Sanders Associates Limited

Marvin Glass & Associates

Leonard D Cope

Ralph H Baer

Howard J Morrison

Thomas J Mortimer

Oliver D Holt

Video images derived from a video recording medium (such as a video disc or tape) using a video playback unit are displayed on the screen of a cathode ray tube display simultaneously with video images generated from a microprocessor-controlled video game. The video game permits a user to manually control the position of some of the generated video images displayed. Signals in the horizontal interval portion of each field from the video playback unit are related to the video images in the pictorial portion of each such field and identify certain characteristics of the video images such as the location of the video images. This information is used in such a manner that the video images from the video playback unit can interact with the video images from the video game.

Interactive video playback system

An interactive game of a strategy nature employing a digital processor includes a keyboard to preselect the successive directional movements of one or more of the simulated player symbols prior to the start of the game and/or supplement this preprogrammed game action with real-time control over further game action during the playing of the game.

Interactive game and control therefor

Apparatus and methods are disclosed herein for use in conjunction with raster scan video displays, including standard monochrome and color television receivers, for the generation, display and manipulation of images upon the screen of a display for the purpose of playing games or for the purpose of drawing pictures. In addition to the generation of signals which, when supplied to the video display, cause the display of moveable and immoveable game playing indicia such as walls, players, and balls to play a variety of typical games such as tennis, handball, billiards, and the like, in a manner well known in the art, other indicia are displayed on the display screen in response to commands from the game operator which are defined by the operator as to shape, location, color and other attributes and are, furthermore, endorsed with interactive characteristics.

Manually programmable video gaming system

Apparatus for generating and controlling the position of a displayed symbol for a video game comprises a plurality of voltage comparators responsive to inputs thereto from multiple control voltage sources including a microprocessor and a participant control such that the microprocessor and participant control introduce separate bias offset voltages into the comparators to occasion positioning of the displayed symbol in accordance with the net effect of the multiple inputs.

Video game symbol generation and control apparatus

Synchronization of a source of computer controlled video to another video source is achieved by providing clock pulses for the source of computer controlled video at some multiple of the horizontal synchronization frequency of the other video source to obtain frequency coherence and by detecting phase incoherence between the signals from the two sources and in response thereto causing the clock pulses to cease for a predetermined period to allow the source of computer controlled video to 'slip' sync to obtain phase coherence.

Apparatus for synchronization of a source of computer controlled video

Instant replay for microprocessor-controlled video games is provided by storing and retaining for a period of time in a random access memory the results of microprocessor polling of each of the player command entry devices. In a memory conserving embodiment only newly entered player commands and the times when such commands are entered need be stored and retained.

Method and apparatus for instant replay and other capabilities for

Apparatus is provided to permit the control of circuitry within a video game generator including an audio playback device employing an audio tape or phonograph disc having recorded thereon digital data which is decoded and interfaced with the video game generator.

Digital preprogrammed television game system

Apparatus for generating horizontal and vertical synchronization signals in synchronism with synchronization signals generated by an ongoing television program received by a user without internal connections to the user's television receiver, is provided by optically extracting pulses from a displayed raster of the ongoing television program and generating therefrom the synchronization signals in synchronization with the ongoing program.

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Merrimack, NH, United States of America

Leonard D Cope