Abstract: The invention includes methods, systems, computer program products and means for providing an intuitive user interface for interacting with a game console that obviates the need for, or use of, a typical game controller. In one embodiment, the user interface comprises an analog-like mechanism for manipulating a menu and icon system. The menu system allows the user to highlight a menu option or icon using movement along one axis and to activate the menu option or icon via movement on a different axis. In one embodiment, highlighting is associated with a vertical motion and activation is associated with a horizontal motion. The vertical motion can be tied to the vertical movement of a particular appendage, e.g., the up and down movement of the user's right arm, and the horizontal motion can be tied to the horizontal movement of that or another appendage, e.g., movement of the right arm or hand across the body from right to left.

Abstract: The invention includes methods, systems, computer program products and means for providing an intuitive user interface for interacting with a game console that obviates the need for, or use of, a typical game controller. In one embodiment, the user interface comprises an analog-like mechanism for manipulating a menu and icon system. The menu system allows the user to highlight a menu option or icon using movement along one axis and to activate the menu option or icon via movement on a different axis. In one embodiment, highlighting is associated with a vertical motion and activation is associated with a horizontal motion. The vertical motion can be tied to the vertical movement of a particular appendage, e.g., the up and down movement of the user's right arm, and the horizontal motion can be tied to the horizontal movement of that or another appendage, e.g., movement of the right arm or hand across the body from right to left.

Abstract: A method including displaying a multi-part visual cue that instructs a player to perform a gesture at a specified time, the multi-part visual cue including a first part indicating the gesture that is to be performed at the specified time, and a second part providing an indication of i) the specified time, and ii) a preparation period before the specified time, wherein the distance between the first and the second parts is variable over time, receiving, from a video camera, position information associated with positions of the player over time, determining a first displacement of the player using the position information, determining whether the first displacement of the player matches a first target displacement criterion associated with the multi-part visual cue, when the first displacement matches the first target displacement criterion within a timing window of the specified time, altering a gameplay characteristic of the video game.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to analysis of movement that is electronically captured and recognition of which movement was performed for purposes of evaluation. This type of motion capture, analysis and evaluation can have applicability across a number of fields, such as healthcare, entertainment, communication, and manufacturing. The recognition can occur once movement information collected from sensors is inputted into the system. The system can then analyze the movement information to determine what the movement is. In some games, such as sports games, movement recognition can provide feedback to a user about what they are doing. In other games, such as dance games, movement recognition can allow for users to dance a move from a set of moves providing for a more entertaining game.

Abstract: A computerized technique for use with a game console, the technique including providing, using the game console, a combat video game that includes a weapon, providing, using the game console and an audiovisual system, music as a player plays the video game, analyzing, using the game console, at least one of i) the music, and ii) metadata relating to the music, to determine a property, and controlling the operation of the weapon, using the game console, as a function of the property.

Abstract: Techniques for use with a game console and a camera system, the techniques include providing a first prompt to a first player to create and perform a dance move, receiving at the game console information from the camera system reflecting a position of the first player in response to the first prompt, generating, using the game console, a target frame using the received information relating to the first player, providing, using the audiovisual system connected to the game console, a second prompt to a second player to perform the dance move created by the first player, receiving at the game console information from the camera system reflecting a position of the second player in response to the second prompt, generating, using the game console, an input frame using the information relating to the second player, and comparing the input frame to the target frame to determine a comparison value.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for scoring a player performance comprising one or more poses in a dance-based video game. a performance 3D skeleton is received that indicates a pose of the player. A score is calculated by comparing a position, a timing, or both, associated with one or more joints of the performance 3D skeleton to a position, a timing, or both, associated with one or more joints of a target pose and altering one or more characteristics of the dance-based video game based on the score.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for prompting a player to perform a series of dance moves. A player is prompted to perform a series of dance moves by providing a timeline comprising at least a first time interval associated with a first dance move, and a second time interval associated with a second dance move; displaying an icon representing the first dance move at a first location on the display for the duration of the first time interval; and displaying an icon representing the second dance move at the first location on the display for the duration of the second time interval, wherein the icon representing the first dance move includes one or more representations of a body and indicates on the one or more representations of the body at least one body part whose position is important during the performance of the first dance move.

