Patent ID: 8613674

Claim:
A game system, comprising: a game console comprising; a CPU; b) a computer readable medium; c) a network interface; d) an operating system stored on the computer readable medium; e) a video interface port for transmitting a video signal to a display; f) a system bus interconnecting the computer readable medium, the CPU, the network interface and the video port; g) a first video game application for providing game play stored, at least in part, on the computer readable medium; a smart phone connected wirelessly to a cellular network and to the game console, the connection to the game console being within a short range; and wherein the game console further comprises a set of computer readable instructions for: a) pairing the smart phone with the game console and controlling the smart phone; b) wirelessly transmitting a first phone number associated with a first gamer tag to the smart phone; c) receiving a first message wirelessly from the smart phone; d) receiving a second message from a first smart device via the network interface; e) displaying the first or second message within a video game image projected by a display connected to the video interface port or transmitting the first message or the second message to a speaker, wherein the first or second message is displayed or transmitted without suspending gameplay; f) transmitting a reply to the smart phone or the first smart device, wherein the reply is inputted to the game console without suspending game play.