WO2006075027A1

WO2006075027A1 - Interactive game system comprising wireless communication means and omnidirectional display means, corresponding game terminal and control unit

Info

Publication number: WO2006075027A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/050224
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lionel Guetta
Original assignee: Lionel Guetta
Priority date: 2005-01-17
Filing date: 2006-01-16
Publication date: 2006-07-20
Also published as: FR2880970B1; FR2880970A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a game system comprising a control unit (130) and at least two control terminals (101, 102), wherein the control unit comprises means for controlling the game terminals, and the game terminals comprise at least one control element for responding to a request sent by the control unit. According to the invention, said control unit comprises first wireless transmission/reception means and the game terminals comprise second wireless transmission/reception means such that the control unit can communicate in a wireless manner with the game terminals. According to the invention, the game terminals and/or control unit also comprise substantially omnidirectional display means (22), enabling a person to visualize at least one item of information that is displayed by the display means irrespective of the position of the person in relation to the display means.

Description

Interactive gaming system comprising wireless communication means and omnidirectional display means, game terminal and corresponding control box.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a game system for performing animations in a mobile manner.

2. Prior Art

The existing game terminal systems offer the basic function of the quick test of players to "take the hand to intervene" by pressing a "mushroom", and are usually homemade, using a technique rather in the field electromechanical and operate by wired electrical network, which has as notable drawbacks, when used for temporary events, to require a complex installation, long to implement and unreliable due to multiple connections that are often fragile and unsafe, with the additional constraint of resizing the length of the wires depending on the installation location and the varying distances between the elements; disadvantages to which is added the risk of falling for people who circulate among this cable network disposed on the ground. For example, as is the case in the studio, on stage, at a show, a fair, an exhibition, or other temporary animation venue, and more obviously, during a dinner or a banquet a dining room where the kiosks will be placed at each of the tables around which the servers pass and repass many times to serve and serve meals. Or as other examples: Queues of cinemas or Supermarkets, Shopping centers, Animations of cultural spaces, theme park etc.

In addition, the game terminals of the prior art generally have score display means or information, but the latter are generally visible only on one side of the terminals, which requires for other participants or players to to be located opposite the terminals to have knowledge of the information displayed.

3. Characteristics of the invention

The present invention solves the technical disadvantages described above. The objectives of the invention are achieved by means of a game system comprising a control box and at least two game terminals, the control box comprising means for controlling the game terminals, the game terminals comprising at least one controller to respond to a request sent by the control box. According to the invention, such a control box comprises first wireless transmission / reception means, and such game terminals comprise second wireless transmission / reception means, so that the control unit can communicate without wire with the game terminals.

According to the invention, such play terminals and / or such a control box further comprise substantially omnidirectional display means, allowing a person to display at least one information displayed by the display means, regardless of the position of the person in relation to the display means.

The invention then offers a novel and inventive way an interactive gaming system in which a plurality of gaming terminals communicate with a central housing without any wires, thereby forming a wireless network. In addition, each terminal and / or the control box is able to display information, such as the score of the participants in particular, so that it is visible at all times by everyone. The combination of these two features ensures mobility and portability of the system in any context. In addition, the fact that the information is visible from all sides for each terminal avoids any constraint of location of players, the public, and even the host, which represents an important advantage over conventional techniques of art prior. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the organ of command comprises at least two buttons.

Thus, in the case of a multiple choice quiz, each button may correspond to a possible answer, and the players have the possibility of activating the button corresponding to the answer appearing to be correct. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit is advantageously a PDA type terminal.

Thus, the PDA, by its processing means, works in a new way as a master of a network formed by itself and the set of gaming terminals. It is able to collect information sent by each terminal , and to treat them and remotely control them. It thus ensures the role of control unit, by its means of transmission and wireless reception.

Advantageously, the first and second wireless transmission / reception means implement the WI-FI wireless communication standard.

Advantageously, the control box comprises means for managing the production of sound effects and visual effects synchronized on the game terminals, the sound effects being produced by at least one loudspeaker included in each of the game terminals and the visual effects being produced by the display means included in each of the game terminals.

More precisely, the system proposes to generate "sound and light" animations at each of its terminals, as well as at the control box. For example, it is possible to produce sophisticated multimedia effects, which are controlled and controlled by the control box. In a first preferred embodiment, the system display means comprise:

a display panel each of whose faces comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes; first means for selective activation of the diodes so that the display panel simultaneously displays the same information on both sides thereof.

