Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Nintendo of America Inc.

Other

Nintenco Co., Ltd.

Darren C Smith

David J McCarten

Kenji Nishizawa

Ramin Ravanpey

Russell G Braun

Casey J Pelkey

Scott D Elliott

Wing S Cho

An example method of accessing a web page includes receiving audio output from speakers of electronic equipment; detecting a cue in the received audio output; determining a web address based on the detected cue; and connecting to a web page using the web address.

System and method for accessing online content

Enhanced methodology and apparatus for use in a multi-player video game for generating a array of user selectable options for choosing real or computer generated users to play with and/or compete against. For example, in a simulated multiple driver racing game application, the user of a computing device is presented with an option for selecting any of various 'ghost data' packages for downloading over a communication network such as the Internet. For example, the user may be presented with the option of selecting one of an array of ghost data packages to race against such as the top five buddies of the user with highest scores, five buddies with scores similar to a user's own score, and teams/groups of various varieties. A simulated race in a computing device initially occurs with objects and a playing field of relatively low graphic complexity, limited by constraints of the system's processing power and the associated limited number of polygons that can be processed per second, the resolution of the screen, etc. A more powerful rendering of such objects/playing field thereafter takes place in a server after the ghost/performance data is collected and uploaded.

Enhanced method and apparatus for selecting and rendering performance data

Example systems and methods involve detecting an input to a touchscreen display of a video game apparatus; determining a video game action based on a shape of the input; and determining a timing of the video game action based on a color associated with the input.

Touch screen inputs for a video game system

An example network server computer includes communication circuitry configured for internet communication with electronic devices; memory configured to store friend lists for respective users and user data comprising status data for respective users; and a processor configured to control the network server computer to perform operations including: receiving, via the communication circuitry, status data including activity information indicative of current activities of users of two or more electronic devices; updating the user data based on the received status data; and providing, to a user, status data indicative of respective current activities of one or more friends on the friend list of the user even if the current activities of the user and the one or more friends are different.

Network server and computer system for providing user status data

An example network server computer includes communication circuitry configured for communication with electronic devices of users; memory; and a processor configured to control the network server computer to at least receive, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users, user profiles and user preferences for respective users and store, in the memory, the received user profiles and user preferences; and provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of user. Access to each respective user's user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more of the user preferences of the respective user, and the one or more user preferences comprise a first preference setting for allowing all other users to access the user's user profile and a second preference setting for allowing only friends on the user's friend list to access the user's user profile.

Network server and computer system for providing access to user profiles

A central computer server keeps a record of a set of display parameters related to particular web pages visited by a web browser, and sends this information to the browser for displaying a particular web page according to the received information from the server.

Internet browser

A recommendation service is provided for recommending computer video game titles to players. The recommendation service offers suggestions for game titles to purchase or rent based on playing usage related parameters for each particular player. A profile is created based on several factors that represents the player's affinity to each factor. Communication and use of player usage data may be strictly conditioned on a player's knowledge and consent.

Recommendation engine for electronic game shopping channel

An example system includes a web server computer and at least two video game systems. Each game system is configured to connect to the web server computer via the Internet and to communicate status data indicative of an activity engaged in by a user thereof. The web server computer generates a session file indicative of user status and the status of each of two or persons on a buddy list of the user.

Messaging service for information processing systems

An example video game program download system and method apparatus for downloading a video game program to a target video game platform in which a processing system receives a download request from the target video game platform requesting downloading of a video game program that executes on a native video game platform different than the target video game platform. In response thereto, the requested video game program is sent along with a program for providing compatibility between the target and native video game platforms.

System and method for obtaining software programs

System and method for downloading video game programs

A messaging system includes a web server computer and at least two video game systems. Each game system is configured to connect to the web server computer via the Internet and to communicate status data indicative of an activity engaged in by a user thereof. The web server computer generates a session file indicative of user status and the status of each of two or persons on a buddy list of the user.

Growing community of inventors

Sammamish, WA, United States of America

Darren C Smith