Abstract: The exemplary embodiments described herein relate to systems and/or methods for competitive simulations and, more particularly, to systems and/or methods in which users build stock portfolios that compete against each other, with the performance of each user's stock portfolio being based on one or more stock market related metrics (e.g., price per share, market capitalization, volume of trade, etc.). A user's portfolio may be formed and/or reformed so as to comply with certain predefined criteria (e.g., company traded on a particular exchange, company belonging to a particular market sector, etc.). The performance of each team/portfolio may be depicted using sports-related imagery (e.g., as teams on a football field, a basketball court, around a baseball diamond, etc.).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for operating a league using at least one fantasy server system includes the following. Fantasy player information including performance history of one or more real-world athletes selected as fantasy players is provided. The fantasy player information is updated in real-time based on fantasy player performance information from a real-world performance. At least one substitution factor is provided. A real-time injury information is received. A real-time fantasy player substitution is determined based on the real-time injury report and the at least one substitution factor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for simulating United States football and other sports that are held on a playing field. The user stands in an area that at least approximates an actual playing field, and an apparatus incorporated into a football helmet or other headgear worn by the user superimposes simulation images onto the field of view of the user, creating an illusion of simulated action taking place on the actual field where the user is standing. This makes the information and skills conveyed by the simulation directly relevant and immediately useful. Preferred embodiments track the location and orientation of the user and thereby allow the user to participate in the simulation. In another aspect, essentially the same apparatus and method are used to simulate driving or flying of vehicles without the need of an expensive mockup of the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A virtual world environment unit, and related methods, operable to simulate an actual live event in substantially real-time is disclosed. Also disclosed is an interactive media system configured to present a substantially real-time simulation of an actual live event involving a moveable object in an arena.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, receives a request for game play, and in response to the request, causing prior game play data to be retrieved, where the prior game play data was stored in response to prior game play of another user. Further, an asynchronous game play environment may be provided where an active participant, who made the request, is able to play against and interact with an apparently live participant based on the prior game play data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing up-to-date statistical information about fantasy sports players is disclosed herein. The volume and type of transactions made by a plurality of users regarding the fantasy sports players are used to generate at least one statistical value for respective players. The statistical values for respective players are provided in an online interface, providing ease of viewing of transaction activity regarding the players and/or facilitating a user's next transactions relative to the transaction activity of the plurality of users.

Abstract: Provided is a game device capable of allowing a user to designate a position within a region of a game space which is not being displayed on a game screen. If it is judged that a screen coordinate value according to a user's operation is within the game screen showing a state of a first region within the game space, a position-in-first-region acquisition unit (83a) acquires a position within the first region corresponding to the screen coordinate value. If it is judged that the screen coordinate value is not within the game screen, a second display control unit (86b) causes an image showing a state of a second region within the game space to be displayed on a part of the game screen based on a positional relationship between the screen coordinate value and the game screen for at least a predetermined time.

Abstract: Provided is a game machine allowing a game player to give an instruction to perform predetermined game processing to the game machine and an instruction of the condition of when the predetermined game processing is started. The game machine performs game processing at given time intervals, updates one or more game-related parameters, and causes the update to be reflected on a game screen. A storage unit (50) stores a parameter condition representing the condition of parameters in correspondence with each of a plurality of items of operation information indicating details of an operation for making the game machine execute given game processing. A judging unit (56) judges whether or not the one or more parameters satisfy the parameter condition corresponding to operation information indicating details of a game player's operation. A game processing executing unit (58) starts executing the given game processing in accordance with a judgment made by the judging unit (56).

Abstract: Methods for emulating rotating physical reels on a display screen are disclosed. Graphics for “static” reel symbols are intentionally blurred for those reel symbols “in motion.” Gaming machines include an exterior housing, master gaming controller, display device and virtual reels. Virtual reels include reel stops, static reel symbols and corresponding dynamic blurred reel symbols. A blurred reel symbol generator provides corresponding blurred reel symbols for existing static reel symbols, and can be located at a remote host and/or within the gaming machine. A remote host can provide downloadable virtual reel strips, reel symbols and blurred reel symbols to gaming machines. The blurred reel symbol generator can accept manually entered blurred reel symbol images, and/or can also generate blurred reel symbol images itself in automated fashion. Blurred reel symbols can be generated on the fly at runtime, or can be taken from a stored location.