Indeed, the same number of diodes is activated on each of the faces of the display panel, in a synchronized manner, so that all those present see the information, regardless of their position, that is to say front, back or transversely to each of the terminals.

According to a second preferred embodiment, the display means comprise: a cylindrical display support comprising on its outer face a plurality of light-emitting diodes defining at least two superimposed light rings;

second means for selectively activating the diodes making it possible to activate a given number of light rings of the cylindrical display support.

In this embodiment, it is then considered to display information on a vertical cylindrical tube for example. Thus, each luminous "level" has a ring shape, or ring, the level of which is representative of the information to be displayed. Advantageously, the control box and the game terminals are powered without cable by at least one autonomous battery.

Advantageously, the control unit according to the invention comprises:

means for executing at least two applications each associated with a mode of operation distinct from the system; means for selecting one of the applications;

means for controlling the game terminals according to a selected application,

According to the invention, such modes of operation belong to the group comprising: the buzz mode, in which the speed of the players is tested; - the quiz mode in which players choose an answer to a question from a set of possible answers;

- the jury mode in which the players elect an element or a person;

- the game of chance mode in which players bet on a value and / or said control box sends random draw results to the game terminals.

The system then has the characteristic of allowing a large number of possible types of game from one and the same equipment. We are talking about a "multifunctional" system. The choice and implementation of the game type is determined and controlled by the control box, which configures each game terminal, depending on the type of game selected.

In other words, the system of the invention has the advantage of allowing, in addition to basic standard functions, such as the speed test for example (buzz mode), a varied choice of types of game. Especially gambling is an additional variant that can simulate the games that can be found in a casino.

Advantageously, the first and second transmission / reception means according to the invention implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising a configuration frame, distributed by the control box to all the terminals of game, and including:

a "start / end" field, indicating the beginning or the end of the implementation of a selected operating mode;

- a "mode" field, indicating the selected operating mode. Mode of operation means the type of game implemented

(Quizz, Buzz, etc.).

Advantageously, the first and second transmitting / receiving means according to the invention implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising a response frame, transmitted to the control box by a given game terminal and comprising: a "response" field, which may be empty or indicating one of several possible responses;

at least one "instant of response" field, indicating a temporal information defining a moment of response. For example, in the BUZZ mode of operation, we can consider that the "answer" field is empty, since the player must only activate a button as quickly as possible to then give his answer orally.

Advantageously, the first and second transmission / reception means according to the invention implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising a launch frame of at least one sound and / or visual effect, transmitted by the control box to a given game terminal and comprising:

- a "mode" field, indicating the selected mode;

an "address" field, indicating a location in memory of the given game terminal, of a sequence of configuration data relating to the at least one sound and / or visual effect, so that, on receipt of the frame of launch, the given game terminal uses the configuration data to produce the at least one effect.

Advantageously, the first and second transmitting / receiving means implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising an action frame, transmitted by the control box to a given game terminal and comprising:

- a "mode" field, indicating the selected mode;

an "action" field, indicating an action to be performed by the given game terminal.

According to a particular embodiment, the game terminals and / or the control box have a modular structure comprising a removable head connected to a base. It is thus possible to use the system while standing or sitting. In this last position, we place each of the terminals on a table for example.

An embodiment of the invention also relates to a game terminal intended to cooperate with a control box within a game system comprising a control box and at least two game terminals, the control box comprising means control of the game terminals, the game terminals comprising at least one control member so as to respond to a request sent by the control box. According to the invention, such a game terminal comprises wireless transmission / reception means, so that the control unit can communicate wirelessly with the game terminals.

According to the invention, such a game terminal further comprises display means substantially omnidirectional, allowing a person to view at least one information displayed by the display means, regardless of the position of the person with respect to display means.

In one embodiment, the invention further relates to a control box for cooperating with a plurality of game terminals within a game system comprising a control box and at least two game terminals, the control box. comprising means for controlling the game terminals, the game terminals comprising at least one control member so as to respond to a request sent by the control box.

According to the invention, such a control box comprises wireless transmission / reception means, so that the control unit can communicate wirelessly with the game terminals.

