Video based strategic board game
OwnerTomas Flodeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A video game and related game playing method is described herein. The video game is played on an overall playing field that includes a plurality of rotating square-shaped fields, each having a grid of playing positions. The objective of the game is to be the first to create a pattern of five playing pieces in a row. Players alternate turns, and each turn is initiated by “moving” a playing piece into an unoccupied playing position (i.e., a grid point) on any of the square-shaped fields. The turn is completed by rotating any one of the fields 90 degrees in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The dynamic nature of the overall playing field makes the video game interesting, challenging, and difficult to master.
Claims23
A method of operating a video game having an overall playing field rendering having a nine-by-nine grid of playing positions, said overall playing field rendering including four generally square-shaped fields, each having a three-by-three grid of playing positions, said method comprising:
- (a) receiving selection instructions indicative of a first player selecting any available playing position on one of said square-shaped fields;
- (b) changing display characteristics of the playing position corresponding to the selection instructions from step (a) to represent a first player marker;
- (c) receiving rotation instructions indicative of said first player selecting one of said square-shaped fields for rotation, and indicative of direction of rotation;
- (d) updating and displaying said overall playing field rendering in accordance with said rotation instructions;
- (e) thereafter, receiving selection instructions indicative of a second player selecting any available playing position on one of said square-shaped fields;
- (f) changing display characteristics of the playing position corresponding to the selection instructions from step (e) to represent a second player marker;
- (g) receiving additional rotation instructions indicative of said second player selecting one of said square-shaped fields for rotation, and indicative of direction of rotation;
- (h) updating and displaying said overall playing field rendering in accordance with said additional rotation instructions;
- and
- (i) repeating steps (a) through (h) as necessary until either five-in-a-row of first player markers results, five-in-a-row of second player markers results, or first player markers and second player markers occupy all playing positions.
A method of operating a video game having an overall playing field rendering having a grid of playing positions, said overall playing field rendering including a plurality of polygonal fields, each having a plurality of playing positions, said method comprising:
- (a) receiving selection instructions indicative of a first player selecting any available playing position on one of said polygonal fields;
- (b) changing display characteristics of the playing position corresponding to the selection instructions from step (a) to represent a first player marker;
- (c) receiving rotation instructions indicative of said first player selecting one of said polygonal fields for rotation, and indicative of direction of rotation;
- (d) updating and displaying said overall playing field rendering in accordance with said rotation instructions;
- (e) thereafter, receiving selection instructions indicative of a second player selecting any available playing position on one of said polygonal fields;
- (f) changing display characteristics of the playing position corresponding to the selection instructions from step (e) to represent a second player marker;
- (g) receiving additional rotation instructions indicative of said second player selecting one of said polygonal fields for rotation, and indicative of direction of rotation;
- (h) updating and displaying said overall playing field rendering in accordance with said additional rotation instructions;
- and
- (i) repeating steps (a) through (h) as necessary until either n-in-a-row of first player markers results, n-in-a-row of second player markers results, or first player markers and second player markers occupy all playing positions, where n is an integer greater than two.
A video game apparatus comprising:
- a display element;
- a video/graphics engine coupled to said display element;
- and
- processing logic coupled to said video/graphics engine, said processing logic controlling said video/graphics engine to generate, on said display element, an overall playing field rendering having a grid of playing positions, said overall playing field rendering including a plurality of polygonal fields, each having a plurality of playing positions, and said processing logic being configured to:
- (a) process selection instructions indicative of a first player selecting any available playing position on one of said polygonal fields;
- (b) control changing of display characteristics of the playing position corresponding to the selection instructions from step (a) to represent a first player marker;
- (c) process rotation instructions indicative of said first player selecting one of said polygonal fields for rotation, and indicative of direction of rotation;
- (d) control updating and displaying of said overall playing field rendering in accordance with said rotation instructions;
- (e) process selection instructions indicative of a second player selecting any available playing position on one of said polygonal fields;
- (f) control changing of display characteristics of the playing position corresponding to the selection instructions from step (e) to represent a second player marker;
- (g) process additional rotation instructions indicative of said second player selecting one of said polygonal fields for rotation, and indicative of direction of rotation;
- (h) control updating and displaying of said overall playing field rendering in accordance with said additional rotation instructions;
- and
- (i) repeat (a) through (h) as necessary until either n-in-a-row of first player markers results, n-in-a-row of second player markers results, or first player markers and second player markers occupy all playing positions, where n is an integer greater than two.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.