Gaming system

Abstract

A gaming system for use with a media player and one or more output devices, where the media player is configured to receive user signals, to read and execute information from a game medium, and to present portions of the information on the one or more output devices. The gaming system includes a game medium having information readable by the media player that, when executed, causes the media player to produce a game having a plurality of scenes, wherein each scene causes the media player to selectively respond to the reception of user signals. The gaming system also includes a remote unit operable by one or more users. The remote unit includes a controller, a transmitter coupled to the controller,a first button coupled to the controller, and a second button coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to selectively operate in a first mode that causes the transmitter to transmit a user signal upon actuation of either the first or second buttons, and a second mode that causes the transmitter to transmit a user signal upon actuation of the first button, and to transmit no user signal upon actuation of the second button.

1 . A gaming system for use with a media player and one or more output devices, wherein the media player is configured to receive user signals, to read and execute information from a game medium, and to present portions of the information on the one or more output devices, the gaming system comprising: 
 a game medium having information readable by the media player that, when executed, causes the media player to produce a game having a plurality of scenes, wherein each scene causes the media player to selectively respond to the reception of user signals;    a remote unit operable by one or more users, including: 
 a controller;  
 a transmitter coupled to the controller;  
 a first button coupled to the controller; and  
 a second button coupled to the controller;  
 wherein the controller is configured to selectively operate in: 
 a first mode that causes the transmitter to transmit a user signal upon actuation of either the first or second buttons; and  
 a second mode that causes the transmitter to transmit a user signal upon actuation of the first button, and to transmit no user signal upon actuation of the second button.  
 
   
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the media player is a digital video disc player, the remote unit is a remote control for use with the digital video disc player, and the game medium is a digital video disc.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein the remote control is a universal remote control programmable for use with a plurality of digital video disc players.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first button is associated with a first user; and    the second button is associated with a second user.    
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 actuation of the first button causes the transmitter to transmit a first user signal when the controller is operating in the first mode; and    actuation of the second button causes the transmitter to transmit a second user signal when the controller is operating in the first mode.    
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter transmits the same user signal upon actuation of the first button when the controller is operating in either the first or the second mode.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 actuation of the first button causes the transmitter to transmit a first user signal when the controller is operating in the first mode; and    actuation of the first button causes the transmitter to transmit a second user signal when the controller is operating in the second mode.    
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change from the first mode to the second mode upon the occurrence of a first event during a first predetermined portion of the game.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the first event includes the actuation of the first button.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the remote unit further comprises a receiver coupled to the controller, and configured to receive one or more generated signals transmitted by at least one of the one or more output devices; and    the first event includes the reception of a generated signal by the receiver.    
   
   
       11 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to change from the second mode to the first mode upon the occurrence of a second event during a second predetermined portion of the game.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote unit further comprises a reset button coupled to the controller, and wherein the second event includes the actuation of the reset button.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the remote unit further comprises a receiver coupled to the controller, and configured to receive one or more generated signals transmitted by at least one of the one or more output devices; and    the second event includes the reception of a generated signal by the receiver.    
   
   
       14 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote unit further comprises a receiver coupled to the controller and configured to receive one or more generated signals transmitted by at least one of the one or more output devices.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 at least one of the one or more generated signals includes information related to the progress of the game;    the remote control further includes a display device coupled to the controller; and    the controller is configured to cause the display device to visually display the information related to the progress of the game upon reception of the generated signal by the receiver.    
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the information related to the progress of the game includes a score of the game.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote unit further includes a display device coupled to the controller, the controller being configured to cause the display device to visually display information related to the progress of the game.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control further comprises: 
 a base unit for housing the controller and the transmitter;    a first handheld control unit associated with a first user and including the first button; and    a second handheld control unit associated with a second user and including the second button;    wherein each of the first and second handheld control units is manually moveable relative to the base unit.    
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 18 , wherein the first handheld control unit includes one or more buttons other than the first button, and the second handheld control unit includes one or more buttons other than the second button.  
   
   
       20 . A method of playing a game having a plurality of scenes, comprising: 
 producing a first scene with a media player, wherein the first scene causes the media player to present first information to a plurality of players on one or more output devices coupled to the media player, and wherein one or more buttons on a remote unit are associated with each player;    one or more of the plurality of players each actuating an associated button during production of the first scene;    transmitting a first signal from the remote unit to the media player in response to the actuation of the first button to be actuated during production of the first scene;    receiving the first signal at the media player during production of the first scene;    producing a second scene with the media player in response to the received first signal, whereby second information is presented on at least one of the one or more output devices;    one or more of the plurality of players each actuating an associated button during production of the second scene;    transmitting a second signal from the remote unit to the media player if the button actuated during production of the second scene is a button associated with the player that is associated with the first button; and    transmitting no signal from the remote unit if the button actuated during production of the second scene is a button associated with any player other than the player that is associated with the first button.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the media player is a digital video disc player, and the remote unit is a remote control for use with the digital video disc player.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the remote control is a universal remote control programmable for use with a plurality of digital video disc players.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first information includes a solvable puzzle, and the second information includes a plurality of selectable solutions, at least one of which is a correct solution to the puzzle.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 the player associated with the first button actuating at least one of their one or more associated buttons during production of the second scene;    transmitting a signal from the remote unit to the media player for each button actuated, during production of the second scene, by the player associated with the first button, wherein at least one of the transmitted signals is a selection signal that corresponds to a selection of a solution from the plurality of solutions;    receiving each signal transmitted during the second scene at the media player; and    producing a third scene with the media player in response to the selection signal, whereby third information is presented on at least one of the one or more output devices indicating whether the selected solution is a correct solution to the puzzle.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising 
 transmitting a generated signal from at least one of the one or more output devices to the remote unit at some time during production of the third scene, wherein the generated signal includes information related to the progress of the game;    receiving the generated signal at the remote unit; and    displaying the information related to the progress of the game on a display device on the remote unit.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the information related to the progress of the game includes a score of the game.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 one of the plurality of players actuating a button during production of the third scene;    transmitting a signal from the remote unit to the media player in response to the actuation of the button during production of the third scene;    receiving the transmitted signal at the media player during production of the third scene;    producing a fourth scene with the media player in response to the signal received during production of the third scene the third scene, whereby a solvable puzzle is presented on the output device;    one or more of the plurality of players each actuating an associated button during production of the fourth scene;    transmitting a signal from the remote unit to the media player in response to the actuation of the first button to be actuated during production of the fourth scene.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the button actuated during production of the third scene is a reset button.