System and method for sending information across a video game network

Abstract

A wide area vehicle driving video game is discussed that includes remote activation of sounds that are communicated to other players across the wide area network. Also discussed is a naming feature that presents the names of players next to the car that they are driving. The name is presented in a font that can be read no matter how far away the car appears in the video game display.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for displaying the names of game players in a first networked arcade game, comprising: 
 a first memory configured to store the names of game players in the networked arcade game;    an on-screen indicia representing each player in the networked arcade game;    a first module configured to read the names of players from the first memory; and    a second module configured to display the names of players in a fixed font size adjacent to each player's on-screen indicia.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the networked arcade game is a car driving game and the indicia is a car.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a state table.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second module is configured to display a line between the indicia and the displayed name.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second module is configured to display an arrow between the indicia and the displayed name.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first networked arcade game is connected to a second networked arcade game through a communications link, and wherein a name of a player using the first networked arcade game is displayed on a display screen of the second networked arcade game.  
     
     
         7 . A system for displaying the names of game players in a first arcade game, comprising: 
 means for storing the names of game players in the networked arcade game;    an indicia representing each player in the networked arcade game;    means for reading the names of players from the first memory;    means for displaying the names of players in a fixed font size adjacent to each player's on-screen indicia.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the arcade game is a car driving game and the indicia is a car.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the memory comprises a state table.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the means for displaying is configured to displaying a line between the indicia and the displayed name.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the means for displaying is configured to display an arrow between the indicia and the displayed name.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first arcade game is connected to a second arcade game through a communications link, and wherein a name of a player using the first arcade game is displayed on a display screen of the second arcade game.  
     
     
         13 . A method for displaying names of players within a game unit, comprising: 
 transmitting the name of a first player from a first game unit to a memory in a second game unit;    reading the name of the first player from the memory; and    displaying the name of the first player adjacent a video representation of an object being controlled by the player, wherein the name is displayed in a fixed font size.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first game unit is a car driving game and the video representation of an object is a video representation of a car.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the memory is selected from the group consisting of: a Random Access Memory, a hard disk and a floppy disk.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the name of the first player is displayed above the video representation of the object.  
     
     
         17 . A system for displaying names of players within a game unit, comprising: 
 means for transmitting the name of a first player from a first game unit to a memory in a second game unit;    means for reading the name of the first player from the memory; and    means for displaying the name of the first player adjacent a video representation of an object being controlled by the player, wherein the name is displayed in a fixed font size.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first game unit is a car driving game and the video representation of an object is a video representation of a car.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the memory is selected from the group consisting of: a Random Access Memory, a hard disk and a floppy disk.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the name of the first player is displayed above the video representation of the object.