Video architecture and methodology for family of related games

Abstract

This invention relates to video games, their design, architecture, methodology, and more particularly to an architecture and methodology for providing interchangeable reward provision. The present invention provides for a nucleus of game application core and fixed image database and sound database, which are utilized in conjunction with interchangeable linked image databases including visual and sound, so as to permit a single video game design effort to have multiple lives and additional revenues.

1 . A video game system for providing a display presentation, the system comprising: 
 core game application logic for providing video game logic associated with a video game and a respective display presentation therefor as associated with the video game,    Core Image Database (CID) comprising a core set of video image data and audio image data in a structure comprising a Core Image Database Fixed portion (CIDF) and a Core Image Database Variable (CIDV) portion, and    an image-mapper for providing control for managing and selecting of video image data and audio image data from a combination of the CIDF portion and the CIDV portion, to provide all content needed to provide the display presentation, responsive to the core game application logic.    
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the CIDV is comprised at least in part of logical association with a defined area in the display presentation for insertion of a visual image; and 
 wherein said image-mapper provides control for managing and selecting of linked video image data for a defined video image, to provide all content needed to provide the display presentation, responsive to the core game application logic and to the CIDV for insertion of the defined video image into the defined area.    
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a Linked Image Database (LID), providing at least one of variable audio image data and variable video image data,    wherein the image-mapper provides for replacement of at least one of the video image data and the audio image data from the CID, as otherwise associated with the video game, with the at least one of the variable audio image data and the variable video image data from the LID, while retaining the video game logic as associated with the video game.    
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 3 , wherein said LID has an associated Linked Databases Index (LDI) utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of the CID and the LID.  
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein there is a plurality of LIDs; and 
 wherein each of said LIDs has an associated LDI utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of the CID and the respective LID to provide an integrated video game with an associated integrated display presentation.    
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein the respective LID and the LDI are provided as stored content separate from the CID.  
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 6 , wherein the stored content is provided on a non-volatile storage medium.  
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 7 , wherein the non-volatile storage medium is, at least, one of; a CD (compact disk), a DVD, semiconductor memory, and a hard disk.  
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 5 , wherein the LIDs and the LDI are utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of the CIDF and the LID to create the representative display presentation uniquely for each of the combinations.  
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein the LID is representative of at least one of a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music, music video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short, an interactive performance of a user input based music composition performance, a change of at least one color in the display presentation of the video game, and at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a display presentation.  
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 2 , wherein the defined area is displayed with a default presentation responsive to no associated linked image data being present.  
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 2 , wherein the wherein the CIDV is selectively updated via online linkage for associating the CIDV portion with the linked video image.  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein the LDI provides for a mapping index defining the mapping of the LID into the CIDV portion.  
     
     
         15 . The system as in  14 , wherein the LID is coupled to the system via online linkage to provide for online integration and mapping of the LID into the CIDV portion responsive to the LDI.  
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 15 , wherein the core application logic selectively updates via the online linkage substituting the CIDV portion with the LID responsive to the LDI.  
     
     
         17 . The system as in  claim 16 , wherein basic game rules and game play stays consistent with a change in the display presentation responsive to the substituting.  
     
     
         18 . The system as in  claim 16 , wherein basic game rules and game play stays consistent before and after the substituting, with a change in the display presentation of providing at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content in the display presentation responsive to the substituting and to the core game logic.  
     
     
         19 . The system as in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content in the display presentation is, at least, one of: a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, and vehicles.  
     
     
         20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . The system as in  claim 19 , wherein the reward is an interactive performance of a user-created music composition provided by at least one third party performer.  
     
     
         23 . The system as in  claim 19 , wherein the reward is utilized to facilitate music education.  
     
     
         24 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the video image data and audio image data are grouped into one of game play content and reward content; and 
 wherein the display presentation is provided responsive to at least one of the game play content and the reward content.    
     
     
         25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . The system as in  claim 24 , wherein the display presentation is provided responsive to the game play content until a reward threshold is reached, and 
 wherein the display presentation is at least in part provided responsive to the reward content, for at least a minimum defined period of time, responsive to the reward threshold being reached.    
     
     
         27 . The system as in  claim 24 , wherein the reward content is comprised of at least one of music videos, movie trailers, television commercials, advertisements, an audiovisual presentation, an audio presentation, a video presentation, and a change in game play appearance.  
     
