Patents Examined by James S McCellan
  • Patent number: 10500491
    Abstract: A user terminal pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention functions as a device that provides a game to a player. This user terminal initiates an auto mode in which the game proceeds automatically in response to a first operation in which a specific state of operation by the player is maintained and ends this auto mode in response to a second operation in which the specific state of operation by the player is cancelled. As a result, the start and end of the auto mode are realized by simple, continuous operations, and operations related to automatic progress of the game are facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: DENA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10188941
    Abstract: A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which a computing device displays computer game graphics for a computer game, and in which one or more of the processors are programmed to implement the game with: (a) a first game mode where the player is prompted to find items on a list within a picture; and (b) a second game mode where the player is prompted to compare two nearly identical images and find the differences; (c) a third game mode where the player is promoted to find items on a list within a certain picture, wherein the picture is darkened and only a select section is lit up, the lit section being dependent on input given by a pointing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventors: Klas Norden, Daniel Frostberg
  • Patent number: 9033796
    Abstract: A player participating in a network game moves a player character of the player by manipulating a video game apparatus of the player. As the player performs an autopilot operation, the video game apparatus moves the player character as an autopilot PC. A server apparatus manages the game which progresses according to the movement of each character, and transmits progress information of the game to the video game apparatus of each player participating in the network game. The movement of the autopilot PC is decided based on an action log recording the action of the player character responding to the manipulation of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Jin Fujisawa, Takashi Anzai, Yoichi Kuroda, Yoshitaka Katsume
  • Patent number: 8992301
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to a game including a path of different symbol display positions. The gaming system generates one or more symbols (and/or one or more awards) at one or more of the symbol display positions of a matrix or grid. The gaming system then randomly forms a path including a plurality of the symbol display positions and determines an award for the player based on which symbol display positions are included in the formed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Leandro Basallo, Rachael A. Bristol, Thomas Uster, Jodi Manela, Dacotah Petermann-Turner, Amity Wang, Benjamin J. Zoltewicz, Prashant Arora, David Hernandez-Diaz, Stephen J. Edwards, Matthew Falzone, Sean Mountain, Alexander Present, Todd Wong
  • Patent number: 8480493
    Abstract: A game controller for a tablet computing device is disclosed. The controller includes a control console. A groove on a top portion of the control console configured and arranged to capture an edge of a tablet computing device in an upright orientation. A number of controls are included on the control console for transmitting game control inputs to the tablet computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: inMusic Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyson Liotta, Brian Shim, William Yonkers
  • Patent number: RE45905
    Abstract: A home entertainment system for video games and other applications includes a main unit and handheld controllers. The handheld controllers sense their own motion by detecting illumination emitted by emitters positioned at either side of a display. The controllers can be plugged into expansion units that customize the overall control interface for particular applications including but not limited to legacy video games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Ikeda, Kuniaki Ito, Ryoji Kuroda, Genyo Takeda, Masahiro Urata