Method and apparatus for implementing video game and includes social darts

Abstract

Described herein is a video game application that is executed on a first computing device, and related technologies for implementing the video game application. In the video game application, the user controls the direction of a simulated dart by tilting and/or otherwise moving a second computing device in different directions. The simulated dart traverses a terrain through conditions to hit a target displayed on the first computing device. To gain points in the video game application, the user must control the simulated dart to strike the target at certain locations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for implementing a video game, the method implemented in a computing device that includes a processor and memory device, the method comprising:
 providing a target on a first computing device;   initiating an interaction between the first computing device and a second computing device, the second computing device providing the information to simulate the flight of a dart to the first computing device;   responsive to the interaction, providing a marker on the target, which marker corresponds to the location to be struck by the dart as calculated from the information provided to the first computing device from the second computing device based on the position and tilt of the second computer device; and   initiating a throw of the dart from the second computing device to the first computing device to strike the target, the initiating including transferring information from the second computing device to the first computing device that enables the first computing device to calculate where the simulated dart strikes the target.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing a target comprises displaying a dartboard. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises providing a terrain over which the dart traverses during flight. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the initiating an interaction comprises at least one of swiping the screen of the second computing device and depressing a button on the second computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing a marker includes displaying a plus sign on the target. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the position of the marker is calculated using the inter-relation of the second computing device to the first computing device and is generally based on where the second computing device is pointing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein initiating the throw includes swiping the dart from the screen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein initiating the throw occurs by flicking the dart toward the target. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein initiating the throw occurs by pulling the dart back and releasing the dart in the direction of the target. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein initiating the throw imparts speed on the dart, which speed determines whether the dart strikes the target on the marker. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dart striking the target provides a score. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first computing device is a tablet computing device that provides at least one of a target, terrains and conditions over which the simulated dart is simulated to traverse. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second computing device is a smartphone and wherein aiming of the dart is performed by tilting the phone and by the thumb initiation of the dart on the face of the device. 
     
     
         14 . A system for implementing a video game of darts on a computing device, the system comprising:
 a processor for displaying a target on the screen of the computing device;   a communication interface for receiving information from other computing devices relative to the placement of a marker on a target and relative to the speed and angle of a dart thrown at the target;   the processor calculating from the received information the location of the marker and displaying the marker on the target; and   once the throw of the dart is initiated, the communications interface receives the speed of the throw, and the processor calculates the position where the dart strikes the target based on the speed of the throw and the placement of the marker.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein displaying a target comprises displaying a dartboard. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  further comprises the processor providing a terrain over which the dart traverses during flight. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein displaying a marker includes displaying a plus sign on the target. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the position of the marker is calculated from the received information which represents the inter-relation of a second computing device to the first computing device and is generally based on where the second computing device is pointing. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the dart striking the target provides a score. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the first computing device is a tablet computing device that provides at least one of a target, terrains and conditions for throwing the dart. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor, will cause the at least processor to perform a method for implementing a video game, the method comprising:
 providing a target on a first computing device;   initiating an interaction between the first computing device and a second computing device, the second computing device providing the information to simulate the flight of a dart to the first computing device;   responsive to the interaction, providing a marker on the target, which marker corresponds to the location to be struck by the dart as calculated from the information provided to the first computing device from the second computing device based on the position and tilt of the second computer device; and   initiating a throw of the dart from the second computing device to the first computing device to strike the target, the initiating including transferring information from the second computing device to the first computing device that enables the first computing device to calculate where the simulated dart strikes the target.