (LID) into the core image
database variable portion (CIDV) to provide all content needed to
provide the display presentation. Where there are a plurality of
the Linked Image Databases (LIDs), the system provides for
providing a family of a plurality of video game entertainment
products, each of the plurality utilizing the common identity game
structure supportive of a common single development environment
with each of the plurality utilizing a different one of the
plurality of the Linked Image Databases (LIDs) responsive to the
LIDV Index.
[0028] The video game system has a processing system including
local memory (e.g. personal computer, game console (e.g. Sony
Playstation, Nintendo Game Cube, Microsoft X-box, Nintendo
Game-Boy), wherein the LIDV Index for the Linked Image Database
(LID) is loaded into the local memory of the system to facilitate
selective mapping the Linked Image Database (LID) into the core
image database variable portion (CIDV) as needed to provide content
needed to provide the display presentation.
[0029] The core system comprised of core game application logic, a
core image database, and an image-mapper is in one embodiment
further comprised of a Linked Image Database (LID) providing LID
video image data and LID audio image data. The core game
application logic is utilized to support a common identity game
structure supportive of a common single development environment
utilizing a core game application software with the image-mapper
and the core image database fixed portion (CIDF), utilized in
conjunction with the core image database variable portion (CIDV) to
provide all content needed to provide the display presentation. An
external source (or the CID or LID or core application logic) can
provide a Mapping Index defining the mapping of the Linked Image
Database (LID) into the core image database variable portion (CIDV)
to provide all content needed to provide the display
presentation.
[0030] In one embodiment, the core application logic is comprised
of core game application software structured for a target genre of
video game. The target genre can be one or more of musical
education, role-playing game, action game, mystery, war-game, dance
game, sports game, and simulator game.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the core game application
software is comprised of image-mapper logic. The image-mapper
controls the selection process from the core image database fixed
portion (CIDF), the core image database variable portion (CIDV) and
the Linked Image Database (LID) to provide all content needed to
provide the display presentation. A Mapping Index defines the
mapping of the Linked Image Database (LID) into the core image
database variable portion (CIDV), wherein the image-mapper logic is
responsive to the Mapping Index. In one embodiment, the
image-mapper logic provides for managing, indexing and accessing
content from at least one of the core image database fixed portion
(CIDF), the core image database variable portion (CIDV) and the
Linked Image Database (LID) to provide all content needed to
provide the display presentation. In one embodiment, the
image-mapper logic provides a pointer to a proper location in the
Linked Image Database (LID) from a respective location in at least
one of the core image database fixed portion (CIDF), the core image
database variable portion (CIDV) responsive to the Mapping Index.
In one embodiment, the Mapping Index is provided by the Linked
Image Database (LID), wherein LID variables each having a LID
variable name are provided within the Linked Image Database (LID)
and are logically indexed in the Mapping Index according to the LID
variable names, wherein a pointer in the core image database (CID)
provides a CID variable name to point to a respective one of the
LID variable names in the Mapping Index. In this embodiment, the
Mapping Index provides for a mapping from the CID variable name to
the respective one of the LID variable names to provide for
selectively obtaining audio, video and audiovisual content from the
Linked Image Database (LID) for use by the image-mapper logic for
integration and use in providing the presentation output.