Abstract: A game machine on which a user allows a plurality of player characters of an operation subject team to perform linkage play. A linkage partner selecting unit selects a linkage partner player character from among fellow player characters. A type of linkage play selecting unit selects a type of linkage play. A linkage partner control unit controls the position of a linkage partner player character based on a selected type of linkage play. If a linkage partner player character is not selected, a pass execution unit makes an operation subject player character execute a pass in a direction based on the content of a pass instruction operation according to the pass instruction by the user. If a linkage partner player character is selected, the pass execution unit makes the operation subject player character execute a pass to a linkage partner player character based on the user's pass instruction operation.

Abstract: An interactive computer system and method for simulating a user's avatar behavior is provided. In an embodiment, a computer program product includes a simulator configured to simulate a user interactive with a computer program. The simulator includes a learning mode of operation and a simulation mode of operation. During the learning mode, the simulator monitors the user's interaction with the computer program for one or more events, and analyzes one or more current circumstances during the occurrence of one or more events. The simulator records one or more user inputs in response to the occurrence of the one or more events, stores the one or more user inputs in one or more data fields, and associates the one or more data fields with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances.

Abstract: A method of rewarding a game player of a game can target particular types of offers to a player. A usage profile is determined for the player, which can be based on interaction between the player and items or goals in a game. Player information is identified, such as player statistics or categorization of the player. A category is selected for the player, based on the usage profile and the player information for the player. An offer is then selected from a group of offers, wherein the offer is for a real world object, service or event.

Abstract: A touch panel 13 is mounted on a second LCD 12. If the player touch-operates the touch panel 13 so as to touch on an offense button OB, the symbolized representation of any offense athlete among a plurality of player objects composing the player's team becomes relatively large. Thus, in a game where the action or settings of a game object image is changed by touch-operating the game object image, the image of a game object that is highly frequently operated in situations similar to the current situation is enlarged, thereby facilitating touch-operation.

Abstract: In this program, a regulation command for controlling the movement of a first character is recognized by a control unit. After the regulation command for the first character is recognized by the control unit, a movement command for operating a second character is recognized by the control unit. Then, the state that the second character is moving based on the movement command is displayed on an image displaying unit using image data. The first character with movement controlled based on the regulation command is displayed on the image displaying unit using image data. And, if the receiving of commands related to movements for the first character and the second character is terminated by the control unit, a process for changing the ability data of the first character is executed by the control unit.

Abstract: A system comprising a processor and computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to solicit at least one selection of at least one coach. A system comprising a communications module to solicit at least one selection of at least one coach, and a processor module to determine a coach's score based on at least one action of at least one member of a team. A method comprising using a processor to perform at least a portion of one or more of the following: soliciting at least one selection of at least one coach, monitoring at least one action of at least one member of a team, and determining a coach's score based on the at least one action.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a multi-player wireless video-game session is disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless device is configured to establish a wireless ad-hoc connection with another wireless device capable of serving a video game over the ad-hoc network. The wireless device is capable of communicating with the ad-hoc connection through other networks such that a video-game player in one region may move between geographic regions without loss of game play and/or may join other video games associated with other networks. In one embodiment, in response to the user joining the video game, a selection of characters along with personalities and behaviors based on attributes supplied by the user is presented to the user for selection thereof. In another embodiment, the user may transfer a selected personality to another character associated with the video game, such as a computer operated video-game character.

