U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,083

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.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a video game system 10 includes a video game console 12 and a game controller 14 . The video game console 12 accommodates a video game memory, such as a removable cartridge, disc, or the like, and contains a central processing unit (CPU) for executing the game software stored in the game memory. The video game console 12 is preferably of the type for home use such as the Nintendo 64, Sony PlayStation, and Sega Dreamcast systems. Video game consoles such as these are electrically connected to a standard home television 16 by a cable 17 and are powered by a typical 110 volt AC wall outlet. The game controller 14 may have a variety of configurations and buttons and is electrically connected to the game console 12 by a cable 18 . The cable 18 is terminated by a connector 20 adapted to mate with one of the connector interfaces 22 on the video game console 12 .

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the components of the video game system. These components include a game memory 24 , the video game console's CPU 26 , the controller interface 22 , and the controller 14 . The CPU 26 is enclosed within a housing of the video game console 12 (see FIG. 1 ). The CPU 26 executes the game software stored in the game memory 24 and depicts game play elements associated with the executed software on the video display 16 . The game play elements may, for example, include characters, vehicles, implements, background, special effects, etc. The CPU 26 manipulates these game play elements in response to user inputs entered at the game controller 14 and transmitted from the controller 14 to the CPU 26 via the cable 18 and controller interface 22 . After the video game memory 24 is installed in the video game console and the console is switched on, the CPU 26 executes the game software (code) stored in the game memory 24 . At this time, the game software causes the CPU 26 to select the content of the video game based upon the type of video game controller 14 connected to the console.

Referring to FIG. 3 , in accordance with the present invention the game software first causes the CPU to request information about the connected game controller from the controller at step 30 . Such a request is typically made by calling a library function pertaining to the controller information. The controller, in turn, provides the information to the CPU at step 32 . The controller information may, for example, be organized into a standardized format comprised of a plurality of fields containing respective integer or string data as follows:

FIELD INFORMATION Controller Port 0 Controller Type 0 41 Controller Features 0 31 Controller Name steering wheel Extended Information Midway Amusement Games Controller Status continuously changing data concerning what controls are actuated, etc. The Controller Port and Controller Status fields are variable. The Controller Port field identifies the interface of the video game console into which the controller is plugged. The Controller Status field indicates the status of each control on the controller during game play. The remaining fields are generally static. The Controller Type field contains a unique identification code assigned by the manufacturer of the video game console based upon the type of controller. Examples of different types of controllers include steering wheels, light guns, game pads, joysticks, and track balls. Likewise, the Controller Features field contains a unique identification code assigned by the manufacturer of the video game console based upon what controls are available on the controller. Examples of different controls that may be available on the controller include controls that indicate direction, speed, and selection. The Controller Name field contains a controller name selected by the manufacturer of the controller. Finally, the Extended Information field may contain any string of characters selected by the manufacturer of the controller so long as the string is no greater than a predetermined length.

In accordance with the game software, the CPU then evaluates the controller information at step 34 . More specifically, the CPU evaluates the Extended Information field and determines whether or not the controller is of a matching type at step 36 . If the controller is of a matching type, the game software causes the CPU to enable or unclock extra features or secrets of the video game at step 38 and then execute the game at step 40 . The video game, of course, would need to be designed to include such extra features that may be enabled by the matching controller. If, however, the controller is not of a matching type, the extra features of the video game remain disabled when the game is executed at step 40 .

If a particular manufacturer both publishes the video game with unlockable extra features and makes the game controller, the manufacturer may attract consumers to its game controller over other controllers available in the marketplace by allowing only its game controller to enable the extra features in the video game. To accomplish this, the Extended Information field may be filled with a unique name or trademark associated with the video game and/or the game publisher. For example, if the video game is published by a manufacturer such as the instant assignee, Midway Amusement Games, this name may be placed in the Extended Information field. Then, the video game software may be designed to search for this name in the Extended Information field and to enable the extra features of the video game in response to in fact finding this name in the Extended Information field.

Therefore, in connection with the flow diagram in FIG. 3 , the game controller would be considered to be of a matching type in step 36 in response to recognizing the matching name in the Extended Information field of the controller information. In essence, the matching name in the Extended Information field serves as a key that, when recognized, unlocks the extra features in the video game. Such extra features would not be available to non-matching controllers, i.e., controllers made by other manufacturers. Examples of extra features of the video game only available to players who employ a matching controller include extra tracks in a vehicle racing game, extra vehicles in a vehicle racing game, extra teams in a sports game, extra courts and stadiums in a sports game, extra plays in a sports game, extra characters, extra character attributes, extra implements, extra energy boosts or power ups, player-customizable characters not otherwise available, etc.

While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular 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. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as failing within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.