Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a remote control for an interactive media can include a printed publication and/or a storage media and/or a data button. One embodiment of a remote control includes a printed publication (such as a book, magazine or a catalog) and one or more buttons physically attached to the printed publication to allow users to remotely control use of associated electronic content by a host device. Another embodiment of a remote control has a housing capable of removably holding a storage media encoded with electronic content associated with a button of the remote control. Yet another embodiment of a remote control has at least one data button which permits the user to select the data to be displayed by the host device. An autostart driver in the host device detects insertion of a storage media into a peripheral and automatically starts an application. The application interprets button codes transmitted by the remote control and displays the results or initiates other events.

Abstract: The invention provides a game machine and a repeater therefor wherein, even when individual data of operation terminal equipments are to be stored, there is no necessity of re-connecting an external storage apparatus for each of the operation terminal equipments and a sufficient capacity is assured for the storage capacity which can be used for each one operation terminal equipment. The game machine includes a game machine body, a repeater, a pair of operation terminal equipments, and a pair of external storage apparatus. The repeater includes a body-connectable transmission-reception section for connecting the repeater to the game machine body, a pair of terminal equipment-connectable transmission-reception sections for connecting the operation terminal equipments to the repeater, a pair of storage apparatus-connectable transmission-reception sections for connecting the external storage apparatus to the repeater, and a control circuit.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and article of manufacture allows role-playing fantasy game referees to present and manage information related to a role-playing game world. The presentation of role playing game information is accomplished by using at least two collections of data sets. The first collection of data sets define the graphical appearance of objects representing elements of a role playing world. The second collection of data sets define data associated with elements of a role playing world including a level of detail. The method includes the steps of displaying objects associated with a first level of detail, and receiving a user-generated input signal representing a selection of a displayed object. The method also includes the step of identifying the game information data associated with the selected object. Finally the method includes the step of presenting role-playing game information based on the identified game information data.

Abstract: A game hall system having a plurality of game machines 120 each of which is equipped with a game execution section 131 for executing a game; comprising storage media 110 in each of which information items about the game are stored; the game machine 120 including a transmission/reception section 136 which transmits and receives information to and from the storage medium; the transmission/reception section 136 including a setting port 123 in which the storage medium is set, a transmitter/receiver 121 which transmits and receives by radio to and from the set storage medium, a controller 135 which controls the transmission and reception of the transmitter/receiver and controls transmission and reception to and from the execution section, and memory means 128 for storing transmitted and received information therein; the storage medium 110 including a transmitter/receiver which transmits and receives by radio to and from the game machine having the storage medium set therein, a controller 119 which controls the tra

Abstract: A player interactive live action football game which may be played for example on a television screen. A player interactive live action football game is provided which comprises a random access storage and retrieval device and a plurality of individual, pre-recorded action football plays illustrating interaction of players of opposite teams. This information is stored in random access storage and retrieval device and accessible according to type of play. The invention further comprises a microprocessor and microprocessor control device electronically associated with the random access storage and retrieval device. The microprocessor is programmed to enable one or more users to select in sequence, through the control device, different football plays according to play type. A display device is electronically associated with the microprocessor to enable the selected plays to be viewed by the users.

Abstract: Security is ensured by judging agreement with a specific indication, such as a trademark, whose identity is socially recognizable to effectively expel counterfeits from the market. A game machine in which a CD-ROM 17 is mounted on a game machine 10 to play a game based on program information stored in the CD-ROM 17 comprises a recognition sensor 22 reading a trademark indication region 20 on the exterior surface of the CD-ROM 17, and a judging unit judging whether a specific trademark TM is displayed in a trademark indication region, the game based on the program information being prevented from starting, or if started stopped when the specific trademark TM is not displayed.

Abstract: A network service system capable of providing economical services comprises a plurality of host computers connected to a network for providing services through the network and an information processing terminal connected to the network. The information processing terminal identifies a service identifier, provided in a storage medium for network service, for identifying a type of a network service when the storage medium is attached, connects the line to the host computer which corresponds to the identified service identifier and receives the network service from the line-connected host computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and recovering from call waiting interference to data communications is disclosed. In a system wherein a first party communicates with a second party via a telecommunications link, the telecommunications link may be disrupted by a third party's attempt to call the first or second party. The present invention detects such a disturbance on the telecommunications line and allows the first or second party to answer the call from the third party. The invention re-establishes communications after the call with the third party is completed.

