Portable game machine having image capture, manipulation and incorporation

A portable game machine comprising:

• a removably attached external cartridge comprising a memory for storing a game, a captured image memory for storing a captured image and an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• a user interface enabling a user to capture an image and to provide inputs to the portable game machine;
• and
• a processor operable to associate, using said user interface, effect linking information with a captured image, said effect linking information comprising an address corresponding to another memory location of the external cartridge.

A removably attachable external cartridge for a portable game machine having a user interface for providing inputs to said external cartridge when said external cartridge is removably attached to said portable game machine, said removably attachable external cartridge comprising:

• a memory for storing a game;
• a captured image memory for storing a captured image;
• an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• and
• a processor operable to associate, using said user interface, effect linking information with a captured image, said effect linking information comprising an address corresponding to another memory location of the external cartridge.

A method of operating a portable game machine having a removably attached external storage cartridge including an image capturing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• capturing at least one image to be used during execution of a game stored in a memory of said external storage cartridge;
• storing said at least one captured image in a memory;
• retrieving said at least one captured image from said memory;
• and
• incorporating said at least one captured image into a game being executed by said portable game machine based on a condition of the game during execution.

A method of operating a portable game machine having a removably attached external storage cartridge including an image capturing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing at least one of a plurality of captured images and a plurality of predefined images in a memory of said external cartridge;
• retrieving said plurality of captured images, and when no captured images are stored, retrieving said plurality of predefined images;
• and
• incorporating said retrieved images into a game being executed by said portable game machine based on a condition of the game during execution.

A portable game machine comprising:

• a removably attached external cartridge comprising a memory for storing a game, a captured image memory for storing captured images, a predefined image memory for storing predefined images and an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• a user interface enabling a user to capture an image and to provide inputs to the portable game machine;
• and
• a processor operable to incorporate images retrieved from either the captured image memory or the predefined image memory into a game being executed by said portable game machine based on a condition of the game during execution.

A removably attachable external cartridge for a portable game machine having a user interface for providing inputs to said external cartridge when said external cartridge is removably attached to said portable game machine, said removably attachable external cartridge comprising:

• a memory for storing a game;
• a captured image memory for storing captured images;
• a predefined image memory for storing predefined images;
• an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• and
• a processor operable to incorporate images retrieved from either the captured image memory or the predefined image memory into a game being executed by said portable game machine based on a condition of the game during execution.

A method of operating a portable game machine having a removably attached external storage cartridge including an image capturing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• capturing a plurality of images using the image capturing apparatus of said external cartridge;
• storing the plurality of captured images at different addresses in a captured image memory of said external cartridge;
• storing a plurality of predefined images at different addresses in a predefined image memory of said external cartridge;
• and
• defining an order of displaying selected images from at least one of the captured image memory and the predefined image memory.

A portable game machine comprising:

• a removably attached external cartridge comprising a memory for storing a game, a captured image memory for storing captured images, a predefined image memory for storing predefined images and an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• a user interface enabling a user to capture an image and to provide inputs to the portable game machine;
• and
• a processor operable to define an order of displaying selected images from at least one of the captured image memory and the predefined image memory.

A removably attachable external cartridge for a portable game machine having a user interface for providing inputs to said external cartridge when said external cartridge is removably attached to said portable game machine, said removably attachable external cartridge comprising:

• a captured image memory for storing captured images;
• a predefined image memory for storing predefined images;
• an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• and
• a processor operable to define an order of displaying selected images from at least one of the captured image memory and the predefined image memory.

A method of operating a portable game machine having a removably attached external storage cartridge including an image capturing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• capturing a plurality of images using said image capturing apparatus, said plurality of images to be arranged to form a larger composite image;
• storing said plurality of captured images defining said composite image in a captured image memory of said external cartridge;
• and
• outputting said composite image in a manner wherein said composite image appears to be a single image.

A portable game machine comprising:

• a removably attached external cartridge comprising a memory for storing a game, a captured image memory for storing captured images and an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• a user interface enabling a user to capture an image and to provide inputs to the portable game machine;
• and
• a processor operable to capture a plurality of images using said image capturing apparatus, said plurality of images to be arranged to form a larger composite image;
• and
• an output circuit for outputting said composite image in a manner wherein said composite image appears to be a single image.

A removably attachable external cartridge for a portable game machine having a user interface for providing inputs to said external cartridge when said external cartridge is removably attached to said portable game machine, said removably attachable external cartridge comprising:

• a captured image memory for storing captured images;
• an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• and
• a processor operable to capture a plurality of images using said image capturing apparatus, said plurality of images to be arranged to form a larger composite image;
• and
• an output circuit for outputting said composite image in a manner wherein said composite image appears to be a single image.

A method of operating a portable game machine having a removably attached external storage cartridge including an image capturing apparatus said method comprising the steps of:

• capturing an image using the image capturing apparatus of said external cartridge;
• storing the captured image in a captured image memory of the external cartridge;
• retrieving the captured image from the captured image memory;
• manipulating a user interface of the portable game machine to include secondary graphics images defined by a user in said captured image.

A portable game machine comprising:

• a removably attached external cartridge comprising a memory for storing a game, a captured image memory for storing captured images, a predefined image memory for storing predefined images and an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• a user interface enabling a user to capture an image and to provide inputs to the portable game machine;
• and
• a processor responsive to the user interface for manipulating a captured image to include at least one of a predefined image from the predefined image memory and line drawings defined by the user via the user interface.

A removably attachable external cartridge for a portable game machine having a user interface for providing inputs to said external cartridge when said external cartridge is removably attached to said portable game machine, said removably attachable external cartridge comprising:

• a captured image memory for storing captured images;
• a predefined image memory for storing predefined images;
• an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;
• and
• a processor responsive to the user interface for manipulating a captured image to include at least one of a predefined image from the predefined image memory and line drawings defined by the user via the user interface.