USOO8128476B1 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.: US 8,128,476 B1 Sidhu et a]. (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 6, 2012 (54) ELECTRONIC GAME, SUCH ASA (56) References Cited COMPUTER GAME INVOLVING REMOVING PEGS U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 7,169,044 B2* l/2007 Baerlocher et al. ........... .. 463/20 (75) Inventors: Sukhbir Sidhu, Seattle, WA (US); Brian Rothstein, Seattle, WA (US); Eric Tams, (Continued) Seattle, WA (US) OTHER PUBLICATIONS (73) Assignee: PopCap Games, Inc., Seattle, WA (US) “Kat i Damacy,” Sep‘ 22, 2004, Namco, manual, ( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this (Continued) patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 923 days. Primary Examiner * Dmitry Suhol (21) Appl. N0.: 12/024,604 Assistant Examiner * KevinY Kim _ (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Perkins Coie LLP (22) Flled: Feb. 1, 2008 (Under 37 CFR 1.47) (57) ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data _ _ Peggle 1s a game that balances sklll and luck. The Peggle (60) PrOViSional application NO- 60/888,063, ?led on Feb- board is made up of different types of pegs, some of Which the 2, 2007- player must clear. The player begins a turn by aiming a ball at the pegs. When the player releases the ball, the ball travels (51) Int“ Cl“ through the pegs, contacting some and eventually falling to A63F 9/24 (200601) the bottom of the board. The ball may bounce off many pegs, A63F 13/00 (200601) and those pegs that the ball contacts are removed. A score is G06F 1 7/00 (200601) calculated based on the number and types of pegs hit during a G06F 19/00 (2006.01) turn. (52) US. Cl. ................. .. 463/16; 463/7; 463/10; 463/23 (58) Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 463/2i3, 463/5 48 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets See application ?le for complete search history. (8 of 11 Drawing Sheet(s) Filed in Color) 202 baljlgégmn 2, O score ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, f 21% / K? W)“ ,4/ i ieveiwter “. /} f'JT-TTXX \\ f/ f ‘\ >11 K : f”; e / \H/ r \. “a ,M ' Q) My ago 4") we. T. \_,1 N (\j r:- a; (I: \" f? , ~/ . (i) I’ 3 \J f>< ‘1 in} f TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT “\ 7* .755. \l / calcher "<1 US 8,128,476 B1 Page 2 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS Wikipedia.org, “Breakout (arcade game),” http://en.Wikipedia.org/ Wiki/Breakouti%28arcadeigame%29, Released May 13, 1976, 6 7,267,341 B2 * 9/2007 Shah ........................... .. 273/272 7,402,104 B2 * 7/2008 Ogita et a1. ................... .. 463/32 pages [Internet accessed on Aug. 4, 2008]. Amazon.com, “Cranium Bumparena,” http://wwwamazoncom/ OTHER PUBLICATIONS Cranium-103040000-100E-Bumparena/dp/B000930CSI, Product reviewed Nov. 26, 2006, 13 pp. [Internet accessed on Aug. 5, 2008]. “Arkanoid,” 1986, Taito, manual.* Boardgamegeek.com, “Cranium Bumparena,” http://WWW. “The Sims CarnivalTM BumperBlast,” Electronic Arts, 5 pages. boardgamegeek.com/ game/ 17962, 2005, 5 pages [Internet accessed System16.com, “Peggle,” Strata / Incredible Technologies, 1991, on Aug. 5,2008]. http://wwwsysteml6.com/hardware.php?id:805&page:1, pages 2, Peggle, Videogame, Strata/Incredible Technologies, 1991, Internet 9, and 10 of 14 [Internet accessed on Aug. 4, 2008]. accessed Jul. 11, 2011, 3 pages. Gamerslnfonet, Brickbreaker for Blackberry, http://WWW. Peggle (Trackball, v1.0)iMAME ROM, Strata/ incredible Tech gamersinfo .net/articles/ 1214 -brickbreaker-for-blackberry, Pro duct nologies, 1991, Internet accessed Jul. 11, 2011, 2 pages. reviewed Aug. 8, 2006, 6 pages [Internet accessed on Aug. 4, 2008]. Peggle, Strata Group, Inc., 1991, 1 page. Wikipedia.org, “Arkanoid,” http://en.Wikipedia.org/Wiki/Arkanoid, Developed in 1986, 4 pages [Internet accessed on Aug. 4, 2008]. * cited by examiner US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 1 0111 US 8,128,476 B1 100 105 110 115 gggse?én physiCS game ruies 120 130 1 35 scoring input communication 140 storage FIG. 1 US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 2 0f 11 US 8,128,476 B1 m.wwk. US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 3 0f 11 US 8,128,476 B1 i piay tum } 316 receive iauncher angée 329 receive ?re command 330 determine ba¥¥ trajactory 340 dispiay baii travei 350 caEcuiate score ( dame } FIG. 3 US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 4 or 11 US 8,128,476 B1 C eeiceiete eeere D 416 receive eege er 429 determine ehet eeere 43G edd etyie eeiete eee eee shet ecere te ievei eeez‘e 456 determine wee eeere US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 5 0f 11 US 8,128,476 B1 5 F16 "Km585 ’31 US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 6 6f 11 US 8,128,476 B1 FIG,6A US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 7 0f 11 US 8,128,476 B1 FIG.65 US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 8 0f 11 US 8,128,476 B1 US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 