U.S. Pat. No. 9,180,378

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is an example of a video game system in accordance with aspects of the invention. The video game system includes a video game console111with a processor for executing program instructions providing for game play, user input devices such as a video game controller115, a display device123, and a reader143. The processor, responsive to inputs from the user input devices and in some embodiments the reader, generally commands display on the display device of game characters in and interacting with a virtual world of game play and possibly each other.

The instructions providing for game play are generally stored on removable media, for example an optical disk. Accordingly, the game console may include an optical drive, for example a DVD-ROM drive, for reading the instructions for game play. In some embodiments, the game console may be instead a personal computer, or a notebook or netbook computer, including, in some instances, a built-in display and built-in or attached user input devices.

The display device is generally coupled to the game console by a cable, although in some embodiments a wireless connection may be used. In many embodiments, the display device is a liquid crystal display. In some embodiments, the display device is a television. A display screen131of the display device displays video images of game play, generally as commanded by the processor or other associated circuitry of the game console. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, the display screen shows a screen shot of video game play. As illustrated, the screen shot shows a display of a game character, generally controlled by and animated in accordance with user inputs, approaching what may be considered a castle.

The reader, in some embodiments and as shown inFIG. 1, has a substantially flat upper surface for placement of objects thereon. The reader circuitry detects the presence of a machine readable identifier on or about the reader, with the reader including reader circuitry, for example RFID reader circuitry, optical recognition circuitry, or other reader circuitry, processing circuitry in some embodiments, and communication transmitter or transceiver circuitry for accomplishing this task. The processing circuitry may execute instructions according to firmware that is also stored in the reader. The processing circuitry may control operation of the reader circuitry, and also process signals from the RFID reader to determine data to be sent to the game console. The communication transceiver included in the reader sends reader data to the game console. The communication transceiver may send data, for example as controlled by the processing circuitry.

The toy figure includes a machine-readable identifier, for example a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or a bar code that may be sensed or read by the reader. The machine-readable information may include an identifier identifying the game character. The machine-readable information allows the reader, or the processor of the game console, to distinguish one toy figure from other toy figures, and the machine-readable information may also include information relating to a variety of aspects of the game character, and, in some embodiments, information about an owner of the toy figure. For example the machine readable information, which in some embodiments is also writeable, may include information relating to a level of the game character, items in the game characters possession, items worn by the game character, an owner of the game character, and other matters. In some embodiments each particular toy figure may have its own separate identifier, for example two otherwise identical toy figures may each have a unique identifier. In some embodiments, however, identical game objects may have the same identifier, and in other embodiments similar game objects may have the same identifier.

A game player generally places game objects, for example a toyFIG. 145on the flat surface of the reader during game play. In many cases the toy figure is in the form of and representative of a game character of the game, for example the dragon ofFIG. 1. When a toy figure is placed on the reader, the game character represented by the toy figure appears in the game and is added to game play. In most embodiments, while the toy figure is placed on the reader, the game console may, through the receipt of user inputs for example, allow for control of the game character during game play, with the game console determining game character actions and resulting game states and commanding display of game play reflecting game states on the display, which displays the game play.

During game play the game player generally controls the game character, and causes the game character to move about a game defined world, undertaking various adventures and performing various tasks, with game play displayed on the display. The game world includes multiple game areas where the game character may be located. Access to some of the areas may be limited to certain game characters. Passage into game areas may be allowed or disallowed based on, for example, past actions by the character, a type of the character, or a game player with which the character is associated.

FIG. 2is an example of a block diagram of a processor and associated circuitry, for example for a game console, useful in accordance with aspects of the invention. As shown inFIG. 2a processor211is connected to other components via a bus. The other components include a main memory213and a removable memory interface215generally coupled to a removable memory device, for example, a DVD-ROM drive. The processor may execute instructions from the removable memory device to control game play and store game state information in the main memory. For example, the instructions may be for determining possible movements, positions, and locations of the game character.

