Arcade-style game programming system

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment 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; this can be accomplished, in part, by replacing the default operating system interface with an arcade-style operations interface. Arcade-style environment features are added to the computer game. Arcade-style environment features can include arcade-style specific accounting features, arcade-style specific sounds, arcade-style specific displays, and arcade-style specific controls. 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.

1 . A method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment comprising: 
 operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in a personal computer environment using a computer operating system and compatible software,    creating an arcade-style environment by securing said personal computer environment to prevent unwanted computer programs from running in said personal computing environment,    adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game, monitoring communications between said computer game and said operating system, and    communicating game relevant data between said arcade-style environment and said personal computer environment.    
   
   
       2 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein said computer operating system is a Microsoft Windows based operating system.  
   
   
       3 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein securing said personal computer environment comprises replacing a default operating system interface with an arcade-style operations interface.  
   
   
       4 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 3 , wherein said default operating system interface is a Windows desktop user interface.  
   
   
       5 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 adding accounting features to said computer game.    
   
   
       6 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 adding arcade-style specific displays to said computer game.    
   
   
       7 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 adding arcade-style specific sounds to said computer game.    
   
   
       8 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 adding arcade-style specific controls to said computer game.    
   
   
       9 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 8 , wherein adding arcade-style specific controls to said computer game comprises: 
 mapping arcade-style specific control outputs to inputs compatible with said computer game when said computer game is operating in said personal computer environment.    
   
   
       10 . The method for operating a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein said communicating game relevant data between said arcade-style environment and said personal computer environment comprises sending and receiving data between said arcade-style environment and said personal computer environment via window messaging software.  
   
   
       11 . A system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment to operate in an arcade-style environment comprising: 
 a computer having memory, a processor, means for receiving input, means for displaying information, and a computer operating system,    software enabled means for running a computer game using said operating system and compatible software,    software enabled means for creating an arcade-style environment by securing said personal computer environment to prevent unwanted computer programs from running in said personal computing environment,    software enabled means for adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game,    software enabled means for monitoring communications between said computer game and said operating system, and    software enabled means for communicating game relevant data between said arcade-style environment and said personal computer environment.    
   
   
       12 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 11 , wherein said computer operating system is a Microsoft Windows based operating system.  
   
   
       13 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 11 , wherein securing said personal computer environment comprises software enabled means for replacing a default operating system interface with an arcade-style operations interface.  
   
   
       14 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 13 , wherein said default operating system interface is a Windows desktop user interface.  
   
   
       15 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 11 , wherein said software enabled means for adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 software enabled means for adding accounting features to said computer game.    
   
   
       16 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 11 , wherein said software enabled means for adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 software enabled means for adding arcade-style specific displays to said computer game.    
   
   
       17 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 11 , wherein said software enabled means for adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 software enabled means for adding arcade-style specific sounds to said computer game.    
   
   
       18 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 11 , wherein said software enabled means for adding arcade-style environment features to said computer game comprises: 
 software enabled means for adding arcade-style specific controls to said computer game.    
   
   
       19 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 18 , wherein said software enabled means for adding arcade-style specific controls to said computer game comprises: 
 software enabled means for mapping arcade-style specific control outputs to inputs compatible with said computer game when said computer game is operating in said personal computer environment.    
   
   
       20 . The system for converting a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment in an arcade-style environment according to  claim 1 , wherein said software enabled means for communicating game relevant data between said arcade-style environment and said personal computer environment comprises software enabled means for sending and receiving data between said arcade-style environment and said personal computer environment via window messaging software.