Abstract: A switching section switches an operation subject of a user among a plurality of game characters. A first control section causes the game character that is set as the operation subject of the user among the plurality of game characters to behave based on a direction acquired based on an operation state of a first operation member. A second control section causes the game character that is not set as the operation subject of the user among the plurality of game characters to behave based on an operation of a computer. A selection section selects any one of the game characters controlled by the second control section based on a direction acquired based on an operation state of a second operation member. The switching section switches the operation subject of the user to the game character selected by the selection section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a game apparatus, a game progressing method, and a recording medium that remove dissatisfaction of a player generated when an operation is not reflected on a progressing result of a game in spite of the operation being made at an appropriate timing and enhance entertaining potentialities. If an operation instruction on a player character is received from a player, a time period that has elapsed since a previous state has changed to a current state is measured. When the elapsed time is within a predetermined time, allowable actions in the current state and the previous state are inquired. When the elapsed time is not within the predetermined time, allowable actions in the current state are inquire. Based on an inquiry result, it is determined whether the operation instruction from the player is an allowable action.

Abstract: A system and method for playing fantasy sports that replicates league competition for an individual user by competing in a simulated league against a plurality of system-generated teams, followed by competing in an elimination round and a plurality of tournament rounds against other users. The user can field more than one team, but each team competes in a different system-generated simulated league. The user selectively drafts a roster based on real players in a sport and the system randomly generates a plurality of rosters to complete a league schedule congruent with the sport season. At the conclusion of the schedule, at least a designated percentage of users having the best win record compete in a pool against each other in an elimination round. A plurality of top scoring users in the elimination round win a berth in a championship tournament using single elimination rounds to determine a champion.

Abstract: A method in a video gaming system including a processor, a memory and a sensor system for capturing body motion is described. In one embodiment, the body motion can be associated with a person pretending to hit or launch an object, such as an object used in a sporting activity. In general, body motion can be associated with any activity involving similar body motions that are repeated during the activity. In a video game generated by the video gaming system, a consistency with which the repeated body motions are made over time can be used to determine an outcome for a single instance of the body motion. In a particular embodiment, a probability of a more desirable outcome resulting from the single instance of the body motion can increase as the consistency with which the repeated body motions are made increases.

Abstract: A game device calculates a shift angle A based on a magnitude of a velocity vector S of a moving object MO and inclination information that indicates an inclination of a controller, calculates a direction D of the moving object on a slope based on a direction of the velocity vector S of the moving object and the shift angle A, calculates a first force vector P1 in the direction intersecting at right angles on the slope with the direction D of the moving object on the slope based on the inclination information, calculates a second force vector P2 based on a slope angle of the slope, calculates a resultant force vector PS by combining the first force vector P1 and the second force vector P2, updates the velocity vector S of the moving object based on the resultant force vector PS, and updates a position of the moving object MO based on the updated velocity vector.

Abstract: Systems and methods of simulated objects and applications thereof are disclosed here. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of simulating a virtual sports game played by a real participant in a real world environment. One embodiment includes generating a simulated playing field that represents a physical location in the real world environment and is provided for access via a device. The simulated playing field can include characteristics that correspond to physical characteristics of the physical location where the real participant is located. One embodiment further includes, identifying a user requested action to be performed on a simulated object in the simulated playing field by detecting user interaction with the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and program product for creating a custom tutorial comprising the controller inputs associated with the controller manipulations that cause an action observed by a player during game play. Controller inputs are saved during game play. In response to a first player performing an action to create a tutorial, controller inputs from a tagged player are captured. A custom tutorial is created for performing game actions performed by the tagged player's avatar comprising the captured controller inputs. The tutorial is sent to a memory device accessible by the first player.

Abstract: A video gaming system and related network interfaces with an online fantasy sports game. The video game play is enhanced using various features of a fantasy sports game. Similarly, the fantasy sports game can be enhanced using various features of the video game play. In one aspect of the invention the video game system acquires a team roster of the fantasy sport game and the team roster is used to define the sports video game team. The sports video game also acquires sports video game parameters that are associated with real-life attributes of video game team members that are associated with the real-life team members. The video game play changes frequently over a sports season due to the changing video game parameters and fantasy sports settings being used to define video game play.

