Gestures to Encapsulate Intent

Abstract

A method is provided for enabling gameplay with a character in a game environment on a mobile device. In the game environment, a player can play a game via a character. When there is an expectation of action from the character in the game, a touch gesture input is received on the mobile device. The fidelity of the touch gesture input is calculated with reference to an optimal gesture in a reference gesture table. If the fidelity is within a predefined range associated with the optimal gesture, the touch gesture input is matched to the optimal gesture and an associated game script is called wherein the character would be shown as having successfully completed the expectation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of evaluating touch gestures received in a game environment on a mobile device, comprising:
 providing a game environment in which a player can play a game using touch gestures;   calculating possible interactions that can be undertaken by the player in the game; and   with respect to each possible interaction, setting an optimal gesture that represents successful completion of that interaction, and determining a range of fidelity for a touch gesture emulating that optimal gesture, wherein the optimal gesture and range of fidelity are stored in a reference gesture table.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising associating a game script to be called when a touch gesture is received that is within the range of fidelity. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising setting a suboptimal gesture that represents a failure in the interaction by virtue of its being outside the range of fidelity, wherein the suboptimal gesture is stored in a reference gesture table. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising associating a game script to be called when a touch gesture is received that is outside the range of fidelity. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the touch gesture is an arc or line component of a continuous multi-part gesture. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the range of fidelity is narrower if the possible interaction involves a static or dynamic object. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the range of fidelity takes account of the speed of the touch gesture. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the range of fidelity takes account of the timing of the touch gesture. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein a straight line gesture represents a running action. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein an arc gesture represents a jumping action. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein an up angled gesture represents a jumping action to a higher position. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein a down angled gesture represents a ducking action or a jumping action to a lower position. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein an optimal straight line gesture includes a range of gestures that are not perfectly straight or that are not perfectly horizontal. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein an optimal arc gesture includes a range of gestures that are not perfectly arc-shaped or are not necessarily completely round. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein an optimal angle gesture includes a range of angles with the same general heading or direction. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein all possible outcomes of the interaction are either an optimal or suboptimal gesture in the reference gesture table. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the reference gesture table is stored in persistent memory. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the reference gesture table is stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein each interaction comprises a sequence of discrete actions by the character that can be invoked with a single touch gesture input. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein each interaction comprises a plurality of parallel actions that can be invoked by a single touch gesture input.