In-game shot aiming indicator

• US 8,043,149 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Romero, Michael, Ortiz, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US11/072,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,427 Days
• Field of Search: 463 2- 5, 463 49- 57, 273/378, 273/367, 273/108.1, 273/317, 273/348, 434/19
• US Class Current: 463/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board

Abstract

A visual aim indicator shows players the position of a selected one of a set of aim points during a video game. Each of the set of aim points has a predetermined position. The predetermined positions are within a target region, so that the visual aim indicator shows players the likely destination of their aim. Each aim point is associated with a range of control input values, so that players do not need to provide a precise control input value and can quickly select one of the set of aim points. The sizes of the ranges of control input values associated with the aim points can vary so that a player'"'"'s aim inputs can be biased towards or away from specific aim points. The visual aim indicator is displayed intermittently during an aiming mode of operation and removed from view when the player completes the aiming mode of operation.

Claims

1. A method of providing a visual aim indicator in a video game, the method comprising:

partitioning a target region into a plurality of partitions, each partition corresponding to a single, predefined aim point, each partition mapped to a respective distinct range of aim input values, wherein the distinct range of aim input values are from a game controller, wherein an area of each partition in the target region is enabled to be customized by the player such that the partitions of the target region are tailored to a playing style of the player, wherein a distinct range of aim input values for a first partition is larger than a distinct range of aim input values for a second partition, thereby biasing aim input values of the entire target region toward the first partition and respective aim point;

receiving a control input from a player;

analyzing the control input to determine an aim input value;

determining one of the partitions mapped to a distinct range of aim input values in which the aim input value falls, and determining the single predefined aim point corresponding to the determined partition; and

displaying a visual aim indicator at a position associated with the single, predefined aim point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a configuration of the aim points and the corresponding partitions are specified by the player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a configuration of the aim points and the corresponding partitions are specified at least in part by an attribute of a game character.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the aim point in the mapped partition is associated with at least two different positions, one position at an intended destination of a shot object and another position at the position at which the visual aim indicator is displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the target region is partitioned into nine or less partitions such that the player does not need to provide precise control to select a desired aim point.

6. A method of providing a visual aim indicator in a video game, the method comprising:

receiving a control input from a player, wherein the control input from the player is through a game controller;

analyzing the control input to determine an aim input value in each of multiple control axes;

determining a range from a plurality of ranges in each of the control axes in which each aim input value resides, each of the plurality of ranges in each of the control axes corresponding to a respective visible partition of a target region, each partition having a single, predefined aim point, wherein an area of each partition in the target region is enabled to be customized by the player such that the partitions of the target region are tailored to a playing style of the player, wherein at least one of the plurality of ranges in each of the control axes is larger than another of the ranges in each of the control axes, thereby biasing aim input values of the control axes toward the first partition and respective aim point;

using the determined range in each of the control axes to map the aim input values in the multiple control axes to a partition; and

displaying a visual aim indicator at a position associated with the predefined aim point in the mapped partition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the control input comprises receiving at least one control value in a first coordinate system and wherein analyzing the control input to determine the aim input value comprises transforming the control input to a second coordinate system.

8. A method of providing a visual aim indicator in a video game, the method comprising:

an area of a partition in a target region is enabled to be customized by a player such that the partitions of the target region are tailored to a playing style of the player;

receiving a number from the player;

partitioning the target region into a number of partitions, the number of partitions of the target region equal to the received number, each partition corresponding to a single, predefined aim point and being mapped to a distinct range of aim input values, wherein the distinct range of aim input values are from a game controller;

receiving a control input from a player;

analyzing the control input to determine an aim input value;

determining one of the partitions mapped to a distinct range of aim input values in which the aim input value falls, and determining the single predefined aim point corresponding to the determined partition; and

displaying a visual aim indicator at a position associated with the single, predefined aim point.