9 0f 11 US 8,128,476 B1 US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 10 or 11 US 8,128,476 B1 US. Patent Mar. 6, 2012 Sheet 11 0111 US 8,128,476 B1 8 US 8,128,476 B1 1 2 ELECTRONIC GAME, SUCH AS A goals, and controls of a given game is often a highly demand COMPUTER GAME INVOLVING REMOVING ing one that calls on many different areas of cognitive func PEGS tion. Indeed, most games require a great deal of patience and focus from the player, and, contrary to the popular perception CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED that games provide instant grati?cation, games actually delay APPLICATION(S) grati?cation far longer than other forms of entertainment such as ?lm or even many books. Some research suggests video This application claims the bene?t of US. Provisional games may even increase player’s attention capacities. Application No. 60/888,063, ?led on Feb. 2, 2007, entitled Multiplayer games, which take advantage of the fact that “ELECTRONIC GAME, SUCH AS A COMPUTER GAME computer games can use the Internet, provide players with the INVOLVING REMOVING PEGS,” which is incorporated opportunity to compete with other players from across the herein in its entirety by reference. globe, something that is also unique to electronic gaming. Millions of players around the globe are attracted to video BACKGROUND gaming simply because it offers such unprecedented ability to interact with large numbers of people engaged simulta Video games are a popular way for people to entertain neously in a structured environment where they are all themselves and interact with other users. Whether imple involved in the same activity (playing the game). mented on a personal computer, television-based gaming Even simple games offer potential bene?ts to the player. console, or handheld gaming system, traditional video games Games like Tetris and Pac -man are well-designed games that allow users to manipulate on-screen characters or elements 20 are easy to pick up but difficult to master, much like chess or and thereby engage in on-screen challenges or competitions. even poker. Despite their simplicity, simple games may also Computer generated challenges and competitions can be rich feature online capabilities or powerful Al. Depending on the with stimulating content that is more dynamic and inspiring game, players can develop and test their techniques against an than an unchanging toy car or truck. advanced computer player or online against other human Perhaps the most visible bene?t of video gaming is its 25 players. artistic and entertainment contributions. As a form of multi Overall, there is a need for a new game that offers the media entertainment, modem video games contain a highly bene?ts discussed above to game players, as well as one that unique fusion of 3D art, computer-generated (CG) effects, provides additional bene?ts. architecture, arti?cial intelligence (Al), sound effects, dra matic performances, music, storytelling, and, most impor 30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS tantly, interactivity. This interactivity enables the player to explore environments that range from simulated reality to The patent or application ?le contains at least one drawing stylized, artistic expressions (something no other form of executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application entertainment can allow). In this respect, every game scenario publication with color drawings will be provided by the US. will play out a slightly different way every time. Even if the 35 Patent and Trademark Of?ce upon request and payment of the game is highly scripted, this can still feel like a large amount necessary fee. of freedom to the person who is playing the game. FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates components of a A related property is that of emergent behavior. While Peggle game system. many games including card games and sports rely on emer FIG. 2 illustrates an example display produced by a display gent principles, video games commonly present simulated 40 generation component. story worlds where emergent behavior occurs within the con FIG. 3 is a ?ow diagram that illustrates the processing of text of the game. This is something that some gamers ?nd the Peggle game system during the playing of a turn. appealing as it introduces a certain level of randomness to a FIG. 4 is a ?ow diagram that illustrates the processing of a game. Generally any place where you have event driven scoring component. instructions for Al in a game, you will inevitably see this. For 45 FIG. 5 is a screenshot of a display generated by the game instance, take a racing game where cars are programmed to system showing elements of the game. avoid crashing and they encounter an obstacle in the track, the FIGS. 6A-6D are screenshots of a display generated by the cars might then maneuver to avoid the obstacle causing the game system at several points in time of a single turn.