Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
  • A63F13/21—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
  • A63F13/214—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
  • A63F13/2145—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
  • A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
  • A63F9/10—Two-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F1/00—Card games
  • A63F1/02—Cards; Special shapes of cards
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
  • A63F13/21—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
  • A63F13/23—Input arrangements for video game devices for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/90—Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
  • A63F13/98—Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
  • A63F9/24—Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
  • A63F2009/2401—Detail of input, input devices
  • A63F2009/2402—Input by manual operation
  • A63F2009/241—Touch screen
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
  • A63F2300/1068—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
  • A63F2300/1075—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad using a touch screen
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
  • A63F2300/609—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to electronic games.
• it relates to electronic games having tangible overlay card.
• Portable or hand-held game machines continue to increase in popularity.
• these portable game machines include a hand-held game machine housing a processing unit and memory for executing a stored game program, as well as associated hardware such as a display for displaying images of the game and controls for implementing user interaction.
• the game program itself is typically contained in a game program memory such as, for example, a semiconductor memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, and the like) that is part of a removable cartridge.
• User input to general-purpose computers is generally implemented through keyboards and control buttons.
• Graphical user interfaces implement pointing devices such as mice and touch pads that are commonly used with general-purpose computers, but less frequently used in game consoles.
• Game consoles support special purpose user input devices such as joysticks, special purpose buttons, rocker switches and the like.
• Touch screens comprise a display device together with touch-sensitive overlays that typically comprise either pressure-sensitive (resistive), electrically sensitive (capacitive), acoustically sensitive (SAW - surface acoustic wave) or photosensitive (infrared).
• the touch-sensitive overlays allows a display to be used as an input device, removing the keyboard and/or the mouse as the primary input device for interacting with the display's content.
• Such displays can be attached to computers or, as terminals, to networks.
• a game console incorporating a touch screen as a user interface is the Nintendo® DSTM available from Nintendo of America, Inc.
• Touch pads and touch screens enable user input via a pointer such as a finger or more commonly a stylus.
• a touch pad is akin to a graphics tablet in that it does not include an active display and instead presents a blank surface to the user.
• the display beneath the touch screen overlay displays one or more graphic controls that a user selects by touching a portion of the screen overlay above the displayed control with the stylus or other device.
• processes executing on the game console detect the selection of the graphic control by the user and launch a programmed responsive behavior. In the context of a game, the selection may cause a character in the game to take a particular action, load a new background, or any desired programmed response.
• Such books are examples of auxiliary products that can enhance the overall user experience and market value of a game.
• Other examples of auxiliary products include trading cards, stickers, tattoos, tip sheets and the like that can be purchased with a game or separately.
• trading cards secondary games have been developed using the trading cards.
• the trading card games are substantially separate from the electronic game played on a console, although characters, scenes and situations may be common between them. While existing forms of auxiliary products provide some enhancement of the user experience, they do not directly affect game play of the computer game implemented on the game console.
• the present invention involves systems and methods related to game consoles, game software and games for play on a game console having a touch screen interface.
• a card having a pattern defined therein is overlaid on the touch screen.
• the defined pattern is used to activate portions of the touch screen by guiding user interaction with a touch pad or touch screen.
• the activated portions of the touch pad or touch screen launch responsive activity in a computer program implemented on the game console.
• the present invention involves a card that is sized to interface with a touch pad or touch screen of a computing device.
• a pattern is formed in or on the card, wherein the pattern is traceable by a user to guide the user's interaction with the touch pad or touch screen.
• the pattern comprises a point, line, two- dimensional shape or a combination of thereof.
• the pattern may be cut into the card, printed on a card surface, or a protrusion from the card surface.
• the card may be whole or may be cut in smaller pieces that can be assembled in to form a whole card.
• the present invention involves a computer game comprising computer-implemented code having code constructs implementing an interface to a touch pad or touch screen of a computer executing the software.
• Game play processes within the computer-implemented code are responsive to user inputs from the touch screen to determine whether pre-specified patterns are input through the touch pad or touch screen.
• the pre-specified patterns are embodied in an overlay card that physically overlays the touch pad or touch screen in operation.
• FIG. 3A-Fig. 3C illustrate in cross section alternative mechanisms for implementing an overlay card in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 4 illustrates a card point area defined by software in a particular implementation of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a game device or console 10 suitable for use in conjunction with the present invention.
• Console 10 includes a main body 12 and a cover body 14 connected to each other along an upper edge of the main body 12 and a lower edge of the cover body 14.
• hinge elements on main body 12 mesh with hinge elements on the cover body 14, with a hinge pin (not shown) extending through the aligned hinge elements.
• buttons 38, 40 In the upper right corner of the main body 12, there are side-by-side "start” and “select” buttons 38, 40, respectively, with X/Y/A/B buttons 42 located adjacent and below the "start” and “select” buttons. Buttons 38, 40 and 42 are also used for game play control.
• a cross-shaped directional control button 36 is located adjacent and below the power button 34, and is used for game play control. Additional control buttons may be located on the peripheral edge of main body 12 or at other desired locations on the upper face 26.