The processor is coupled to an audio driver221and a video driver223. The audio driver produces sound signals and the video driver produces image signals. The sound signals and image signals are transmitted from the game console via a display I/O device225. The display I/O device generally supplies the sound and image signals to a display device external to the game console.

The processor may also be coupled to a user I/O device217, a wireless transceiver219, an Internet I/O device227, and other circuitry229. The user I/O device may receive signals from an RF reader and/or signals from a keyboard, a mouse, and/or a game controller, with generally the keyboard, mouse, and/or controller being used by a user and providing user inputs, for example during game play. Alternatively or additionally, the personal computer may receive user inputs via the wireless transceiver. The Internet I/O device provides a communication channel that may be used, for example, for multiple player games.

FIG. 3is a diagram of areas in a video game in accordance with aspects of the invention. The video game includes multiple game areas where players may use their game characters. The areas may include different objects, challenges, and the like. Passage into the areas is restricted by entrances that may conditionally allow or disallow a character to enter the area.

The example video game illustrated inFIG. 3includes a main or initial area301. Game characters may generally begin game play in the initial area. Characters in the initial area may move from the initial area to a first area311by way of a first entrance312. The first entrance limits passage to the first area by allowing or disallowing characters to pass through the entrance. Passage may be allowed based, for example on the identity of the character, the type of character, or past game experiences of the characters. When an entrance allows a character to pass into an area, the area is accessible to that character and the area may be considered unlocked with respect to that character.

Characters may also move from the initial area to a second area321by way of a second entrance322. The second entrance limits passage to the second area in a manner similar to that of the first entrance. The determination of whether the entrances allow passage is generally independent for each entrance. Additionally, in some embodiments an area may have multiple entrances and whether the multiple entrances allow passage may be determined jointly or independently. Similar to passage from the first area to the second area by way of the second entrance, a character may pass from the second area to a third area331by way of a third entrance332.

Characters may also move to one of two isolated areas341,351. Passage to the isolated areas is allowed or disallowed by corresponding entrances342,352. Characters may move or locate to the isolated area, for example by helicopter.

FIG. 4is a flowchart of a process for determining if a game area of a game world of a video game should be accessible to game characters and, if so, which game characters. The process ofFIG. 4may be performed, for example, by the game console ofFIG. 1or the processor, for example as configured by program instructions, in conjunction with associated circuitry, ofFIG. 2.

In block411the process determines whether a character of the video game is in an entrance to an area. A character may be in the entrance to the area, for example, if the process receives information that a character has been read by a reader capable of reading character related information, for example in embodiments that utilize an RFID reader and toy figures with RFID transmitters, and game play is located at the entrance. Game play may be located at the entrance, for example, if display of game play shows the character at or about the entrance. A character may also be in the entrance to the area when the character has moved to the entrance, for example as commanded by game player input, provided for example by a game controller, with game play status indicating that the character is at the entrance. The process returns to block411if a character is not in the entrance to the area; otherwise, if a character is in the entrance to the area, the process continues to block413.

In block413the process determines whether the character at the entrance to the area is an appropriate character for unlocking access to the area. It may be appropriate to unlock access depending, for example, on the type of the character, a performance level or game stage of the character, possessions of the character, tasks performed by the character, or combinations thereof. The process returns to block411if the character at the entrance to the area is not an appropriate character for unlocking access to the area; otherwise, if the character at the entrance to the area is an appropriate character for unlocking access to the area, the process continues to block415.

In block415the process determines a set of characters for whom the area should be accessible. In various embodiments the set of characters may be based on characteristics of the character triggering the unlocking or may be based on status of game play. In some embodiments the set of characters is global, in other words all characters. In other embodiments the set of characters is based on a type of the character or a game level of the character. In other embodiments the set of characters is based on which characters have been played by the game player associated with the character triggering the unlocking. In other embodiments the set of characters is provided from a source external to the video game, such as an Internet server. The set of characters indicates which characters may enter the area.

