Method for using a game pad as a realistic lower body game controller

• US 20060142081A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timothy David Kil
• Original Assignee: Timothy David Kil
• Inventors: Kil, Timothy David
• Application Number:
  US10/906,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142081A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

The present invention includes a method for controlling a character in a video game in which the controller is a game pad that has foot-activated buttons upon it and in which the player can use realistic lower body movements to move the character. As the player performs realistic movements upon the game pad, a container of inputs is populated, the container is analyzed and appropriate commands are started which propel the character in the video game. Periodically, the statuses of the buttons on the game pad are analyzed and, if appropriate, commands are started. Also periodically, commands are checked to see if they have expired and, if needed, they are stopped.

Claims

1. A method for a player to control a character in a video game that comprises:

(a) providing a game pad with a plurality of foot-activated buttons;

(b) providing a container of the latest input from said input buttons on said game pad;

(c) analyzing patterns of said input within said container;

(d) starting commands for controlling said character based on said analysis of said patterns;

(e) providing a frame triggered periodically;

(f) analyzing current statuses of said input buttons;

(g) starting commands for controlling said character based on said analysis of said current statuses of said input buttons;

(h) analyzing of all said started commands to determine if said commands have expired;

(i) stopping said started commands based on said analysis of all said started commands;

whereby said character in said video game is controlled by realistic lower body movements by said player upon said game pad.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said analysis of said patterns of said input from said game pad occur as new input is received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said analysis of said current statuses of said input buttons occur during said frame.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said analysis of all said started commands to determine if said commands have expired occur during said frame.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said analysis and resultant stopping of said commands occur during said frame.