METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTER IN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL GAMING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20050215319A1
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Egozy, Eran B., Metois, Eric, Schmidt, Dan, Rigopulos, Alexander P., Lopiccolo, Greg
• Application Number:
  US10/710,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/42 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A method for allowing a player of a video game to control a three-dimensional game character in a three-dimensional game world includes the steps of acquiring video image data of a player of a game, analyzing the acquired video image data to identify the location or movement of a portion of the player'"'"'s body; and using the identified location of the portion of the player'"'"'s body to control behavior of a game character.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a player of a video game to control a three-dimensional game character in a three-dimensional game world, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring video image data of a player of a game;

analyzing the acquired video image data to identify the location of a portion of the player'"'"'s body; and

using the identified location of the portion of the player'"'"'s body to control behavior of a game character.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s head.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s hands.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s feet.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a rightward direction when the player'"'"'s head leans to the right.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a leftward direction when the player'"'"'s head leans to the left.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in an upward direction when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a upward direction when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in an downward direction when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a downward direction when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises causing a game character to crouch when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises causing a game character to assume an erect position when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises causing a game character to jump when the player'"'"'s head rises rapidly.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises leaning a game character to the left when the player'"'"'s head leans to the left.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises leaning a game character to the right when the player'"'"'s head leans to the right.

19. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises accelerating a game character when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises decelerating a game character when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s hands.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s feet.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises decelerating a game character when the player'"'"'s hands are held away from the player'"'"'s body.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises raising a game character'"'"'s left hand when the player'"'"'s left hand is raised.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises raising a game character'"'"'s right hand when the player'"'"'s right hand is raised.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises accelerating a game character when the distance between the game player'"'"'s body and hand decreases.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises decelerating a game character when the distance between the game player'"'"'s body and hand increases.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises turning a game character to the left when the distance between the player'"'"'s left hand and body increases.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises turning a game character to the right when the distance between the player'"'"'s right hand and body increases.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s feet.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

42. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of analyzing the acquired video image data to determine a gesture made by the player.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of controlling the game character responsive to the determined gesture.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of spinning the game character clockwise in response to the gesture.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of spinning the game character counter-clockwise in response to the gesture.

46. A system for allowing a player of a video game to control a three-dimensional game character in a three-dimensional game world, the system comprising:

an image acquisition subsystem acquiring video image data of a player of a game;

an analysis engine identifying the location of a portion of the player'"'"'s body; and

a translation engine using the identified location of the portion of the player'"'"'s body to control behavior of a game character.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s head.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s hands.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s feet.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

51. The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

52. The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

53. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a rightward direction when the player'"'"'s head leans to the right.

54. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a leftward direction when the player'"'"'s head leans to the left.

55. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in an upward direction when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

56. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a upward direction when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in an downward direction when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

58. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a downward direction when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

59. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of causing a game character to crouch when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

60. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of causing a game character to assume an erect position when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

61. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of causing a game character to jump when the player'"'"'s head rises rapidly.

62. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of leaning a game character to the left when the player'"'"'s head leans to the left.

63. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of leaning a game character to the right when the player'"'"'s head leans to the right.

64. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of accelerating a game character when the player'"'"'s head is lowered.

65. The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of decelerating a game character when the player'"'"'s head is raised.

66. The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s hands.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s feet.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

69. The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

70. The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

71. The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of decelerating a game character when the player'"'"'s hands are held away from the player'"'"'s body.

72. The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of raising a game character'"'"'s left hand when the player'"'"'s left hand is raised.

73. The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of raising a game character'"'"'s right hand when the player'"'"'s right hand is raised.

74. The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of accelerating a game character when the distance between the game player'"'"'s body and hand decreases.

75. The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of decelerating a game character when the distance between the game player'"'"'s body and hand increases.

76. The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of turning a game character to the left when the distance between the player'"'"'s left hand and body increases.

77. The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of turning a game character to the right when the distance between the player'"'"'s right hand and body increases.

78. The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s feet.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

80. The system of claim 78 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

81. The system of claim 78 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

82. The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s torso.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

84. The system of claim 82 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

85. The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s arms.

86. The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player'"'"'s legs.

87. The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine determines a gesture made by the player.

88. The system of claim 87 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative for controlling the game character responsive to the determined gesture.

89. The system of claim 87 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of spinning the game character clockwise in response to the gesture.

90. The system of claim 87 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of spinning the game character counter-clockwise in response to the gesture.