In block417the process unlocks the area for the set of characters determined in block415. The process may unlock the area by setting state information, which may be stored for example in memory of the game console, of the game associated with the area being unlocked. For example, the process may set attributes of an entrance to the area indicating which characters are allowed to pass through the entrance into the area. Additionally, the process may command display, and in some embodiments display a message to a game player indicating which characters may enter the area.

The process thereafter returns.

FIG. 5is a flowchart of a process for conditionally unlocking access to an area of a video game. The process ofFIG. 4may be performed, for example, by the game console ofFIG. 1or the processor, for example as configured by program instructions, in conjunction with associated circuitry, ofFIG. 2.

In block511the process determines a type of unlocking of access to the area. In some embodiments only one type of unlocking may be available, and in such embodiments the process may dispense with performing the functions of block511. The type of unlocking may be determined based on characteristics of a character triggering the unlocking of the area. The type of unlocking may vary with which area is being unlocked and may vary at different times during game play. For example, the type of unlocking may be determined using a process as illustrated inFIG. 4. The process continues to block521if the type of unlocking is global. The process continues to block531if the type of unlocking is character based. The process continues to block541if the type of unlocking is player based. The process continues to block551if the type of unlocking is for specific characters. The process continues to block561if the type of unlocking is based on an external source.

In block521the process unlocks the area for all game characters. The process thereafter returns.

In block531the process determines whether character based unlocking is by type or level. The process continues to block532if the unlocking is for characters of a certain type: otherwise, process continues to block533if the unlocking is for characters of a certain level. In block532the process unlocks the area for characters types that match the type of the character that triggered the unlocking. In some embodiments, there is a hierarchy of character types, for example as genus and species, and the unlocking may be for characters of the same genus or of the same species. In block533the process unlocks the area for characters at levels at or above a certain level. In other embodiments the area may be unlocked for characters below a certain level. The level may be determined, for example, using the level of the character that triggered the unlocking or determined based on the area being unlocked. The process thereafter returns.

In block541the process determines whether the player based unlocking is for played or unplayed characters. The process continues to block542if the unlocking is for played characters; otherwise, process continues to block543if the unlocking is for unplayed characters. In block542the process unlocks the area for characters that the player whose character triggered the unlocking has previously played in the video game. In block543the process unlocks the area for characters that the player has not yet played in the video game. In various embodiments the character that triggered the unlocking may be included in or excluded from the characters for which the area is unlocked. The process thereafter returns.

In block551the process unlocks the area for a subset of game characters. The subset of characters may be based on a common characteristic of the characters, for example characters considered to be a team, characters present on a reader, or characters that have a same pre-identified characteristic. The process thereafter returns.

In block561the process unlocks the area for the character that triggered the unlocking. In block562the process transmits a request for additional information about which characters should be included in the unlocking of the area. The request may be transmitted, for example, to an Internet-corrected server that provides information related to the game or characters in the game. The request may be transmitted, for another example, to an Internet connected game server that coordinates game play between remotely located game players. In block563the process receives the information requested in block562. In some embodiments the process may include a timeout if the requested information is not promptly received. The various embodiments the process may retransmit the request for information. When the requested information is not received, the process may perform a default action, such as unlocking the area for subset of characters or the process may return. In block564the process unlocks the area for the game characters indicated in the information received in block563. The information may indicate game characters, for example, by specific identities or characteristics. The process thereafter returns.

The process may, in other embodiments, include additional types of unlocking or may combine features of the types illustrated inFIG. 5. For example, the process may unlock an area for characters of a certain type and that have been previously played in the game. Additionally, in some embodiments, game players may trade characters and the process accordingly may determine whether access to an area changes when a character is owned by a different game player. When the area was previously unlocked, the process may add characters to the unlocking or may remove the previous unlocking.

Aspects of the invention provide for animation routines for game characters. Although aspects of the invention have been described with respect to various specific embodiments, it should be recognized that the invention comprises the novel and non-obvious claims supported by this disclosure.