Interactive video game with visual lighting effects

• US 9,474,961 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• 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:
  US15/053,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20160166924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 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 a first physical object is proximate to a peripheral, the first physical object being representative of a virtual character playable within a video game;

determine that information received from the first physical object through the peripheral includes an identifier associated with the virtual character;

command display of a representation of the virtual character within the video game; and

while the first physical object is proximate to the peripheral;

determine that a second physical object is proximate to the peripheral, the second physical object being representative of a virtual object within the video game,

determine that information received from the second physical object through the peripheral includes an identifier associated with the virtual object;

command display of a representation of the virtual object within the video game,

illuminate a first light source of the peripheral to produce a first lighting effect in response to a first game play event, and

illuminate a second light source of the peripheral to produce a second lighting effect in response to a second game play event.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the virtual character playable within the video game is able to manipulate the virtual object.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the virtual object is a vehicle.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the virtual character playable within the video game may possess the object.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first light source provides light of a first color.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first light source provides light of a first color and the second light source provides light of a second color.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first game play event is placement of the first physical object on the peripheral.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first physical object includes a translucent or diffusive base.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second physical object includes a translucent or diffusive base.

10. A peripheral device for a gaming console, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of translucent surfaces;

a first light source and a second light source within the housing;

at least one interface for reading machine readable information from a first physical toy object and a second physical toy object when the first physical toy object and the second physical toy object are proximate to the housing;

an interface for transmitting the machine readable information of the first physical toy object and the machine readable information of the second physical toy object to a gaming console, wherein the gaming console uses the machine readable information of the first physical toy object to command display of a first virtual object in a video game corresponding to the first physical object, and wherein the gaming console uses the machine readable information of the second physical toy object to command display of a second virtual object in the video game corresponding to the second physical object;

an interface for receiving instructions from the gaming console;

circuitry for controlling the first light source and the second light source to emit light responsive to the received instructions from the gaming console, to cause a visual effect through the plurality of translucent surfaces.

11. The peripheral device of claim 10, wherein the first virtual object is a controllable by a player of the video game.

12. The peripheral device of claim 10, wherein the first light source provides light of a first color.

13. The peripheral device of claim 10, wherein the first light source provides light of a first color and the second light source provides light of a second color.

20. The peripheral device of claim 10 wherein the circuitry comprises a controller.

14. The peripheral device of 10, wherein the light emitted by the first light source in response to the received instructions flashes.

15. The peripheral device of 10, wherein the light emitted by the second light source in response to the received instructions flashes.

16. The peripheral device of 10, wherein the first physical object comprises a translucent base.

17. The peripheral device of 10, wherein the second physical object comprises a translucent base.

18. The peripheral device of 16, wherein the translucent base of the first physical object has a blue tint.

19. The peripheral device of 17, wherein the translucent base of the second physical object has a blue tint.

21. A method for controlling a plurality of light sources of a peripheral, said peripheral being coupled to a system executing a videogame, the method comprising:

detecting, by the peripheral, a first physical object proximate to the peripheral, the first physical object being representative of a first virtual character playable within the videogame;

receiving, by the peripheral, information of the first physical object;

transmitting, by the peripheral, the information of the first physical object to the system executing the videogame;

displaying a representation of the first virtual character within the videogame; and

while the first physical object is proximate to the peripheral;

detecting, by the peripheral, a second physical object proximate to the peripheral, the second physical object being representative of a virtual object within the videogame,

receiving, by the peripheral, information of the second physical object,

transmitting, by the peripheral, the information of the second physical object to the system executing the videogame,

displaying a representation of the virtual object within the videogame,

while the second physical object is proximate to the peripheral;

detecting, by the peripheral, a third physical object proximate to the peripheral, the third physical object being representative of a second virtual character within the videogame,

receiving, by the peripheral, information of the third physical object,

transmitting, by the peripheral, the information of the third physical object to the system executing the videogame,

displaying a representation of the second virtual character within the videogame,

illuminating a first light source of the peripheral to produce a first lighting effect in response to a first gameplay event,

illuminating a second light source of the peripheral to produce a second lighting effect in response to a second gameplay event, and

illuminating a third light source of the peripheral to produce a third lighting effect in response to a third gameplay event.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first virtual character playable within the videogame is able to manipulate the object.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the virtual object is a vehicle.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first virtual character playable within the videogame may possess the virtual object.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first light source provides light of a first color.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the first light source provides light of a first color and the second light source provides light of a second color.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the first gameplay event is placement of the first physical object on the peripheral.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the first physical object includes a translucent or diffusive base.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the second physical object includes a translucent or diffusive base.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the third physical object includes a translucent or diffusive base.