In-game shot aiming indicator

• US 20060199626A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Romero, Michael, Ortiz, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,043,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board

Abstract

A visual aim indicator shows players the position of a selected one of a set of aim points during a video game. Each of the set of aim points has a predetermined position. The predetermined positions are within a target region, so that the visual aim indicator shows players the likely destination of their aim. Each aim point is associated with a range of control input values, so that players do not need to provide a precise control input value and can quickly select one of the set of aim points. The sizes of the ranges of control input values associated with the aim points can vary so that a player'"'"'s aim inputs can be biased towards or away from specific aim points. The visual aim indicator is displayed intermittently during an aiming mode of operation and removed from view when the player completes the aiming mode of operation.

Claims

1. A method of providing a visual aim indicator in a video game, the method comprising:

receiving a first set of at least one control input from a player;

analyzing the first set of at least one control input to determine an aim input value;

selecting one of a set of aim points from the aim input value, wherein each of the set of aim points has a predetermined position; and

displaying a visual aim indicator at the position associated with the selected aim point.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second set of at least one control input from the player;

analyzing the second set of at least one control input to determine that an aiming operation is complete; and

removing the visual aim indicator in response to the completion of the aim operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one of the set of aim points includes:

comparing the aim input value with at least one range of input values associated with each of the set of aim points; and

selecting one of the set of aim points associated with the range of input values including the aim input value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the range of input values associated with a first one of the set of aim points is smaller than the range of input values associated with a second one of the set of aim points, thereby biasing the first set of at least one control input towards the second one of the set of aim points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of at least one control input includes a first control input requesting the initiation of an aiming operation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first set of at least one control input includes a second control input specifying the aim input value.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first control input further specifies the aim input value.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the video game includes a first mode of operation in which the player controls the aiming operation and a second mode of operation in which the player controls the movement of a game character.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined positions associated with the set of aim points are within a target region.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of aim points and the associated set of predetermined positions are specified by a default set of values included in the video game.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of aim points and the associated set of predetermined positions are specified by the player.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of aim points and the associated set of predetermined positions are specified at least in part by an attribute of a game character.

13. An information storage medium including a set of instructions adapted to direct an information processing device to perform an operation, the operation comprising:

receiving a first set of at least one control input from a player;

analyzing the first set of at least one control input to determine an aim input value;

selecting one of a set of aim points from the aim input value, wherein each of the set of aim points has a predetermined position; and

displaying a visual aim indicator at the position associated with the selected aim point.

14. The information storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a second set of at least one control input from the player;

analyzing the second set of at least one control input to determine that an aiming operation is complete; and

removing the visual aim indicator in response to the completion of the aim operation.

15. The information storage medium of claim 13, wherein selecting one of the set of aim points includes:

comparing the aim input value with at least one range of input values associated with each of the set of aim points; and

selecting one of the set of aim points associated with the range of input values including the aim input value.

16. The information storage medium of claim 14, wherein the range of input values associated with a first one of the set of aim points is smaller than the range of input values associated with a second one of the set of aim points, thereby biasing the first set of at least one control input towards the second one of the set of aim points.

17. The information storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first set of at least one control input includes a first control input requesting the initiation of an aiming operation.

18. The information storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first set of at least one control input includes a second control input specifying the aim input value.

19. The information storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first control input further specifies the aim input value.

20. The information storage medium of claim 17, wherein the video game includes a first mode of operation in which the player controls the aiming operation and a second mode of operation in which the player controls the movement of a game character.

21. The information storage medium of claim 13, wherein the set of predetermined positions associated with the set of aim points are within a target region.

22. The information storage medium of claim 13, wherein the set of aim points and the associated set of predetermined positions are specified by a default set of values included in the video game.

23. The information storage medium of claim 13, wherein the set of aim points and the associated set of predetermined positions are specified by the player.

24. The information storage medium of claim 13, wherein the set of aim points and the associated set of predetermined positions are specified at least in part by an attribute of a game character.