Abstract: A method is provided for playing a fantasy sport, where the fantasy sport corresponds to an actual sport in which players have specified positions. Fantasy team rosters are built by selecting names of players so that the roster has a predetermined number of players at each position; these selections are made without other restrictions. Fantasy team scores correspond to actual performance of the players on that team's roster. The players are ranked in accordance with the point value corresponding to actual performance of each player. The highest-ranking player at each position is identified (over a week's games and/or a season's games or playoffs). If any fantasy team is determined to have the highest-ranking players at all of the positions, that fantasy team is characterized as a perfect fantasy team, and a bonus prize may be awarded to that perfect fantasy team.

Abstract: A gaming device includes a release pattern prediction section which determines a prediction release pattern for the release pattern of the flying object to be released by the first personified character by selecting one of the plurality of release patterns stored in the release pattern storing section based on a selecting operation by a user operating the second personified character; and a difficulty adjustment section, which compares the release pattern determined with the prediction release pattern, and reduces the difficulty for the second character to hit back the flying object released by the first character when the release pattern determined and the prediction release pattern match.

Abstract: A final result determining section determines a final result of a related match which is carried out in parallel with at least a part of a main match in which a target instructed by a game player participates. A main match performing section carries out the main match. An interim result output control section causes an output section to output an interim result of the related match in a case where the main match is being carried out. An interim result determining section determines the interim result of the related match to be output in the case where the main match is being carried out, based on an interim result of the main match and the final result of the related match.

Abstract: A method provides a fantasy sport contest having rules wherein a plurality of participants are permitted to populate respective fantasy rosters with actual athletes for purposes of competing with each other based on corresponding real-life field-of-play performances of the actual athletes. The method includes restricting a population of each of a first and second fantasy roster for respective first and second participants to actual athletes who are teammates on respective first and second real-life team, and measuring corresponding real-life field of play performance of the actual athletes on the first and second fantasy rosters. A ranking is established as between the first participant and the second participant based on the respective performance measurements, and is further displayed. The first real-life team and the second real-life team may be the same real-life team, or different real-life teams.

Abstract: A server including a storage unit for storing a history of activities that each character in a virtual world has performed; a search unit for searching the storage unit to retrieve a history of activities in which a first character that performs an activity on a first client has changed the states of a second client that performs an activity on a second client; a calculation unit for calculating, on the basis of the retrieved history, a score indicating the extent to which the first character has changed the state of the second character; and a transmission control unit for controlling the frequency with which the states of the first character are changed according to an operation performed by a user on the first client.

Abstract: To provide a game machine for providing a sport game to be played between an operation target team and an opponent team, which allows a game player to relatively readily find out the position of a teammate player object. A position announcing sound data storage unit (72) stores position announcing sound data in association with a relative position condition concerning the relative position of the teammate player object relative to the position and reference direction of the operation target player object. A relative position determination unit (76) determines whether or not the relative position of the teammate player object selected by the position announcement target selection unit (74), relative to the position and reference direction of the operation target player object, satisfies the relative position condition associated with the position announcing sound data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information.

Abstract: A game device capable of realizing a user interface which allows a user to instruct a mobile character to stay within a predetermined region in a case where a movement target position for the mobile character is set outside the predetermined region while preventing the mobile character from exhibiting an unnatural action at a time of changing a moving direction is provided. In the game device, a mobile character which has arrived at a region whose distance from an intersection is equal to or less than a first reference distance is caused to move in parallel with a direction from the intersection towards another intersection, and a mobile character which has arrived at a region whose distance from the intersection is equal to or less than a second reference distance is caused to move toward a movement target position.

Abstract: A game device executes a sport game. When a second team keeps the moving object, a first control unit controls the position of a player character belonging to a first team, based on both of either the position of a player character keeping the moving object or the position of the moving object, and the position of a predetermined area correlated to a first team, and a second control unit controls the position of the player character belonging to the first team, based on only one of either the position of the player character keeping the moving object or the position of the moving object, and the position of the predetermined area. In the case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, a control switching unit causes the second control unit to carry out the above-described control, instead of the first control unit.

