Interactive video game with visual lighting effects

• US 9,403,096 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Leyland, Robert, Huang, I-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US15/051,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20160166933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 161 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/02 Accessories input or output arrangements for electrical digital computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/42 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 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2454 with LED
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user'"'"'s gameplay experience.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon for providing video game play, the computer program instructions, when executed by one or more physical processors of a gaming console, causing the gaming console to:

determine that machine-readable information, received from a toy object through a peripheral device coupled to the game console, comprises an identifier associated with a virtual game character, the virtual game character representative of the toy object, and the toy object including a base comprising a translucent or diffusive material;

command display of the virtual game character in a video game; and

command at least one of a plurality of light sources of the peripheral device to emit light, the peripheral device configured such that at least some of the emitted light will pass through a translucent surface of the peripheral device, in response to game play of the video game;

wherein the base of the toy object is configured to provide a visual effect when exposed to the emitted light passed through the translucent surface of the peripheral device.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the light sources of the peripheral device include a red, green, or blue light emitting diode.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the translucent or diffusive material of the base of the toy object comprises plastic.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the translucent or diffusive material of the base of the toy object has a color tint.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the color tint is blue.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light sources is configured to produce a blue light.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the gaming console to command at least one of the light sources to emit light at a timing in response to a game play event.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the gaming console to command at least one of the light sources to emit light in a color at a timing based on a game play event.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the gaming console to command at least one of the light sources to flash.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable information is stored in a memory component in the base of the toy object.

11. A video game system, comprising:

a toy object representative of a game character in a video game, the toy object including machine readable information and a base comprised of a translucent or diffusive material;

a peripheral device, separate from the toy object, having a plurality of light sources, an interface for reading the machine readable information of the toy object, and a translucent surface for placement of the toy object; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon for providing video game play, the computer program instructions, when executed by one or more physical processors of a gaming console, causing the gaming console to;

(i) conduct game play of the video game, and (ii) control the light sources of the peripheral device to emit light through the translucent surface of the peripheral device in response to game play events of the video game;

wherein the base of the toy object provides a visual effect when exposed to the light emitted by the peripheral device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the light sources of the peripheral device include a red, green, or blue light emitting diode.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the translucent or diffusive material of the base of the toy object comprises plastic.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the translucent or diffusive material of the base of the toy object has a color tint.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the color tint is blue.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein at least one of the light sources is configured to produce a blue light.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the game console to control at least one of the light sources to emit light at a timing in response to a game play event.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the game console to control at least one of the light sources to emit light in a color at a timing based on a game play event.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the game console to control at least one of the light sources to flash.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the machine-readable information is stored in a memory component in the base of the toy object.