Patents Examined by Mark Sager
  • Patent number: 6676520
    Abstract: A video game system includes hand-held player controllers operable by players to generate video game control signals, each hand-held player controller having a selectively driven vibration source arranged to generate vibrations for vibrating a housing thereof. A video game program executing system executes a video game program. The video game program executing system includes controller connectors which, in use, connect to the hand-held player controllers and a controller control circuit including a transmission circuit which transmits data to hand-held player controllers connected to the controller connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nishiumi, Kazuo Koshima, Nobuyuki Nonaka
  • Patent number: 6669562
    Abstract: A game device is provided for executing a game involving competition of typing skills wherein specified words that are required to be input are not fixed with respect to game characters, in other words, displayed enemies. The game device includes control means for executing a program; geometry calculating means for performing co-ordinate conversions for a plurality of polygons constituting enemy characters; and rendering processing means for generating display images by converting the three-dimensional co-ordinates generated by said geometry calculating means into two-dimensional co-ordinates. A characteristic feature is that, according to the program executed and controlled by said control means, a word box corresponding to an enemy character is generated and a specified word prompting a typing input by a player is displayed in said word box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Masamitsu Shiino
  • Patent number: 6669559
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bonus scheme for a gaming device which presents a plurality of selections to a player. When a player chooses a selection, the game exhibits a non-terminating symbol or a terminating symbol. Certain non-terminating symbols are related to other non-terminating symbols. The game awards the player with a basic value when the player chooses selections which are associated with non-terminating symbols. In addition, the game awards the player with a match value when the player chooses a selection and the game exhibits a symbol which is related to another exhibited symbol. The bonus round terminates when the player ultimately chooses a selection associated with a terminating symbol. Accordingly, the player is faced with an array of selections with the aim of locating as many related non-terminating symbols as possible, before reaching a terminating symbol. The game may also award a basic value to the player when the player chooses a selection associated with a terminating symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist, Lance R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6669564
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided that allow episodic delivery of entertainment content to a user. More specifically, an application module is created with episodic content technology, which can be purchased as a CD-ROM or downloaded from a remote server. The application module contains a current episode of the game and a technology shell to allow future episodes to be downloaded and executed. The entertainment content delivery system is implemented through a centralized server that provides new episodes of the content available for downloading at regularly scheduled intervals to the users' computers. The current instantiation of the application module segregates technology components from content components of the application module to allow independent modification of either. Technological advancements are incorporated as they occur into the new episodes and are executed by the application module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Young, Richard E. Moore
  • Patent number: 6669563
    Abstract: In a handy signal generating device attachable to a game system and holdable in hand of a game player, an impact sensor 30 for generating a signal in response to a hitting motion made by the game player and an acceleration sensor 31 for generating a signal in response to a swinging motion made by the game player are built in a signal generating unit (first to fourth layer 20 to 23 and a cover 23). Accordingly, there can be provided a signal generating device which enables the game player to play a game while relatively freely moving his body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Konami Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kitami, Tadashi Kadohori
  • Patent number: 6666764
    Abstract: A method and a video game device are provided which are capable of controlling enemy characters who are originally programmed to attack a main character, to injure each other for a predetermined time period when a user instructs a predetermined action to the main character. The predetermined action may be an action of throwing a smoke screen ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kudo
  • Patent number: 6659773
    Abstract: The system produces movements in a home entertainment chair. It has a motor controller and a plurality of movement generator units for generating small amplitude and low frequency movements in the viewers chair according to desired effects. A synchronization is achieved using an audio/video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: D-Box Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Roy, Michel Bérubé, Michel Jacques
  • Patent number: 6659870
    Abstract: A steering/driving game controller integrates an additional steering lever to the underside of the game controller. The steering lever is spring biased in a center operable positions and is variably actuated such that it is responsive to varying degrees of depression. In response to the varying degree of user depression, the steering/driving controller is capable of outputting steering control signals of varying level to a connected game console, thereby enabling more selective and more accurate driving control within a video game being played on the connected game console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Arista Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Sobota
  • Patent number: 6656042
    Abstract: An Interactive Fantasy Lottery where lottery players are given game pieces describing discernable actors (people, animals or events) who will be participating in an upcoming event. The performance of the actor will determine the value of the player's game piece. Thus, the player has an incentive to observe the indicated event in order to determine its outcome as well as the value of his game piece. When the game piece is distributed over a computer network and displayed on a web page, the player will be motivated to visit the web page in order to obtain a game piece, and to monitor his performance in the lottery. In so doing, the player is increasing web traffic across the site which in turn increases the value of the advertising contained therein as well as making the web site more successful overall. In one embodiment, the content of the game is one or more sports figures. The lottery player interacts with the game piece to reveal the sports figure or figures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: ESPN-Starwave Partners
    Inventors: Geoff Reiss, John Zehr
  • Patent number: 6656039
    Abstract: A software product and a video game device for virtually performing a card game like a trading card game. Cards of the card game are given parameters each of which shows ability point or property of the card. When a player designates a first card to present it on a field (or “summon” the first card), an index parameter given to the card is compared with a threshold. If the index parameter is over the threshold, the player must “sacrifice” some cards from cards currently presented on the field in order to “summon” the first card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Konami Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 6652382
    Abstract: A game housing supports a liquid crystal display having a plurality of liquid crystal display elements therein together with a processor and sound circuit. A plurality of switches simulating the operations of making cookies are operative upon the game housing. These switches include a simulated cookie batter stirring handle together with a simulated roller. Further, the switches include simulated cookie cutters having different shapes. In operation, the manipulation of the simulated cookie batter stirring element produces display images corresponding thereto. Similarly, manipulation of the roller causes a different image to be displayed. Finally, pressing any of the cookie cutter switches causes the corresponding shapes to be display upon the liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Karussi, Sam Lee
