VIDEO GAME WITH REPRESENTATIVE PHYSICAL OBJECT RELATED CONTENT

• US 20110098092A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Reiche, Paul III
• Granted Patent: US 8,864,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• 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 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• 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

A video game includes a reader that senses the identity of various game objects. Each game object includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. The game objects may be in a form of characters or items, for example structures or articles. Each of the game objects is associated with a animate game character or an inanimate item, for example a structure or article manipulable by an animate game character, in the video game. Game play proceeds depending on what game object is placed on the reader.

Claims

1. A video game system, comprising:

an object including a machine-readable identifier, the object having a form representative of an item that is inanimate during video game play;

a reader configured to read the machine-readable identifier; and

a processor configured by program instructions to add the item that is inanimate during video game play to video game play deter mine video game states based on the machine-readable identifier, to determine video game character action based at least on user inputs indicative of commands to control a video game character, the video game character action including the video game character generally engaging the item that is inanimate during game play, to provide the video game character an ability based on the item that is inanimate during video game play, and to command display of representations of video game states on a display, the representations including representations of the video game character generally engaging the item that is inanimate during video game play.

2. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions to determine video game states based on the machine readable identifier and user inputs and to command display of representations of video game states on a display include program instructions to not command display of representations of the item that is inanimate during video game play prior to the processor receiving an indication the reader has read the machine-readable identifier.

3. The video game system of claim 2, wherein the object has the form of a structure, and the display of representations of the item that is inanimate during game play includes representations of the structure.

4. The video game system of claim 3, wherein the representation of the structure include representations of an interior of the structure.

5. The video game system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to include the interior of the structure in a game space of the video game.

6. The video game system of claim 5, wherein the video game character ability is the ability to enter the structure.

7. The video game system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to account for restrictions on movement of the video game character due to the structure.

8. The video game system of claim 2, wherein the item that is inanimate during video game play has the form of an article manipulable by a video game character.

9. The video game system of claim 8 wherein the video game character ability is an inherent function of the article.

10. The video game system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to associate the article with the video game character.

11. The video game system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to provide the video game character an ability include instructions to provide of the video game character based on user inputs indicative of commands to manipulate the article.

12. A video game system, comprising:

a plurality of objects, each object including a unique machine-readable identifier and each object having a form representative of a corresponding item that is inanimate during game play;

a reader configured to read the machine-readable identifier when the object is near the reader; and

a processor coupled to the reader to receive an indication of the machine-readable identifier, the processor configured by program instructions to determine video game states based on the machine-readable identifier and to command display of representations of video game states on a display, the representations including a representation of the item that is inanimate during game play corresponding to the machine-readable identifier and a video game character generally engaging the item that is inanimate during game play, the program instructions including program instructions to provide the video game character an ability based on the machine readable identifier.

13. The video game system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions to determine video game states based on the machine-readable identifier and to command display of representations of video game states on a display include program instructions to not command display of the representation of the item that is inanimate during game play prior to the processor receiving an indication the reader has read the corresponding machine-readable identifier.

14. The video game system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of objects has the form of structure, and the representation of the item that is inanimate during game play includes a representation of the structure.

15. The video game system of claim 14, wherein the representation of the structure include a representation of an interior of the structure.

16. The video game system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to include the interior of the structure in a game space of the video game.

17. The video game system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the corresponding items that are inanimate during game play has the form of an article manipulable by a video game character.

18. The video game system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to associate the article manipulable by a video game character with the video game character.

19. A computer implemented method providing for video game play, comprising:

receiving an indication of a machine readable identifier of a physical object;

storing in memory an indication of presence of an inanimate virtual item corresponding to the physical object at a location in a virtual game space of a video game;

determining during video game play if the location is currently viewable;

commanding display of a representation of the item on a display if the location is currently viewable, the item having a resemblance to the physical object;

providing the game character an ability based on the inanimate virtual item;

determining during video game play if the inanimate virtual item is being generally engaged by a video game character; and

commanding display of the representation of the item as generally engaged by the video game character

20. The computer implemented method of claim 19 where the item is an article manipulable by a game character.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 19 wherein the item is a structure.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 21 further comprising commanding display of an interior of the structure if a game character enters the structure during video game play.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the physical object has a form representative of the space.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the space is a structure.

23. A computer implemented method providing for video game play, comprising:

receiving an indication of a machine readable identifier of a physical object;

adding a space to a virtual world of video game play based on the identifier;

allowing a game character to enter the space in response to user inputs indicative of commands to move the game character into the space; and

commanding display of at least portions of the space.

26. A computer implemented method providing for video game play, comprising:

receiving an indication of a machine readable identifier of a physical object;

adding an article to game play based on the identifier;

having a game character generally engage the article in response to user inputs indicative of commands to have the game character generally engage the article;

commanding display of the game character generally engaging the article; and

providing the game character an ability based on the article generally engaged by the game character.

27. A computer implemented method providing for video game play, comprising:

receiving an indication of a machine readable identifier of a physical object;

adding an article to game play based on the identifier;

having a game character generally engage the article in response to user inputs indicative of commands to have the game character generally engage the article;

commanding display of the game character generally engaging the article; and

modifying game play to account for the game character generally engaging the article by providing the game character an ability, with the ability dependent on the nature of the article.