According to the invention, such a control box further comprises substantially omnidirectional display means, allowing a person to view at least one information displayed by the display means, regardless of the position of the person with respect to the display means. 4. List of figures Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which: FIG. 1 shows schematically the wireless network formed according to the invention by the control box and the set of game terminals;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the front and rear faces of the totem of a game terminal according to the invention;

- Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of the display means of a game terminal;

- Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the display means of a game terminal;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D schematize four types of frames conveyed between the control box and the game terminals; FIG. 6 shows an exemplary structure of the dynamic memory of a game terminal during the production of a special effect;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary dynamic memory of a game terminal when a sound sequence is produced;

FIG. 8 relates to an exemplary structure of a sequence frame. 5. Description of a preferred embodiment

5.1 General principle

The invention is thus composed, on the one hand, of several game terminals for the participants (individuals, or teams using the same terminal). The terminals can be in numbers from 1 to 20 or, more rarely, from a higher number). Participants can press a key to speak (take hold of a game) and / or select and send an answer using buttons on each terminal. On the other hand, the system is completed by a control box dedicated to the host receiving and centralizing the information transmitted by the terminals, information such as the speed of the players to press a key, and / or the response selected by the players. This control box also allows the host to send one or more terminals identical or differentiated orders to generate various actions, such as the display of a cumulative points and / or, start a stopwatch, or control light effects and sound. Figure 1 illustrates the network thus formed by the game terminals communicating with the control box, also called "control animator".

More particularly, the system according to the invention contains a plurality of play terminals 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106, which transmit and receive signals 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and 126 to a central housing 130 control. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the control box function is provided by a terminal of the PDA type, which is controlled by the animator of the game. Each of the terminals is controlled by a player, or participant. . The low consumption of the electronic circuits used allows a perfect autonomy of the terminals each powered by its own rechargeable battery, while giving them sufficient power to generate the light and sound effects necessary for the spectacular animation produced by the system for the usual duration of time. a game and even beyond. Moreover the head of the terminal can be separated from the body (also called base) of the terminal and reconnected and arranged table next to the body of the terminal psoé on the table too. Thus, this spectacular looking terminal can be used by a person sitting at a table and is not only limited to standing use. Finally, for this system whose basic function is to test the speed of players, the electronic technology used also allows to enrich its use by adding more advanced features that can be broken down into different versions increasing the performance of this system. which originally was just a "game mushroom". Functions such as, for example: By adding four 1-2-3-4 or ABCD buttons, being able to answer questions at multiple choice, for quizzes or opinion polls, or votes for a jury or other decisions and consultations.

The system according to the invention having a strong scenic and spectacular value will be mainly used as a tool for animation of games and quizzes for events of companies, communities, fairs, exhibitions and even may be proposed to the general public for a private use in a derivative version of smaller size for example a game cabinet. Other uses can benefit from such applications as: training, voting, surveys etc. which are practiced in small groups and locally. The main function of the system is to determine the speed of players to "take the hand" each having pressed a button or a button of its terminal, it allows in particular to select the fastest of them (mode "buzz") . The fastest that can momentarily interrupt the operation of all other terminals. This function is usually supplemented by light and sound effects.

A second function, more advanced, allows each player to provide, simultaneously to others, a response according to multiple-choice proposals for a questionnaire ("Quiz" mode), this with the help of buttons or buttons arranged on the terminal. Finally, an additional multifunction variant of the system can be closer to games of chance of the type found in casinos, such as the launch of dice, the Jackpot, or the game of the ball.

In more detail, the game of the launching of dice can make it possible to decide between two players having the same score: for this, the animator orders the sending of a random value included between 1 and 6. The number of corresponding diodes s' will light on the terminals of each player and simulate the value of a face of the die.

In the Jackpot mode, the animator orders the sending of a random value allowing to control a random lighting of the diodes of the participants. If, on its terminal, three diodes of the same color are lit, then he is considered to have a Jackpot.

Finally, in the game of the Ball, a player bet on a value between 1 and 9. The animator orders the sending of a random value so as to control the ignition of a random number of diodes of the terminal of the player who bet. A new score is awarded based on the result.

The variety of these possible games highlights the flexibility that the control box allows. Indeed, depending on the case and the number of players, it is able to send one or more random values, in broadcast mode

("Broadcast" in English), or in point-to-point mode to one or more particular terminals.

5.2 Boundary

A game terminal can measure approximately 90 centimeters and have at the head of a key and / or several answer keys and on the body of the terminal of a counter and / or chronometer which can have a digital or analog representation, for example with bars or light points superimposed vertically. The terminal incorporates a radio / IR transmission / reception system that communicates with the other terminals and the control animator, it also incorporates light and sound devices. Each terminal is individually powered by battery. Alternatively, the head and the body can be dissociated to be arranged on a table, instead of resting on the ground only.

