Method and apparatus for generating special effects

• US 8,469,823 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US12/016,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20090186705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/47
• 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 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/40 characterised by details of platform network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating special effect are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving an input information from a game controller; generating an output data set based on the input information received by the game controller at a game console; transmitting the output data to a stage kit; and generating special effects at the stage kit based on the output data received from the game console.

Claims

1. A game system, comprising:

a game console;

a first game peripheral coupled to the game console, the first game peripheral providing a first user interface configured to generate input data; and

a second game peripheral for generating special effects comprising;

a game console interface configured to communicate with the game console over a peripheral input channel, wherein the game console interface identifies the second game peripheral as a game controller to the game console,

a control module configured to receive special effect information from the game console through the game console interface,

a special effect generator electrically coupled to the control module and configured to generate a special effect based on special effect information received by the control module from the game console, wherein the special effect generator comprises a fog generator and wherein the special effect information is generated by the game console based on the input data from the first game peripheral, and

a second user interface electrically and mechanically coupled to the fog generator and configured to cause the game console to change a game setting, save a first game, or load a second game,

wherein the second user interface is disposed on the fog generator, and

wherein the control module is integrated with the fog generator.

2. The game system of claim 1, wherein the special effect generator comprises:

a LED device;

and

a strobe light.

3. The game system of claim 2, wherein a component of the special effect generator is configured to generate a special effect based on the special effect information received from the game console.

8. The game system of claim 2, wherein the fog generator is communicatively coupled to the game console, and wherein the LED device and strobe light are communicatively coupled to the fog generator.

4. A game peripheral for generating special effects comprising:

a game console interface configured to communicate with a game console over a peripheral input channel, wherein the game console interface represents the game peripheral as a game controller to the game console;

a control module configured to receive special effect information from the game console through the game console interface;

a special effect generator electrically coupled to the control module and configured to generate a special effect based on special effect information received by the control module from the game console, wherein the special effect generator comprises a fog generator and wherein the special effect information is generated by the game console based on input data from a game controller coupled to the game console; and

a user interface electrically and mechanically coupled to the fog generator and configured to cause the game console to change a game setting, save a first game, or load a second game,

wherein the user interface is disposed on the fog generator, and

wherein the control module is integrated with the fog generator.

5. The game peripheral of claim 4, wherein the special effect generator further comprises an LED device.

6. The game peripheral of claim 5, wherein the special effect generator further comprises a strobe light.

9. The game peripheral of claim 6, wherein the fog generator is communicatively coupled to a game console, and wherein the LED device and strobe light are communicatively coupled to the fog generator.

7. A method for generating special effects, comprising:

receiving input data from a first game peripheral at a game console;

generating an output data set based on the input data received from the first game peripheral at the game console;

transmitting the output data to a second game peripheral for generating special effects, wherein the second game peripheral comprises;

a game console interface configured to communicate with the game console over a peripheral input channel, wherein the game console interface identifies the second game peripheral as a game controller to the game console,

a control module configured to receive special effect information from the game console through the game console interface,

a special effects generator electrically coupled to the control module and configured to generate a special effect based on special effect information received by the control module from the game console, wherein the special effect generator comprises a fog generator and wherein the special effect information is generated by the game console based on the input data from the first game peripheral, and

a user interface electrically and mechanically coupled to the fog generator and configured to cause the game console to change a game setting, save a first game, or load a second game; and

generating special effects at the second game peripheral based on the output data received from the game console,

wherein the user interface is disposed on the fog generator, and

wherein the control module is integrated with the fog generator.