Claims
- 1. A method for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:
(a) simulating a virtual environment and displaying at least a portion of the virtual environment on the broadcast television program; (b) providing to each user a mechanism for creating an object by assigning to the object characteristics and parameters, the object thereafter operating autonomously; and (c) selecting at least one object created by a user and displaying the selected object in the virtual environment on the broadcast television program.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises simulating a virtual environment in which a plurality of objects interact with each other.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises maintaining a web site having a program thereon, which program allows a user to create and customize and object.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises maintaining a web site having a program thereon, which program allows a plurality of users to cooperatively create and customize an object.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises selecting the at least one object by means of a lottery.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises selecting the at least one object sequentially.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises selecting the at least one object based on the merits of the object.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises selecting the at least one object based on a virtual interview.
- 9. Apparatus for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:
a computer that simulates a virtual environment; a mechanism that displays at least a portion of the virtual environment on the broadcast television program; a mechanism available to each user for creating an object by assigning to the object characteristics and parameters, the object thereafter operating autonomously; and a mechanism that selects at least one object created by a user and displaying the selected object in the virtual environment on the broadcast television program.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the virtual environment includes a plurality of objects that interact with each other.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for creating an object comprises a web site having a program thereon, which program allows a user to create and customize an object.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for creating an object comprises a web site having a program thereon, which program allows a plurality of users to cooperatively create and customize an object.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for selecting at least one object comprises a lottery.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for selecting at least one object comprises means for selecting the at least one object sequentially.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for selecting at least one object comprises a mechanism for selecting the at least one object based on the merits of the object.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for selecting at least one object comprises a mechanism for selecting the at least one object based on a virtual interview.
- 17. Apparatus for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:
means for simulating a virtual environment; means for displaying at least a portion of the virtual environment on the broadcast television program; means available to each user for creating an object by assigning to the object characteristics and parameters, the object thereafter operating autonomously; and means for selecting at least one object created by a user and displaying the selected object in the virtual environment on the broadcast television program.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for creating an object comprises a web site having a program thereon, which program allows a user to create and customize an object.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for creating an object comprises a web site having a program thereon, which program allows a plurality of users to cooperatively create and customize an object.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for selecting at least one object comprises a lottery.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/690,584, filed on Oct. 17, 2000.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09690584 |
Oct 2000 |
US |
Child |
10228613 |
Aug 2002 |
US |