Specifically, the game terminal consists of a tower, also called totem, and a "bumper" allowing the player to answer questions.

Figures 2A and 2B schematically illustrate the front face and the rear face of a terminal according to a preferred embodiment. In relation with FIG. 2A, a game terminal according to the invention comprises on its front face a loudspeaker 21 with a power of 1 Watt intended to reproduce the sound effects controlled by the control box 130 presented in relation with Figure 1. The visual effects are produced by a set of LEDS 22. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, each terminal contains 10 LEDs 220 to 229.

In connection with FIG. 2B, the rear face contains the electronic components relating to the operation of the terminal and to the wireless communication system with the control box.

A female connector 23 recharges the terminals when the charge of the batteries 24 is exhausted.

Each terminal is equipped with an electronic card 25 for managing the sound and visual effects of the game and communicating with the host control by a Radio Frequency (RF) type link. Note that this card also manages a user keyboard and an ignition button (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a game terminal comprising omnidirectional display means according to a first particular embodiment.

A game terminal comprises a base 31 and a display panel 32. On each of the faces 321 and 322 are mounted ten light-emitting diodes 330 to 339, such that the latter are aligned vertically in a column. Thus, it is possible, according to the invention, to activate the ignition of a predetermined number of these diodes according to the information to be displayed. Figure 3 illustrates an example where the four lower-level diodes 330, 331, 332 and 334 are on. This can be considered as a score of four points of the participant playing on this bollard.

Thanks to the "splitting" of these diodes on each of the faces of the billboard, such a score is then visible on all sides, and thus known at all times by all those present in the game room.

In relation to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the display means for these game terminals is contemplated. A game terminal is then constituted by a base 41 and a cylindrical display support 42. A plurality of light rings 430 to 439 are mounted on this cylindrical support. Such rings In particular, luminous devices can be implemented by known display techniques on flexible surfaces, such as OLED systems in particular.

Depending on the value of the information that one wishes to display, a predetermined number of these rings are lit. By analogy with FIG. 3, in which the information corresponds to a score of 4 points of the player, the four rings 430 to 431 are lit.

5.3 Control box

The control box or "control animator" can have the appearance of a 20x15x3 cm console. It includes a radio transceiver communicating with the terminals (individually or collectively). On its surface are represented symbolically the reduced scale terminals with the same information they display themselves, information that can be changed manually or automatically to generate the displays and various actions of light and sound. The "animator control" is mobile, it is powered by batteries, a battery or the sector.

The first of the characteristics of the system according to the invention is to be wireless and operate in transmitting and receiving signals by radio or IR waves between the terminals and the "control animator". Thus, thanks to the ease and speed that there is now to implement it, its scope of use is greatly expanded.

Equally important feature, the "animator command" allows to provide downstream user interface simple and very user-friendly because only dedicated to this use. On this "animator control" the representation of the bounds and associated functions is so clear and schematic that reading and manipulation are greatly facilitated. This simplicity is crucial to allow access to all users, especially those who are not familiar with computers.

5.4 Exchange Protocol

This section describes the protocol implemented by the wireless network formed by the set comprising each of the game terminals and the housing control.

In connection with FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D, such a protocol generally comprises four types of information exchange frames, between the control box and the game terminals. An animator directs the game from the control box, embodied by a

PDA. Via a wireless link, it can then control the remote configuration of all the game terminals. The presence of the different game modes presented above implies that, in the course of a game, the sequence of several modes is possible. In connection with FIG. 5A, a configuration frame controlling the beginning and the end of each of the modes is sent by the control box.

The format of this configuration frame is imposed by the real-time application contained in each terminal. Such a frame then comprises a field 51

"START / STOP" signaling the beginning or the end of a game mode, which is in turn specified in a second field 52 "MODE".

This frame is received by the terminal in the form of a TCP / IP request, of two bytes in this particular embodiment.

Each terminal is required to communicate a response to the control box. For this, it transmits, in connection with Figure 5B, a response frame, containing a field 53 "Response" followed by a field 54 "Second" and a field 55 "tenth of a second". These last two fields 54 and 55 then indicate the moment at which a player activated the terminal. They can in particular allow the control box to determine which of the players is the fastest. Note that in this particular embodiment, the response frame contains two fields 54 and 55 relating to the response time. However, according to the desired accuracy, it is possible to consider integrating only one field relating to a response time.