[0032] In accordance with the present invention, there is also
taught a method for providing a display presentation for a family
of interrelated video games. The method comprises providing video
game logic and a respective display presentation therefore as
associated with the video game, providing a core image database
comprising a core set of video image data and audio image data in a
structure comprising a core image database fixed portion (CIDF) and
a core image database variable portion (CIDV); and, providing
image-mapper control for managing and selecting of video imager
data and audio imager data from a combination of the core image
database fixed portion (CIDF) and the core image database variable
portion (CIDV), to provide all content needed to provide the
display presentation, responsive to the video game logic. In a
preferred embodiment the method is further comprised of providing a
linked image database (LID), comprising variable audio image data
and variable video image data. The image mapper control provides
for replacement of the video image data and audio image data from
the combination of the fixed database and the core image database,
as otherwise associated with the video game, with variable audio
image data and variable video image data from the linked image
database, while retaining the video game logic therefore as
associated with the video game. In accordance with one aspect of
the present invention, said linked image database (LID) has an
associated linked databases index utilized by the image-mapper to
integrate a combination of the core image database and the linked
image database product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1A, a system block diagram of the physical
hardware required to implement one embodiment of the present
invention are illustrated. A processor (101) is coupled to user
input (110) via connection (111), a physical storage (120) via
coupling (102), communications interface logic and gateway (130)
coupled via coupling (103), and coupled to the Internet through
coupling (131) and to a remote server through coupling (132). The
display (140), comprising video and audio components, are
illustrated coupled to the processor (101) via coupling (104). The
processor (101) executes the core game application software and
associated image mapping logic, as well as responsive to control
logic stored in the physical storage, as well as providing for
audio and visual imagery within the presentation on the display
(140) by means of integrating image data from the physical storage
(120) and/or via the communications interface in gateway (130),
such as via the Internet or from a remote server.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1B, the logical structuring, architecture
and data flow are illustrated with reference to the physical system
block diagram of FIG. 1A. The processor (101) is coupled to the
storage (120) both for access to computer core game application
software as well as for the various image software data needed to
construct the various audio and visual images that go along with
the application software logic and control. As shown in FIG. 1B,
the storage (120) via coupling (102) couples to the processor (101)
and provides coupling to the core game software (125), the image
mapping logic (126), and variable memory (127), as well as
providing access, control and management of the core image database
fixed portion (121) and core image database variable portion (122),
and to the linked information database (123) and linked database
index (124). The processor (101) communicates via coupling (102)
with the core game application software (125) and associated
image-mapper logic (126) and responsive thereto accesses the
variable memory (127) and causes the processor to access the core
image database fixed, (121), core image database variable, (122)
and linked image database (123) in association with the linked
database index (124) to provide for compositing of an integrated
video game. The linked information database (123) and linked
database index (124) can be interchanged for different sets of LID
(123) and LDI (124) so as to provide a family of games sharing a
common core and nucleus of both technology hardware and software as
well as operational logic and game play. In one embodiment, the
core image database variable (122) and linked image database (123)
are loaded into local memory of the system responsive processor
control signals (105) (CIDV load) and (106) (LID load). The loading
of the linked image database also loads the linked database index
which can be utilized in combination with the LID to provide quick
mapped access to particular image variables defined by the core
family logic, especially the CGS (125), IM (126) and variable
memory (127) utilized thereby.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1C, there is illustrated an alternate
embodiment of the physical/logical operation of the systems of
FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1C, the
processor (101), responsive to the user input (110) and through
coupling (111), accesses the storage (120) via coupling (102), and
responsive to the CGS (125), image-mapper (126), and variable RAM
(127), in conjunction with the core image database fixed (121) and
core image database variable (122) and linked image database (123),
provides a video game for play by the user and provides an output
video display (141) and audio display (142) responsive thereto. The
user input (110) can be a keyboard, mouse, joystick, or any other
user input device permitting users to provide control signals to
the processor (101). The communications interface (130/131)
provides coupling to the Internet by the processor for loading data
to the processor to be utilized in loading into the various layers
of storage (120) including CIDV (122) and LID (123). As illustrated
in FIG. 1C, a reward signal output (107) from processor (101) is
coupled to an address decoder (129) which responsive thereto causes
addressing and read signals to be sent to the respective image
database (CIDV 122, CIDF 121, or LID 123). Signals to the LID (123)
are first coupled into the LDI (124) for variable to physical
address mapping to provide an output from LID (123) of LID data
which couples back to the processor (101). Alternatively, where the
address decoder (129) determines that the audio and/or visual
imagery needed is in the core image database, it appropriately
selects and causes output from CIDF (121) or CIDV (122).
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1D, an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1C
is illustrated, wherein the LDI (124) and LID (123) are integrated
into the CIDV (122) logic to provide a combined integrated output.
