DVD game remote controller

A computer readable memory medium containing instructions downloadable to a remote control device that, when executed by a computer processor in the remote control device, cause the device to arbitrate between a plurality of game participants playing a DVD-based electronic game, by:

• receiving an indication of a desire to respond to a current challenge in a game turn from a plurality of auxiliary devices, each associated with one of the game participants;
• determining which of the received indications was the first received indication;
• designating the game participant associated with the auxiliary device that corresponds to the determined first received indication as the next participant to respond to the current challenge;
• and
• notifying the game control logic of the designated next participant.

A remote control device used by a plurality of game participants to play a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls game flow, comprising:

• a transmitter that transmits signals to a DVD player, each indicating an instruction to perform an action that is associated with the DVD-based electronic game;
• a receiver that receives signals that indicate a desire to respond to a current challenge in a single game turn from a plurality of auxiliary devices, each associated with one of the game participants;
• game arbitration logic that is structured to
• receive from the receiver a plurality of indications, each indicating a corresponding game participant that desires to respond to the current challenge;
• determine which of the received signals was received first in time;
• designate based upon the determined first received signal a next game participant;
• and
• provide to the game control logic an indication of the designated next game participant so that a next signal transmitted by the transmitter that corresponds to the current challenge is associated with the designed next game participant.

A remote controller used with a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls the flow of the game, comprising:

• an integrated display screen;
• a plurality of buttons that indicate to the game control logic responses to game challenges and instructions to the game control logic;
• and
• a timer button that selectably causes the remote controller to start an adjustable countdown timer associated with a current game challenge or to initiate tracking of elapsed time for the game participants to respond to game challenges, whereby the tracked elapsed time is displayed on the integrated display screen.

A remote control device used to provide an automated game board to supplement a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls the flow of the game including selecting game content from the DVD for presentation on a display device associated with a DVD player, comprising:

• an integrated display screen that displays a visualization of the game board and a current position on the game board associated with each game participant;
• a plurality of buttons that indicate to the game control logic responses to game challenges and further instructions to the game control logic;
• and
• a scoring module that contains logic structured to
• receive an indication of activation of one of the plurality of buttons;
• determine based upon the received indication a response to a current game challenge;
• and
• adjust the visualization of the game board displayed on the integrated display screen in accordance with the determined response.

A remote control device used with a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls the flow of the game, comprising:

• an integrated display screen;
• a plurality of buttons that indicate to the game control logic responses to game challenges and instructions to the game control logic;
• a score button that selectably causes the remote controller to display scores, edit scores, or display multiple game statistics on the integrated display;
• a timer button that selectably causes the remote controller to control an adjustable countdown timer, to initiate tracking of elapsed time for the game participants, or to display timer related values on the integrated display screen;
• a roll button that simulates a roll of a die, displays a visualization of a result of the simulated roll, and causes the game control logic to adjust a location or score of a current game participant accordingly;
• and
• a media slot for receiving media that contains auxiliary game related content or updates to functions for controlling processing of at least one of the score button, the timer button, or the roll button.