ELECTRONIC GAME WITH OVERLAY CARD

• US 20110201427A1
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• 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: KURIBAYASHI, MASARU, MATSUMOTO, TSUYOSHI
• Granted Patent: US 9,403,086 B2
• 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 13/2145 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 including a touch screen, wherein the touch screen concurrently operates as a display displaying game content for a game and an input device receiving user input affecting the game;

a computing device within the game console;

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

an overlay card having a pattern therein, wherein the pattern on the card guides use of the touch-sensitive pointing device wherein the overlay card physically overlays the touch screen defining portions of the touch screen that may be user activated; and

processes executing on the computing device for taking responsive action to affect the game based on the detected use of the touch-sensitive pointing device including the portions of the touch screen activated by a user, wherein the affecting of the game includes modifying a portion of the game displayed on the touch screen.

2. The game system of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises a cavity formed in the overlay card that extends less than completely through the overlay card.

3. 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.

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

5. The game system of claim 1, wherein the processes executing on the computing device comprise processes that affect one or more of:

a benefit to a character, a character'"'"'s robustness, a character'"'"'s strength, a character'"'"'s life, a character'"'"'s vitality, a character'"'"'s tools or weapons, revelation of information, a mode of play, and revealing secret information.

6. The game system of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises a collection of points and wherein the collection of the points defines a particular order for the activation of the portions of the touch screen whereby the processes executing on the computing device take the responsive action to affect the game play only when the particular order is followed by the user.

7. 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.

8. 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;

determining whether the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device corresponds to a pre-selected pattern of portions of the touch-sensitive pointing device corresponding to the pattern formed in the overlay card that indicates the user has activated the touch-sensitive pointing device using the overlay card by physically placing the overlay card over the touch-sensitive pointing device, wherein, when the pre-selected pattern of portions are activated according to a sequence of inputs defined by the overlay card; and

modifying an aspect of the computer-implemented game which is concurrently displayed via the touch-sensitive pointing device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising altering some aspect of the game based upon detecting that the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device corresponds to use of the overlay card.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising altering some aspect of the game based upon detecting that the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device does not correspond to use of the overlay card.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the card is provided with the computer-implemented game.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the overlay card is provided separately from the computer-implemented game.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying one or more alignment images on the touch-sensitive pointing device allowing the overlay card to be registered with the touch-sensitive pointing device, wherein the pre-selected pattern of portions can be physically activated when the overlay card is registered using the alignment images.

14. A card for use in a game system:

first surface configured to overlay a touch-sensitive pointing device comprising a touch screen for displaying images associated with a game and wherein the card is shaped to register with the touch screen, wherein the touch screen concurrently operates as a display displaying game content for the game and an input device receiving user input affecting the game;

a pattern formed with the card, wherein the pattern corresponds to a pattern programmed to be recognized by the game executing in the game system to affect a user'"'"'s game play and wherein material of the card defines portions of the touch screen that can be activated by the user corresponding to the programmed pattern.

15. The card of claim 14, wherein at least one surface of the card contains printed material and wherein the card comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of:

paper, plastic, and metal.

16. The card of claim 14, wherein the pattern comprise one or more cavities extending completely through the card.

17. The card of claim 14, wherein the pattern comprise one or more cavities extending partially through the card.

18. The card of claim 14, wherein the pattern comprise one or more protrusions extending from one surface of the card.

19. A game system, comprising:

a game console having a touch-sensitive pointing device including a touch screen, wherein the touch screen concurrently operates as a display displaying game content for a game and an input device receiving user input affecting the game;

a computing device within the game console;

an overlay card having a pattern therein, wherein the pattern on the card guides use of the touch-sensitive pointing device when the overlay card physically overlays the touch screen to define a subset of the touch screen that may be user activated; and

processes executing on the computing device for taking responsive action to affect the game based on detected use of the touch-sensitive pointing device including the defined portions of the touch screen activated by a user, wherein the affecting of the game includes modifying a portion of the game displayed on the touch screen.

20. The game system of claim 19, wherein the pattern corresponds to a pattern programmed to be recognized by the processes executing on the computing device to affect the game and wherein material of the card defines the subset of the touch screen that can be activated by the user corresponding to the programmed pattern by physically blocking access to other portions of the touch screen.

21. The game system of claim 20, wherein the pattern comprises a collection of points and wherein the collection of the points defines a particular order for the activation of the portions of the touch screen whereby the processes executing on the computing device take the responsive action to affect the game only when the particular order is followed by the user.