Abstract:
A system and facility for video games with a large number of user stations and a single screen upon which the video game images are displayed visible from each of the user stations. The system allows for simultaneous use by a large number of users who share the experience of playing the game and their combined reactions together. The system is particularly suited for installation in a motion picture theatre or similar entertainment facility.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to interactive, computer controlled video games, and to entertainment facilities that accommodate large audiences, such as motion picture theatres.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Although modern public entertainment facilities usually represent substantial capital investments, they are often empty much of the time. For example, at motion picture theatres, it is common to have idle periods between the conclusion of one screening and the start of the next screening. In fact, at many theatres, no screenings at all are scheduled during large portions of the day.  
           [0003]    While operators of motion picture theatres and theatre complexes have increasingly been providing other diversions for their audiences in a common area separate from the screening rooms, such as on site restaurants, the present inventors have recognized that it would be desirable to utilize the screening rooms themselves and similar entertainment facilities more efficiently, and particularly to use them in a manner that provides an alternate form of entertainment. The present inventors have also recognized moreover that interactive, computer controlled video games represent a form of alternate entertainment that has a significant revenue potential at a motion picture theatre or similar entertainment facility.  
           [0004]    The seats of a motion picture theatre or similar entertainment facility could be equipped with individual user stations, each having its own games and its own video screen, such as the arrays of user stations that are found in conventional video game arcades. However, it is an object of the present inventors to provide a unique new scenario for playing video games in such facilities in which the enjoyment of the game is heightened by a large screen, and is enriched by sharing the collective reactions of a large number of other concurrent users, playing a single interactive game.  
           [0005]    Existing popular video games include those where only a single user can play at a time, and others that allow two or several assembled users to play simultaneously. Neither of these types of games can be played concurrently by a large number of multiple users.  
           [0006]    Recently, a third variety of video game has appeared which allows a large number of multiple users to play concurrently, but from remote user stations that are linked by means of a local area network or the Internet. The users are not all assembled together so there is no opportunity to share the experience of each other&#39;s reactions.  
           [0007]    Other video game systems and facilities have also been proposed that permit play by multiple users.  
           [0008]    Crudgington, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,069), for example, discloses a futuristic styled theatre which contains a plurality of game consoles, one for each player. All players participate in the same performance which is controlled by a master computer but each player has his own monitor to view the game.  
           [0009]    Tashiro et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,438) discloses a system where a number of players are arranged in a circle at individual consoles. The players can simultaneously play a game using a common screen ( 110 ) which surrounds the players. The apparatus contains a wide variety of mechanical systems to move the seats used by the players. As best shown in FIG. 4, and described at column 4, line 8, each player has a limited range of the screen over which he may play.  
           [0010]    Marshall et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,464) discloses a system for law enforcement or military weapons training. Multiple trainees (who are on foot and mobile) interact with a simulated training exercise displayed on a single large video screen. The trainees utilize firearms to shoot an infrared beam at opponents on the screen. The infrared beams are detected by the computer system running the simulation and the system will fire back an infrared beam in the direction of the originating shot. Trainees wear detectors that indicate if they have been hit.  
           [0011]    Kagan et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,045) discloses a system of multiple hand held playing devices that communicate over a wireless LAN to allow multiple players to play the same game. The individual playing devices may also communicate to a large display to show the game scenario.  
           [0012]    Dahl (U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,715) discloses a theatre based system for allowing users to make choices as to what content they wish to see on the main screen, sub-screens of the main theatre screen, or a screen in their individual seat computer. The theatre also incorporates a series of robots in front of the screen to simulate an imaginary creature to add to the video presentation.  