As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the address decoder (129) output is
coupled to either the CIDF (121) or to the combined CIDV/LDI/LID
(122, 124 and 123 respectively). Responsive to the signal from the
address decoder (129), the appropriate CIDF data or CIDV/LID data
is output for coupling to the processor (101) for utilization in
generating the audio visual presentation output on the visual
display (141) and the audio display (142). In a preferred
embodiment, the CIDV image database is utilized as a default when
there is not LDI/LID database. Alternatively, variable LID/LDI
databases can be utilized with every game in the family.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 1E, an alternative embodiment to FIGS. 1C
and D are illustrated, wherein the architecture is slightly
altered. The output reward (107) from the processor (101) is
coupled directly to the linked image database (123), which is
coupled to provide a linked database index to the address decoder
(129B), which provides a respective output to one of the core image
database fixed (121) or core image database variable (122), which
provide a respective output of CIDF data or CIDV data to the
processor (101) responsive thereto. The linked image database data
is loaded into the CIDV (122) as part of an initialization process
in this architecture, so that the linked image database and linked
database index thereafter provide the necessary additional mapping,
in addition to the image mapping (126), necessary to provide for an
integrated operation for each video game for a family of related
games.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the processing flow
and methodology associated with one aspect of the present invention
is as shown in FIG. 1E illustrated. The process starts at (210),
and game control logic processes the data to generate a video game
play responsive to the user input, up to the point where the game
requests a reward image at step (220). Proceeding to step (230) the
image-mapper looks up the linked database index in the linked image
database. A decision is made at step (240) as to whether the linked
database index is in the core image database fixed address space.
At (241) decision is made that "yes" and at step (245) the image in
the CIDF is obtained. From here, processing proceeds to integrate
the image obtained into the audio/visual presentation of the video
game at step (260) and returns to the video game at step (270)
whereafter the process ends at (280). Alternatively, if at step
(240), it is determined that the linked database index is not in
the CIDF address space, at step (242), then a second decision is
made at step (250) as to whether the linked database index is in
the core image database variable address space. If "yes",
processing proceeds at step (255) to get the image from the CIDV
and proceeds at step (256) to step (260) to actually integrate the
image data into the audio/visual presentation of the video game,
whereafter processing continues to return the video game at step
(270) and the integration ends at step (280). Alternatively, if the
linked database index is not in the CIDV address space, then
processing returns to the game at step (270) and the image mapping
and linking ends at step (280). As illustrated, FIG. 2 correlates
to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1E. It is to be understood
that the equivalent process flow can be utilized for the other
embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, a mapping of the hardware elements of
FIGS. 1A-E is correlated to the actual stored elements locations in
the physical architecture to the logical architecture. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, the processing system (101) is further
comprised of a CPU, RAM, ROM and I/O. The I/O is coupled to provide
output the display (140) to provide an audio/visual presentation,
to an input controller (110) to provide coupling of user input
stimulus back to the processing system (101), and to a secondary
storage (130) to provide coupling of disk, CD (compact disc),
digital video disk (DVD), flashRAM, EPROM, ROM, or other storage
means. The processing system ROM, RAM, and the secondary storage
provide the necessary locations for maintaining the core game
application software (125) and associated image mapping logic
(126), the CID-F (121) and CID-V (122), and one or more sets of
LID/LDI (123/124). As illustrated in FIG. 3, a first set of LID and
LDIs (123A and 123B) are illustrated comprising LID Set 1 with
associated LDI 1, LID Set 2, with associated LDI 2, and LID Set 3,
with associated LDI 3.
[0040] As an example, LIDs may be related to rewards such as music
videos or movie trailers, or film clips, or audio clips, and may
also be new audio visual imagery for background play unrelated to
rewards to change the appearance of the underlying core game.
Additionally as shown in FIG. 3, a second set of LID/LDI
(123B/124B), which can be different set for different member of the
family. These can be provided on separate mediums, such as
providing the CGAS (125), IM (126), CIDF (121), CIDV (122), on a
core CD, and providing update RAMs, ROMs, or CDs for each linked
image data and linked data index set. Alternatively, all of the
core elements can be included on a single CD which also has one or
more LID/LDIs, and each CD provided with a different set of
LID/LDIs to create a separate member of the family which stands
alone. Additionally, LID/LDIs can be provided via Internet or
otherwise.
[0041] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous
variations and modifications may be effected without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that
no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated
herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course,
intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as
fall within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *