Handheld Game Controller with Secondary Display for Multi-Player Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-player gaming environments, especially in large settings like cinemas, players face difficulties in identifying their on-screen characters due to similarities with other players' characters, and existing systems struggle with efficiently managing and receiving input commands from a large number of players, making it costly and impractical to provide adequate cabling or wiring for player input terminals.
Innovation Solution
A multi-player bingo game system with improved communication infrastructure and handheld game controllers, featuring secondary displays, input means, and communication means that allow easy identification of a player's character through enhanced visual and sensory outputs, and a method for player registration using payment authorization codes, enabling efficient communication and input management across a large number of players.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of players participate in a multi-player game on a single large display screen, then the gaming experience is enhanced, but it becomes difficult for players to identify their on-screen characters amongst all the characters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by providing each player's character with a unique color or visual indicator that distinguishes it from other players' characters on the large display screen. This allows players to easily identify their own character among many others without confusion, directly resolving the character identification difficulty while supporting large numbers of players.
2Reliability
If cabling or wiring is provided to a large number of player input terminals for receiving player input commands, then input reception is ensured, but it becomes cost-effective impractical and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cabling system with a wireless communication system. Game controllers communicate with the game server wirelessly, eliminating the need for extensive physical cabling infrastructure while ensuring reliable reception of player input commands from all participants.
3Adaptability or versatility
If similar-looking game characters are chosen by various players, then player preference is satisfied, but the player's ability to identify their own character is further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent overlays unique color indicators or visual markers on top of player-chosen characters, allowing players to select similar-looking characters based on their preferences while still enabling easy identification of their own character through the distinctive color or visual indicator assigned to each player.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a bingo system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player bingo game on the large screen and a plurality of bingo game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary bingo game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication mans for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.