           [0013]    None of the proposals known to the inventors discloses or suggests a gaming system for use in a motion picture theatre or similar entertainment facility in which a large number of simultaneous multiple users can share the same game experience together, heightened and enriched by also sharing in the reactions of the total group.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming system which includes a computer, game software, a plurality of user stations, a projector, and a projection screen. The game software is executed by the computer and can permit numerous multiple users to participate in a single game, up to substantially an entire audience of a motion picture theatre or other entertainment facility. The game software for a large facility can permit up to hundreds of multiple users to participate in the game. For a small facility the game software need only be able to permit up to a few dozen users to participate. The user stations each has communication means, and also has interface means for receiving user input transmitted from the user stations to the computer via the communication means. The projector is connected to the computer, and the computer aggregates the user input to create video images for display by the projector. These video images are displayed by the projector on the projection screen such that they are fully visible from each of the user stations.  
           [0015]    The present invention can thus provide for video game control stations at the seats of a motion picture theatre or similar entertainment facility such that the members of a large or very large audience may from their seats participate in a multiple user video game which is displayed on a large screen visible to all. This game playing scenario is unique in that it allows for a large number of simultaneous multiple users to share the same game experience together, and it allows them to share the reactions of each other as the game is played.  
           [0016]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an entertainment facility, including an enclosure having a plurality of seats to accommodate an audience of a plurality of user stations a screen, the total area of the screen visible from each of the user stations; a projection system for projecting images on the screen; and a computer connected to each of the user stations and the projection system, the computer controlling the images projected on the screen, the computer receiving user input for display on the screen from the user stations.  
           [0017]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for playing a game in an entertainment facility, the method having the steps of: providing a user station at each seat in the theatre; providing a user interface to receive user input from each of the user stations; integrating the images from the game with the user input; and projecting the results of the integrating on a single screen, the results being visible from each of the user stations. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the components of the multiple user gaming system of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the components of the game server;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the components of a game controller;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the components of the purchasing/credit system; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the control logic for game controllers. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram illustrating a gaming system according to the present invention as applied to a theatre environment, the system is shown generally as  10 .  
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment the gaming system is installed in a movie theatre having a projector for screening motion pictures. The system  10  comprises a game server  12 , a plurality of game controllers  16 , a theatre projection system  20 , a purchasing/credit system  22 , and a control console  24 . Game server  12  is a computer system capable of allowing a plurality of users to play a video game. A plurality of game controllers  16  are connected to game server  12  by game controller communication links  14 . The input from the game controllers  16 , provided by links  14  is processed by game server  12 . Game server  12  renders the input from each game controller  14  and creates updated game images which are then passed to theatre projection system  20  via theatre projector communication link  18 . Theatre projection system  20  displays the input from game server  12  on a theatre screen (not shown). Images passed via link  18  are of SVGA quality or better thus allowing theatre projection system  20  to project true colour graphics onto the entire theatre screen. Theatre projection system  20  may be mounted on the ceiling of the theatre, or contained within the projection booth. Theatre projection system  20  works in conjunction with a conventional movie projector (not shown) so that images may be displayed on the theatre screen by the conventional movie projector, the projection system  20  or both projectors simultaneously.  
         [0025]    Purchasing/credit system shown generally as  22  is a control system for recording and monitoring the account status of individuals that play a game. More specifically, it tracks which users have paid to play a game and further allows for credits to be awarded to the accounts of game winners.  
         [0026]    Control console  24  provides an interface to the game server  12  through which a system administrator may control game flow including starting and re-starting games. Control console  24  also allows the system administrator to perform administrative tasks such as maintenance, backup, game installation and game removal.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the components of the game server  12  are illustrated in a schematic diagram. Game server  12  is a computer having an ISA backplane bus  30 , with a plurality of bus slots  32 . The slots  32  of the bus  30  are populated with high density serial cards  34 , single board CPUs  36 , video controller  38 , and RAID Controllers  42 . Serial cards  34  support the game controller communications links  14  connecting game server  12  to game controllers  16 . Links  14  in the preferred embodiment are serial connections capable of 115,000 BAUD communication but may be any other form of communication such as infrared or ethernet that provide the necessary bandwidth required by game server  12 . Single board CPUs  36  may be of any suitable configuration including multiple processors with shared cache, and a large amount of RAM, on the order of one gigabyte or greater. Video controller  38  uses system RAM and has a 3D daughterboard for image rendering. Video controller  38  is connected to theatre projection system by theatre projection control link  10 . Video controllers  38  controls the images displayed on the theatre screen by theatre projection system  20 . RAID controllers  42  are of the Adaptec 1000 Series.  
