Analog stick input replacement for lengthy button push sequences and intuitive input for effecting character actions

Abstract

An interactive game programmed according to game rules including at least some game rules for mapping analog input movement to character actions for a character controlled by a player, the interactive game including program code to effect game state changes corresponding to moves made by a character controlled by the user, database or tables of operations wherein an operation represents a series of actions taken by a character in response to a particular user input using the analog input control, program code for processing the particular user input from the analog input control including representing input movement as a sequence of one or more sector visits, comparing the particular sector visit sequence with the database of operations to find matching character actions for the particular sector visit sequence or defined variation thereof, program code for effecting, where a match or defined variation thereof is found in the database of operations, the operations in sequence according to an associated series of actions of the found match and the like.

1 . A computerized interactive game programmed according to game rules such that game state changes according to user input and the game rules and appropriate displays by a computer system operating the game are presented to a user representing the game state changes, wherein the user input includes input from digital switches and at least one analog input control for accepting analog input, the computerized interactive game comprising: 
 program code to effect game state changes corresponding to moves made by a character controlled by the user;    a database of operations wherein an operation represents a series of actions taken by a character in response to a particular user input using the analog input control and associated with the operation;    program code for processing the particular user input from the analog input control including representing input movement as a sequence of one or more sector visits, comparing the particular sector visit sequence with the database of operations to find matching character actions for the particular sector visit sequence or defined variation thereof, and    program code for effecting, where a match or defined variation thereof is found in the database of operations, the operations in sequence according to an associated series of actions of the found match.    
   
   
       2 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , wherein the database of operations stores each is series of actions as a sequence of a plurality of button presses, thereby allowing manipulation of the analog input control to substitute for a plurality of button presses to effect a sequence.  
   
   
       3 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 2 , wherein button push sequences that correspond to particular analog stick motions are user-specified.  
   
   
       4 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , wherein hand movements of the character include picking objects up using an animated gripped hand of the character.  
   
   
       5 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , wherein hand movements of the character include picking up other characters using an animated gripped hand of the character.  
   
   
       6 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , wherein hand movements of the character include making gestures.  
   
   
       7 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 6 , wherein the gestures include signaling aggression or intimidation.  
   
   
       8 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , wherein hand movements of the character include combat moves.  
   
   
       9 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , further comprising program code to effect operations corresponding to predefined combination sequences of character actions following a sequence of analog stick movements.  
   
   
       10 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 9 , further comprising program code to interrupt an ongoing predefined combination sequence when an intervening event occurs.  
   
   
       11 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 10 , wherein the intervening event is a counterattack by an engaged opponent.  
   
   
       12 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , further comprising program code to output touch feedback to the user.  
   
   
       13 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , wherein the program code for processing is adapted to process inputs according to a speed of engagement of the analog control device.  
   
   
       14 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 13 , wherein the speed of engagement determines whether an attack move is a quick attack, a normal power attack, or a charging attack.  
   
   
       15 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 13 , wherein a sequence of speeds of engagement is interpreted as the start of a pre-selected attack sequence and the attack sequence follows.  
   
   
       16 . The computerized interactive game of  claim 1 , wherein the program code for processing is adapted to take into account whether a target is identified and locked, thereby interpreting a particular input in a first manner when a target is identified and locked and interpreting the particular input in a second manner distinct from the first manner when a target is either not identified or not locked.