Sierra On-Line

Christopher F Smith

Kenneth A Williams

Larry L Scott

Mark A Wilden

Brian K Hughes

Jonathan M Hood

Robert E Heitman

Jane S Jensen

The invention includes a method of synchronizing actions and sounds for display on the visual display in a computer-system. The invention also includes a simulation including synchronized actions and sounds. Specifically, the method of synchronizing actions and sounds for display on a computer system having a visual display includes determining locations in a sound recording where predetermined actions are to be displayed, measuring the time that elapses when the sound recording is played from reference point to the locations in the sound recording where the predetermined actions are to be displayed, associating the predetermined actions with the locations in the sound recording where the predetermined actions are to be displayed, and saving the locations and their associated actions. The invented method of synchronizing actions and sounds on a visual display in a computer system includes playing the sound, determining when a predetermined amount of time of the sound has elapsed, and displaying the action on the visual display when the predetermined amount of time of the sound has elapsed. The simulation includes a sound recording, a mechanism for playing it, and a mechanism for measuring its elapsed time when it played; data defining predetermined actions; a mechanism to compare such elapsed time with time positions; and a mechanism to display the actions upon a predetermined relationship between the elapsed time and the time positions.

Method and means for computer sychronization of actions and sounds

The invented method is used in creating an interactive computer game to relate messages in the game to actions in the game. The game is designed for play on a computer system and the play of the game is controlled by software code stored in at least one code file in memory accessible by the computer system. The method includes the steps of producing a message to be communicated to a game player at the occurrence of a predefined action in the game, assigning an identifier to the message, storing the message in a message file that is separate from the code file, storing the identifier in the message file or in a message file title that is separate from the code file, incorporating in the software code the assigned identifier instead of the message itself, and inserting into the software code instructions to retrieve the message from the message file and communicate the message to the game player at the occurrence of the predefined action in the game by retrieving and communicating the message to which the identifier incorporated in the code is assigned. The invented apparatus is a software tool used in creating an interactive computer game that employs the invented method. The invented interactive computer game is produced by the invented method.

Method and apparatus for relating messages and actions in interactive

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Oakhurst, CA, United States of America

Christopher F Smith