         [0028]    RAID controller  42  controls a plurality of SCSI drives  44  which store information on the current status of the game being played as well as user account information. RAID controls and alarms  46  monitors each of the SCSI drives  44  and alerts the RAID controller  42  of any abnormalities in operation.  
         [0029]    Game server  12  further comprises a plurality of hot-swap power supplies  48  each of which may be replaced while game server  12  is running, without interrupting the function of game server  12 . Server controls and alarms  50  serves to monitor and coordinate any abnormal behaviour occurring on game server  12 . CD-Rom/Floppy  52  provide a means by which programs or data may be copied from a CD-ROM or floppy disc to be stored on game server  12 . CD-ROM/Floppy  52  may also be used to store information from the game server  12 . A streaming tape drive may also be used to provide alternative or additional data storage and recovery capability.  
         [0030]    The configuration of game server  12  allows for system scalability in that multiple high density serial cards  34  may be added to support large numbers of game controllers  16 .  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the components of game controller  16  are shown in a schematic diagram. Game controller  16  comprises: game card reader/writer  60 , user input interface  62 , encryption component  64 , and serial interface  66 . Game controller  16  comprises the hardware and software which allow the user to register for and play a game. By inserting a game card  68  (not shown) containing sufficient credit into game card reader/writer  60 , the user may play a game. Game card  68  in the preferred embodiment is a smart card.  
         [0032]    Game card  68  will contain user profiling information such as a user name, a specific theatre or range of theatres for which the card is valid, and the “nickname” chosen by the user when playing the game. If the game card  68  provided by the user does not have sufficient credit, the user may optionally insert money into the game controller  16  via a cash box (not shown). Other means of obtaining credit may include a card swipe device for credit cards, debit cards or the like, the verification of which would occur over game controller communication link  14 . Game card reader/writer  60  is not required to practice the present invention. For example, an implementation of the present invention may choose to provide free access to the game controller  16 .  
         [0033]    The user plays the game through user input interface  62 . User input interface  62  is a set of controls that allow the user to play a variety of games. A joystick, trackball, and control buttons would be typical features. A headset (not shown) may also be provided to supply the user with gaming sound effects. Additional components such as infrared pointing devices or a virtual reality interface may further enhance the gaming experience. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art of user input interfaces, the user input interface  62  of the present invention may be enhanced to include tactile response. Such tactile response could extend to the theatre seats which could impart horizontal, vertical and vibrational motions. The actions input by the user to user input interface  62 , are sent to serial interface  66 , which in turn communicates with game server  12  by way of game controller communication link  14 .  
         [0034]    Encryption component  64  provides encryption hardware and software to allow a user to securely transmit and receive information between game card reader/writer  60  by way of game controller communication link  14 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the components of the purchasing/credit system shown generally as  22  are shown in a schematic diagram. Purchasing/credit system  22  comprises a credit link  70 , a plurality of purchase/credit stations  72 , a game card database  74 , and a main frame connection  76 .  
         [0036]    Purchasing/credit system  22  allows an individual to purchase credits for the playing of games. Credits are purchased at one of a plurality of stations  72  by introducing a game card  68  (not shown) to station  72 . Credit may be added to a game card  68  by such means as cash payment, direct bank withdrawal or credit card transfer. Additional means for obtaining credit or points are described below. When credit is required from a credit card or direct bank payment, station  72  will connect to a bank clearing house  78  by way of mainframe connection  76  to transfer credit to the game card  68 . Alternatively, should direct user access to a station  72  not be available, theatre staff would handle the applying of credit to game card  68 .  
