INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAME WITH VISUAL LIGHTING EFFECTS

• US 20130165223A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Leyland, Robert, Huang, I-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/02 Accessories input or output arrangements for electrical digital computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2454 with LED
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user'"'"'s gameplay experience.

Claims

1. A video game system, comprising:

a physical object including machine readable information, the physical object including at least one fluorescing portion;

a device having a light source and an interface for reading the machine readable information of the physical object;

a processor for executing instructions relating to game play and for controlling the light source to emit light responsive to the game play, to cause a visual effect through exposure of the at least one fluorescing portion of the physical object to the light.

2. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured with a red, green, or blue light emitting diode.

3. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluorescing portion is a fluorescent plastic.

4. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluorescing portion has a color tint.

5. The video game system of claim 4, wherein the color tint is fluorescent green.

6. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to produce a blue light.

7. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions which further cause the light source to emit light at a timing in response to a gameplay events.

8. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions which further cause the light source to emit light in a color at a timing based on gameplay events.

9. An interactive video game system comprising:

a peripheral device with a light source, at least one translucent surface allowing passage of light from the light source, and an interface for receiving information from a toy object;

a console, in communication with the peripheral device, the console including a processor configured by program instructions to provide for gameplay and to control the light source of the peripheral device to emit light responsive to gameplay events.

10. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the light source includes a red, green, and blue light emitting diodes.

11. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the at least one translucent surface is a plastic.

12. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the at least one translucent surface has a color tint.

13. The video game system of claim 12, wherein the color tint is fluorescent green.

14. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the light source is configured to produce a blue light.

15. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to control the light source to emit light based on character information.

16. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to control the light source to emit light in a color further based on gameplay events.

39. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the translucent surface is overlaid in part by shaped non-translucent material.

40. The video game system of claim 9, wherein a top surface of the peripheral device is comprised of the translucent material.

41. The video game system of claim 9, wherein a side surface of the peripheral device is comprised of the translucent material.

17. A computer implemented method for use in providing a video game, comprising:

receiving information from memory of a toy object using a peripheral device, the information including characteristics of a character in the video game;

providing for gameplay based on the information from the memory of the toy object and user inputs; and

controlling a light source of the peripheral device to emit a light based on game play events.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling the light source of the peripheral device to emit light based on game play events comprises controlling the light source of the peripheral device to emit light based on game play events and the characteristics of the character in the video game.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the light source includes red, green, and blue light emitting diodes.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the peripheral device includes a translucent surface illuminatable by the light source.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein a one of the game play events is a level advancement of a character.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein a one of the game play events is entry of a character to game play.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the light source is controlled to emit different colors of light for different game play events.

24. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for a video game, the machine-readable medium comprising program instructions for:

commanding a peripheral device to obtain information from memory of a toy object;

provide for gameplay using the information from the memory of the toy object and user inputs; and

controlling a light source of the peripheral device based on game play events, the peripheral device having at least one translucent surface illuminatable by the light source.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the program instructions for controlling the light source include program instructions for controlling the light source to emit different colors of light for different game play events.

26. The medium of claim 24, wherein a one of the game play events is a level advancement of a character.

27. The medium of claim 24, wherein a one of the game play events is entry of a character to game play.

28. The medium of claim 24, wherein the light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

29. A toy object for use with a video game, comprising:

an object at least partially in the form of a figure representative of a game play item, the object including a lower portion including a fluorescing material about at least one surface the object including machine readable memory, the memory including information pertaining to the video game.

30. The toy of claim 29, wherein the game play item is a character in the video game.

31. The toy of claim 30, wherein the information pertaining to the video game is information of the character in the video game.

32. The toy of claim 29 wherein the lower portion comprises a base.

33. The toy of claim 32, wherein the form of the figure representative of the game play item is coupled to the base.

34. The toy of claim 33, wherein the form of the figure representative of the game play item is atop the base.

35. The toy of claim 32, wherein the machine readable information is with the base.

36. The toy of claim 29, wherein the fluorescing material includes a green tint.

37. The toy of claim 29, wherein the fluorescing material is of a color different than a color of the form of a figure representative of game play.

38. The toy of claim 29, wherein the fluorescing material is a bright color.