Video game voice chat with amplitude-based virtual ranging

• US 20060025216A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Smith, Darren C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,491,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/35
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video

Abstract

The amplitude of a video game player'"'"'s voice determines how far his or her message is carried to other players in the game. The range a message carries is based on the relative virtual proximity of avatars associated with said players within the virtual game environment.

Claims

1. A video game system comprising:

an audio transducer that receives acoustical information including speech;

an amplitude detector that detects the amplitude of said received acoustical information; and

a messaging arrangement that selectively messages other players of said video game as a function of (a) said received acoustical information, (b) said detected amplitude, and (c) the respective relative virtual proximity of avatars within said video game that represent said players.

2. A video game playing method comprising:

receiving acoustical information including speech;

detecting the amplitude of said received acoustical information; and

selectively messaging other players of said video game as a function of (a) said received acoustical information, (b) said detected amplitude, and (c) the respective relative virtual proximity of avatars within said video game representing said players.

3. A multiplayer video game play system comprising:

means for receiving acoustical information including speech;

means for detecting the amplitude of said received acoustical information; and

means for selectively messaging other players of said video game as a function of (a) said received acoustical information, (b) said detected amplitude, and (c) the respective relative virtual proximity of avatars within said video game representing said players.

4. A storage medium comprising:

a first storage area that stores instructions for receiving acoustical information including speech;

a second storage area that stores instructions for detecting the amplitude of said received acoustical information; and

a third storage area that stores instructions for selectively messaging other players of said video game as a function of (a) said received acoustical information, (b) said detected amplitude, and (c) the respective relative virtual proximity of avatars within said video game representing said players.