Reality-based video game elements

• US 10,493,363 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Yan, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US15/347,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20180126277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• 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 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks

Abstract

A videogame may make use of real world imagery for play of a video game utilizing a real world vehicle. Items may be identified in the real world imagery, and the identified items may become gameplay elements.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing videogame play of a videogame, comprising:

receiving, by a game device, video imagery from a camera of a vehicle;

displaying the video imagery by the game device;

receiving, by the game device, user inputs for operation of the vehicle;

transmitting, by the game device, operation commands to the vehicle;

modifying a gameplay state of the videogame based on information of the video imagery and the user inputs for operation of the vehicle, including determining types of surfaces for areas of the gameplay world by comparing information of the video imagery with a library of information about potential types of surfaces and modifying the gameplay state of the videogame based on a type of surface identified in the video imagery upon which the vehicle is located;

identifying items in the video imagery and assigning gameplay elements of the videogame to at least some of the items; and

modifying display of the at least some of the items in the video imagery identified as gameplay elements of the videogame based on gameplay status of the at least some of the items.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying display of the video imagery to reflect gameplay events of the videogame by compositing video on the video imagery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation commands are based on the user inputs for operation of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the operation commands are based on the user inputs for operation of the vehicle and the gameplay state of the videogame.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the game device, information regarding location of the vehicle; and

using the information regarding location of the vehicle to maintain information regarding location of items in the video imagery.

6. A system for providing for videogame play of a videogame, comprising:

a vehicle having a camera for generating video imagery; and

a game device configured to command display of video imagery from the camera, to provide operation commands to the vehicle, and to provide for videogame play of a videogame utilizing the video imagery wherein to provide the videogame, the game device is configured to;

determine a type of a surface upon which the vehicle is located from the video imagery from the camera by comparing information of the video imagery with a library of information about potential types of surfaces;

modify a gameplay state of the videogame based on the type of surface upon which the vehicle is located;

identify items in the video imagery;

assign gameplay elements to at least some of the identified items; and

command modification of display of the at least some of the identified items assigned gameplay elements based on gameplay status of the at least some of the identified items.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least some of the operation commands are based on user inputs for controlling the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least some of the operation commands are based on status of videogame play of the videogame.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the game device is further configured to command modification of display of the video imagery from the camera.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the game device is configured to command modification of display of the video imagery from the camera based on gameplay status of the videogame.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a steering wheel controller connected to the game device;

an accelerator/brake controller connected to game device; and

wherein the steering wheel controller and the accelerator/brake controller provide user inputs to the game device.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the video imagery includes an asphalt raceway, a dirt infield, and pylons and the game device identifies the asphalt raceway, dirt infield, and pylons and assigns the asphalt raceway, dirt infield, and pylons as gameplay elements in the videogame.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the game device is further configured to communicate information about at least one identified item to a second game device for use in identifying the at least one identified item in video imagery from a second vehicle by the second device.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein the game device is further configured to change the operation commands based upon the type of surface.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein a score of a user is affected by an action taken by the user in relation to the identified surface type.