Game System with Interactive Show Control

• US 20150209666A1
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eddie's Social Club, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Eddie's Social Club, LLC.
• Inventors: Schlossberg, Edwin, Harris, Jeremiah
• Granted Patent: US 9,931,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• 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 13/33 using wide area network [WAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• 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 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 11/00 Labyrinths
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0478 by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An interactive game system that stage lighting style cues as part of the game, where the stage lighting cues cause external stage lighting equipment to create effects that are based on outputs from the game. Steerable lights can be steered to the player and sounds can be created that are directed to the player. A simulation system can also simulate the actions that occur. The computer assigns teams.

Claims

1. An interactive game system, comprising:

a computer that runs a gaming system software that communicates with multiple remote controllers to receive information from each of the multiple remote controllers indicating player actions that have occurred in a game being run by the gaming system software, and also locations of the remote controllers indicating locations of players associated with the remote controllers who took the actions,

said computer running said gaming system software by assigning the multiple remote controllers to a plurality of different teams,

where said computer assigns each of the players to a team, and assigns each of the players to a position based on said team, and stores information indicative of the position of the player,

and where a first action in the game causes an output which creates a lighting effect to illuminate a specified player based on said stored information indicative of position.

2. The game system as in claim 1, wherein the computer maintains player locations which are numbered, and determines team allocations based on a number of teams to use in the game.

3. The game system as in claim 2, wherein the computer sends a message to each of said multiple controllers, each message telling a controller which of a plurality of the numbered locations is assigned to the controller.

4. The game system as in claim 2, wherein the computer determines the numbered location in which the controller is located, and assigns that numbered location to a team based on a prestored team map.

5. The game system as in claim 1, wherein the computer sends information to each of a plurality of lighting devices, using both said team information and said location of said players, to provide lighting effects which are specific to the teams and are directed at a location of members of the team.

6. The game system as in claim 1, wherein information is sent from the computer to the controllers in a first way which guarantees delivery to the controllers, for more important game information, and in a second way which does not guarantee delivery to the controllers for less important game information.

7. The game system as in claim 1, wherein one of said remote controllers is a docent controller that controls aspects of the game, and the computer receives game controlling information from the docent controller.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein said computer system controls producing an audio output directed at only a portion of a room associated with one of said teams.

9. An interactive game system, comprising:

a computer that runs multiple different games by producing outputs indicating said multiple different games,

said computer obtaining information indicative of teams in the games,

said computer communicating said outputs with multiple remote controllers, said outputs including a location for each of said multiple remote controllers based on a team for each controller; and

said computer commanding a game effect to one of said locations based on an action in the game, said location being based on a team assignment.

10. The system as in claim 9, wherein said computer assigns controllers to teams, and sends a message to each controller indicating a location where that controller should be located in order to be part of said team.

11. The system as in claim 9, wherein the computer receives information indicative of locations of the remote controllers in the game.

12. The system as in claim 11, where a first action in the game causes an output which creates a lighting effect to illuminate a specified player based on said location.

13. The system as in claim 9, wherein the computer maintains player locations which are numbered, and determines team allocations based on a number of teams to use in the game.

14. The system as in claim 13, wherein the computer determines the numbered location in which the controller is located, and assigns that numbered location to a team based on a prestored team map.

15. The game system as in claim 9, wherein information is sent from the computer to the controllers in a first way which guarantees delivery to the controllers, for more important game information, and in a second way which does not guarantee delivery to the controllers for less important game information.

16. The game system as in claim 9, wherein one of said remote controllers is a docent controller that controls aspects of the game, and the computer receives game controlling information from the docent controller.

17. A method of playing in an interactive game system, comprising:

in a mobile controller, receiving information from a game computer indicating a game,

said mobile controller receiving information indicating which of a plurality of teams the mobile controller is assigned to and information about the team,

said mobile controller sending game information to the game computer and sending location information indicating the location of the mobile controller, to the game computer, and

said mobile controller receiving a game effect that is based on a team assignment.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein said controller is assigned to a team, and receives a message indicating a numbered location where that controller should be located in order to be part of said team.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein the controller sends information indicative of a numbered location in which the controller is located, and receives a team allocation based on a prestored team map.

20. The method as in claim 17, wherein information is received on the controllers in a first way which guarantees delivery to the controllers, for more important game information, and in a second way which does not guarantee delivery to the controllers for less important game information.