Abstract: A memory of a video game apparatus stores durability data and discipline degree data of weapon items and armor items possessed by a player character. When the player character makes an attack using an equipped weapon item in response to an operation inputted by a player, the durability of the corresponding weapon item is reduced. On the other hand, when the player character receives a damage greater than a preset magnitude due to an attack from an enemy character, the durability of an equipped armor item is reduced. When the durability of the weapon or armor item becomes “0”, the weapon or armor item is changed to a preset different item according to the discipline degree of the former item at that time. Instead of the discipline data, change probability may be used for determining a new item which replaces the former item.

Abstract: A game which two or more players can play, such as cards and mahjong, is played by connecting a home TV game machine with portable game machines having displays, where images for a common field are displayed on the TV, and private hands of a player, which should be concealed from the other players, are displayed only on a display of the player's local machine so that strategies an actual game is enjoyed. A plurality of portable game machines with displays are connected via a cartridge to a home TV game machine to which a ROM cassette is inserted for playing a game. The cartridge of which one end is inserted to the portable game machine for connection has a connection terminal on the other end, and the connection terminal and a controller connection terminal of the home TV game machine are connected with a communication cable.

Abstract: A game system utilizes a first game machine and a second game machine. The backup data obtained through playing a first game on the first game machine is memorized in a first game cartridge. The first game cartridge is attached to an extension adapter, and the extension adapter is in turn mounted on a controller for the second game machine. Accordingly, the backup data of the first game machine is taken into the second game machine. The second game machine is attached with a second game cartridge. The second machine executes a second game by processing the backup data according to a second game program set up in the second game cartridge.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes an external ROM. This external ROM is previously memorized with player object data, basic shadow object data and light object data. A direction in which a shadow is thrown is determined according to the player object data and the light object data, to thereby determine a length of each leg of the player object. Based on the length of the leg and the height of the light, a length of the shadow is determined. Based on the height of each leg, a depth of the shadow is determined. A shape of a displaying shadow object is determined from a state of a ground object to which the shadow is thrown.

Abstract: The present invention comprises at least a serial data interface unit, a data buffer unit, a data processing unit, and a serial/parallel data interface unit. It is designed for compressing and transferring recorded data signals stored in the memory card employed by various game players currently available in the market; and acting as a data-transfer device for compressing and transferring data signals and for transmitting control signals between the specific game player and the non-specific memory card.

Abstract: A coprocessor system is disclosed in which a CPU in a game machine body and a CPU in a game cartridge are formed by CPU cores having the same architecture and memory mapping functions. The cycle time of a second CPU, for example the CPU in the game cartridge, is shorter than the cycle time of the first CPU, for example the CPU in the game machine body. The first CPU accesses memory during a first time period that is longer than the program memory access time but shorter than the first CPU cycle time. The second CPU accesses the program memory during a second time period, which is the time difference between the end of the first time period and the end of the first CPU's cycle time. The second CPU may also access the program memory during the first time period if no first CPU memory access is pending. Since the first CPU's memory access during the first time period has priority over the second CPU's, the first CPU never waits to access shared memory.

Abstract: A data compression device includes a data compression circuit for compressing data being transferred between a TV game player and a memory card, and for decompressing data sent from the memory card to the game player. The device is arranged to be inserted into the card receptacle of the TV game player, and includes an opening for receiving the memory card, thereby serving as an adapter between the game player and the memory card.

Abstract: LED arrays where a plurality of LEDs are vertically arranged are lit up in luminance corresponding to tone values on digital image data. Light beams in line emitted from the LED arrays are scanned in a horizontal direction to display a two-dimensional image. Clocks A, B, C are selectively gated according to the tone values D0, D1 on the digital image data to generate a drive pulse for driving each of the LEDs on the LED arrays. Each LED thus emits light in luminance corresponding to the tone value on the digital image data. Pulse widths of the clocks A, B, C are changed by one screen. Luminance of each light emitting element corresponding to the tone data on the digital image data is thus changed to increase the substantially representable number of tones.

