Computer game with replaceable character heads

Details Computer game with replaceable character heads Computer game with replaceable character heads

1998-05-18

2001-10-23

Sager, Mark A (Department: 3713)

Amusement devices: games

Including means for processing electronic data

Perceptible output or display

C463S032000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06306036

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
This invention relates to interactive computer video games.
SUMMARY
In general, in one aspect, a computer program displays a virtual environment and a character in the virtual environment. The character includes a body and a replaceable head. Player control signals from an input device control replacement of the character's replaceable head and other character actions in the virtual environment.
Implementations may offer one or more of the following features. The computer program may attribute play characteristics to the character based on the head in place on the character at a given time. These characteristics may be thematically consistent with the displayed appearance of the head in place. These characteristics may include, for example, character movement, weaponry, special actions, health, and sound. Character actions may include jumping, fighting, and interacting with objects in the virtual environment. The character may fight enemies in the virtual environment by hitting, throwing, shooting, and initiating area attacks.
The program may allow a player to select a set of character heads for use with the character. The program may allow the player to collect heads from the virtual environment and store the collected heads for use.
The program may facilitate communication with other connected computer systems facilitating a multi-player game or an on-line internet hosted game. A player communicating with a connected system may use character heads supplied by the other system. These heads may have limited lifespans. The play characteristics of these heads may be based on real world events such as the world cup.
The virtual environment may be a three-dimensional virtual environment. The virtual environment may display a collection of themed elements. The virtual environment may offer dynamic links to other virtual environments which may also be created dynamically.
The techniques described here are not limited to any particular hardware or software configuration; they may find applicability in any computing or processing environment that may be used for playing a game. The techniques may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of the two. Preferably, the techniques are implemented in computer programs executing on programmable computers that each include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. Program code is applied to data entered using the input device to perform the functions described and to generate output information. The output information is applied to one or more output devices.
Each program is preferably implemented in a high level procedural or object oriented programming language to communicate with a computer system. However, the programs can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language.
Each such program is preferably stored on a storage medium or device (e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk or magnetic diskette) that is readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer for configuring and operating the computer when the storage medium or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described in this document. The system may also be considered to be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific and predefined manner.
Advantages include one or more of the following. The computer program described can provide amusement as players strive to amass collections of strange and different heads from the virtual environment.


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Gauntlet Game Rulebook by Mindscape, Inc., 6 pages, 1987.*
Computer Games Strategy Plus, Issue 82, Review of “Norse by Norsewest”, p. 124, Sep. 1997.*
“Norse by Norsewest” Game Review by Joe Hutsko on the World Wideweb at GameSpot, Topic Puzzle, 2 pages, May 1997.*
“Norse by Norsewest” Game Review by Kelly Rickards on the World Wide Web at GameSpot, Topic Puzzle, 2 pages, Jul. 1997.

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