Abstract: The invention includes methods, systems, computer program products and means for providing an intuitive user interface for interacting with a game console that obviates the need for, or use of, a typical game controller. In one embodiment, the user interface comprises an analog-like mechanism for manipulating a menu and icon system. The menu system allows the user to highlight a menu option or icon using movement along one axis and to activate the menu option or icon via movement on a different axis. In one embodiment, highlighting is associated with a vertical motion and activation is associated with a horizontal motion. The vertical motion can be tied to the vertical movement of a particular appendage, e.g., the up and down movement of the user's right arm, and the horizontal motion can be tied to the horizontal movement of that or another appendage, e.g., movement of the right arm or hand across the body from right to left.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for prompting a player to perform a series of dance moves. A player is prompted to perform a series of dance moves by providing a timeline comprising at least a first time interval associated with a first dance move, and a second time interval associated with a second dance move; displaying an icon representing the first dance move at a first location on the display for the duration of the first time interval; and displaying an icon representing the second dance move at the first location on the display for the duration of the second time interval, wherein the icon representing the first dance move includes one or more representations of a body and indicates on the one or more representations of the body at least one body part whose position is important during the performance of the first dance move.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to analysis of movement that is electronically captured and recognition of which movement was performed for purposes of evaluation. This type of motion capture, analysis and evaluation can have applicability across a number of fields, such as healthcare, entertainment, communication, and manufacturing. The recognition can occur once movement information collected from sensors is inputted into the system. The system can then analyze the movement information to determine what the movement is. In some games, such as sports games, movement recognition can provide feedback to a user about what they are doing. In other games, such as dance games, movement recognition can allow for users to dance a move from a set of moves providing for a more entertaining game.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for prompting a player to perform a series of dance moves. A player is prompted to perform a series of dance moves by providing a timeline comprising at least a first time interval associated with a first dance move, and a second time interval associated with a second dance move; displaying an icon representing the first dance move at a first location on the display for the duration of the first time interval; and displaying an icon representing the second dance move at the first location on the display for the duration of the second time interval, wherein the icon representing the first dance move includes one or more representations of a body and indicates on the one or more representations of the body at least one body part whose position is important during the performance of the first dance move.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for providing a smooth animation transition in a game. An event timeline is provided with event markers denoting points in time on the event timeline. Each event marker is associated with an animation segment from the number of animation segments. A first marker on the event timeline is provided, which indicates a first animation segment to be displayed on the display (at a point in time with respect to event timeline). A second marker on the event timeline is also provided, which indicates a second animation segment to be displayed on the display (at a second point in time with respect to event timeline). Then as the game progresses, and the second point time on the timeline is approaching, a set of animation segments that need to be blended together is determined, to provide a smooth transition from the first animation segment to the second animation segment.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for prompting a player to perform a series of dance moves. A player is prompted to perform a series of dance moves by providing a timeline comprising at least a first time interval associated with a first dance move, and a second time interval associated with a second dance move; displaying an icon representing the first dance move at a first location on the display for the duration of the first time interval; and displaying an icon representing the second dance move at the first location on the display for the duration of the second time interval, wherein the icon representing the first dance move includes one or more representations of a body and indicates on the one or more representations of the body at least one body part whose position is important during the performance of the first dance move.

Abstract: The invention includes methods, systems, computer program products and means for providing an intuitive user interface for interacting with a game console that obviates the need for, or use of, a typical game controller. In one embodiment, the user interface comprises an analog-like mechanism for manipulating a menu and icon system. The menu system allows the user to highlight a menu option or icon using movement along one axis and to activate the menu option or icon via movement on a different axis. In one embodiment, highlighting is associated with a vertical motion and activation is associated with a horizontal motion. The vertical motion can be tied to the vertical movement of a particular appendage, e.g., the up and down movement of the user's right arm, and the horizontal motion can be tied to the horizontal movement of that or another appendage, e.g., movement of the right arm or hand across the body from right to left.