Videographics program/video game fabricating system and method

A method of editing a video game to create a new video game using an interactive computing system having a display screen a dedicated game computer with game memory, a dedicated editing computer with editing memory, and interface circuitry for facilitating communications and data transfers between the game computer and the editing computer, comprising the steps of:

• loading model video game software to be modified by a user into the game memory of the game computer;
• initiating play of the video game with the game computer executing the model video game software;
• the editing computer monitoring operations for the game computer and stopping execution of the model video game software by the game computer at an appropriate point in the model video game software being executed;
• transferring video game software pertaining to features of the video game to be modified by way of the interface circuitry to the editing memory;
• the editing computer modifying the model video game software transferred;
• transferring the modified video game software by way of the interface circuitry to the game memory;
• and
• resuming play of the video game by the game computer executing the modified video game software.

A method of editing a video game to create a new video game using an interactive computing system having an input device, at least one game playing device other than the input device, a display screen, a dedicated game computer with game memory, a dedicated editing computer with editing memory, and interface circuitry for facilitating communications and data transfers between the game computer and the editing computer, comprising the steps of:

• initiating play of the video game by executing in the game computer video game software where a user moves at least one object on the display screen during game play using the game playing device;
• using the input device, pointing to the at least one object in the displayed video game frame to be edited;
• the editing computer monitoring operations of the game computer and initiating a break in play of the video game in response to the input device pointing to the at least one object in the displayed video game frame to be edited;
• the editing computer stopping execution of video game software;
• transferring by way of the interface circuitry a portion of the video game software as currently configured including information pertaining to the least one object to the editing computer;
• the editing computer storing the transferred information in editing memory;
• displaying a video game frame that the user desires to edit on the display screen displaying the at least one object;
• changing an attribute associated with the object pointed to in the displayed game frame;
• the editing computer incorporating the change into the video game software;
• the editing computer transferring the changed video game software by way of the interface circuitry from the editing memory to the game computer;
• the game computer integrating the changed video game software into the video game software stored in the game memory;
• and
• resuming play of the video game by the game computer executing the video game software as modified by the changed video game software.

A method of editing a video game program to create a new video game using a computing system having a display screen, an input device, a dedicated game computer with game memory, a dedicated editing computer with editing memory, and interface circuitry for facilitating communications and data transfers between the game computer and the editing computer, comprising the steps of:

• loading a video game program to be edited into the game memory of the game computer;
• the game computer executing the video game program and generating a display including background and moving objects, each object having one or more characteristics defined by the loaded video game program;
• detecting a signal from the input device indicating an object currently displayed in a game playing region of the display screen for editing by a user;
• in response to the detecting step, the editing computer stopping the video game program being executed by the game computer;
• the game computer transferring by way of the interface circuitry a portion of the video game program as currently configured to the editing memory;
• the editing computer storing the transferred video game program information in the editing memory;
• the editing computer displaying an indication of a plurality of editorial options;
• the user selecting one of the editorial options using the input device;
• the editing computer, in response to indications received by the user from the input device modifying one of the characteristics of the indicated object to create a new characteristic for the indicated object that is different from the one or more characteristics for the indicated object defined by the transferred video game program information;
• the editing computer transferring the modified video game program information by way of the interface circuitry from the editing memory to the game memory;
• the game computer incorporating the modified video game program instructions and data to create a new video game program stored in the game memory;
• and
• resuming play of the video game by the game computer executing the new video game program.

A videographics program editing system for use in creating new videographics programs for generating displays on a display screen comprising:

• a first processor for executing a videographics program that generates a sequence of displays on the display screen including one or more moving objects and one or more background objects;
• an input device for permitting a user to command stopping the execution of said videographics program at a desired one of the sequence of displays, identify one of the objects in the one display, and select an editing operation that affects the identified object;
• and
• a second processor, responsive to the input device, to perform the selected editing operation on the videographics program;
• and
• interface circuitry facilitating communications and data transfer between the first and second processors,
• wherein the second processor monitors operations of the first processor and initiates a break in the execution of the videographics program in response to the user command, initiates transfer of a portion of the videographics program from the first processor by way of the interface circuitry, performs the selected editing operation on the transferred portion of the videographics program pertaining to at least the one object, and transfers the edited portion of the videographics program back to the first processor by way of the interface circuitry, and
• wherein the second processor resumes execution of the videographics program as edited by the second processor.

A method of editing a video game program using a computing system having a display screen, a dedicated game computer with game memory, a dedicated editing computer with editing memory, and interface circuitry for facilitating communications and data transfers between the game computer and the editing computer, and an input device comprising the steps of:

• generating a first display on said display screen in response to execution of the video game program by the game computer including moving objects and background objects that may be selected for modification;
• the editing computer monitoring operations of the game computer and causing, in response to selection by a user with said input device of one of the moving and background objects in the first display, transfer by way of the interface circuitry at least a significant portion of the video game program as currently configured including information pertaining to the least one object to the editing computer;
• the editing computer storing the transferred information in editing memory, generating a second display on said display screen identifying the selected object, and providing plural editing options for editing the selected object;
• the editing computer generating a third display on said display screen corresponding to one of the plural editing options selected by the user from the second display providing a variety of editing tools for implementing editing operations that affect the selected object associated with the selected editing option;
• the editing computer incorporating edited object into the video game program;
• and
• the editing computer transferring the video game as edited to the game computer by way of the interface circuitry.

A method of editing a sequence of display frames generated in response to execution of a graphics program using an interactive computing system having a display screen, a first computer, a second computer, and interface circuitry for facilitating communications and data transfers between the first computer and the second computer, said first computer executing said graphics program and generating a sequence of display frames on said display screen comprising the steps of:

• initiating the execution of said graphics program by the first computer to generate a sequence of display frames;
• the second computer commanding the first computer to stop the execution of said graphics program at a desired editing point in one of the sequence of display frames;
• transferring by way of the interface circuitry a substantial portion of said graphics program as currently configured to the second computer;
• the second computer storing the transferred graphics program information;
• a user selecting a feature displayed in the one display frame;
• the user indicating one or more changes to the selected feature in the one display frame;
• the second computer modifying said graphics program to incorporate the one or more changes in the graphics program information;
• transferring the modified graphics program by way of the interface circuitry to the first computer;
• and
• the first computer resuming execution of said graphics program as modified from the point at which execution of said graphics program was stopped at the one display frame.

A method of creating a unique sequence of display frames associated with a graphics program using a computing system having a display screen for executing said graphics program and generating a sequence of display frames, including a first computer, a second computer, and interface circuitry for facilitating communications and display transfers between the first computer and the second computer, comprising the steps of:

• loading the graphics program into said computing system;
• the first computer executing the graphics program to generate a sequence of display frames on said display screen;
• the second computer monitoring the operation of the first computer and detecting generation of a first signal initiated by the user indicating that a currently displayed frame is to be edited;
• transferring by way of the interface circuitry a substantial portion of the graphics program as currently configured to the second computer;
• the second computer storing the transferred graphics program information;
• the second computer detecting generation of a second signal initiated by the user indicating that a displayed feature in the currently displayed frame is to be edited;
• in response to the detecting step, the second computer displaying to the user an indication of a plurality of editing options;
• the user selecting one of the editing options and editing the displayed feature;
• the second computer modifying said graphics program to incorporate the edited feature;
• transferring the modified graphics program by way of the interface circuitry to the first computer;
• and
• the first computer continuing execution of the graphics program as modified.