Interactive video game with visual lighting effects

• US 10,086,264 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Leyland, Robert, Huang, I-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US14/549,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 446175, 463 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/02 Accessories input or output arrangements for electrical digital computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2454 with LED
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user'"'"'s gameplay experience.

Claims

1. An interactive video game system comprising:

a toy object comprising a base and a toy figure, with machine readable information in the base;

a peripheral device with a light source, at least one translucent surface, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) interface for receiving the machine readable information of the toy object;

a console, in communication with the peripheral device, the console including a processor configured by program instructions to provide for gameplay in which a virtual character is based on the machine readable information of the toy object and to control the light source of the peripheral device to emit light to illuminate the base of the toy object responsive to gameplay events.

2. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a red, green, and blue light emitting diodes.

3. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one translucent surface is a plastic.

4. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one translucent surface has a color tint.

5. The video game system of claim 4, wherein the color tint is fluorescent green.

6. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to produce a blue light.

7. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to control the light source to emit light based on character information.

8. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to control the light source to emit light in a color further based on gameplay events.

9. A computer implemented method for use in providing a video game, comprising:

receiving information from memory of a toy object, the toy object comprising a base and a toy figure, using a peripheral device separate from the toy object, the information including characteristics of a character in the video game;

providing for gameplay based on the information from the memory of the toy object and user inputs; and

controlling a light source of the peripheral device to emit a light illuminating the base of the toy object based on game play events.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the light source of the peripheral device to emit light based on game play events comprises controlling the light source of the peripheral device to emit light based on game play events and the characteristics of the character in the video game.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the light source includes red, green, and blue light emitting diodes.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the peripheral device includes a translucent surface illuminatable by the light source.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein a one of the game play events is a level advancement of a character.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein a one of the game play events is entry of a character to game play.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the light source is controlled to emit different colors of light for different game play events.