ELECTRONIC GAME WITH OVERLAY CARD

• US 20070184900A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi, Kuribayashi, Masaru
• Granted Patent: US 7,993,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

Systems and methods related to game consoles, game software and games for play on a game console having a touch screen interface. A card having a pattern defined therein is overlaid on the touch screen. The defined pattern is used to activate portions of the touch screen by guiding user interaction with a touch pad or touch screen. The activated portions of the touch pad or touch screen launch responsive activity in a computer program implemented on the game console.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

a game console having a touch-sensitive pointing device; and

an overlay card having a pattern therein, wherein the pattern on the card guides use of the touch-sensitive pointing device.

2. The game system of claim 1 wherein the pointing device comprises a touch pad.

3. The game system of claim 1 wherein the pointing device comprises a touch screen.

4. The game system of claim 1 wherein the pattern comprises a cavity formed in the overlay card.

5. The game system of claim 1 wherein the pattern comprises pathways printed on the card material and the card material is sufficiently conformal to translate activity of a stylus on an upper surface to the touch-sensitive pointing device.

6. The game system of claim 1 wherein the pattern comprises a raised area protruding away from a card surface so that the raise area engages the touch-sensitive pointing device.

7. The game system of claim 1 further comprising:

a computing device within the game console;

processes executing on the computing device for detecting use of the touch sensitive pointing device; and

processes executing on the computing device for taking responsive action to affect game play based on the detected use of the touch-sensitive pointing device.

8. The game system of claim 1 wherein the pattern comprises a collection of points.

9. The game system of claim 1 wherein the pattern comprises one or more shapes selected from the group consisting of:

a line, an arc, a curve, and a two-dimensional shape.

10. A method of implementing a computer-implemented game on a console having a touch-sensitive pointing device, the method comprising:

providing a user with an overlay card having a pattern formed therewith;

detecting activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device corresponding; and

determining whether the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device corresponds to a pre-selected pattern that indicates the user has activated the touch-sensitive pointing device using the overlay card.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising altering some aspect of the game play based upon detecting that the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device corresponds to use of the overlay card.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising altering some aspect of the game play based upon detecting that the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device does not correspond to use of the overlay card.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the card is provided with the computer-implemented game.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the overlay card is provided separately from the computer-implemented game.

15. A card for use in a game system:

first surface configured to overlay a touch-sensitive pointing device;

a pattern formed with the card, wherein the pattern corresponds to a pattern programmed to be recognized by a game executing in the game system.

16. The card of claim 15 wherein the card is shaped to register with a touch screen device.

17. The card of claim 15 wherein at least one surface of the card contains printed material.

18. The card of claim 15 wherein the card comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of:

paper, plastic, and metal.

19. The card of claim 15 wherein the pattern comprise one or more cavities extending completely through the card.

20. The card of claim 15 wherein the pattern comprise one or more cavities extending partially through the card.

21. The card of claim 15 wherein the pattern comprise one or more protrusions extending from one surface of the card.