         [0037]    All data regarding the current status of a game card  68  as well as demographic information on the user is stored in game card database  74 . Demographic information includes the given name of the user as well as a “nickname”, previous scores, handicap data, location specific data, purchase data history, winning credit amounts, and other details specific to the user. During play, a winning user may obtain additional credits which are conveyed to station  72  by game server  12  over credit link  70 . The credits then being applied to the game card  68  of the winning user. The number of points or credits acquired for a win will vary depending upon the game and also depending upon the skill level of the winner. A less skilled user will receive bonus points for defeating a more highly skilled user. A user&#39;s game playing record may be stored on the game card  68  or potentially on the database  74 , so that if a less skilled user defeats a more skilled user, the less skilled user obtains extra bonus points on the card.  
         [0038]    In use, the user would enter the theatre complex and locate a purchasing/credit station  72 . If the user did not have a game card  68  he or she may obtain one from the theatre staff or from the station  72 , by payment of cash, or through the use of a debit card, credit card or any other electronically negotiable instrument. If the user has an existing game card  68  he or she may inquire as to their balance and add credit. In the preferred embodiment game card  68  will be valid for an unlimited period of time, but may alternatively be programmed to expire after a fixed date. In addition, a limited amount of credit may be added to a game card  68  so that if game card  68  is lost by the user the user does not lose a significant amount of money.  
         [0039]    Once seated the user would then validate his or her game card  68  at the game controller  16  associated with his or her seat to authorize the user to play a game. Forms of validation may comprise: swiping, insertion or proximity recognition. Game controller  16  may also contain a numeric keypad which the user would utilize to enter a personal identification number (PIN) in order to validate his or her game card  68  and to help confirm the identity of the user of game card  68 .  
         [0040]    Some games may allow the user to join immediately, others may require that the user wait until the next game begins. Users are placed in a first come first out (FIFO) queue for games yet to be played.  
         [0041]    Once the user has paid to play a game he or she may participate in the next available game. Each game will be sufficiently short in duration to allow users to enter a new game without waiting too long. Multiple games may be played before and after the screening of a motion picture.  
         [0042]    In an alternative embodiment, the theatre may simply be used as a game emporium, where games may be played that extend for hours. Multiple screen cinemas may provide a plurality of games of different interests, much as they now provide for diverse motion pictures.  
         [0043]    The present invention makes use of the existing power facilities of a theatre. The game server  12  requires a standard  110 / 120  or the like power outlet and no power is required to the game controller, as power for data transmission is provided by the game server  12 .  
         [0044]    With regard to the types of games to be played, some of the considerations that must be weighed in creating a new game or in the migration of an existing game to the present invention are:  
         [0045]    a) substantially every seat in the theatre may be equipped to play although there may be a maximum number of users per game that is less than the total number of seats in the theatre;  
         [0046]    b) games prior and subsequent to motion picture screenings will primarily be action/adventure games as first-person perspective or role-playing games are too long to play out;  
         [0047]    c) first-person perspective or role-playing games may utilize the theatre when movies are not being shown;  
         [0048]    d) everyone in the theatre may potentially join in a game, while the game is being played, depending on the game, it may not be a disadvantage to join a game that has already started;  
         [0049]    e) the game can be joined at any time, or all users must be registered before the game begins;  
         [0050]    f) in games to be played before the screening of a motion picture starts, game duration will be short enough to permit several games to be played;  
         [0051]    g) games can be common goal games where all participants are pursuing the same objective, or they can be competitive;  
         [0052]    h) there could potentially be two or more games ongoing by splitting the screen to display multiple games concurrently, so that a new game starts every minute as opposed to a longer period;  
         [0053]    i) user handicaps may be introduced to make it more difficult for expert users to win consistently; and  
         [0054]    j) games may be played between multiple users from multiple venues.  
         [0055]    Game Programming Interface (GPI)  
         [0056]    In order to program game server  12 , a Gaming Programming Interface (GPI)  80  (not shown) is provided. Gaming Programming Interface  80  is a library of computer software functions to access and communicate with the underlying software and hardware provided by the gaming system  10 . The GPI  80  is structured in such a way as to take advantage of the underlying hardware, yet remain generic so that platform upgradability will be facilitated.  
         [0057]    The GPI  80  serves as a middleware layer between the game software and the gaming system  10 . This architecture of gaming system  10  allows for upgrades and expansion without affecting game developers.  
         [0058]    Game developers that are familiar with common Operating System Application Programming Interfaces (OS API&#39;s) will find the GPI  80  libraries familiar. The complexities of the multi-user environment will be hidden from the developer.  
         [0059]    The GPI  80  provides functions that can be used by game developers to access the game controller  16  and game card reader/writer  60  located at each seat in the theatre. This functionality includes retrieving data from the game controllers  16 , sending data to the game controllers  16 , and polling the game controllers  16  to determine when a new user has entered the game. In addition, since the game card reader/writer  60  are located with the game controller  16 , the GPI  80  also provides functions to retrieve user data from the game card  68 , remove credit/money from the game card  68 , and add credit/money to the game card  68 .  
         [0060]    In order to allow the game developer the ability to display the video game on the theatre projection system  20 , GPI  80  functions are available for the play area of the projected display, as well as a commercial area of the display. In this manner, a game is given access to a certain area of the screen, and surrounding areas are made available for advertising. The GPI  80  will provide for a generic interface to various projection systems.  
         [0061]    In the preferred embodiment game development will be based on the Windows operating system, and thus will utilize the pre-existing Windows API set. A description of the functionality provided by the GPI  80  follows.  
         [0062]    Game Controllers  
         [0063]    There will be multiple game controllers  16  connected to the gaming system  10 , and as such, a game developer will require access each controller. The following functions for game controllers  16  will be provided as part of the GPI function set:  
         [0064]    Function: GPI_ActivateController  
         [0065]    Description: The function will be used to activate the controller as specified in the parameters. Once the controller is activated, the gaming system will poll that controller for events. If the controller is inactive, then any movements at the controller will not be recorded.  
         [0066]    Function: GPI_DeActivateController  
         [0067]    Description: The function will be used to deactivate a controller once an individual has finished playing. This removes the controller from the pool of controllers that the gaming system polls for events.  
         [0068]    Function: GPI_RegisterControllerEvent  
         [0069]    Description: The function will be used to register an event per available controller or one event for all controllers. This event will be signalled when a controller movement is recognized.  
         [0070]    Function: GPI_RegisterControllerCallBackFunction  
         [0071]    Description: This function will register a call back function supplied by the developer that will be called when a controller event is detected. A call back function can be supplied for each controller or for all the controllers.  
         [0072]    Function: GPI_GetControllerEvent  
         [0073]    Description: This function will be used to read the next event in queue from the controller specified in the parameters. Each event generated by the controller will be placed in a queue and will remain there until the application reads it.  
         [0074]    Function: GPI_ControllerDisplay  
         [0075]    Description: This function will control any lights or displays made available on the individual controllers. This will be used primarily to indicate when it is time for an individual to play (a light will be activated on the controller).  
         [0076]    Function: GPI_GetNumOfControllers  
         [0077]    Description: This function will return the number of available controllers attached to the Gaming system.  
         [0078]    Utilizing the above functions, a game developer may develop a gaming application that interfaces with the game controllers  16  of the gaming system  10  in a manner as illustrated by the flowchart of FIG. 5.  
         [0079]    Card Readers  
         [0080]    The card reader  60  permits a user to pay to play and to receive credits upon winning. The reader  60  must be controllable so that the appropriate credits may be added and removed. The following functions are provided by the GPI  80  to access the card reader  60 .  
         [0081]    Function: GPI_RegisterCardReaderEvent  
         [0082]    Description: This function will be used to register an event per card reader or one event to represent all card readers. This event will be signalled when an event is detected at a card reader (i.e. card inserted or card removed).  
         [0083]    Function: GPI_RegisterCardReaderCallbackFunction  
         [0084]    Description: Similar to the above function, but this function will be used to register a call back function rather than an event. This call back function will be called whenever a card reader event is detected.  
         [0085]    Function: GPI_ReadCardInfo  
         [0086]    Description: This function will be used to retrieve user specific information from the game card. This information may include the users “nickname”, the game card ID, the users handicap or skill level, etc.  
         [0087]    Function: GPI_WriteCardInfo  
         [0088]    Description: This function will be used to populate the user information stored on the card. This will be used frequently to upgrade or downgrade a users difficulty level as time goes on.  
         [0089]    Function: GPI_GetCurrentPlayers  
         [0090]    Description: This function does not directly access the card reader but is related because it will retrieve a list of all the users currently playing or waiting to play. The list will include and identifier of the users seat, the game card ID, and the users “nickname”.  
         [0091]    Function: GPI_GetCreditInfo  
         [0092]    Description: This function will retrieve the amount of credit currently available on a users game card.  
         [0093]    Function: GPI_AddCredit  
         [0094]    Description: This function will be used to add credit to a users game card.  
         [0095]    Function: GPI_RemoveCredit  
         [0096]    Description: Used to remove credit from a users game card.  
         [0097]    Function: GPI_EjectCard  
         [0098]    Description: Used to eject a game card from a card reader once the users game is over.  
         [0099]    Database Functions  
         [0100]    The GPI provides functions to access and create records and tables in the game card database  74 . This may be useful for game developers who wish to store various game parameters or scores in a secure area. The database  74  contains game scores, and as such has GPI  80  functions to add a new score to the database  74 , remove a score, and retrieve a list of scores. The database  74  will be accessible using standard ODBC SQL commands.  
         [0101]    Video Controller Functions  
         [0102]    As mentioned previously, the gaming system  10  will permit developers to access the video controller via existing Windows functions. As development progresses, the GPI will be extended to encompass the video controller in its API set.  
         [0103]    Sound Controller Functions  
         [0104]    The initial stage of the gaming system  10  will permit developers to use standard Windows APIs to access the sound card.  
         [0105]    The theatre sound system (not shown) is driven by a single board CPU  36  of the gaming system  10 , and as such, has a generic interface. The GPI will primarily provide functionality to access the single board CPU  36  for sound generation rather than recording. Functionality for recording, may also be provided.  
         [0106]    With regard to attracting and retaining game users, the inventors consider the following to be potential marketing initiatives:  
         [0107]    a) advertising in conjunction with the currently playing movies, the advertising to indicate game titles that are playing in each theatre along with the actual movie showing;  
         [0108]    b) tournaments, the winner from one theatre will play a synchronized game against winners from other theatres while everyone in the respective local theatre may watch;  
         [0109]    c) expert users may become know on a national level and be rewarded for making theatre appearances;  
         [0110]    d) a new game may be linked to new movie or theatre opening, or the release of a game a month or so in advance of the release of the movie, may serve as a more substantial “teaser” or introduction to the movie as opposed to the traditional form of movie trailers;  
         [0111]    e) game cards may be used to acquire credit at venues outside the theatre, for example, they may be recognized by retailers who would add credits for retail purchases; and  
         [0112]    f) in addition to projecting the game, the projection system  20  can simultaneously project advertising, advertising space on the screen may be sold by the theatre or by a local or national agency.  
         [0113]    Although the inventors have chosen the software implementing the preferred embodiment of the GPI  80  of the gaming system  10  to execute on the MicroSoft Windows Operating System, one skilled in the art will recognize that many operating systems provide similar functionality, the decision of the inventor to in selecting Windows was based upon their market share. The invention may be implemented on any other operating system.  
         [0114]    The gaming system  10  is not intended by the inventors to be restricted to movie theatres. Gaming system  10  may reside in any multiple use facility such as a stadium, amphitheatre, concert hall or the like. Any facility, regardless of the size, that is capable of housing the equipment required for the present invention and allowing for the use of multiple users is intended by the inventors to be within the scope of the present invention. The scalability or expandability of the disclosed architecture, provides for such a capability.  
         [0115]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of and arrangement of components illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced or carried out in various ways within the scope of the claims. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. For example, the term “video game” is intended to encompass any interactive gaming system with a visual display.