Abstract: A game programming system uses rewritable cartridges that are compatible with commercially available game systems to produce game cartridges at a point-of-sale location so that retailers only need to stock sufficient uniquely designed game blanks to meet consumer demand. A game programmer or programming device loads digital content from computer storage to a rewritable game cartridge incorporating reprogrammable flash memory. The system includes flash rewritable cartridge identification hardware that allows verification of the cartridge to identify it as proprietary to a particular manufacturer or authorized dealer. The system provides for game content to be erased from the cartridge and new game content to be programmed so that the cartridge can be reused time after time to house any number of programs. During a cartridge write operation, a game programmer interface accepts data stored in a personal computer (PC) and fills first in first out (FIFO) memory.

Abstract: A game manufacturing process includes the steps of a customer's game selection being used to initiate the manufacturing process by scanning a bar code from an empty cartridge box to a selection slip. An appropriate cartridge is identified and erased. The manufacturing system then writes the game cartridge with the content data from a game storage computer and sends information to a printer for producing identification and instructional inserts for the game. The game computer has stored therein the game contents for all of the games. After a game-to-be-"burned" indicia is provided to the game storage computer, and a cartridge is installed, the sequence of loading the game and additional identifying information into a flash RAM contained in the cartridge is commenced.