Abstract: An internet game show host program running on a server computer retrieves a visual clue that is associated with a correct textual answer. Each contestant interactively selects the portions of the visual clue to be exposed. The entire visual clue is loaded onto each of the contestants' computers prior to the beginning of each game, and the contestants' game software progressively exposes the visual clue. Contestants fill in a series of blanks with the answer and activate a send button. The contestants' game software sends the contestant's answer along with a time stamp indicating the time elapsed since the beginning of the internet game show. At the end of the internet game show, the game show host computer compares the times that the correct responses were sent. The correct response that contains the earliest send time is the winning response.

Abstract: A video slot machine is provided. The video slot machine includes a display device for displaying a plurality of game elements in a grid having a plurality of cells defined by rows and columns, a memory device for storing a pay-table, and a game controller coupled to the display device and the memory device. The game controller is adapted to randomly select the game elements to be displayed in the display device and to determine an outcome based on the displayed game elements, a pay-table, and predetermined paylines. The selected game elements are selected from a set of possible game elements. The set of possible game elements includes a bonus element. The game controller is adapted to identify the presence of the bonus element in one of the cells of a column and to modify all of the symbols within the column to wild if a wild character in any one cells of the column would modify the outcome. A bonus game is also provided which depicts a contest between the player and the game machine.

Abstract: A method of playing a game in which a library contains a plurality of events depicted in a series of sequential, non-identical images identified as a first image, a second image, etc. A first image selected from the plurality of first images in the library is displayed in a frame, such as a frame on a video monitor. Likewise, a selected one of the second images from the plurality of second images in the library is displayed in a second frame. If the images displayed in the frames sequentially depict the first and second images of the event, then a winning condition is achieved. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a communication network, a portable data storage device having information associated with a player stored therein and a plurality of gaming units communicatively coupled to the communication network. Each of the gaming units includes an interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device. The gaming system also includes a network computer communicatively coupled to the communication network and the plurality of gaming units. The network computer is programmed to enable the player to play a group of the plurality of gaming units in a particular sequence based on the information associated with the player stored within the portable data storage device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for integrating interactive toys with interactive television and cellular communication systems are described. Interactive toys have real time conversations with users, preferably employing speech recognition. Interactive toys are preferably connected to at least one interactive toy server which is preferably connected to entertainment, education, sales promotion and other content providers possibly via Internet communication systems. Such a connection may utilize, for example, telephone lines, cellular communication systems, coaxial cables, satellite, DSL or other broadband systems. Interactive toys may be connected, via a wireless link, to a computing device such as a home computer, an Interactive Television set-top box or a base unit which provides Internet connectivity for the toy. Interactive toys may support mobile cellular or satellite communication. These toys are able to provide entertainment, education, sales promotion and other content to a user.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention provides a gaming device having a bonus scheme, wherein the player may choose when to play a bonus scheme, so long as the player is qualified to do so. The method of qualifying the player to enter the bonus round connects or links the base game operation of the gaming device with the bonus scheme. The reels of the base game contain symbols which alone or in combination with other symbols yield one or more bonus awards to a player. The bonus awards are escrowed and displayed a bonus award escrow display. Once the player obtains a single bonus award, the player becomes eligible or qualified to play the bonus round and the player may choose to do so at any time. The player can accumulate bonus awards and use multiple bonus awards at one time.

Abstract: When a replay condition is established in advance of a game, a reproduced image which replays a specific scene in the advance of the game is displayed. In displaying the reproduced image, a parameter in the specific scene in the advance of the game is corrected for replay, and the specific scene is reproduced based on the corrected parameter. When the game display is resumed, a stored parameter is read. Suitable replay images can be displayed.

Abstract: A multimedia wagering system consists of a race providing system for facilitating wagering on race events, and a plurality of multimedia wagering terminals in communication with the race providing system for wagering on the race events. The race provider includes means for selecting race events for wagering. The wagering terminal includes a multimedia display for displaying the selected race events, a user interface for placing a wager on the selected race event, payout means for providing a payout on the selected race events, and data processing means in communication with the multimedia display, the user interface and the payout means for facilitating wagering on the selected race events.

Abstract: A game machine executes a game program in response to a control signal given by rotating imitation mechanism driven by a player to display an object corresponding to the player on a display device. The game machine includes a rotation detector, a control unit, and a display for displaying the ski course with the trace of the skis according to the display data of the trace generated by the control unit.

Abstract: A sentence display control device displays sentences representing contents of speeches of human characters who appear in a game and imitating sounds relating to the contents of speeches in a game content display frame of a monitor. A vibration control device vibrates a vibration pack when the vibration pack is mounted on a controller. A display mode changing device successively enlarges the sizes of the respective characters of a sentence representing the content of the game displayed in the game content display frame when a specific character display is executed and then reduces them to an initial size. A link control device links a change of a display mode by the display mode changing device and driving of the vibration pack. Accordingly, the contents of speeches of the characters who appear in the game can be displayed in an emphasized manner to a game player, thereby making the video game more interesting.

Abstract: A putter training device for judging a speed of impact of a golf club head upon a golf ball and including an elongated structure with a first guide wall and a second spaced apart and substantially parallel extending guide wall. A golf ball placement position is located at a first interconnecting end of the spaced apart guide walls. An adjustable and cross wise extending passageway with pivoting flaps is located proximate a second interconnecting end and determines a selected width for allowing passage therethrough of a golf ball which is struck at said placement portion and travels along the elongated structure between the first and second guide walls. A sensor circuit includes first and second pairs of spaced apart sensors mounted in opposing fashion and at spaced apart locations to the first and second guide walls.

Abstract: A video game apparatus in which a specified event is executed in a game space displayed on a monitor, and a plurality of background sounds having different attributes are outputted at a specified output ratio from a plurality of sound output units spaced apart from each other, comprising: a recording unit for storing the plurality of background sounds as background sound data, and a background sound control unit for setting the output ratio of the background sounds having different attributes to be output from the sound output units according to a viewing point and a viewing direction in the game space while reading the background sound data from the recording unit and outputting them from the plurality of sound output units.

Abstract: An interactive training application has three components: a lesson engine, a lesson delivery system, and a lesson authoring tool. The lesson engine runs an interactive, multimedia training exercise based on the contents of a lesson file, which comprises a plurality of pages. Each page includes a navigation item, associated with another page, and a reference to multimedia content. The lesson delivery system displays a menu of lessons to a student, fetches a lesson file corresponding to the student's selection, and invokes the lesson engine upon the lesson file. The lesson authoring tool provides a graphical interface for inputting and editing storyboards, from which the lesson authoring tool is configured for generating a lesson file.

Abstract: The adjustment of hitting power or the like by pushing or continuous pushing of a simple ON/OFF switch by a user is provided by a computer which is able to execute a program that performs processing by taking as instructions an output from a controller which has a pressure-sensitive unit and a processing unit which applies force that acts on objects on a screen of the computer, depending on the output of the controller.