System for and method of operating video game system with control actuator-equipped stylus

Abstract

A system and method expand game action functionality of a portable game system in which user manipulation of a stylus contributes to control of game action in the operation of two-handed game play. The stylus is equipped with one or more control actuators that are integrally associated with (i.e., positioned on or in) the stylus to respond to manipulation by the user to control game action. One or more game action functions are selected and implemented for control by the number of the stylus-equipped control actuators. The game action functions include one or both of game action functions caused by actuation of the number of first and second control actuator devices and other, additional game action functions. The selected game action functions expand practicable game action functionality of the portable game system by enabling use of the user's hand manipulating the stylus to cause performance of one or more game action functions.

1 . A method of expanding game action functionality of a portable game system in which user manipulation of a stylus contributes to control of game action in the operation of two-handed game play, the portable game system including a display surface on which appears an action scene presented during game play and a touch screen display surface contacted by the stylus manipulated by the user to control game action, the touch screen display surface positioned adjacent first and second control actuator regions in which a number of respective first and second control actuator devices are located for manipulation by active fingers of different ones of the user's hands to cause performance of game action functions included in a set of game action functions performed in the action scene, comprising:
 equipping the stylus with a number of control actuators integrally associated with the stylus to respond to manipulation by the user to control game action; and   implementing a selected subset of game action functions for control by the number of integrally associated control actuators in response to manipulation by the user's stylus-manipulating hand to control game action, thereby to expand practicable game action functionality of the portable game system by enabling use of the user's hand manipulating the stylus to cause performance of one or more game action functions in the set.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the selected subset of game action functions includes one or more game action functions actuatable by the first and second control actuator devices, the subset including game action functions that would entail actuation by fingers of the user's stylus-manipulating hand to control game action. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , in which one of the number of control actuators integrally associated with the stylus is a motion sensor device that is positioned in or on the stylus, the motion sensor device providing to the user during game play a sensation of motion in performance of a game action function in the set causing motion of a symbol or an image in an action scene appearing on the display surface without need to impart actual motion to the display surface. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , in which the motion sensor device includes an accelerometer. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , in which at least one of the number of integrally associated control actuators produces a command signal that is wirelessly communicated to the portable game system to control game action. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , in which the portable game system includes an accessory to provide wireless communication with the number of the associated control actuators with which the stylus is equipped. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the display surface on which an action scene appears and the touch screen display surface are separate display surfaces.