• Fig. 2A-Fig. 2D illustrate several exemplary implementations of overlay cards in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 2A illustrates an embodiment similar to that shown in Fig. 1 in which an overlay card 31 contains a pattern 201.
• Overlay card 31 is constructed from a material such as paper, pressboard, cardboard, plastic, metal or the like. In a particular implementation overlay card 31 is roughly the thickness of a playing card, but may be substantially thicker or thinner in particular applications.
• overlay card 31 is sized to fit snugly within the recess defined by edges 30 of a particular game console. In this manner, one face of card 31 contacts touch screen 32 and card 31 is registered with a relatively high degree of precision with touch screen 32.
• overlay card 31 may be sized smaller than touch screen 32 and some other means of registering card 31 with screen 32 is used.
• touch screen 32 may display one or more alignment marks or images allowing card 31 to be aligned with touch screen 32 using the visible alignment marks.
• Card 31 may be larger than touch screen 32 by forming it of a sufficiently flexible material such as paper, foil, plastic film, and the like.
• Pattern 201 is defined by punched holes 201 in the implementation of Fig. 2A. Holes 201 may extend completely through card 31 as shown in Fig. 3A or may extend partially through card 31 as shown in Fig. 3B. Alternatively, pattern 201 may be printed only, without punched or holes, when the material chosen for card 31 is sufficiently conformable so that activity of a stylus on the printed pattern is translated to touch screen 32. [0022] In this manner user input to touch screen 32 and in turn a game or other process executing on console 10 is guided by the pattern 201. In Fig. 2A the user places a cursor in or on each of the elements of pattern 201 and thereby specifies a sequence of inputs specified by that particular pattern 201.
• Overlay card 31 can be manufactured and distributed efficiently and inexpensively, and the many materials available for overlay card 31 enable a wide range of product differentiation to further engage customers.
• Fig. 2B illustrates an embodiment in which pattern 201 must be accessed by the user in a particular order indicated by printed indicia on a surface of card 31.
• a simple sequence of numbers is shown in Fig. 2B, however, the indicia may comprise other printed symbols or images that guide or prompt a user to select the desired sequence.
• an overlay card may be implemented as multiple pieces such as shown in Fig. 2D. Once the pieces are fit together they form a complete overlay card 31 that can be used to interact with a game. The pieces can be formed so as to fit together in jigsaw fashion if desired. Such an implementation may be useful when the card pieces are distributed as a part of a retail incentive program to encourage repeat business, or similar distribution scheme.
• Fig. 3A-Fig. 3C illustrate in cross section alternative mechanisms for implementing an overlay card in accordance with the present invention.
• pattern 201 extends entirely through the thickness of card 31. This can be accomplished by punching, die cutting, laser cutting, etching, or other technique suitable for a particular card material and production process.
• the card 31 can be used by placing a stylus 71 completely through the pattern 201 to contact the touch pad or touch screen.
• One or more elements of pattern 201 may be used as alignment marks as described hereinbefore.
• pattern 201 comprises cavities that extend less than completely through card 31 to leave a thinner membrane portion.
• the membrane portion is sufficiently thin such that a touch pad or touch screen 32 can sense a stylus 71.
• the implementation of Fig. 3B can be formed by cutting patterns 201 partially through card 31 or by cutting a pattern 201 completely through card 31 and applying a layer of paper, plastic, or similar material to form the membrane portion. In this manner the pattern 201 can be obscured during distribution if desired to deter copying.
• a pattern is formed by protrusions or bumps 303 on one surface of card 31.
• Bumps 303 may be formed by screen-printing, adhesives, or other available technique.
• a pressure sensitive screen bumps 303 allow a user to input a pattern into a touch pad or touch screen by rubbing the upper surface (i.e., a surface that faces a user) of card 32. This may allow a user to input complex patterns involving near simultaneous activation of a number of points on the touch screen 32 in a manner that would be difficult to perform using a stylus alone.
• a game program can be constructed such that a character obtains some benefit. For example, a character may grow stronger or more robust. A character may be given extra life or vitality, or be given new tools or weapons. A character may evolve or grow up more rapidly than permitted by normal game progression. Conversely, a card may signal a negative effect on a character such as weakening the character or stealing a tool or weapon.
• Game developers program the effect of a particular card when designing a game.
• a particular effect is dormant until a particular pattern is applied to the touch pad or touch screen 32.
• the game may define specific times at which a card pattern may be applied such as at the beginning of a game or round.
• a game may be designed to prompt a user to use a card if available.
• Card 31 can be distributed entirely separate from the particular game with which it is associated. Moreover, a specific card 31 may be useful in more than one game. A game designer will publish, sell, or license the information about various features that can be activated by a game card, and any entity with sufficient rights in the pattern 201 for a particular game can manufacture and distribute cards 31 as desired. This separation of the game and card overlay is not required, but enables great flexibility in providing auxiliary products for a game that enhance the overall user experience. [0033] It is apparent that the present invention is useful in a variety of applications other than computer games. The card overlay is generally useful for entering information using touch pad or touch screen input devices to computers where it is desirable for the user to trace a pattern or activate a sequence of points on the touch screen. Such operation might be useful in activating software or activating features in a software program.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (2)

Family

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Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

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Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2007
  • 2007-02-09 JP JP2008554527A patent/JP5312952B2/ja active Active
  • 2007-02-09 WO PCT/US2007/061942 patent/WO2008060641A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-02-09 EP EP12150446.8A patent/EP2460568B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2007-02-09 EP EP07756839A patent/EP1993689A4/de not_active Withdrawn

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