US 4,530,499 A · Domino, or the like, placing video game

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a video game in which a player controllable video player image positions video dominos at predetermined positions along a continuous line while one or more machine controlled video intruder images attempt to interfere. Manual player controls move the player image to place the domino images and to protect against interference by the intruder images which could result in a chain reaction of falling dominos. The player manually selects either a place mode allowing the player image to place additional dominos or a protect mode for protecting itself or the dominos from an intruder. In an alternative embodiment, the player image also knocks over dominos while in the place mode. Duration of play is timed by a machine controlled image proceeding in a peripheral path to knock over the initial domino. Difficulty is increased by the complexity of the domino pattern, the timed duration, and the intruder images.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method of generating a video game display and controlling the play of a game on a video display in response to the operation of player controls, the method comprising the steps of:

generating video display data transformable by said display into video display images including a playing field image, a player controllable image, a machine controllable image and playing piece images;
adjusting said video display data in response to manual operation of said player controls to vary the location of said player controllable image on said video display;
monitoring said video data to detect data corresponding to the location of said player controllable image;
generating data for placement of playing piece images at predetermined intervals in an array;
comparing said player controllable image location data with said placement data for coincidence;
generating video display data corresponding to the placement of playing piece images in an array coincident with said placement data in response to said coincidence;
adapting said video display data to produce a video image of said machine controllable image moving to interface with said playing piece image array;
detecting a collision corresponding to a close association of said machine controllable image with said player controllable image;
terminating, at least temporarily, any attempted interference by said machine controllable image with said playing piece image array, in response to the detection of the collision;
generating data corresponding to a machine selected pattern of playing piece image positions on said display;
and
automatically producing data corresponding to a video indication of the next position in said pattern to be occupied by one of said playing piece images including producing data corresponding to a video marker located adjacent to the position to be occupied.

9 more elements

A method of generating a video game display and controlling the play of a game on a video display in response to the operation of player controls, the method comprising the steps of:

generating video display data transformable by said display into video display images including a playing field image, a player controllable image, a machine controllable image and playing piece images;
adjusting said video display data in response to manual operation of said player controls to vary the location of said player controllable image on said video display;
monitoring said video data to detect data corresponding to the location of said player controllable image;
generating data for placement of playing piece images at predetermined intervals in an array;
comparing said player controllable image location data with said placement data for coincidence;
generating video display data corresponding to the placement of playing piece images in an array coincident with said placement data in response to said coincidence;
adapting said video display data to produce a video image of said machine controllable image moving to interfere with said playing piece image array;
detecting a collision corresponding to a close association of said machine controllable image with said player controllable image;
terminating, at least temporarily, any attempted interference by said machine controllable image with said playing piece image array, in response to the detection of the collision;
and
determining whether said game is in a player control selected place mode or a player control selected protect mode, and determining the outcome of a detected collision depending on the mode of said game.

8 more elements

A method of generating a video game display and controlling the play of a game on a video display in response to the operation of player controls, the method comprising the steps of:

generating video display data transformable by said display into video display images including a playing field image, a player controllable image, a machine controllable image and playing piece images;
adjusting said video display data in response to manual operation of said player controls to vary the location of said player controllable image on said video display;
monitoring said video data to detect data corresponding to the location of said player controllable image;
generating data for placement of playing piece images at predetermined intervals in an array;
comparing said player controllable image location data with said placement data for coincidence;
generating video display data corresponding to the placement of playing piece images in an array coincident with said placement data in response to said coincidence;
adapting said video display data to produce a video image of said machine controllable image moving to interfere with said playing piece image array;
detecting a collision corresponding to a close association of said machine controllable image with said player controllable image;
terminating, at least temporarily, any attempted interference by said machine controllable image with said playing piece image array, in response to the detection of the collision;
and
detecting a contact corresponding to a close association of said player controlled image and any of said playing piece images in said array and generating a collision image.

8 more elements

A game device implemented with a video display screen, said device comprising:

a housing;
means within said housing for generating a playing field for display on said screen;
means within said housing for generating video display data transformable on said display screen into video display images, including a player controllable image, a machine controlled image, and playing piece images;
player operable control means on said housing for manually controlling said generating means to vary the position on said screen at which said player controllable image is displayed, said player operable control means including means for generating video signals corresponding to a display screen image of said player controllable image associating said playing piece images in an array;
means within said housing for automatically controlling said generating means to vary the position on said screen at which said machine controlled image is displayed, said automatic controlling means including means for positioning said machine controlled image to interfere with said playing piece image array;
said player controllable image positionable by said player operable control means to protect said playing piece image array from said machine controlled image;
and
a first mode being operative to control the positioning of said playing piece images on said video display and a second mode being operative to protect said array from said machine controlled images by said player controllable playing image and mode select means for enabling manual selection of one of said modes.

5 more elements

A game device implemented with a video display screen, said device comprising:

a housing;
means within said housing for generating a playing field for display on said screen;
means within said housing for generating video display data transformable on said display screen into video display images, including a player controllable image, a machine controlled image, and playing piece images;
player operable control means on said housing for manually controlling said generating means to vary the position on said screen at which said player controllable image is displayed, said player operable control means including means for generating video signals corresponding to a display screen image of said player controllable image associating said playing piece images in an array;
means within said housing for automatically controlling said generating means to vary the position on said screen at which said machine controlled image is displayed, said automatic controlling means including means for positioning said machine controlled image to interfere with said playing piece image array;
said player controllable image positionable by said player operable control means to protect said playing piece image array from said machine controlled image;
means for indicating a predetermined pattern of playing positions on said video display screen for associating the playing piece images;
means for indicating the playing position which should be next filled with one of said playing piece images by said player controllable image;
and
means for detecting the positioning of said player controllable image adjacent the playing position which should be next filled with a player controllable image and means for generating a playing piece image on said position in response to a signal from said positioning detecting means.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Domino, or the like, placing video game

Life of this patent

Domino, or the like, placing video game

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33