Video game controllers

Abstract

Video game controllers including a housing, user controls supported by the housing and configured to be manipulated by a user for interacting with the video game console, and a holder supported by the housing, the holder configured to receive and retain an item of media.

1 . A video game controller for use with a video game console, comprising: 
 a housing;    user controls supported by the housing and configured to be manipulated by a user for interacting with the video game console; and    a holder supported by the housing, the holder configured to receive and retain an item of media.    
   
   
       2 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the item of media is a card.  
   
   
       3 . The video game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the card is between one and three millimeters thick.  
   
   
       4 . The video game controller of  claim 3 , wherein the holder includes a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface generally parallel to the first engagement surface, the second engagement surface between one and three millimeters from the first engagement surface.  
   
   
       5 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the holder includes a clip.  
   
   
       6 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is positioned on the housing so that a user, when holding the controller in an intended manner, can easily observe an item of media being retained by the holder.  
   
   
       7 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is positioned on the housing so that an item of media, retained by the holder, extends generally away from a user when held in an intended manner.  
   
   
       8 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is configured to provide a friction fit for the item of media.  
   
   
       9 . A video game controller for use with a video game console, comprising: 
 a housing;    user controls supported by the housing and configured to be manipulated by a user for interacting with the video game console; and    a media device supported by the housing, the media device configured to read media containing data defining an aspect of a video game.    
   
   
       10 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device includes a proximity device for wirelessly reading data contained on a wireless transponder.  
   
   
       11 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device includes a radio frequency reader for wirelessly reading data contained on a radio frequency transponder.  
   
   
       12 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device includes a microwave frequency reader for wirelessly reading data contained on a microwave transponder.  
   
   
       13 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device includes an electromagnetic reader for wirelessly reading data contained on an electromagnetic transponder.  
   
   
       14 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device operates in the approximately 10 Hz to 20 kHz range.  
   
   
       15 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device is further configured to write data defining an aspect of the video game.  
   
   
       16 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a holder supported by the housing, the holder configured to receive and retain a card.    
   
   
       17 . The video game controller of  claim 16 , wherein the holder includes a clip.  
   
   
       18 . The video game controller of  claim 16 , wherein the holder is positioned on the housing so that a user, when holding the controller in an intended manner, can easily observe a face of a card being retained by the holder.  
   
   
       19 . The video game controller of  claim 16 , wherein the holder is positioned on the housing so that a card, held by the holder, extends generally away from a user when the user is holding the controller in an intended manner.  
   
   
       20 . The video game controller of  claim 16 , wherein the holder is configured to provide a friction fit for the card.  
   
   
       21 . The video game controller of  claim 16 , wherein the card is between one and three millimeters thick.  
   
   
       22 . The video game controller of  claim 21 , wherein the holder includes a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface generally parallel to the first engagement surface, the second engagement surface between one and three millimeters from the first engagement surface.  
   
   
       23 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device includes an infrared device for receiving data via an infrared signal.  
   
   
       24 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device includes a magnetic strip reader for reading data from a magnetic strip embodied on media.  
   
   
       25 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the media device includes exposed contacts configured to engage corresponding exposed contacts on items of media when a user places an item media against the media device.  
   
   
       26 . A video game controller for use with a video game console, comprising: 
 a housing;    user controls supported by the housing and configured to be manipulated for interaction with the video game console; and    a holder supported by the housing, the holder configured to receive and retain an item of media in the form of a card having indicia related to a video game printed thereon, wherein the holder is positioned on the housing so that the indicia, when the card is retained by the holder, is legible by a user.