Graphical control of a time-based set-up feature for a video game

[0002] The present invention relates generally to video games and, more particularly, to a graphical control of a time-based set-up feature for a video game.

[0003] Video games are played in a variety of environments such as game rooms, hotel lobbies, and casinos. In some environments, adult video games are played. However, operators generally like to control the times at which certain features in video games are activated. For example, adult strip poker games may have a variety of modes including bikini, topless and nude. As their names suggest, in bikini mode the video representation will strip to his/her bikini, in topless mode the video representation will strip off his/her top and in nude mode the video representation will strip off all of his/her cloths. Operators have typically only been able to control whether a feature is on or off during a particular time period each day. For example, prior video games only allowed an operator to turn on the nude mode once per day between, e.g, 10 pm and 2 am. They would not allow the operator the ability to select multiple time periods during which, e.g., nude mode was on. For example, an operator could not turn the nude mode on between 8 pm-10 pm; 11 pm-2 am; and 3 am-5 am. Similarly, the other modes of operation were limited to one “on” time period.

[0004] Similarly, operators have typically only been able to control the magnitude of a parameter for a certain time period. For example, prior video games only allowed an operator to adjust (increase) the volume of a video game for one time period, e.g., between 10 pm and 2 am.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for graphically controlling a time-based set-up feature for a video game such that an operator can easily select multiple “on” time periods for each of several modes of operation and/or select one or more magnitudes for one or more time periods. The present invention is directed to addressing one or more of these needs.

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a graphical control of a time-based set-up feature for a video game. The graphical control including a graphical interface for visually displaying a plurality of symbols of the set-up feature along a first axis and a plurality of time periods along a second axis. The graphical control further including a selector for interacting with the graphical interface to select one or more of the symbols during one or more of the time periods.

[0007] The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a graphical control of a time-based set-up feature for a video game system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIGS. 2-4 are example graphical interfaces that allow an operator to adjust the mode of operation of erotica used in the video game system; and

[0010] FIGS. 5-7 are example graphical interfaces that allow an operator to adjust the volume of the video game system.

[0011] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0012] Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG. 1, a video game system 10 comprises a video display 12, a system memory 14, a long-term storage device 15, an input 16, a sound chip/speaker 17, and a central processing unit (CPU) 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the video display 12 is a typical cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor overlaid with a touch-screen 13. In another embodiment, an operator interface 32 is employed to interact with the video display 12. The operator interface 32 may comprise physical keys, buttons, a joystick, a trackball, a mouse, etc. for interacting with the video display 12.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, the video game system 10 operates as follows. In one embodiment, the input 16 is a coin input device that signals the CPU 18 that coins or tokens have been deposited. The CPU 18 then displays a selection screen on the display 12 that allows a player to select a game once the minimum number of coins/tokens have been deposited. The CPU 18 controls, among other things, game play, the video display 12, and the audio played on the speaker 17. In addition, the CPU 18 translates the input from the touch-screen 13 or the operator interface 32. The player interacts with the game system 10 via the touch-screen 13. In one embodiment, the touch-screen 13 is a standard MicroTouch capacitive touch-screen and controller sold by MicroTouch Systems, Inc., Methuen, Mass. The touch-screen 13 senses the presence of a pressure device, such as a human finger, or a pointer, on the screen and calculates a coordinate to correspond to the position of the pressure device on the screen 13.

[0014] In one embodiment, the video display 12 visually displays a video game selection menu, one or more video games, and operator set-up screens. The player selects a game from the video game selection menu displayed on the display screen 12. The games are listed by category. The player inserts the correct number of tokens or coins needed to play the game and then chooses a particular game. The CPU 18 then loads the corresponding software from the long-term storage device 15 into the system memory 14 for execution.

[0015] The operator set-up screens allow an operator where the game is located to change certain game parameters. The operator views a list of adjustments on the display 12 and changes certain game parameters such as the mode of operation (e.g., off, bikini, topless, nude), and the magnitude of the volume of the video game for a certain time period. The set-up screens also include a list of audits for recording events that happened in a game (e.g., how many and when bonus games were awarded, when the system was being played). The audits can be used to determine how to change the game parameters to maximize earnings and game appeal.