Abstract: A fantasy server system operates a fantasy league including at least one fantasy player whereby one or more fantasy client devices participate in the fantasy league. In operation, the fantasy server system manages fantasy player information of a fantasy player and sponsorship information of the fantasy player on at least one of an individual basis and a team basis. The fantasy server system additionally associates a portion or an entirety of the sponsorship information of the fantasy player to a portion or an entirety of fantasy player information of the fantasy player when presenting both types of information to fantasy client device(s). The association can be feed formatted content and/or a subfeed formatted content.

Abstract: A simulated eye is capable of being changed between a normal state and a dilated state. The simulated eye includes a circuit board, a controller electrically connected to the circuit board, a simulated iris electrically connected to the circuit board, and a simulated pupil. When the simulated iris is irradiated with light, the size of the colored area of the simulated iris is changeable by operationally powering on and powered off the simulated iris via the controller, whereby the simulated eye is changed between the normal state and the dilated state.

Abstract: A valuation system determines in real-time values of plays occurring during games by identifying a play that occurred during a game. The system determines an expectation of scoring prior to the play occurring, and an expectation of scoring that results from the play occurring. The system then calculates a value of the play as the difference between the expectation of scoring that results from the play occurring and the expectation of scoring that existed prior to the play occurring, and any scoring generated by the play.

Abstract: A fantasy league model comprises at least one competitive affiliation having a plurality of affiliation members, at least one historical competitive season associated with the at least one competitive affiliation, the at least one historic competitive season formed from a plurality of individual competitions between affiliation members. The model further includes a plurality of rosters, each one of the rosters associated with one of the affiliation members in one of the historic competitive seasons, a plurality of competitors forming the plurality of rosters of one of the historic competitive seasons, and a plurality of statistical sets, each one of the statistical sets associated with a competitor identified on one of the rosters from at least one of the historic competitive seasons. Each one of the statistical sets is formed by the actual performance of one of the competitors from the individual competitions between affiliation members for the historical competitive season selected.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for the virtual and interactive practicing of soccer, complementing the joysticks comprising a pair of control units, comprising an attachment system joining one of the control units to a balloon in which the player can stamp his foot and a connection system interlinking the two control units over a distance that can be greater than the length of their connecting lead.

Abstract: A batter control unit controls a batter to start a preparation swing at the timing at which an input of a first operation information is detected by an operation determination unit after a pitching movement is started, and controls the batter to start a batting swing at the timing at which an input of a second operation information is detected by the operation determination unit. A ball control unit changes the movement result of a ball by batting, according to the period from the starting timing of the pitching movement until the starting timing of the preparation swing, and the starting timing of the batting swing.

Abstract: A fantasy sports game provides for a league of fantasy teams, each managed and owned by a fantasy game player. Teams are filled through a player draft of active players followed by ranking each drafted fantasy team utilizing current season player statistics in multiple predefined categories. The rankings in the various categories are totaled to determine team, and thus fantasy game player, rankings. The player statistics utilized are current as of the previous night during regular season play, and as of the end of the season between seasons of play. The draft may be an online web application or utilize live video conferencing.

Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine configured to output video data that simulates mechanical reels in a traditional mechanical slot machine. Embodiments described herein contribute to the emulation of a mechanical machine by simulating one or more visible mechanical imperfections commonly found in a mechanical reel machine.

Abstract: An online system for simulating a basketball game comprising a server with a processor, a network in communication with the server, at least one client device in communication with the network, wherein the at least one client device has an input device, a display device, and a monetary acceptance feature, and a database in communication with the processor. The database comprises electronic decks of passing, rebound, foul shot, and playing cards, and computer instructions for instructing the processor to permit input of bets, deal cards, designate offense and defense players, permit selection of cards by the players, display cards, determine a game outcome based on the selected cards, and award winnings based on the bet and the game outcome.

Abstract: A video card gaming system for simulating a football game comprising a processor. At least one input device, display device, monetary acceptance feature, and database are in communication with the processor. The database comprises an electronic deck of playing cards comprising offensive play cards and defensive play cards, and an electronic deck of special teams cards. Computer instructions in the database instruct the processor to permit input of primary and secondary bets, electronically deal cards from the electronic decks, designate offense and defense players, permit selection of cards by players, determine game outcomes based on the selected cards, and award winnings based on bets and game outcomes.