The control box also allows the presenter to control the launch of sound or light animations on the game terminals. animations can concern all the terminals as being intended for a single entity. In connection with FIG. 5C, the control box generates the activation of a special effect on a terminal by sending it a sequence frame. Such a frame is 5 bytes long and includes a first field 56 indicating the mode of operation, as well as a field 57 of address. This address, encoded on 32 bits, corresponds to the address of a special effect stored in a flash memory of each of the terminals.

Thus, when a terminal receives a sequence frame, it consults in its flash memory the contents of the address indicated in this frame, and then executes the corresponding special effect.

Finally, in connection with FIG. 5D, the animator can control a configuration or an action of one or more terminals, thanks to an action frame, which he sends to the selected terminals. Such an action can for example correspond to an animation relating to the score of a player. It is encoded by an 8-bit "op-code". The configuration frame is two bytes long and contains a first "mode" field 58 indicating the current operating mode, and a "CMD" field 59 coding the action to be performed by the targeted terminal.

More precisely, each sound or visual effect can be cut into sequences, units of the effect. An effect of the game will be characterized by a sequence of sequences that will be unique.

The number of sequences characterizing an effect is not fixed, it will be coded on two bytes and stored before a sequence frame in the flash memory of the game terminal. The sequencing of the sequences is configurable. To identify a sequence frame, the system requires a 32-bit unsigned type variable, representing the start address of the sequence frame stored in FLASH. FIG. 6 illustrates the memory scheduling, in which:

the first field Adr sqn indicates the address of the effect to be produced;

the Delta_seql-sq2 field indicates the value of the delay between sequence 1 and sequence 2; the field seql Adr indicates the address of the first sequence; the Seq sound field indicates the address of the sound of the effect;

- The Size field indicates the number of sequences composing the effect. A light and sound sequence is defined by the following fields:

• Selection (lashes) We specify the number of one or more LEDs, for example

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. This sequence will be 10 bits and will correspond to the ten most significant bits of a short unsigned variable. BitO at 1 => LEDl ON and BitO at 0 => LEDl OFF.

For example, to select all the LEDs the short-type (16-bit) viriable will be worth:

• 0x03FF = ALL

• 0x0155 = IMPAIR

• 0x02AA = PAIR

• 0x0343 = LED 10-9-7-2-1 ON • Direction (8bits)

The second field of a sequence characterizes the direction or direction of the light sequence.

Four directions are then possible, UP, DOWN, OUT, IN.

• UP: LEDs light from bottom to top depending on the selected LEDs.

• DOWN: the LEDs light from top to bottom depending on the selected LEDs.

The two directions, IN and OUT, are only suitable when all the LEDs are selected: • IN: the LEDs light up two by two ends inwards, (in pairs 1-10, 2-9, 3 -8,

4-7, 5-6).

• OUT: The LEDs light up two by two from the inside to the ends, (in pairs 5-6, 4-7, 3-8, 2-9, 1-10). To identify the direction characterizing the sequence, an unsigned char variable is easily enough, and therefore an 8-bit sequence:

• UP: the direction field => 0x01 • DOWN: the direction field => 0x02

• IN: the direction field => 0x03

• OUT: the direction field => 0x04

• Intensity (8bits)

The LEDs must be able to light with a modulable intensity characterized by the value of this field. Six levels of light intensity are to be expected [0-5].

Level 0: zero intensity LED OFF, level 1: low intensity, level 5: high intensity. An unsigned char variable is easily enough to characterize the 6 levels of light intensity.

• Rhythm The rhythm field is the rate at which the effect should occur. That is, the interval in microseconds between the ignition of the LEDi and that of the

LEDi + 1, for example.

An unsigned short variable is easily enough, offering an interval of [65535-0]. • Color (24bits)

The color is defined in relation to 3 components namely RGB (red-green-blue)

Each color, component, offers 255 levels, or different hues.

It is therefore expected three bytes characterizing these three levels. The color will be put in the form of a 24-bit word.

Three unsigned char variables are used to characterize the color.

Thus for example a pure red will correspond to the value OxOOFF, OxOO and OxOO.

• ADR (32-bit) This is a 32-bit variable, so using a long variable unsigned long. Indeed, it corresponds to the address allowing to play the sound, as shown in Figure 7.

Each sound file is encoded with a 4-byte header representing the size in bytes of the next file in the memory. If a sequence must be accompanied by a sound, the ADR Sound field of the sequence frame points to an address belonging to the memory zone of the zone of the

FLASH dedicated to the storage of sound sequences.