     
         28 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the CIDV can be utilized by and among a family of a plurality of interchangeable Liked Image Databases (LID)s to provide a plurality of video games all with a common family core game operability and identity and each with at least in part different appearance in the display presentation responsive to the respective LID.  
     
     
         29 . The system as in  claim 1 , further comprising: means for utilizing the CIDV to change at least a pad of underlying audiovisual imagery associated with game play.  
     
     
         30 . The system as in  claim 3 , further comprising: means for utilizing the LID to provide additional content beyond the content normally associated with the display presentation of the video game.  
     
     
         31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the CIDV portion is associated with a change in the audiovisual game imagery normally associated with the display presentation of the video game.  
     
     
         33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein integration of said LID into the display presentation creates an associated new appearance video game responsive to the video game logic of the core game application logic.  
     
     
         35 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein there are a plurality of separate ones of said LIDs each structured for integration into the display presentation of the video game, responsive to the video game logic of the core game application logic, and wherein each of said plurality of said LIDs creates an associated new appearance to the display presentation of the video game responsive to the core game application logic.  
     
     
         36 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the core game application logic is utilized to support a common identity game structure supportive of a common single development environment utilizing core game application software with the image-mapper and the CIDF portion, utilized in conjunction with the CIDV portion to provide all content needed to provide the display presentation, 
 wherein said CID provides a CIDV index defining mapping into the CIDV portion to provide for integration of a Linked Image Database (LID) providing at least one of LID video image data and LID audio image data utilized in the display presentation.    
     
     
         37 . The system as in  36 , wherein there are a plurality of the LIDs, wherein the system provides for a family of a plurality of video game entertainment products, each of the plurality utilizing the common identity game structure supportive of a common single development environment with each of the plurality utilizing a different one of the plurality of the LIDs responsive to the CIDV index.  
     
     
         38 . The system as in  claim 37 , wherein for each said LID, a CIDV index is provided defining the mapping of the LID into the CIDV portion to provide all content needed to provide the display presentation.  
     
     
         39 . The system as in  38 , wherein there are a plurality of the LIDs, wherein the system provides for providing a family of a plurality of vjdeo game entertainment products, each of the plurality utilizing the common identity game structure supportive of a common single development environment with each of the plurality utilizing a different one of the plurality of the LIDs responsive to the CIDV index.  
     
     
         40 . The system as in  claim 38 , wherein the system has a processing system including local memory, wherein the CIDV index for the LID is loaded into the local memory of the system to facilitate selectively mapping the LID into the CIDV portion as needed to provide content needed to provide the display presentation.  
     
     
         41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the core application logic is comprised of core game application software structured for a target genre of video game.  
     
     
         43 . The system as in  claim 42 , wherein the target genre is, at least, one of: musical education, role-playing game, action game, mystery game, war-game, dance game, sports game, vehicle driving game and simulator game.  
     
     
         44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein the image-mapper logic controls the selection from the CIDF portion, the CIDV portion and the LID to provide all content needed to provide the display presentation.  
     
     
         46 . (canceled)  
     
     
         47 . (canceled)  
     
     
         48 . (canceled)  
     
     
         49 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein a mapping index is provided by the LID, wherein LID) variables each having a LED variable name are provided within the LID and are logically indexed in the mapping index according to the LID variable names, wherein a pointer provides a CID location to associate with a respective one of the LID variable names in the mapping index.  
     
     
         50 . The system as in  claim 49 , wherein the mapping index provides for a mapping from the CID to the respective one of the LID variable names to provide for selectively obtaining at least one of audio, video and audiovisual content from the LID for use by the image-mapper logic for integration and use in providing the presentation output.  
     
     
         51 . A method for providing a display presentation for a video game, the method comprising: 
 providing video game logic for providing a respective display presentation associated with the video game;    providing a Core Image Database (CID) comprising a core set of video image data and audio image data in a structure comprising a Core Image Database Fixed portion (CIDF) and a core Image Database Variable portion (CIDV); and    providing image-mapper control for managing and selecting of at least one of video image data and audio image data from a combination of the CIDF portion and the CIDV portion, to provide all content needed by the video game logic to provide the display presentation.    
     