[0016] Once a game is selected and the software is loaded, the CPU 18 displays the graphics that correspond to the game and the game begins. The system 10 then displays a game objective screen to give the player a basic idea of how to play the game. Each game also includes a help button on the display 12 that allows a player to read a more detailed set of game rules. Many of the games in the system 10 have a bonus level for players who reach a certain score, or complete a certain percent of the game in a time period, or complete a set number of rounds in a game. The bonus level is, e.g., an extra round of game play. An operator can also select, e.g., whether the player can win a free game if they achieve the high score for the game. The operator can also adjust the system 10 such that bonus rounds are awarded for a fixed level of achievement by a player or by an automatic (system determined) level of achievement by a player. The fixed level can be, e.g., easy or hard to reach. The skill level of the players in a given location determines the automatic level of achievement. Thus, if players are not great game players, the bonus level will be reduced and if players are very good, the bonus level will be increased. The CPU 18 uses the adjustments and audits in order to determine the automatic achievement levels for each game.

[0017] The video display 12 is controlled by the CPU 18 which provides the graphics that are displayed on the video display 12. The CPU 18 also generates audio sound which is downloaded to the sound chip 17. The sounds are stored in a digital format on the storage device 15 and loaded into the system memory 14 once a game is selected. The CPU 18 will send sound data corresponding to the particular game to the sound chip/speaker 17 to be played.

[0018] Game play is ended, for example, after the game objectives are met, time has run out, the player wins, the player runs out of valid moves for the game selected, etc. The game then returns to an attract mode in which the video display 12 displays various graphics based on the time of day. Some of these graphics include: a list of games that can be played on the system, high scores from other games, advertising screens, graphics from other games and pricing information.

[0019] In one embodiment, the video display 12 visually displays operator set-up screens such as the ones shown in FIGS. 2-7. In the illustrated operator set-up screens, a plurality of symbols (e.g, off, bikini, nude) are displayed along the y-axis and a plurality of time periods (e.g, in one hour increments) are displayed along the x-axis, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. In the touch-screen embodiment of this invention, an operator may select one or more of the symbols during one or more of the time periods as follows.

[0020] The symbols are selected for each time period by touching the screen at the appropriate x-y intercept. In one embodiment, the symbols represent modes of operation of erotica used in some of the video games. Examples of possible modes of operation include off, bikini, and nude. To turn the bikini mode on from 5 pm-9:59 pm, an operator merely touches the display screen 12 with a pressure device at the intersection of an imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol on the y-axis and an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 5 pm symbol on the x-axis. The pressure device may comprise a person's finger, a pen tip, a pointer, etc. The operator then merely drags the pressure device across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 9 pm symbol on the x-axis. In other words, the operator touches the screen 12 at a first x-y coordinate on the screen 12 and drags, e.g., a finger across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching a second x-y coordinate. This will produce a plurality of vertical lines extending to the imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol on the y-axis, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the bikini mode is now on for the time period selected, i.e., between 5 pm-9:59 pm.

[0021] Similarly, to turn the nude mode on from 10 pm-5:59 am, an operator merely touches the display screen 12 at the intersection of an imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “nude” symbol on the y-axis and an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 10 pm symbol on the x-axis. The operator then merely drags a pressure device across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 5 am symbol on the x-axis. This will produce a plurality of vertical lines extending to the imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “nude” symbol on the y-axis, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the nude mode is now on for the time period selected, i.e., between 10 pm-5:59 am.

[0022] Likewise, an operator can select discrete time periods during which any of the modes are on. For example, to turn bikini mode on from 5 pm-5:59 pm and 8 pm-9:59 pm, an operator merely touches the display screen 12 at the intersection of an imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol on the y-axis and an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 5 pm symbol on the x-axis. This will produce a vertical line extending from the 5 pm symbol to the imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol. Then, after removing the pressure device from the display screen 12, the operator touches the display screen 12 at the intersection of an imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol and an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 8 pm symbol and drags a pressure device across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 10 pm symbol. This will produce two vertical lines extending from the 8 pm and 9 pm symbols to the imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol. Thus, the bikini mode is now on for the time periods selected, i.e., between 5 pm-5:59 pm and 8 pm-9:59 pm.

