A method for providing a battle game in which a user repeatedly attacks and defends against an opponent using a plurality of objects placed in a plurality of areas arranged in a matrix, includes: a selection step of causing the user to select an area from the plurality of areas, and holding the area which has been already selected as a selected area; a first execution step of causing an object placed in the selected area; a determination step of determining whether or not a combination of an already selected area and the currently selected area matches at least one line which is any of a row, a column, and a diagonal of the matrix; and a second execution step of causing an object to execute a second action, in the case where the determination step determines that the combination matches the at least one line.

Retrieval performance when selecting a game playing video can be improved. An information processing apparatus {12(n)} includes: a storage section (66) in which at least one tag and a tagging condition of the tag are stored in association with each other; and an attaching section (74) which, when playback data to be used to play back a game playing video of a game has been generated and an event during the play of the game satisfies the tagging condition, attaches the tag, which is associated with the tagging condition, to the playback data as an index of the game playing video.

Approach moving image storage means 10, 12 stores, in a predetermined storage section, display data used for displaying an approach moving image representing an approach method for a predetermined scene in the game, so as to associate the display data with the predetermined scene. Game process means S21 performs the game process, and display process means displays a game image on a display device. Moving image display instruction means S16, S17 receives an input made by a user for providing an instruction for displaying the approach moving image, and game scene determination means S31, S32 determines a scene in the game when the moving image display instruction means receives the input from the user. Moving image display means S36 reads, from the predetermined storage section, the approach moving image associated with the scene determined by the game scene determination means, and displays the approach moving image on the display device.

An interactive treasure hunt game is provided. Game participants receive a card, map and/or identification badge configured with an RFID tag, bar-code or a magnetic swipe strip or the like. The RFID tag or other identifying device is used to store certain information identifying each play participant and/or describing certain powers or abilities possessed by an imaginary character that the card may represent. Players advance in the game by finding clues and solving various puzzles presented by the game. Players may also gain (or lose) certain attributes, such as magic skills, magic strength, fighting ability, various spell-casting abilities, etc. All of this information is preferably stored on the RFID tag or card so that the character attributes may be easily and conveniently transported to other similarly-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, hand-held game units, and the like. In this manner, the game can seamlessly transcend from one play environment and/or entertainment medium to the next.

A first grounded portion is at least one of portions of an apparatus that are grounded, and vibrates in accordance with a vibration of at least a first vibration unit. A second grounded portion is at least one of the portions of the apparatus that are grounded, and vibrates in accordance with a vibration of at least a second vibration unit. Then, a first control signal for controlling the vibration of the first vibration unit and a second control signal for controlling the vibration of the second vibration unit are generated, whereby, in a state where the apparatus is on a certain surface, the apparatus moves on the certain surface by a vibration of the first grounded portion grounded on the certain surface and/or a vibration of the second grounded portion grounded on the certain surface.

A computer-implemented method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay. Access is provided to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact with the video game according to a storyline. A player location is detected and stored. A local element is retrieved from a database based on the player location and the local element is correlated to a local element script actuatable in the video game. This local element script is retrieved and actuated in the video game to supplement or replace the video game's storyline.

A portable electronic device 100 includes a horizontally long casing, both ends of which are gripped by a user's both hands, respectively. The device further includes a LCD fit into the front face of the casing 10. Outwardly projecting bulges are respectively formed at both sides of the rear face of the casing where fingers of the user gripping the casing 10 placed. Since the fingers and palms are naturally flexed to fit to the dome-like bulges 42L, 42R, the portable electronic device 100 fits comfortably in the user's hands. The operability is hard to be degraded even if the device is vibrated strongly during a game play with the device.

Examples described herein generally relate to transferring a file via a video-out port. A sending computer device may generate a plurality of bitmap images based on the file. The sending computer device may scan the bitmap images as frames to a video-out port. A receiving computer device may receive, via a video-in port, the plurality of video frames. The receiving computer device may convert each of the video frames to a bitmap image including a header portion and a data portion. The receiving computer device may reconstruct the data file based on the data portion of each bitmap image according to the header portions.

Examples described herein generally relate to a storage device for transferring a file. The storage device may include a data store storing a plurality of bitmap images representing portions of a data file. Each bitmap image may include at least a portion of the data file and header information for the portion of the data file. The storage device may also include a video-out port and a processor configured to scan the bitmap images as frames to the video-out port. A computer device for accessing a file from the storage device may receive, via a video-in port, the plurality of video frames and reconstruct the requested at least a portion of the file based on the data portion of each bitmap image according to the header portions.

An action figure is provided with a serial number that provides an access code which allows owners to engage in enjoyable games or other activities via the Internet or other gaming systems. The interactive action figure system comprises a toy, statue, or other three-dimensional figurine with a serial number, and preferably a computer network accessible over the internet and a particular gaming framework managed by a network device. Owners of action figure toys may log onto the network using the action figure serial number as an access code to activate a particular computer character identity and participate in games such as hand-to-hand combat games, action-adventure series, or learning games. The action figure may be, for example, a warrior, sports figure, doll or teddy bear to appeal to a wide range of users. Once a particular character is activated, game play proceeds according to preset rules. The game character's traits, powers, and other features may be enhanced or otherwise modified by purchasing preferably-three-dimensional accessories and inputting serial numbers into the gaming system that are also supplied with the accessories.