Electronic game with overlay card

• US 7,993,201 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• 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: Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi, Kuribayashi, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US11/673,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20070184900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 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; and

prior to the detecting step and during the computer-implemented game, displaying a prompt on the touch-sensitive pointing device to physically overlay the overlay card over the touch-sensitive pointing device, wherein the determining is performed during a time period associated with the prompt displaying.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising altering some aspect of the game play based upon detecting that the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device corresponds to use of the overlay card.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising altering some aspect of the game play based upon detecting that the activity of the touch-sensitive pointing device does not correspond to use of the overlay card.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the card is provided with the computer-implemented game.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the overlay card is provided separately from the computer-implemented game.

6. A game system comprising:

a game console having a touch-sensitive pointing device including a touch screen for displaying images associated with a game executing in the game console; and

a card having a first surface configured to overlay the touch-sensitive pointing device, wherein the card is shaped to register with the touch screen;

a pattern formed with the card, wherein the pattern corresponds to a pattern recognized by the game executing in the game console 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 game-recognized pattern,

wherein the card comprises multiple pieces each including a subset of the pattern, whereby the pattern is defined as a physical overlay over the touch screen only when all the pieces of the card are positioned to be registered with the touch screen.

7. The card of claim 6 wherein the pattern comprise one or more cavities extending completely through the card.

8. The card of claim 6 wherein the pattern comprise one or more cavities extending partially through the card.

9. The card of claim 6 wherein the pattern comprise one or more protrusions extending from one surface of the card.