Multimedia enhancements for replica stadium-type gameplay apparatus

Abstract

There is provided herein a stadium type gameplay system enhanced with a multimedia subsystem configured for various tasks including emulating a real-world stadium environment. Specifically, the multimedia subsystem comprises a multimedia processor which is configured for recording visual media data from a plurality of image sensors and detecting gameplay events utilising a plurality of hardware and/or software gameplay sensors. As such, in this way, when detecting various gameplay events, the multimedia processor is configured for displaying game replay multimedia utilising a plurality of visual media display devices. The multimedia processor is further configured for performing other autonomous actions when detecting various gameplay events.

1 . A stadium-type gameplay system comprising gameplay apparatus comprising a play arena and actuators manipulatable by at least two opposing players to direct a ball into opposing goals, wherein the system comprises:
 a multimedia subsystem comprising:
 a multimedia processor; 
 a memory device operably coupled to the multimedia processor 
 a plurality of visual media data capture image sensors operably coupled to the multimedia processor, wherein, during gameplay, the multimedia processor is configured for recording gameplay visual media data captured by the image sensors using the memory device; and 
 a plurality of gameplay sensors, including ball position sensors, in operable communication with the multimedia processor, the multimedia processor configured for detecting at least one gameplay event including a goal score gameplay event, the goal score gameplay event detected using the ball position sensors; and 
 at least one visual media display device in operable communication with the multimedia processor; 
 wherein, when detecting the goal score gameplay event, the multimedia processor is configured for extracting a segment of the visual media data from the memory device; 
 generating game replay multimedia using the visual media data; and 
 playing out the game replay multimedia using the at least one visual media display device. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gameplay sensors comprise at least one of hardware and software gameplay sensors. 
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the software gameplay sensors comprise image analysis gameplay sensor software modules. 
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the image analysis gameplay sensor software modules comprise ball position analysis modules. 
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein extracting a segment of the visual media data from the memory device comprises identifying an optimal segment for the game replay multimedia. 
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein selecting the optimal segment comprises performing facial detection image analysis of the visual media data and selecting the optimal segment as comprising a detected face. 
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein selecting an optimal segment comprises image processing to select a subregion of the visual media data comprising the detected face. 
     
     
         8 . A system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein selecting an optimal segment comprises performing facial expression image analysis and selecting a segment of the visual media data having a detected type of facial expression. 
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein identifying the optimal segment comprises ball position sensing and selecting the optimal segment in accordance with ball position. 
     
     
         10 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein generating the game replay multimedia comprises implementing at least one multimedia effect. 
     
     
         11 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one multimedia effect comprises at least one of slow motion, video superimposition and text overlay effects. 
     
     
         12 . A system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein video superimposition comprises selection of ad video data from an ad video database. 
     
     
         13 . A system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein selection of ad video data comprises selection of the ad video data in accordance with at least one of player demographic, gameplay event type and gameplay statistic. 
     
     
         14 . A system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein text overlay comprises at least one of ad text and game statistic text overlay. 
     
     
         15 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one visual media display device is a plurality of visual media display devices and wherein playing out the game replay multimedia comprises selecting one of the plurality of visual media display devices for the playout of the game replay multimedia. 
     
     
         16 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein selecting one of the plurality of visual media display devices comprises selecting one of the plurality of visual media display devices in accordance with at least one of a gameplay event type, player position and gameplay statistic. 
     
     
         17 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising playing out a virtual crowd animation using the at least one visual media display device. 
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein playing out a virtual crowd animation comprises controlling the virtual crowd animation in accordance with a gameplay event type. 
     
     
         19 . A system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein virtual crowd animation with audio comprises standing, cheering, clapping, holding up signs/banners, camera flash and chanting animations and sounds. 
     
     
         20 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the least one gameplay event comprises at least one of goal score, kick-off, ball retention and corner kick gameplay events. 
     
     
         21 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein detecting the at least one gameplay event comprises detecting the at least one gameplay event in accordance with at least one of direct correlation to a sensor output, detection rules relating to a plurality of sensor outputs and machine learning. 
     
     
         22 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia processor is configured for at least detecting a ball stall event using the ball position sensors and controlling a ball displacement actuator accordingly. 
     
     
         23 . A system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein detecting a ball stall event comprises image analysis of the visual media data to detect the ball stall event. 
     
     
         24 . A system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the ball displacement actuator comprises at least one of electromagnetic repulsion, gameplay surface tilting and air jet repulsion actuators. 
     
     
         25 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises replica stadium light towers extending upwardly from an upper deck of the apparatus and wherein the stadium light towers comprise the at least one visual media display device. 
     
     
         26 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured for storing player profiles including gameplay statistics. 
     
     
         27 . A system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the system is further configured for detecting locations of mobile communication devices associated with the player profiles and sending push notifications to mobile communication devices in proximity of the gameplay apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . A system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the system is further configured for matching player profiles utilising gameplay statistics. 
     
     
         29 . A system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the system is further configured for detecting locations of mobile communication devices associated with matched player profiles and sending push notifications to the respective mobile communication devices when the respective mobile communication devices are both in proximity of the gameplay apparatus.