Game Controller

Abstract

There is described a system for a user to control the movement of an object in a video game, comprising: a direction sensor arranged to sense a directional input by the user; a movement sensor arranged to sense gross movement of the user; and a processor arranged to combine the sensed directional input and the sensed movement to provide an output signal for controlling the movement of the game object, the output signal being provided such that a direction of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon the sensed directional input and a magnitude of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon the sensed movement. A method for a user to control the movement of an object in a video game is also described.

1 . A system for a user to control the movement of an object in a video game, comprising:
 a direction sensor arranged to sense a directional input by the user;   a movement sensor arranged to sense gross movement of the user; and   a processor arranged to combine the sensed directional input and the sensed movement to provide an output signal for controlling the movement of the game object, the output signal being provided such that a direction of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon the sensed directional input and a magnitude of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon the sensed movement.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the direction sensor is provided in a direction sensor unit and the movement sensor is provided in a movement sensor unit, the direction sensor unit being discrete from the movement sensor unit. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  in which the direction sensor is provided in a direction sensor unit and the movement sensor is provided in a movement sensor unit, the direction sensor unit being integral with the movement sensor unit. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2  in which the processor is integral with at least one of the direction sensor unit and the movement sensor unit. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2  in which the processor is discrete from the direction sensor unit and the movement sensor unit. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  in which the output signal is provided such that a speed of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon a magnitude of the sensed directional input. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  in which the output signal is provided such that a speed of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon a speed of the sensed movement. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  in which the output signal is provided such that:
 (a) there is no movement of the game object when the sensed directional input is null and the sensed movement is null;   (b) there is translational movement of the game object when the sensed directional input is non-zero and the sensed movement is non-zero, the direction of the translational movement varying in dependence upon the sensed directional input; and   (c) there is rotational movement of the game object when the sensed directional input is non-zero and the sensed movement is null, the direction of the rotational movement varying in dependence upon the sensed directional input.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  in which the directional input by the user comprises a rotational directional input and a translational directional input. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  in which the output signal is provided such that:
 (a) there is no movement of the game object when the sensed translational directional input is null and the sensed rotational directional input is null;   (b) there is no movement of the game object when the sensed rotational directional input is null, the sensed translational directional input is non-zero and the sensed movement is null;   (c) there is translational movement of the game object when the sensed translational directional input is non-zero and the sensed movement is non-zero, the direction of the translational movement varying in dependence upon the sensed translational directional input; and   (d) there is rotational movement of the game object when the sensed rotational directional input is non-zero, the direction of the rotational movement varying in dependence upon the sensed rotational directional input.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  in which:
 the movement sensor is arranged to sense discrete movement events; and   the output signal is provided such that there is translational movement of the game object when both the sensed directional input is non-zero and a discrete movement event has been sensed by the movement sensor within a predetermined time period, the direction of the translational movement varying in dependence upon the sensed directional input.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  in which:
 the system further comprises an action controlling means having an on state and an off state, the action controlling means comprising an action sensor arranged to sense the state of the action controlling means;   the movement sensor is further arranged to sense a plurality of predetermined movement events; and   the output signal is provided such that the game object performs a predetermined action when the action sensor senses that the action controlling means is in the on state, the predetermined action corresponding to the predetermined movement events sensed by the movement sensor.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  in which the direction sensor comprises one of a joystick, a gamepad, and a steering wheel. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  in which the movement sensor comprises a pedometer for sensing steps taken by the user. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  in which the movement sensor comprises at least one pressure pad arranged to sense impacts on the at least one pressure pad by the user. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  in which the movement sensor comprises a dancemat. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1  in which the movement sensor comprises a camera. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a games console arranged to receive the output signal. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  in which the processor is integral with the games console. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a screen arranged to display the video game graphics. 
   
   
       21 . A method for a user to control the movement of an object in a video game, comprising the steps of:
 providing a direction sensor and a movement sensor;   using the direction sensor to sense a directional input by a user;   using the movement sensor to sense gross movement of the user; and   combining the sensed directional input and the sensed movement to provide an output signal for controlling the movement of the game object, the output signal being provided such that a direction of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon the sensed directional input and a magnitude of movement of the game object varies in dependence upon the sensed movement.   
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 3  in which the processor is integral with at least one of the direction sensor unit and the movement sensor unit. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 3  in which the processor is discrete from the direction sensor unit and the movement sensor unit.