Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Noriaki Teramoto

Hirokazu Tanaka

Takashi Ohno

Shigeru Miyamoto

Satoshi Nishiumi

Kazuo Koshima

Takao Shimizu

Mark Alexis Edmonds

Russell William Irwin

Beau Ner Chesluk

Christopher Timothy John Stamper

Timothy David Joseph Stamper

A video/computer game machine maps external images onto animated game players in a game program. An image of a person's face may be mapped onto the head of an animated game player. The person may then play the game using the animated game player having a face that appears to be that of the person. Similarly, images of other persons can be mapped on other animated game players that appear in the video game program. Improved realism of video games is obtained by enabling individuals to create animated game players that have features, e.g., a facial image, of the individual or that were selected and imported by the individual.

System and method for automatically editing captured images for inclusion into 3D video game play

An improved portable game machine having a removably attachable external cartridge that includes an integrally formed image capturing apparatus is provided. The portable game machine preferably includes a user interface which may be manipulated by a user to capture images via the image capturing device of the external cartridge. The thus captured images may then be used in game play, or may be manipulated by the user to extend the range of enjoyment of the game. For example, according to the present invention, the user has the ability to associate hot spots with captured images which, when uncovered, cause the portable game machine to exhibit an effect associated with the hot spot. Additionally, the user is provided with the ability to incorporate line drawings or predefined stamp images into a captured image. The captured images may also be arranged to form an animation or loop of images that are displayed according to a sequence defined by the user. Another feature provided by the improved portable game machine of the present invention is the ability to print out composite images made up of a plurality of captured images. The composite image is typically larger than a single image, and therefore, is not easily displayed on a display of the portable game machine, but may be printed as a composite on an associated printer.

Portable game machine having image capture, manipulation and incorporation

Growing community of inventors

Kyoto, Japan

Noriaki Teramoto