Squad command interface for console-based video game

• US 8,012,016 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: York, James R. J., Fields, Tim V., Pagulayan, Randy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel; Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US11/832,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 463/2, 463/7, 463 30- 32, 463 36- 38, 463 49- 57, 434 16- 24
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• 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 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6669 using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A squad command interface for a squad-based shooter video game maps character selection and command selection to actuators on a game controller. Players can select squad characters and issue a single order to multiple characters with few controller actuations.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable hardware storage media, embodying computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, provide a user interface, configured to display on a display device, for a squad-based shooter video game in which a player controls a squad of multiple characters, comprising:

a radar display to indicate where various characters of the squad are located relative to one another; and

a squad status display integrated with the radar display to indicate a status of each squad character, wherein the squad status display defines an outer periphery, wherein the radar display is disposed visually over the squad status display and within the outer periphery, the squad status display being configured to depict profile images of the characters, the profile images being arranged on the display device to map visually to one or more actuators on a game controller, the actuators configured to enable selection of a profile image and invoke an associated command change user interface with a single action.

2. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the radar display is circular, and the squad status display encircles the radar display.

3. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the squad status display indicates a current command being carried out by each squad character.

4. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the squad status display comprises a health bar graphic to indicate a relative health of the squad characters, the health bar graphic dynamically changing as a corresponding character is harmed during combat action.

5. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the characters can be operated in different modes and the squad status display indicates when a corresponding character is operating in one of the modes.

6. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, further comprising a command change user interface that is presented in response to player input to enable issuance of a command to one or more of the characters.

7. A computer-implemented method for providing a user interface, configured to display on a display device, for a squad-based shooter video game in which a player controls a squad of multiple characters, comprising:

providing a radar display to indicate where various characters of the squad are located relative to one another; and

providing a squad status display integrated with the radar display to indicate a status of each squad character, wherein the squad status display defines an outer periphery and wherein the radar display is disposed visually over the squad status display and within the outer periphery, the squad status display configured to depict profile images of the characters, the profile images being arranged on screen to map visually to one or more actuators on a game controller, the actuators configured to enable selection of a profile image and invoke an associated command change user interface with a single action.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the radar display is circular, and the squad status display encircles the radar display.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the squad status display indicates a current command being carried out by each squad character.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the squad status display comprises a health bar graphic to indicate a relative health of the squad characters, the health bar graphic dynamically changing as a corresponding character is harmed during combat action.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the characters can be operated in different modes and the squad status display indicates when a corresponding character is operating in one of the modes.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a command change user interface that is presented in response to player input to enable issuance of a command to one or more of the characters.

13. A computer-implemented method for a console-based video game system having at least one controller, wherein the method is performed in conjunction with a squad-based shooter video game in which a player controls a squad of characters, the method comprising:

persistently presenting on a display device, during game action, a squad status display to inform the player of a status of each character in the squad, the squad comprising at least three characters, the squad status display having character profile images for each character in the squad, each character profile image being located on a perimeter of a radar display and corresponding to a different direction on a directional actuator on the controller from all other characters in the squad;

persistently presenting on the display device, during the game action, the radar display visually integrated within the squad status display, the radar display configured to indicate locations of various characters in the squad relative to one another; and

selectively presenting on the display device, in response to player actuation of the controller, a command change user interface to facilitate selection of one or more characters and issuance of a command to the one or more selected characters.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the squad status display indicates a current command being carried out by each character in the squad.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the squad status display indicates a health of each character in the squad.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the squad status display indicates when a character in the squad is operating in a special mode.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the command change user interface comprises a first graphical region to enable player selection of the one or more characters and a second graphical region adjacent to the first graphical region to enable issuance of the command to the one or more selected characters.

18. The method of claim 17, a wherein the first graphical region comprises the character profile images of the characters arranged to visually and spatially map to one or more first actuators on the controller and the second graphical region comprises icons representing possible commands arranged to visually map to one or more second actuators on the controller.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising issuing the command to the one or more selected characters in response to a single actuation of a different actuator on the controller.