Method and apparatus for simulating games involving a ball

• US 8,192,285 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Cheng, Howard, Yamamoto, Shinji, Kumazaki, Daisuke, Nishimura, Masahiko, Takamoto, Junji
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US12/367,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20090209346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 463 2- 5, 463/37, 463 48- 49, 273/148.R, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• 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 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

A sports video game having a new and improved user interface that substantially increases the potential realism of the game uses a handheld controller that is able to sense its own position, orientation and/or motion and is affixed to a ball. The ball can be a model of a football that is provided with a depression that snugly accepts and retains the handheld controller. The handheld controller may sense motion, position and/or orientation of the ball and provide wireless inputs to a video game system. The video game system may process such inputs to provide a simulated sports action game play on a video display.

Claims

1. A video game play system comprising:

an object shaped as a football-shaped projectile, said object comprising a prolate spheroid body, laces and a retaining strap structured to capture and retain a player'"'"'s hand in contact with the prolate spheroid body, said object including a depression therein for snugly accepting and retaining a normally handheld controller that can sense aspects of its own position, orientation and/or motion; and

a video game unit communicating with said controller, said video game unit producing a display that at least in part reflects or responds to simulated throwing or carrying of said football-shaped projectile,

wherein said football-shaped projectile retaining strap permits the player to simulate throwing of said projectile without the projectile leaving the player'"'"'s captured and retained hand.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said projectile is shaped like an American football having pointed ends.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a three-axis accelerometer that is used to sense motion of the projectile.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller communicates wirelessly with the video game unit.

5. A video game accessory comprising:

a body shaped like an American football comprising an egg-shaped body with pointed ends, said body having simulated or actual laces, said body defining a depression therein, said depression being dimensioned to accept and snugly retain a normally handheld controller that can sense aspects of its own position, orientation and/or motion; and

a hand retaining structure coupled to said body that captures and retains a player'"'"'s hand to permit the body to be thrown in a simulated way without the body leaving the player'"'"'s hand.

6. A method of simulating a football game comprising:

using an accelerometer to sense motion of a football-shaped body comprising an egg-shape having laces and including a hand-trapping strap;

in response to outputs generated by said accelerometer, determining whether the football-shaped body has been thrown in a simulated pass without the football-shaped body leaving a player'"'"'s hand captured in the hand-trapping strap; and

conditioned on said determining, displaying a wide receiver that selectively receives a virtual football.