Patent Analysis
U.S. Patent No. 7,288,028: Method and apparatus for quickly joining an online game being played by a friend
U.S. Patent No. 7,288,028: Method and apparatus for quickly joining an online game being played by a friend Issued Oct. 30, 2007, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘028 patent seeks to make…
U.S. Patent No. 7,204,758: Video game apparatus and control method thereof, and program of video game and computer-readable recording medium having program recorded thereon
U.S. Patent No. 7,204,758: Video game apparatus and control method thereof, and program of video game and computer-readable recording medium having program recorded thereon Issued Apr. 17, 2007, to Square Enix…
U.S. Patent No. 7,349,830: Weather profiles
U.S. Patent No. 7,349,830: Weather profiles Issued March 25, 2008, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘830 patent, issued to Microsoft, can be used for its popular Flight Simulator game. The patent allows…
U.S. Patent No. 7,454,715: Open grid navigational system
U.S. Patent No. 7,454,715: Open grid navigational system Issued Nov. 18, 2008, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘715 patent describes a game system which helps a player navigate an open grid within…
U.S. Patent No. 7,455,589: Game playing system with assignable attack icons
U.S. Patent No. 7,455,589: Game playing system with assignable attack icons Issued Nov. 25, 2008, to Sony Summary: The ‘589 patent allows a player to easily target and attack one or…
U.S. Patent No. 7,468,728: Apparatus for controlling a virtual environment
U.S. Patent No. 7,468,728: Apparatus for controlling a virtual environment Issued Dec. 23, 2008, to Antics Technologies Limited Summary: The ‘728 patent describes an apparatus for controlling an interactive virtual environment.…
U.S. Patent No. 7,470,195: Camera control for third-person console video game
U.S. Patent No. 7,470,195: Camera control for third-person console video game Issued Dec. 30, 2008 Summary: The ‘195 patent provides for a change in camera viewpoint during a third-person shooter. This…
U.S. Patent No. 5,310,192: Shooting Game and External Storage Used Therefor
U.S. Patent No. 5,310,192: Shooting Game and External Storage Used Therefor Issued May 10, 1994, to Nintendo Co. Ltd. Summary: The ‘192 patent describes a shooting game system for shooting targets.…
U.S. Patent No. 5,482,289: Method of Playing a BINGO Game with Progressive Jackpot
United States Patent No. 5,482,289 Method of Playing a BINGO Game with Progressive Jackpot Issued on January 9, 1996 to Gary Weingardt and assigned to Gary Weingardt Trust. Summary: In case you…
U.S. Patent No. 6,992,654: System and Method for Providing User Input to Character Animation
U.S. Patent No. 6,992,654: System and Method for Providing User Input to Character Animation Issued on January 31, 2006, to Electronic Arts Inc. Summary: This patent issued to EA, discloses a system…
U.S. Patent. No. 5,727,786: Bingo Game Method
United States Patent No. 5,727,786 Bingo Game Method Issued on December 8, 1995 to Inventor Gary Weingardt Summary: This invention attempts to reinvigorate the classic game of Bingo and lure the gamblers…
U.S. Patent No. 6,729,954: Battle Method with Attack Power Based on Character Group Density
United States Patent No. 6,729,954 Battle Method with Attack Power Based on Character Group Density Issued May 4, 2004, assigned to Koei Co., Ltd. Summary: Although the Sam Fishers, John Matrixs, Solid…
U.S. Patent No. 6,669,564: Episodic Delivery of Content
U.S. Patent No. 6,669,564: Episodic Delivery of Content Issued December 30, 2003, to Electronic Arts, Inc. Summary: Electronic Arts has developed a way to negate the effects of technology advancing faster that…
U.S. Patent No. 6,805,632: Video Slot Gaming Machine
U.S. Patent No. 6,805,632: Video Slot Gaming Machine Issued October 19, 2004 to Konami Gaming, Inc. Summary: Here is a fine example of how a game company can similarly participate in the…
U.S. Patent No. 6,722,989: Virtual Pet Game in Which the Virtual Pet Can Converse with the Player and Learn New Words and Phrases from These Conversations
U.S. Patent No. 6,722,989: Virtual Pet Game in Which the Virtual Pet Can Converse with the Player and Learn New Words and Phrases from These Conversations Issued April 20, 2004, to Sony…
U.S. Patent No. 6,733,383: Systems and Methods for Simulating Game State Changes Responsive to an Interrupt Condition
U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,383: Systems and Methods for Simulating Game State Changes Responsive to an Interrupt Condition Issued May 11, 2004, to Electronic Arts, Inc. Summary: This Electronic Arts patent describes a…
U.S. Patent No. 6,764,402: Image-Display Game System And Information Storage Medium Used Therefor
U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,402: Image-Display Game System And Information Storage Medium Used Therefor Issued July 20, 2004 to Nintendo Co., Ltd. Summary: Nintendo describes the multi-player, portable version of its Pokemon…
U.S. Patent No. 6,261,179: Video Game System and Video Game Memory Medium
U.S. Patent No. 6,261,179: Video Game System and Video Game Memory Medium Issued Jul. 17, 2001, to Nintendo Co., Ltd., Kyoto (JP) Summary: Remember StarFox? I do (I’m getting old). The ‘179…
U.S. Patent. No. 6,752,718: Role Playing Video Game Using Cards
U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,718: Role Playing Video Game Using Cards Issued June 22, 2004, to Square Enix Summary: Developers from Square Enix, publishers of the Final Fantasy series, describe a role-playing game…
U.S. Patent No. 6,522,333: Remote Communication Through Visual Representations
U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,333: Remote Communication Through Visual Representations Issued February 18, 2003 to Electronic Arts Summary: Electronic Arts has improved the traditional in-game (or out-of-game) chat feature. Instead of informing your…