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Multiple sequence video game

Multiple sequence video game description/claims

The present invention relates to video games and in particular to video games which are easy to play and require a series of inputs to complete a first event of a series of events.

Video games are readily available that have a high degree of sophistication and require a player to gain experience with respect to the game and the strategies thereof in order to consistently achieve better results. These types of games are popular with respect to users who play frequently and often have extensive related game experience.

In some cases it is desirable to have a video game that is relatively simple to understand and easily played to achieve reasonable results. Our prior video game “Gone Fishing” is an example of a simplified video game that has had considerable commercial success. This type of game is preferably used in association with a pay to play video game terminal that is often provided in a bar or restaurant type environment. There is little or no reluctance to play the game as the learning curve is extremely short and reasonable results are easily obtained or poor results easily dismissed as bad luck. The game includes a timing element or skill element where the player has a single input and the timing of that input determines the result of a particular event. A series of events each having an independent score are combined to provide a game score. With this arrangement, if there are a sufficient number of events, some events will not be used as part of the combined score. For example, only the top five events may be used to determine the game score. Typically, there is a fixed time period for completing as many events as possible thereby increasing the possibility of a better game score.

Although, our game “Gone Fishing” has experienced considerable success, the element of skill or the ability for the player to use strategy in maximizing the game score requires improvement. The aspect that the game is easily understood and easily implemented makes it attractive to a very large group of players both serious game players as well as first time or infrequent users.

The present game system is designed to be easy to play while involving skill and strategy elements to improve scores.

The present game system in a preferred embodiment seeks to mitigate a number of these issues and provide a game format which is attractive to a large number of players while also having a significant skill factor where the skill of the player contributes to the game results.

A video game system according to the present invention includes a series of heats with each heat requiring multiple inputs of a single input device for determining the user's performance within each heat and providing a score for each heat. The game further includes a combined game score based on the performance within at least three of the heats.

According to an aspect of the invention, the game has a maximum time period for completing the series of heats and the maximum time period is of a sufficient duration to allow completion of a number of heats greater than the number of heats required for the combined game score.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, the maximum game time is less than three minutes and the average time to complete a heat and start a following heat is less than 30 seconds.

In a further aspect of the invention, the combined game score is based on the best five heats.

In a further aspect of the invention, the game includes a heat termination input to allow a player to selectively terminate a heat prior to completion thereof and allow earlier initiation of a following heat.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, each heat includes a visual start to finish display of the actual performance within the heat as it progresses relative to a desirable performance within the heat to allow assessment of whether a heat should be selectively terminated.

In a further aspect of the invention, the game includes multiple inputs for each heat including a start input and at least three shift inputs.

In a further aspect of the invention, each heat includes a countdown indicator associate with a starting time for each heat where the start input is not recognized before the start time.

In a further aspect of the invention, a visual display of an engine RPM meter and a speedometer are provided on a touch screen display and the timing of the series of inputs relative to a start signal determines the score for each heat.

A video game according to the invention comprises a series of heats with each heat requiring multiple inputs of a single signal input function for determining the user's performance within each heat and providing a score for each heat. The game further includes a combined game score based on the performance within at least three heats. The game includes a timing function for determining the time of each input of said series of inputs relative to a heat start signal and the time of each input is used to determine the score for each heat.

In a further aspect of the invention, each heat includes a visual display of the actual performance within the heat as it progresses relative to a desirable performance within the heat to allow assessment of whether a heat should be selectively terminated. The game includes a separate heat termination input to allow users to terminate a heat prior to completion thereof and allow earlier initiation of a following heat.

In a further aspect of the invention, the game has a maximum time period for completing the series of heats and the maximum time period is of a sufficient duration to allow completion of a number of heats greater than the number of heats required for the combined game score.

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