  • Patent number: 6645068
    Abstract: A method and article of manufacture are provided for implementing a user profile-driven gaming and prize redeeming system. The user profile-driven gaming and prize redemption system allows for the tailoring of a user's experience of playing a computer implemented game on a network gaming system by first receiving an identifier selected from a group of identifiers including a user identifier relating to the user (i.e., player) of the network gaming system, a game identifier relating to a particular game played by the user of the network gaming system, and a site identifier relating to the location (i.e. web site) from which the game is being played. The network gaming system then alters the computer-implemented game played by the user in a manner based upon the selected identifier. The foregoing technique may also be applied to a prize redemption system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Arcade Planet, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew F. Kelly, Bryan M. Kelly, Norman B. Petermeier, John G. Kroeckel, John E. Link
  • Patent number: 6645077
    Abstract: A disclosed gaming terminal data repository may be used to store game software components, game software component information and gaming transaction information for a plurality of gaming terminals owned by a plurality of gaming entities. The repository may store the game software component information and the gaming transaction information in a database partitioned according to the different gaming entities in a manner allowing a game software component configuration of a particular gaming machine to be easily analyzed and modified. Using various update triggers, game software components for gaming terminals connected to the gaming terminal data repository may be automatically updated. The gaming machines, configured or designed to receive game software components from the repository, may present game play using a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and the game software components received from the repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Richard E. Rowe
  • Patent number: 6645078
    Abstract: A casino gambling unit may include a display unit capable of generating video images, a detection apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a person by detecting radiation from the person, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the detection apparatus. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image representing a video gambling game to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the video gambling game and a value payout associated with the outcome of the video gambling game, and to cause an attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images displayed on the display to be performed in response to detection of the presence of a person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: International Game Technology
    Inventor: Harold Mattice
  • Patent number: 6645069
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for gaming. The method includes receiving a betting level; calculating a required score using a list of scores corresponding to the betting level and a house advantage; and using the required score as a score to be attained in a game of at least partial skill. The system includes a central server; at least one casino server connected to the central server via a communications link; and a gaming machine coupled to the casino server. At least one of the central server and the casino server are configured to: receive a betting level; calculate a required score using a list of scores corresponding to the betting level and a house advantage; and use the required score as a score to be attained in a game of at least partial skill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Skill Safari, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Robb
  • Patent number: 6641479
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system including a machine capable of retrieving data from a recording medium and of executing a program retrieved from the recording medium in response to an instruction given by an operator to the machine. Particularly, the invention relates to a system which comprises of such machine and a control unit connected to the machine for controlling the machine. The control unit includes: a housing; a pair of diverging grips which are molded integral with said housing and are supportable by both palms of the operator; a plurality of finger-manipulatable controllers mounted on the housing; and a vibration motor mounted within at least one of the grips via a adapter. The vibration motor includes: a casing; a freely rotatable shaft supported by the casing; an eccentric member, mounted on the shaft, having a rotor mounted on the shaft and a plurality of coils mounted on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ogata, Toru Akazawa, Akihisa Ono
  • Patent number: 6638161
    Abstract: One or more actual hands of playing cards are verified against respective expected hands of playing cards, to determine whether the playing cards actually dealt correspond to the playing cards that should have been dealt based on a starting sequence of playing card values. The starting sequence of playing card values can be computationally pseudo-randomly generated, where playing cards will be ordered, for example by printing or sorting, according to the sequence for distribution to the player and/or dealer. The starting sequence of playing card values can be determined by reading identifiers from a number of playing cards prior to dealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: MindPlay LLC
    Inventors: Richard Soltys, Richard Huizinga
  • Patent number: 6638167
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling or displaying the progress of each player playing in an auxiliary incentive game played simultaneously with a primary casino table game. The auxiliary game allows each player to receive bonus points during the course of playing the primary game, and each player eligible to receive a prize only after accumulating a predetermined number of bonus points. A bonus point display displays the number of bonus points received by each player at the gaming table. A controller is connected to the bonus point display and has a first unit for causing the display to display an incremented number of bonus points received by each player and a second unit for causing the display to reset and display a starting number of points in response to the number of bonus points received by the associated player reaching a predetermined number of bonus points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: B.C.D. Mécanique Ltée
    Inventors: Thomas E. Sawyer, Tony A. Cranford, Réal Bérubé, Marcel Huard
  • Patent number: 6640146
    Abstract: A golf handicapping and scoring system including a portable display including a viewable screen as a first section and a key board as a second section. The first section and the second section are hingedly coupled together whereby the first section can be closed over the second section in a closed orientation and opened in a co-planar relationship in an open orientation. The first section has a linear groove formed therein disposed above the viewable screen. The portable display has an internal central processing unit. The central processing unit is programmed for performing golf-related tasks. The golf-related tasks includes tabulating a golfer's handicap and keeping shot-by-shot information for each golf hole played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel Burbidge
  • Patent number: 6634945
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming device having a plurality of reels each having a plurality of award symbols, a terminating condition, at least one award indicator and a processor connected to the reels. The processor activates the reels and randomly stops one of the reels. An award is provided to the player if an award symbol is indicated on the stopped reel. If a terminating condition occurs with respect to a reel, the reel is deactivated. If a terminating condition does not occur, the processor re-activates the reel. The gaming device continues to activate the reels until all of the reels are deactivated. The player then receives the total accumulated award for the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Glavich, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher