Abstract:
Methods and systems for inserting customizable content into a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment that has been converted to operate in an arcade-style environment are disclosed. According to the present invention, a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment is operated in the personal computer environment using a computer operating system and compatible software. An arcade-style environment is created by securing the personal computer environment to prevent unwanted computer programs from running in the personal computing environment. Arcade-style environment features are added to the computer game. Communications between the computer game and the operating system are monitored and game relevant data can be communicated between the arcade-style environment and the personal computer environment. Customizable content can be inserted into the communication between the computer game and the operating system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to computer game programming. Specifically, the present invention relates to including customized content in a computer game originally designed to operate in a personal computing environment that has been converted to operate in an arcade-style environment.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Typically a personal computer includes a central processing unit (CPU), memory devices, input devices, and output devices. Memory devices typically include random access memory (RAM) devices and read only memory (ROM) devices which can be comprised of memory chips, or other volatile memory devices, hard drives, or other non-volatile memory devices. Input devices typically include keyboards (such as alpha, numeric, or combined alphanumeric keyboards), and pointing devices (such as a mouse, touchpad, or trackball). Output devices typically include audio output devices (such as speaker systems) and video output devices (such as a monitor).  
         [0003]     The overall operation of a computer of the type described above is controlled by the operating system. The operating system integrates the functions of the computer hardware (CPU, memory, input devices, output devices) with software loaded into the computer. For example, the operating system controls, among other things, what and how items are displayed on the monitor, how to take input from a mouse and turn that input into a pointer on the monitor as part of a graphical user interface, how to read and write data to a hard drive, and how to store information in RAM for future access.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, the operating system integrates software to software communications for the various software programs operating in the computer. For example, a word processing software program typically displays letters or numbers on the monitor as they are entered on the keyboard. To accomplish the familiar task, the keyboard input is read by the operating system software, which communicates this piece of information to the word processing software, which receives the information and tells the operating system to display the newly typed letter or number on the monitor. The operating system software then communicates the appropriate instructions to the monitor to display the appropriate image.  
         [0005]     The traditional arcade-style computer game machine shares many features with a personal computer. An arcade-style computer game machine encompasses arcade, vending and/or coin-operated computer game machines, as the terms are used by those skilled in the art. In arcade-style computer game machines, a user activates the machine by inserting a coin/token, inserting or swiping a credit or promotion card, card swipe, or pressing a button for free play. The machine will activate for interactive game play activity and/or video presentation/advertisement with the possibility of redemption of prizes or coupons. The user interacts with the machine for a specified time, where the specified time is controlled by software in the machine. The traditional arcade-style computer game machine has a CPU, memory, input, and output devices. However, because they are typically configured to run only one, or only a small number of games, the arcade-style computer game machine generally does not require the higher level of functionality of the personal computer operating system. In many instances, the arcade-style computer game machine hardware is developed in conjunction with the arcade-style computer game software, resulting in the arcade-style computer game software performing the function of the operating system at the same time it is performing game running functions. However, the arcade-style computer game machine also has many arcade-style machine specific features, such as accounting features to regulate game play based on inserted money or tokens, and attract mode features, which include specific displays and sounds to be played in between game play sessions.  
         [0006]     Historically to convert a game designed to operate in a personal computer environment to a game designed to operate in an arcade-style environment required extensive rewriting of the game programming software. The rewritten game programming software will include the types of arcade-style specific features mentioned above, including arcade-style specific accounting features, display features, sound features, and control features. Rewriting the game programming software is an expensive and time consuming task.  
         [0007]     Including advertising or other customized content into arcade style games has been known for some time. For example, many arcade style games feature messages encouraging users to avoid illegal drugs and alcohol as part of the game&#39;s attract mode. More recently, there has been interest in having customized content piped into arcade style games through a network, such as the internet. However, like the game software itself, the programming for such customized content is programmed and developed in conjunction with the arcade game machine hardware and in effect is part of the overall operating system for the arcade game machine.  
         [0008]     There remains a need for a system that can insert advertising and other customized content into a computer game designed for a personal computing environment that has been converted to a game suitable for use in an arcade-style environment without requiring a nearly complete reprogramming of the game software. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a system that can include customized content in a computer game designed to operate in a personal computing environment that has been converted to operate in an arcade-style environment.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     In view of the deficiencies described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system that converts a computer game designed for a personal computing environment to a game suitable for use in an arcade-style environment without requiring a nearly complete reprogramming of the game software.  
         [0010]     The present invention includes method and systems for inserting customizable content into a computer game originally designed for a personal computing environment that has been converted to a game suitable for use in an arcade-style environment.  
         [0011]     According to the present invention, a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment is operated in the personal computer environment using a computer operating system and compatible software. An arcade-style environment is created by securing the personal computer environment to prevent unwanted computer programs from running in the personal computing environment; this can be accomplished, in part, by replacing the default operating system interface with an arcade-style operations interface.  
         [0012]     Arcade-style environment features are added to the computer game. Arcade-style environment features include arcade-style specific accounting features, arcade-style specific sounds, arcade-style specific displays, and arcade-style specific controls.  
         [0013]     Communications between the computer game and the operating system are monitored. Game relevant data can be communicated between the arcade-style environment and the personal computer environment. Typically, these communications are accomplished using messaging software.  
         [0014]     The customized content can include advertising or other content that the arcade operator wishes to have displayed as part of the game experience. The customized content can be stored locally on the computer running the arcade-style game machine or can be stored on computer network. This network can be either a closed localized network, or a public network, such as the internet.  
         [0015]     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like features. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a representation of the present invention in block diagram form.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the operation of the present invention in block diagram form. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0019]     The present invention is a system for operating a computer game or other computer program that was originally designed and intended to run in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style type environment.  FIG. 1  shows a representation of an arcade-style computing environment according to the present invention in block diagram form. In the present invention the computer game  100  is operated in the environment it was intended to operate in, namely a personal computing environment  110  using a conventional operating system  120 , and an arcade-style environment  130  is created around the personal computing environment  110 . Examples of conventional operating systems include, but are not limited to, MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® based operating systems or LINUX® based operating systems.  
         [0020]     The arcade-style environment  130  is created by securing the personal computing environment  110 , as much as present technology allows a computer to be secured. Securing the personal computer environment restricts access to the computer and prevents unwanted programs or processes from running in the personal computing environment  110 . In part, the arcade-style environment  130  is created by replacing the default operating system interface  140  with an arcade-style operations interface  150 . For example, for a computer running a MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® based operating system, the WINDOWS® desktop is replaced by an arcade-style interface  150  that limits access to desired computer programs, such as the computer game  100  loaded into the machine and or other arcade-style operation processes.  
         [0021]     Arcade-style environment features  160  are added to the computer game  100  through computer programs that act as an overlay to the computer game  100  and interface between the computer game  100  and the operating system  120 . The arcade-style environment  130  features can include accounting features  170 , arcade-style specific sounds  180 , arcade-style specific displays  190 , and arcade-style specific controls  200 .  
         [0022]     To know when and what arcade-style features  160  to add at any particular moment, the present invention includes computer programs to monitor communications between the computer game  100  the said operating system  120  and communicate game relevant data between the arcade-style environment  130  the said personal computer environment  110 .  FIG. 2  shows the operation of the present invention in block diagram form. For example, the typical computer game  110  draws or redraws or refreshes the appearance of the display many times per second. In order to accomplish this, the computer game  100  communicates with the operating system via messaging software  210 . In the example case, the messages would include requests and data from the computer game  100  to the operating system  120  to redraw the display. The present invention can monitor these messages and, where appropriate, add, remove, or modify the data to make the computer game  100  play appropriate for the arcade-style environment  130 . In the display redraw example case, the present invention can add data to display redraw message to add in display information for remaining credits. The same principle applies for any of the arcade-style specific accounting features  170 , arcade-style specific sounds  180 , arcade-style specific displays  190 , and arcade-style specific controls  200 .  
         [0023]     As part of adding arcade-style features  160  to the computer game  100 , game features specific to game play in the personal computing environment  110  can be turned off or have access to these features restricted so that the arcade-style operator retains controls of these features. For example, in the personal computing environment  110 , the game may have user selectable features for screen resolution, difficulty level, network play, or redefineable controls, among other things. As will be discussed below, in the arcade-style environment  130  these features are controllable, if at all, by the arcade-style operator and not the game player.  
