Method and system for playing interactive game

• US 20040235545A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Alan Landis
• Original Assignee: David Alan Landis
• Inventors: Landis, David Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/441,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization

Abstract

A method and system for playing an interactive game is disclosed. The game involves receiving directional audio cues from one of a plurality of speakers connected to a multi-channel sound source. A player responds to the directional audio cues by moving about a room, continuing to change location based on the directional audio cues. Additionally, a player acts out scenes corresponding to a simulated audio environment created by a surround sound effect through the use of the multi-channel sound source and the plurality of speakers. The game may also involve responding to instructional audio cues which tell a player to perform a certain act or assume a particular posture. The game may also involve visual cues which are synchronized with the different audio cues and which aid the player when the visual cues are displayed on a display device.

Claims

1. A method of play comprising:

receiving a first set of directional audio cues transmitted from a multi-channel sound source to at least one of a plurality of speakers positioned within a defined space, the directional audio cues directing a player to move from a first location to a second location within the defined space;

responding to the first set of directional audio cues by moving from the first location to the second location within the defined space corresponding to the first set of directional audio cues;

receiving at least a second set of directional audio cues at the second location in the defined space;

responding to at least the second set of directional audio cues by moving about the defined space from the second location to at least a third location corresponding to at least the second set of directional audio cues; and

acting out scenes which correspond to a surround-sound environment created by the multi-channel sound source simultaneously emitting different complementary background audio cues from each of the plurality of speakers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising watching visual cues displayed on a display device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the visual cues show a correct player location in the defined space.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the visual cues depict an environment corresponding to the surround-sound environment.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the visual cues show a correct player posture.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the visual cues urge a player to verbally react.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the directional audio cues, background audio cues, and visual cues are chronologically sequenced in story-form.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the directional audio cues are randomized.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-channel sound source and the plurality of speakers are a surround sound system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the surround sound system is a 5.1 surround sound system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the speakers are positioned within the defined space.

12. A method for stimulating creative imagination in children comprising:

emitting a directional audio cue from a multi-channel sound source to one of a plurality of speakers positioned within a defined space to urge a child toward or from a first location in the defined space;

emitting at least a second directional audio cue from at least one of the plurality of speakers urging the child toward or from another location in the defined space;

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising displaying a visual cue from a display device to a display screen, the visual cue related to an audio cue.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising simultaneously emitting different complementary sounds from each of the plurality of speakers to create a surround-sound environment.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising emitting at least one instructional audio cue urging the child to perform a pre-defined act in response to the audio cue.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the visual cue shows a correct location for the child to be positioned within the defined space.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the visual cue provides a visual cue urging a child to verbally react to the visual cue.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the visual cue provides a visual cue urging a child to assume a posture.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the visual cue depicts an environment.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising emitting instructional audio cues urging a player utilize at least one prop positioned in the room.

21. A system for stimulating creative imagination in children comprising:

a multi-channel sound source;

a plurality of speakers connected to receive audio signals from the multi-channel sound source;

a video display source;

a display device connected to receive video signals from a video display source; and

a device containing audio data capable of distribution through the multi-channel sound source to the plurality of speakers and containing video data capable of distribution to the display device, which audio data includes directional audio cues, background audio cues, and instructional audio cues.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the multi-channel sound source and the plurality of speakers are a surround sound system.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the surround sound system is a 5.1 surround sound system.

24. A method of play comprising:

receiving a first set of directional audio cues emitting from one of a plurality of speakers connected to a 5.1 surround sound system directing a player to move from a first location to a second location with a defined space;

responding to the first of directional audio cues by moving from the first location to the second location;

receiving at least a second set of directional audio cues at the second location from one of a plurality of the speakers;

responding to least the second set of directional audio cues at the second location by moving to at least a third location corresponding to at least the second set of audio cues;

acting out scenes which correspond to a surround-sound environment created by simultaneously emitting complementary sounds from at least two of the plurality of speakers and which further correspond to at least one set of instructional audio cues emitted from at least one of the plurality of speakers;

watching visual cues displayed on a video display device to ascertain a correct player location in the defined space.