IE930366A1

IE930366A1 - Improvements in and relating to electronic shooting games

Info

Publication number: IE930366A1
Application number: IE930366A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Keki Adi Ashburner
Original assignee: Golden Grid Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-02
Filing date: 1993-05-14
Publication date: 1994-09-07
Also published as: EP0619130A2; EP0619130A3; BE1006213A6

Abstract

A simulated battlefield mine (1) for an electronic shooting game provides improved visual effects and new challenges for players. A flash beacon (10) is operated to flash repeatedly to provide a warning before a simulated mine explosion. In a vulnerable mode of operation the mine (1) may be hit by radiation from a shooting game gun as recorded at a sensor/transmitter unit (11). This may delay or prevent an explosion occurring. When an explosion occurs, strobe lights (9) are operated in a flashing mode, a siren (16) is activated, and a speaker (15) emits a sound simulating an explosion. At the same time, radiation is transmitted from the units (11) to hit players who are in the line of radiation. Many variations in the mode of operation are possible under computer (3) control.

Description

The invention relates to an improvement in electronic shooting games to improve the variety and excitement of a game.

According to the invention, there is provided a game device for an electronic shooting game, the game device being in the form of a battlefield mine and having means for mounting at a suitable location in a game room the device comprising a housing on which is mounted at least one light and a control circuit mounted within the housing and/or in a remote computer and being constructed for controlling the manner in which the device operates.

In one embodiment, the device includes a plurality, for example, four strobe lights and one flash beacon such as that of the Zenon type.

In addition, the housing may include an internal light mounted within the housing.

Preferably, the housing is of spherical shape.

The control circuit may be arranged so that the mine is vulnerable or invulnerable and in addition, the explode intervals may be set. The explode intervals may be random or regular. For an explosion to occur, a light is lit and a burst of infra red will tag a player or players located at certain positions. The mine may also be triggered externally, for example, by a closed circuit switch.

The invention also provides an electronic shooting game incorporating the game device.

OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL. No.OF. 7/ I8TCU /963 F Q/03, A93036 6 The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a game device of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a game device 1 connected by a cable 2 to a controller 3 having a user interface 4. In this embodiment, the controller 3 is a computer and the interface 4 is a keyboard. The device 1 includes a spherical housing 5 of moulded plastics construction, being of 18 in diameter. The housing 5 supports four strobe lights 6, two of which are shown. In addition, the spherical housing 5 supports a Zenon beacon 7 for emission of flashes of light. A control circuit is mounted within this spherical housing 5 and this is connected by the cable 2 to the computer 3.

The control circuit within the housing 5 is programmable so that the device 1 may operate in a number of different manners. The device 1 takes part in an electronic shooting game as it is typically mounted from a ceiling 8 as shown in diagram, and takes the form of a battlefield mine. However, the device may be mounted in any other way such as on a support frame from the ground or from a wall.

The strobe lights 6 are mounted for emission of a light beam in various directions. The mine is also provided with an internal light 9 for emitting a burst of infra red for tagging players in the electronic shooting game as if they were hit by another competing player. This may be regarded as an explosion of the mine. Explosions may be triggered at regular intervals by the control circuit, or they may be generated randomly by the control circuit. •930366 The mine may also be externally triggered via the controller 3 or any other suitable control device connected to the circuit within the housing 5.

A mine, once activated, gives off a warning before 5 exploding. At this point, it will transmit signals to any player within its range who are immediately de-activated.

The mines can be programmed by the operator to be vulnerable or invulnerable. In the former mode, players can de-activate the mine during the warning phase by scoring a direct hit on its specially located sensors through sensor windows 10. This will enable players who are caught in a danger zone surrounding the mine to avoid being hit and de-activated.

The frequency and mode of mine operation can be programmed by the operator to function randomly in a pre-set sequence to provide a range of complexities that are tailored to a players particular skill level.

An important aspect of the invention is that the various transmitters mounted on the housing 5 may be activated in any desired way to take part in an electronic shooting game, as desired.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. .

8. A game device for an electronic shooting game, the game device being in the form of a battlefield mine and having means for mounting at a suitable location in a game room the device comprising a housing on which is mounted at least one light and a control circuit mounted within the housing and/or in a remote computer and being constructed for controlling the manner in which the device operates . A game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device includes a plurality of strobe lights and a flash beacon. A game device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the device includes four strobe lights. A game device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the device includes a single flash beacon. A game device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing includes an internal light mounted within the housing. A game device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is of spherical shape. A game device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control circuit is arranged so that the mine is vulnerable or invulnerable. A game device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control circuit includes means for - 93036 6 Λ - 5 setting the time intervals during which the device explodes.

9. A game device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the control circuit explodes the device at random time intervals.

10. A game device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the control circuit explodes the device at regular time intervals.

11. A game device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, on explosion of the device, any players within a preset location relative to the device are tagged as being hit.

12. A game device as claimed in claim 11 wherein players are tagged by means of a burst of infra red emitted from the game device.

13. A game device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mine is triggered externally.

14. A game device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the mine is triggered externally by a closed circuit switch.

15. A game device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

16. An electronic shooting game incorporating a game device as claimed in any preceding claim.