         [0024]     Arcade-style accounting features  170  include the computer programs and related hardware needed for coin operation and arcade-style operator control of the computer game. These features can include credits per play, coins per credit, coins received in each coin slot, credits per continue, free play mode, one and two player game modes, one and two player continue modes, first extra play score, additional extra play score, first extra play time, additional extra play time, first prize ticket score, additional prize ticket score, first prize ticket time, additional prize ticket time, start time, continue time, and difficulty levels. Other accounting features can include historical and or statistical information regarding game play, such as longest game time, average game time, average continue time, highest level played, average level played per game. Many of the accounting features  170  may be adjustable by an arcade-style operator to achieve a desired level of profits and gaming enjoyment. Other accounting features  170  known to those skilled in the art may also be included.  
         [0025]     Arcade-style specific sounds  180  include sounds that generally would not be programmed into a computer game  100  designed for use in a personal computing environment  110 , but are typically used in the arcade-style environment  130 . For example, it is common practice in the arcade-style game industry to play a specific sound each time a coin is entered into a coin slot. Such a sound would not be applicable for a game designed for play in a personal computing environment  110 . Arcade-style specific sounds  180  can include game music, game music volume, game sound effects, game sound effects volume, attract mode music, attract mode volume, attract mode sound effects, and attract mode sound effects volume. As with the accounting features  170 , many of the arcade-style specific sounds  180  may be adjustable by an arcade-style operator. Other arcade-style specific sounds  180  known to those skilled in the art may also be included.  
         [0026]     Arcade-style specific displays  190  include displays and elements of displays that generally would not be programmed into a computer game  100  designed for use in a personal computing environment  110 , but are typically used an arcade-style environment  130 . For example, it is common practice in the arcade-style game industry to display the number of “lives” the game player has left. In many computer games  100  designed for play in a personal computing environment  110 , such a display is not required. Arcade-style specific displays  190  can include remaining lives, remaining time, continue time remaining, credits remaining, attract mode displays and high score tables. As with the accounting features  170 , many of the arcade-style specific displays  190  may be adjustable by an arcade-style operator. Other arcade-style specific displays  190  known to those skilled in the art may also be included.  
         [0027]     Arcade-style specific controls  200  include controls that generally would not be programmed into a computer game  100  designed for use in a personal computing environment  110 , but are typically used an arcade-style environment  130 . For example, it is common practice for computer game  100  play in computer games designed for use in a personal computing environment  110  to be controlled by a combination of keyboard and mouse inputs. However, in the arcade-style environment  130  game play is typically controlled by a limited number of buttons, joysticks and trackballs. Many times there is not a convenient one-to-one correlation between the controls for computer game  100  play in the personal computing environment  110  and computer game  100  play in the arcade-style environment  130 . For example, in the personal computing environment  110 , the computer game  100  may use the letters “A”, “S”, “W”, and “X” inputted on a keyboard to move a character to the left, right, forward, and backward, respectively in the game, however, in the arcade-style environment  130  it may be more appropriate to control these movements with a single joystick. Accordingly, in various embodiments it may be necessary to map arcade-style specific control  200  outputs to inputs compatible with the computer game  100  when the computer game  100  is operating in a personal computer environment  130 . As with the other features, many of the arcade-style specific controls  200  may be adjustable by an arcade-style operator. Other arcade-style specific controls  200  known to those skilled in the art may also be included.  
         [0028]     As stated above, the present invention can monitor the messages, sent via the messaging software  210 , between the computer game  100  and the operating system  120  and, where appropriate, add, remove, or modify the data to make the computer game  100  play appropriate for the arcade-style environment  130 . Part of the data added into the messages can include customized content  220 . The customized content can include advertising or other content that the arcade operator wishes to have displayed as part of the game experience.  
         [0029]     The customized content  220  can be stored locally on the computer running the arcade-style game machine. Preferably, the customized content  220  originates from, or is stored on, a computer network. This network can be either a closed localized network, or a public network, such as the internet. This allows the arcade operator to have the customized content  220  available to multiple arcade-style game machines at the same time. Additionally, this allows the arcade operator to modify the customized content at a single source for all the arcade-style game machines on the network.  
         [0030]     The inclusion of customized content  220  into the arcade-style game opens an alternative revenue stream for the arcade operator. For example, the arcade operator can contract with content providers, wherein the arcade operator allows the content provider to display their content on the operator&#39;s arcade-style game machines in exchange for payment from the content provider to the arcade operator.  
         [0031]     While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.