     
         52 . (canceled)  
     
     
         53 . The method as in  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 providing a Linked Image Database (LID), comprising at least one of variable audio image data and variable video image data, and 
 wherein the providing image-mapper control provides for replacement of at least one of the video image data and audio image data from the combination of the CIDF portion and the CIDV, as otherwise associated with the video game, with at least one of the respective variables video image data and the respective variable audio image data from the LID, while retaining the video game logic therefor as associated with the video game.  
   
     
     
         54 . The method as in  claim 53 , wherein said LID has an associated Linked Databases Index (LDI) utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of the CID and the LID.  
     
     
         55 . A video interactive entertainment system comprising: 
 a core image database (CID) comprising video image data and audio image data, and further comprising a fixed portion (CIDF) and a variable portion (CIDV) which together define the complete image content for a presentation associated with interactive video entertainment;    mapping means for providing control for managing and selecting certain ones of the video image data and the audio image data from the Core Image Database (CID); and    core interactive entertainment application logic providing interactive video entertainment logic utilized for providing the presentation responsive to the mapping means.    
     
     
         56 . The system as in  claim 55 , further comprising: at least one Linked Image Database (LID) providing at least one of variable audio image data and variable visual image data presentation utilized in conjunction with the CID to provide for update of the image content for at least a portion of the presentation.  
     
     
         57 . The system as in  claim 56 , wherein there is a plurality of the LIDs, each providing a different interactive entertainment presentation, and with all LEDs sharing a common logic and response utilizing a common application control logic.  
     
     
         58 . The system as in  claim 56 , wherein the update of the image content is comprised of at least one of music videos, movie trailers, television commercials, video advertisements, and wherein the reward content is linked and updated into the system.  
     
     
         59 . The system as in  claim 56 , wherein the LID is utilized by the mapping means to integrate a combination of the CID and the LID into the core application software to provide the presentation.  
     
     
         60 . The system as in  claim 56 , wherein the LID is comprised of at least one of a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, a specialty video and movie trailers for various types of movies.  
     
     
         61 . An entertainment system comprising: 
 a controller comprising a processor, memory, and user interface, and means for providing a display presentation output;    Core Entertainment Application Software (CEAS);    a Core Image Database (CID) a with Core Image Database Fixed (CIDF) portion and a Core Image Database Variable (CIDV) portion;    an associative image-mapper with a CIDF portion and a CIDV portion, 
 wherein the controller is responsive to the CEAS and the CID responsive to the image-mapper to selectively integrate from both of the CIDF portion and CIDV portion of the CID to provide a display presentation.  
   
     
     
         62 . The system as in  claim 61 , wherein the system operates to provide at least one of a live-action movie presentation, an animated movie presentation, a video game system, and an interactive video entertainment system.  
     
     
         63 . The system as in  claim 61 , wherein the video game system operates to provide a video game presentation providing at least one of musical education, role-playing game, action game, mystery, war-game, dance game, sports game, vehicle driving game and simulator game.  
     
     
         64 . The system as in  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 means for providing for coupling of a Linked Image Database (LID), comprising at least one of variable audio image data and variable video image data, 
 wherein the image-mapper provides for associatively mapping the CID variable portion with the LID, and  
 wherein the controller is responsive to the CEAS to provide a display presentation responsive at least in part to the LID.  
   
     
     
         65 . The system as in  claim 61 , wherein online linkage is provided for the system to provide for online updating of the CIDV.  
     
     
         66 . The system as in  claim 64 , wherein online linkage is provided for the system to provide for online updating of the LID.  
     
     
         67 . The system as in  claim 65 , wherein accounting is provided for the updates.  
     
     
         68 . The system as in  claim 61 , further comprising: a family of entertainment products, utilizing a common core of the CEAS and the CIDF; and 
 wherein each of the entertainment products of the family utilizes a different CIDV portion.    
     
     
         69 . The system as in  claim 68 , wherein audio-visual imagery and rewards change within the family, and wherein basic visual appearance rules and interaction remain consistent within the family.  
     
     
         70 . The system as in  claim 61 , wherein online linkage is provided for the system to provide for online updating of the CIDV.  
     
     
         71 . The system as in  claim 61 , wherein the video game system operates to provide a video game presentation wherein the CIDV is, at least, one of a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music, music video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short, an interactive performance of a user input based music composition performance, a change of at least one color in the display presentation of the video game, and at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a display presentation.  
     