[0023] In another embodiment, the symbols represent a plurality of magnitudes. The magnitudes may represent, for example, levels of volume. FIGS. 5-7 illustrate the display screen 12 displaying an operator set-up screen for selecting various magnitudes during various periods of time. For example, the magnitudes may correspond to volume levels at which the video game will operate during a given time period. As shown in FIG. 7, to adjust the volume from 6 am-9:59 am to 30, an operator merely touches the display screen 12 at the intersection of an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 6 am symbol on the x-axis and an imaginary horizontal line slightly above the 25 symbol on the y-axis. Touching the screen at this location will display the volume level associated with the vertical displacement of the pressure device. Then, by dragging the pressure device vertically up and down, the volume can be adjusted to the desired level. When the desired volume level is obtained, the operator can drag the pressure device across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 9 am symbol on the x-axis. This will produce four vertical lines extending from the x-axis to the 30 volume level, as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the volume between 6 am-9:59 am will be set to 30.

[0024] Similarly, to adjust the volume from, e.g., 8 pm-12:59 am to 65, an operator merely touches the display screen 12 at the intersection of an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 8 pm symbol on the x-axis and an imaginary horizontal line slightly below the 75 symbol on the y-axis. Touching the screen at this location will display the volume level associated with the vertical displacement of the pressure device. Then, by dragging the pressure device vertically up and down, the volume can be adjusted to the desired level. When the desired volume level is obtained, the operator can drag the pressure device across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 12 am symbol on the x-axis. This will produce a plurality of vertical lines extending from the x-axis to the 65 volume level, as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the volume between 8 pm-12:59 am will be set to 65. The other volume levels shown can be set using a similar procedure to the one described above.

[0025] In another embodiment, the operator may select one or more of the symbols during one or more of the time periods as follows. The operator interface 32 is employed to interact with the video display 12. The operator interface 32 may comprise physical keys, buttons, a joystick, a trackball, and/or a mouse, etc.

[0026] In the trackball/joystick/mouse embodiment of the operator interface 32, the display screen 12, illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, displays an operator set-up screen for selecting various modes of operation such as bikini mode and nude mode by moving a cursor. To turn bikini mode on from 5 pm-5:59 am, an operator moves the joystick, the mouse, or the trackball to move the cursor on the display screen 12 to the intersection of an imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol on the y-axis and an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 5 pm symbol on the x-axis and presses a key, or a button, or clicks the mouse. The operator then moves the cursor across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 5 am symbol at which point the operator presses a key, or a button or clicks the mouse. This will produce a plurality of vertical lines extending to the imaginary horizontal line adjacent the “bikini” symbol on the y-axis, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the bikini mode is now on for the time period selected, i.e., between 5 pm-5:59 am.

[0027] Similarly, referring to FIG. 5, to adjust the volume from 6 am-7:59 pm to 18, an operator moves the joystick, the mouse, or the trackball to move the cursor on the display screen 12 to the intersection of an imaginary horizontal line adjacent the 6 am symbol on the x-axis and an imaginary horizontal line slightly below the 25 symbol on the y-axis. Moving the cursor to this location will display the volume level associated with the vertical displacement of the cursor. Then, by moving the cursor vertically up and down, the volume can be adjusted to the desired level. When the desired volume level is obtained, the operator presses a key, or a button, or clicks the mouse. Then, the operator moves the joystick, the mouse, or the trackball to move the cursor across the screen in the horizontal direction until reaching an imaginary vertical line adjacent the 7 pm symbol on the x-axis. At this point, the operator presses a key, or a button, or clicks the mouse. This will produce a plurality of vertical lines extending from the x-axis to the 18 volume level, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the volume between 6 am-7:59 pm will be set to 18. A similar procedure to the one described above is used to set the volume for other time periods.

[0028] Therefore, the present invention is directed to a graphical control of a time-based set-up feature for a video game. The graphical interface visually displays a plurality of symbols along a first axis and a plurality of time periods along a second axis. A selector, such as a touch-screen, a mouse, a joystick, a trackball, physical keys, and/or buttons, etc., allows an operator to interact with the graphical interface to select one or more of the symbols during one or more of the time periods. Accordingly, the present invention allows an operator to easily setup a video game using a graphical control that allows selection of multiple “on” time periods for each of several modes of operation and/or selection of one or more magnitudes during one or more of the time periods.

[0029] The video game illustrated and described herein has been described in relation to an adult video game. However, other embodiments of the video game are contemplated. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the graphical control of the present invention can be used with any video game that requires adjusting certain parameters.

[0030] Thus, while the present invention has been described with reference to one or more embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is set forth in the following claims.