Abstract: A system whereby a plurality of players can play a plurality of different gaming machines. The performance of the plurality of players is recorded through multiple rounds of the game and awards are provided based upon the performance of a player over multiple rounds of the game. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of gaming machines are video poker machines and the players play these machines in order to obtain the well-known winning combinations. The gaming machines provide signals to a central computer that records in files for each of the players the winning combinations received by the players and the number of rounds played by the players. The central computer also determines whether the player has received a set of winning combinations, e.g., all thirteen possible different four-of-a-kinds, within a pre-selected number of rounds.

Abstract: A video game cartridge that can be plugged into a video game machine to enable a user to request and play a video game for a predetermined number of video frames. The cartridge has a receiver for receiving the video game program and the predetermined frame count in response to a request from the user. The program and frame count is then stored in a memory of the cartridge. Finally, the cartridge has a counter which changes its value when the user is actively playing the video game program. The counter ceases to change its value when the user is not playing the video game program. When the counter reaches a predetermined limit, the user is no longer authorized to play the video game program.

Abstract: A complete multi-user game playing environment is described which provides game playing services to cable television subscribers over existing cable networks. A game player located at the end of a cable network connection has a computer or other game playing device attached to the cable network through a front end adapter card. A game playing server is located at the cable headend and is equipped with back end communications cards for full duplex communications over the cable network with a plurality of game players. A plurality of uplink frequencies are used by the servers to communicate with the game players and a pluralities of downlink frequencies are used to communicate from the game players to the server. The communications are controlled by the server to prevent communication collision on the cable network over the same frequencies by having the server control a dynamically-changing time and frequency division multiple access protocol.

Abstract: A television or video game data reception apparatus receives a data signal of television games transmitted from a base station in a wireless manner or through wire on a local station side so that the received data signal is used to play a game. The reception apparatus is provided, in addition to a game operation memory for storing a data signal of a predetermined game, a save memory for storing a predetermined state of a game, for example, at the time of termination of the game. The save memory is write protected when the save memory does not perform save operation so that for example when a game is terminated in the midway thereof, the data of the state at that termination can be saved in accordance with necessity.

Abstract: An interactive game film includes, on a video disk, data arranged in clips representing video film segments, each clip having a lead-in segment, a body segment, a loop segment, and a lead-out segment. Each clip matches at least one other, so that when the clips are played in series, the splice is seamless. The clips are displayed by a driver in response to instructions from a game control program unique to a particular game. The game control program provides an interface, in the form of visible or audible subtitles containing keywords, between a player and the driver, whereby the player can, at decision points in the game, control which film clip is displayed next.

Abstract: A video apparatus comprises both a video cassette recorder for recording or reproducing a video signal from an external source and a game signal processing part for executing a game program. A remote-controlled transmitter transmits a signal to a remote-controlled receiver. A decoder decodes the signal and a microprocessor selects either game mode or VCR mode which is output via a RF modulator to a video screen. At least one encoder and processor is provided which enables the system to process game signals and output the video signal in game mode to the video screen.

Abstract: A memory cartridge for use in a video game console includes an interface and a compact game catridge removably attachable to the interface. The compact game cartridge has a Read Only Memory in it storing at least one game program to be executed by the game console. The compact game cartridge may so include other components dedicated to the at least one game program necessary for the game console to execute the game program. The interface has electrical circuitry therein such as for example, a bank switching controller, graphics memory, a security circuit to satisfy a security system in the gaming console etc, which is not dedicated to any specific game program but which nonetheless, is necessary for the game console to execute a game program stored in a compact game cartridge.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for forming a personalized video game by combining personalized images that may be taken of the game player(s) with for example the head of a game character so as to provide a video game wherein the game player(s) can see themselves as the main character The image of the player(s) may be formed using an electronic camera which provides as an output a digital representation of the player(s). The digital image is then accessed by the game software whenever the character is to be displayed. A plurality of different poses may be accommodated along with a plurality of different characters, each optionally represented by a different person's image.

Abstract: A T.V. game system for displaying a desired picture on the screen of a raster scanning type T.V. set includes a motion picture pattern generator, a still picture pattern generator, a central processing unit for controlling the overall operation of the system under the control of the operator, and a picture processing unit for combining motion and still picture patterns to form a video signal to be supplied to the T.V. set, whereby the picture processing unit includes a motion picture attribute table memory which stores information relating to motion picture pattern for the next following frame during the horizontal blanking period and a temporary memory which stores information relating to motion picture pattern to be displayed in the next following line by accessing the motion picture attribute table memory during the scanning of current line.