A sequence frame, unit of the effect corresponds to a bit sequence of 112 ordered bits as shown in FIG.

The system according to the invention thus considerably reduces the installation time and benefits in particular the show and event animation where the lack of connection and especially the removal of the cables usually used to connect the interactive game terminals between them, with or without an animator desk, removes its fragility from the old systems. But also the risk of falling that represented son temporarily installed on the ground. Thus the great facility of setting up this system considerably widens its possibilities of use.

Claims

A game system comprising a control box (130) and at least two game terminals (101, 102), said control box comprising means for controlling said game terminals, said game terminals comprising at least one game unit command to respond to a request sent by said control box, characterized in that said control box comprises first wireless transmission / reception means, and said game terminals comprise second transmission / reception means without wire, so that said control box can wirelessly communicate with said game terminals, and in that said game terminals and / or said control box comprise substantially omnidirectional display means (22), allowing a person to display at least one information displayed by said display means, regardless of the position of said person with respect to said display means.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said control member comprises at least two buttons.

3. System according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said control unit is a PDA type terminal (130).

4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first and second wireless transmission / reception means implement the wireless communication standard WI-FI.

5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said control unit comprises means for managing the production of sound effects and visual effects synchronized to said game terminals, said sound effects being produced by at least one loudspeaker (21) included in each of said game terminals and said visual effects being produced by said display means (22) included in each of said game terminals.

6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said display means comprise:

a display panel (32) each of whose faces comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (330, 311); first means for selectively activating said diodes so that said display panel simultaneously displays the same information on its two faces.

7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said display means comprise: - a cylindrical display support (42) having on its outer face a plurality of light-emitting diodes defining at least two rings superimposed luminous (430, 431);

second means for selectively activating said diodes for activating a given number of light rings of said cylindrical display medium.

8. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said control unit and said game terminals are supplied without cable by at least one autonomous battery.

9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said control unit comprises:

means for executing at least two applications each associated with a mode of operation distinct from said system;

means for selecting one of said applications;

means for controlling the game terminals as a function of a selected application, and in that said modes of operation belong to the group comprising:

- the buzz mode, in which one tests the speed of the players;

- the quiz mode in which players choose an answer to a question from a set of possible answers; - the jury mode in which the players elect an element or a person;

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that said first and second transmitting / receiving means implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising a configuration frame, broadcast by said control unit to the set of said game terminals, and comprising: - a "start / end" field, indicating the beginning or the end of the implementation of a selected operating mode;

a "mode" field indicating said selected operating mode.

11. System according to any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that said first and second transmitting / receiving means implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising a response frame, transmitted to said control box by a given game terminal and comprising:

a "response" field, which may be empty or indicating one of several possible responses; at least one "instant of response" field, indicating a temporal information defining a moment of response.

12. System according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said first and second transmitting / receiving means implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising a launch frame of at least a sound and / or visual effect, transmitted by said control box to a given game terminal and comprising:

- a "mode" field, indicating the selected mode;

an "address" field, indicating a location in memory of said given game terminal, of a sequence of configuration data relating to said at least one sound and / or visual effect, so that, on receipt of said launch frame, said given game terminal uses said configuration data to produce said at least one effect.

13. System according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said first and second transmission / reception means implement a communication protocol based on a set of frames comprising an action frame, transmitted by said transmission box. command to a given game terminal and comprising:

- a "mode" field, indicating the selected mode;

an "action" field, indicating an action to be performed by said given game terminal.

14. System according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said game terminals and / or said control box have a modular structure comprising a removable head connected to a base.

15. A game terminal for cooperating with a control box within a game system comprising a control box and at least two game terminals, said control box comprising means for controlling said game terminals, said terminals game device comprising at least one control member so as to respond to a request sent by said control box, characterized in that said game terminal comprises wireless transmission / reception means, so that said control unit can wirelessly communicating with said game terminals, and in that said game terminal includes substantially omnidirectional display means, allowing a person to view at least one information displayed by said display means, regardless of the position of the said person with respect to said display means.

16. A control box for cooperating with a plurality of game terminals within a game system comprising a control box and at least two game terminals, said control box comprising means for controlling said game terminals, said game terminals comprising at least one control member so as to respond to a request sent by said box controller, characterized in that said control unit comprises wireless transmission / reception means, so that said control unit can communicate wirelessly with said game terminals, and in that said control box comprises means substantially omnidirectional display, allowing a person to view at least one information displayed by said display means, regardless of the position of said person with respect to said display means.