Interactive gaming system with animated, real-time characters

Abstract

A gaming system enables users to interact with one another during electronic game play with animated imagery. The system comprises a central processing unit having certain character-building menus and certain character-directing commands. Users thereof, via user-based hardware, communicate with one another by way of the central processing unit and a communication network. Animatable characters and character display units are displayed upon the user's hardware and provide an entertaining visual and / or auditory forum for interacting with other players. The character commands are operable to animate user-identifying characters for incorporating animated body language into game play for enhancing player interaction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention generally relates to the field of interactive, electronic gaming systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an online gaming system for enabling players to interact with one another in real-time in a character-based setting.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]With the advent of computers, the inevitability of inventive computer-based gaming methodologies became apparent. Software developers continually develop electronic means for achieving inventive end results. The gaming industry, for example, has seen rapid growth in the use of web-based interface means for enabling players to game electronically. In this regard, a number of inventive systems and methods have been developed as a means to embrace consumer demands and provide the marketplace with quicker, more efficient ways to meet gaming demands. Several of the more pertinent U.S. patent disclosures describing web-based...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Objects of the invention thus include making on-line gaming as live as possible between players to players (1) by voice connections between players; (2) by visual communications on mini T.V. sets or character display units to see each player live; and (3) character-building menus with cooperative character-directing commands to enable players who do not wish to be seen live, but still want some dynamic player interaction in order to enhance the entertainment value of the game.

[0015]The gaming menu essentially comprises a theme menu and a game menu, the theme menu comprising at least one gaming theme and the game menu comprising at least one game. The character menu and the gaming menu are displayable upon the visual output means. The users each select a select character display unit, a user-identifying character, a select common game theme, and a select common game from the character and gaming menus. The user-identifying characters are selectable from the animatable characters. The character display units are visually presented in adjacency to one another, and the user-identifying characters are visually presented upon the character display units. The central processing means enable the users to play the selected common game with the selected common theme, and the character commands are operable to animate the user-identifying characters for incorporating animated body language into game play for enhancing player interaction.

Problems solved by technology

With the advent of computers, the inevitability of inventive computer-based gaming methodologies became apparent.

From a review of these prior art disclosures and from a general consideration of other pertinent prior art generally known to exist, it will be seen that the prior art does not disclose an electronic, networked gaming system incorporating user-identifying animated characters, which characters may be directed for real-time interaction amongst the players.

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