System and method for interactively simulating and discouraging drug use

• US 6,368,111 B2
• Filed: 06/23/1998
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Juan Legarda
• Original Assignee: Juan Legarda
• Inventors: Legarda, Juan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/102,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/237, 434/118, 434/258, 434/307.R, 434/323, 463/1-9, 463/23
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for interactively simulating and discouraging drug taking behavior, in which a simulated ingestion of drugs provides an initial enhanced sensation of movement and sound, and apparent enhanced player performance. After a determined time, the effect wears off, the player must take time to obtain and take another dose. The scenario is repeated, but with each repetition, tolerance to the drug grows, the “highs” are shorter, and a growing percentage of the player'"'"'s time must be devoted to obtaining and taking the drugs. A series of repetitions turns initial elation into frustration and strongly discourages drug use. The invention is illustrated by an implementation in the form of a modified multimedia motorcycle racing game.

Claims

1. A system adapted to the use of discouraging drug use by the user of said system, comprising:

a processor for playing an interactive game program;

an interactive game program, wherein the game characteristics thereof, being one or more of the group of characteristics consisting of the speed and intensity of audiovisual output, responsiveness to input, and gameplay characteristics of said game program, may be controlled by a set of elements comprising;

data recorded in connection with said program which sets a base range of parameters for controlling said game characteristics;

an input control whereby the user is presented the simulated opportunity to ingest a dose of a drug;

a circuit, responsive to said input, to alter at least one of said parameters in accordance with characteristics of said drug, so as to cause the execution of said program to simulate the drug-influenced state resulting from said ingestion, and enhance said game characteristics;

a timer, and a circuit responsive to said timer to further alter said at least one parameter in a manner responsive to the elapsed time from said ingestion, as indicated by said timer, so as to reduce said enhancement of said game characteristics, until the same are reduced below said base level;

instructions in the instruction set of said processor that cause the execution to said program to loop, in a manner responsive to said timer, so as to represent the user with the opportunity to ingest a further dose of said drug, and to continue the execution of said program in a manner responsive to said choice.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein upon repeated ingestion of drugs, the elapsed time allowed before further altering said at least one parameter and consequent reduction in said game characteristics, is reduced.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the function of re-presenting to the user the opportunity to ingest a further dose of drugs takes time, during which said at least one parameter is further altered so as to further reduce said game characteristics.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the function of re-presenting to the user the opportunity to ingest a further dose of drugs requires the user either to answer affirmatively or quit the program, and wherein during any delay resulting from having to make such decision, said at least one parameter is further altered so as to further reduce said game characteristics.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user has a character in the game.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the game is a multiplayer game.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the dosage of drugs to ingest is variable.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the dosage given may be an overdose.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the variable dosage is subject to randomization.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein ingesting the drug has varying effects, depending on the dosage taken.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said audiovisual output form of game characteristic includes simulated physiological feedback representative of a physical condition within the user'"'"'s body.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein an input is provided to specify the personality of the player, which influences the course of gameplay provided.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein gameplay is altered depending on one or more inputs from the following group:

type of game or action, personality of the player, and dosage of drug taken.

40. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of processors communicating over a network and distributing the tasks of said system among said processors.

14. A method for discouraging drug use, said method being implemented through the use of an interactive game program, and by controlling game characteristics thereof, said characteristics being one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of the speed and intensity of audiovisual output, responsiveness to input, and gameplay characteristics of said game program, comprising the following steps:

initially setting parameters that control the level of said game characteristics, so as to establish a base level of said game characteristics;

presenting to said user the simulated opportunity to ingest a dose of a drug;

simulating the drug-influenced state resulting from said ingestion, by altering at least one of said parameters so as to enhance said game characteristics;

further altering said at least one parameter in a manner responsive to the elapsed time from said ingestion, so as to reduce said enhancement of said game characteristics, until the same are reduced below said base level;

in further response to said elapsed time, re-presenting to said user the opportunity to ingest a further dose of said drug, and continuing said program in a manner responsive to said choice.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein upon repeated ingestion of drugs, the elapsed time allowed before further altering said at least one parameter and consequent reduction in said game characteristics, is reduced.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of re-presenting to the user the opportunity to ingest a further dose of drugs takes time, during which said at least one parameter is further altered so as to further reduce said game characteristics.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of re-presenting to the user the opportunity to ingest a further dose of drugs requires the user either to answer affirmatively or quit the program, and wherein during any delay resulting from having to make such decision, said at least one parameter is further altered so as to further reduce said game characteristics.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the user has a character in the game.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the game is a multiplayer game.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the dosage of drugs to ingest is variable.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the dosage given may be an overdose.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the variable dosage is subject to randomization.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein ingesting the drug has varying effects, depending on the dosage taken.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein said audiovisual output form of game characteristic includes simulated physiological feedback representative of a physical condition within the user'"'"'s body.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein an input is provided to specify the personality of the player, which influences the course of gameplay provided.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein gameplay is altered depending on one or more inputs selected from the group consisting of:

type of game or action, personality of the player, and dosage of drug taken.

27. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 14.

28. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 15.

29. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 16.

30. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 17.

31. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 18.

32. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 19.

33. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 20.

34. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 21.

35. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 22.

36. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 23.

37. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 24.

38. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 25.

39. A machine readable medium for storing a computer program, on which there has been recorded a program for carrying out the method of claim 26.