Sierra On-Line

Larry L Scott

Kenneth A Williams

David C Iden

Christopher F Smith

Mark A Wilden

Brian K Hughes

Jonathan M Hood

Jane S Jensen

A method and system for controlling the movement of an object between points on a display along natural or 'intelligent' paths around obstacles includes establishing a locus of data points around each obstacle along which displayed movement of the object may proceed under conditions of the direct trajectory between points intersecting the locus of data points. 'Freeway' paths are provided between remote sectors of the display to expedite 'natural' movements over substantial distances around obstacles in a second embodiment.

Methods for intelligent movement of objects on computer displays

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

Controlling successive frames of video data displays the movement of an object between points on the display along natural or `intelligent` paths around obstacles, by establishing a locus of data points around each obstacle along which displayed movement of the object may proceed under conditions of the direct trajectory between points intersecting the locus of data points. `Freeway` paths are provided between remote sectors of the display to expedite `natural` movements over substantial distances around obstacles in a second embodiment.

System and methods for intelligent movement on computer displays

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Oakhurst, CA, United States of America

Larry L Scott