     
         72 . The video game system, as in  claim 61 , 
 wherein the CEAS provides video interactive entertainment logic and a respective display presentation therefor as associated with the video game;    wherein the CID comprises a video image data and audio image data in a structure within the CIDF portion and the CIDV portion; and    wherein the mapping means provides control for managing and selecting of the video image data and the audio image data from a combination of the CIDF portion and the CDV portion, to provide the display presentation, responsive to the core game application logic.    
     
     
         73 . The system as in  claim 72 , further comprised of a Linked Image Database (LID) providing variable audio image data and variable video image data; 
 wherein the image-mapper provides for utilization in the display presentation of at least one of the video image data and the audio image data from the LID in place of at least one of the CIDV portion.    
     
     
         74 . The system as in  claim 73 , wherein said LED has an associated Linked Database Index (LDI) utilized by the image-mapper to integrate a combination of the CID and the LID.  
     
     
         75 . The system as in  claim 74 , wherein the LID is utilized to transition between active play segments of the display presentation for a video game.  
     
     
         76 . A video entertainment system comprising: 
 a processing subsystem;    a user interface and display generation subsystem;    a specific core game application software written for a target genre of game, 
 wherein said core game application software is further comprised of image-m-Dapper logic which defines specific locations in the core game application software utilizing image database content,  
 wherein the image-mapper logic controls the selection process from the image database content,  
 wherein the image database content is comprised of at least one of a fixed portion and a variable portion;  
   at least one Linked Image Database (LID) and a Linked Databases Index (LDI) associated with the at least one LID; and 
 wherein the image-mapper provides for inclusion of content, as necessary, from the LID, associatively indexed to the image database variable portion, utilized in conjunction with the fixed portion of the image database, to provide all image content for a video game presentation.  
   
     
     
         77 . The method as in  claim 51 , further comprising: grouping at least some of the video image data and the audio image data into one of game play content and reward content, and providing the display presentation responsive to at least one of the game play content and the reward content.  
     
     
         78 . The method as in  claim 77 , further comprising: 
 providing the display presentation responsive to the game play content until a reward threshold is reached, and    providing the display presentation is at least in part responsive to the reward content, for a defined period of time responsive to the reward threshold being reached.    
     
     
         79 . The method as in  claim 77 , wherein the reward content is comprised of at least one of a redeemable form of: a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music, music video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short, an interactive performance of a user input based music composition performance, a change of at least one color in the display presentation of the video game, and at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a display presentation.  
     
     
         80 . The method as in  claim 53 , wherein the LID is representative of at least one of: a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music, music video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short, an interactive performance of a user input based music composition performance, a change of at least one color in the display presentation of the video game, and at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a display presentation.  
     
     
         81 . The method as in  claim 54 , further comprising: 
 coupling the LID to the video game via online linkage, and    providing for online integration and mapping of the LID into the CIDV portion responsive to the providing the image-mapper control.    
     
     
         82 . The method as in  claim 81 , further comprising: 
 selectively updating said LID via the online linkage, and    substituting at least part of the CIDV portion with the LID responsive to the providing the image-mapper control.    
     
     
         83 . The method as in  claim 82 , further comprising: maintaining basic game rules and game play while providing a change in the display presentation responsive to the substituting.  
     
     
         84 . The method as in  claim 82 , further comprising: maintaining consistent audio, video and audio-visual content in the video game presentation before and after the substituting; while providing a change in, at least one of: basic game rules and basic game play, responsive to the substituting.  
     
     
         85 . The method as in  claim 83 , further comprising: maintaining basic game rules and game play consistent before and after the substituting, while providing a change in a video game display presentation of at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content responsive to the substituting.  
     
     
         86 . The method as in  claim 85 , wherein the CIDV provides for a change in the display presentation comprising, at least one of: a reward, an advertisement, a substitute character, additional scenery, weapons, clothing, vehicles, music, music video, dance video, exercise video, movie trailers, animated short, an interactive performance of a user input based music composition performance, a change of at least one color in the display presentation of the video game, and at least one of new audio, video and audiovisual content utilized in providing a display presentation.  
     
     
         87 . The method as in  claim 86 , wherein the interactive performance of a music composition is provided by at least one third party performer.  
     
     
         88 . The method as in  claim 83 , further comprising: utilizing the reward to facilitate music education.  
     
     
         89 . The system as in  claim 2 , wherein the defined area is an otherwise empty space in the display presentation into which a secondary video image is integrated.