Portable game machine

A portable game machine comprising:

• a processing system;
• player controls operable by a player to generate video game control signals;
• a connector connected, in use, to a game cartridge including a vibration source and a memory storing a game program,
• wherein said processing system executes the video game program stored in the memory of said game cartridge and generates at least one instruction for controlling said vibration source of the game cartridge during execution of the video game program.

A portable game machine comprising:

• a video game program executing processing system for executing a video game program;
• player controls accessible to a player holding said portable game machine, said player controls being operable by the player to generate video game control signals for said video game program;
• and
• a connector connected, in use, to a cartridge containing memory media for storing video game instructions for said video game program and a selectively driven vibration source arranged to generate vibrations that are transferred from a housing of said cartridge to said portable game machine,
• wherein said game program executing processing system accesses said video game instructions contained in said memory media and said video game instructions include at least one instruction for causing said game program executing processing system to provide an instruction to drive said vibration source to generate the vibrations.

A hand-held display system for playing a video game of a type that provides physical sensations to a player, said hand-held display system comprising:

• a housing grippable by a player's hands;
• a liquid crystal display viewable by the player gripping the housing;
• input devices operable by the player when the player grips the housing;
• a connector that connects, in use, to a cartridge including a memory storing a video game program for the video game, and a vibration source;
• and
• processing circuitry for processing the video game program and player inputs from the input devices in order to display game images on said liquid crystal display,
• wherein said processing circuitry controls said vibration source in accordance with the video game program so that physical sensations are provided to the player.

A cartridge for use with a hand-held display system comprising a housing grippable by a player's hands;

• a liquid crystal display viewable by the player gripping the housing;
• input devices operable by the player when the player grips the housing;
• a connector;
• and processing circuitry:
• said cartridge comprising:
• a housing;
• a memory storing a video game program for a video game of a type that provides physical sensation to the player;
• electrical contacts that, in use, connect to said connector to electrically connect said cartridge to said processing circuitry;
• and
• a vibration source for vibrating said housing,
• wherein said processing circuitry controls said vibration source in accordance with the video game program so that physical sensations are provided to the player playing the video game.

A hand-held display system for playing a video game of a type that provides physical sensations to a player, said hand-held display system comprising:

• a housing grippable by a player's hands;
• a liquid crystal display disposed on a front surface of said housing and viewable by the player gripping the housing;
• input devices disposed on the front surface of said housing and operable by the player when the player grips the housing;
• a game cartridge slot provided on an upper portion of a rear surface of said housing, said game cartridge slot receiving, in use, a game cartridge including a memory storing a video game program for the video game, and a vibration source;
• and
• processing circuitry for processing the video game program and player inputs from the input devices in order to display game images on said liquid crystal display,
• wherein said processing circuitry controls said vibration source in accordance with the video game program so that physical sensations are provided to the player playing the video game.

A cartridge for use with a hand-held display system comprising a housing grippable by a player's hands;

• a liquid crystal display viewable by the player gripping the housing;
• input devices operable by the player when the player grips the housing;
• a connector;
• and processing circuitry;
• said cartridge comprising:
• a ROM storing a video game program for a video game of a type that provides physical sensations to the player;
• electrical contacts that, in use, connect to the connector of said hand-held display system so as to electrically connect said cartridge to the processing circuitry of said hand-held display system;
• a vibration source;
• and
• a battery compartment that, in use, receives a battery for providing power to said vibration source,
• wherein said processing circuitry controls said vibration source in accordance with the video game program so that physical sensations are provided to the player playing the video game.