Video game with representative physical object related content

• US 8,864,589 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Reiche, Paul III
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US12/607,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 463/32, 463/39, 463/9, 463/44
• US Class Current: 463/44
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• 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 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• 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

A video game includes a reader that senses the identity of various game objects. Each game object includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. The game objects may be in a form of characters or items, for example structures or articles. Each of the game objects is associated with a animate game character or an inanimate item, for example a structure or article manipulable by an animate game character, in the video game. Game play proceeds depending on what game object is placed on the reader.

Claims

1. A video game system, comprising:

a physical object including a machine-readable identification data;

a reader configured to read the machine-readable identification data when the physical object is near the reader; and

a processor coupled to the reader, the processor configured by program instructions to;

receive, via the reader, an indication of the machine-readable identification data;

retrieve, from a memory, information of a region to add to virtual game space of a video game, the region including an inanimate virtual item corresponding to the physical object at a location in the region, the region not being in the virtual game space prior to receipt of the indication of the machine-readable data, the region including structures and landscapes;

allow a character to move about the region of virtual game space;

determine whether the location in the region of virtual game space is currently viewable in a view of the video game presented to a user via a display; and

command display of representations of video game states on the display, the representations including a representation of the inanimate virtual item responsive to a determination that the location in the region of virtual game space is currently viewable in the view of the video game.

2. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the physical object has the form of a structure, and the representation of the inanimate virtual item includes a representation of the structure.

3. The video game system of claim 2, wherein the representation of the structure includes a representation of an interior of the structure.

4. The video game system of claim 1, wherein the physical object has the form of an article, and the representation of the inanimate virtual item includes a representation of the article manipulable by a video game character.

5. The video game system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured by program instructions to associate the article manipulable by the video game character with the video game character.

6. A computer-implemented method of providing video game play, the method being implemented in a system comprising a physical processor, and comprising:

receiving an indication of a machine readable identification data of a single physical object;

retrieving, from a memory, information of a region to add to virtual game space of a video game and an indication of presence of an inanimate virtual item corresponding to the physical object at a location in the region, the region not being in the virtual game space prior to receipt of the indication of the machine-readable data, the region including structures and landscapes;

allow a character to move about the region of virtual game space;

determining, by the processor, whether the location in the region of virtual game space is currently viewable in a view of the video game presented to a user via a display; and

commanding, by the processor, display of a representation of the inanimate virtual item responsive to a determination that the location in the region of virtual game space is currently viewable in the view of the video game, the inanimate virtual item having a resemblance to the physical object.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the inanimate virtual item is an article manipulable by a video game character, the method further comprising:

determining, by the processor, during video game play whether the inanimate virtual item is being generally engaged by a video game character; and

commanding, by the processor, display of the representation of the inanimate virtual item as generally engaged by the video game character responsive to a determination that the inanimate virtual item is being generally engaged by the video game character.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the inanimate virtual item is a structure.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

commanding, by the processor, display of an interior of the structure if a video game character enters the structure during video game play.