Abstract: Provided is a game machine capable of desirably demonstrating an “extent of field-of-view” of a player in a sports game. A field-of-view area setting unit (64) sets, based on a location and orientation of an operational target player character, a field-of-view area of the operational target player character. A pass-partner-search-area setting area (74) sets a pass-partner search area, based on the location of the operational target player character and a direction specified by a pass-direction instructing operation.

Abstract: A game device is provided that can reduce the size of the device and can execute the simulation of a match game scene based on an operation input by a game player. The game device includes a field panel imitating a field of a sporting event, card holding stages that are arranged in the locations indicating the positions of players in the sporting event on the field panel, and holding card in a raised state, a card information reading means for reading card information recorded on the cards held by the card holding stages, and a game execution control means for controlling the execution of a game.

Abstract: An online gaming system for simulating a football game comprising a server with a processor, a network in communication with the server, at least one client device in communication with the network, wherein the at least one client device has an input device, a display device, and a monetary acceptance feature, and a database in communication with the processor. The database comprises an electronic deck of playing cards comprising offensive play cards and defensive play cards and an electronic deck of special teams cards. Computer instructions in the database instruct the processor to permit input of bets, electronically deal cards from the electronic decks, designate offense and defense players, permit selection of cards by players, determine game outcomes based on the selected cards, and award winnings based on bets and game outcomes.

Abstract: A video game player can control the movement of a moving object in a video game during a moving object dispatch operation by a character, thereby allowing the video game player to experience nervousness and a sense of realism when causing the character to dispatch the moving object. This video game program includes a first request receiving function, a operation display function, a second request receiving function, a moving object control function, and a moving object display function. In the video game implemented with this program, a dispatch request for dispatching the moving object is received from the controller in the second request receiving function when the dispatch operation of the character is displayed on the monitor. According to the timing at which the second request receiving function received the dispatch request, the movement of the moving object is controlled in the moving object control function.

Abstract: A method of training a baseball pitcher comprising the steps of providing a data processor, providing data capture devices which function to capture pitching data relating to the pitcher's pitching motion at a first location and which function to capture ball arrival data relating to the arrival of the pitched ball at a second location. The method further comprises providing a database storage device for storing predetermined pitching data and inputting personal data into said data processor. The method also includes capturing pitching data by said data capture devices relating to said pitcher's pitching motion at the first location, capturing ball arrival data by said data capture devices as the ball arrives at the second location, and inputting said pitching data, ball arrival data and predetermined pitching data into said data processor. The pitching data, ball arrival data and predetermined pitching data are processed in the data processor to generate output data.

Abstract: An interactive media system configured to present a substantially real-time simulation of an actual live event involving a moveable object in an arena, the system comprising: a tag attachable to a moveable object involved in an actual live event in an arena; one or more base stations located relative to the arena and operable to receive a signal from the tag; a location platform configured to determine the location of the tag in the arena based on the signal received from the tag by the or each base station, and to output location data representing a location of the tag in the arena; a virtual world environment unit to simulate the actual live event including the arena, the object, and movement of the object in the arena using the location data for the tag; and an access interface in communication with the virtual world environment unit, the access interface being arranged to provide a user with access to the simulated arena and to permit the user to observe the simulated event in substantially real-time.

Abstract: To provide a game device capable of realizing a user interface that makes it easier for a player to realize a reference trajectory to input and a time to begin inputting of the reference trajectory. A display unit (74) displays a game screen including a moving image and a trajectory image for indicating a reference trajectory. The moving image moves from a given initial position to the start point of the reference trajectory. In the case where the moving image reaches the start point of the reference trajectory, the moving image moves along the reference trajectory. A determination unit (78) determines whether or not the position designated by a player is located within an area based on the position of the moving image during a period when the moving image is moving along the reference trajectory. A game process is carried out based on a result of determination.