Abstract: An electronic bingo device for use in dispensing bingo cards and tracking the cards for bingo during play. The apparatus is equipped with a conventional computer hardware platform and software tailored to track a bingo game by use of a game key with memory for storing data representative of a set of bingo game data including winning patterns and wild cards used during each game. In addition, a player's allocation of bingo cards are stored on the game key. Bingo cards stored in the device corresponding to the number allocated are used for game play. As the player enters the numbers are called out in the bingo hall. The device monitors each card for bingo.

Abstract: A system for exchanging digital data among a plurality of hand-held computer devices. Digital signals are written by a first hand-held device to a mini-cartridge that mini-cartridge is inter-operable among a class of hand-held devices, each of which is equipped with a mini-disk drive. A common digital data format is employed to further facilitate exchange of data between devices.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing, and a flange portion which is formed by extending one main surface of the housing in a direction that a first circuit board is inserted. An adapter includes a casing having an insertion port into which a cartridge for first game machine can be inserted, and having a shape capable of being inserted into an insertion port of a second game machine. An adapter circuit board is contained in the casing, and includes a data conversion circuit which converts first game machine data stored in the cartridge for first game machine into data capable of being utilized in the second game machine.

Abstract: A hand held electronic book is adapted to receive any number of replaceable cartridges. Each cartridge holds an alternate text and requires a separate set of functions. A predetermined set of function keys on the keyboard of the electronic book at predetermined positions are color coded. Each cartridge of a set of replaceable cartridges has the same number of similarly positioned and similarly color coded key-like designations. These designations provide an indication of the new function that the corresponding key on the keyboard has when the book accesses the cartridge involved. Thus color and position are the codes used to select the function indicated on the cartridge to the key on the keyboard that performs the function.

Abstract: A video entertainment system adapter unit is provided for use on a video entertainment system, such as video game machines, to increase the processing power and complexity of the video images. The adapter unit includes at least a computer for generating image data and a video display processor for controlling display images from the image data generated. An interface is provided for connecting the adapter computer with the video entertainment computer, while a priority circuit permits comparing the priority of a display image from the video entertainment system with the priority of a display image from the adapter on a pixel basis, and an image selection circuit can select from the respective display images in accordance with the priority to provide a corresponding video display.

Abstract: A video game enhancement system for modifying and enhancing the operation of a video game is disclosed. The system includes: 1) a processor interface for coupling the video game enhancement system with a processor; 2) a memory interface for coupling the video game enhancement system with a first memory having executable game logic residing therein; 3) a second memory having executable enhancement logic residing therein; and 4) control logic including: a) logic for detecting an access to a patch address by the processor; b) logic for directing the processor to access an exception region in the second memory upon detection of the access to the patch address, the access to the exception region causing activation of an exception mode; and c) redirection logic for redirecting memory accesses by the processor from the first memory to the second memory for a plurality of memory accesses upon activation of the exception mode, the processor thereby executing a portion of the executable enhancement logic.

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 game signal conversion apparatus includes a CPU which generates image data representing a plurality of kinds of gradations or color tones similar to gradations or color tones utilized in display game characters in a first game machine on the basis of image display data stored in a ROM contained in a cartridge for first game machine. The image data processed by the CPU is transferred to a second game machine in a manner that the image data is in conformity with a format and a timing for controlling display in the second game machine. Furthermore, commands by which necessary data are inputted in converting various kinds of data for the first game machine into various kinds of data for the second game machine are represented by illustrations or symbols (command characters), so that the necessary data can be inputted through selection of the symbols.

Abstract: An interfacing device for connecting the processing unit of a computer games system to an external data storage medium has a user-operable selection unit for generating a user-selected address and user-selected data. The user-operable selection unit may comprise user-operable switches or electronic latches that are set by a program in response to selections made by the user by means of a joystick, keypad or any other input device. An address comparison unit compares the user-selected address with the addresses from the processing unit, and a data switching device causes the user-selected data to be substituted for data in the storage medium whenever the compared addresses are the same. Instead of a user-operable selection unit, preselected addresses and preselected data may be stored in a ROM, which in one embodiment changes the way the computer interprets external memory and in another changes the computer's internal memory itself.