Abstract: There is provided systems and methods for performing actions based on light signatures. An exemplary system includes a light source, a light detector, a non-transitory memory storing a plurality of light signatures and a hardware processor. The hardware processor executes an executable code to illuminate, using the light source, a target object with a first light, collect, using the light detector, a second light being a reflection of the first light by the target object, match the second light with one of the plurality of light signatures, and perform an action in response to matching the second light with the one of the plurality of light signatures.

Abstract: A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.

Abstract: A video control system has an accelerometer sensor connected to a microcontroller for imparting motion and orientation information to the microcontroller. An encoder/transmitter is connected to the microcontroller and converts a plurality of parallel signals from the microcontroller into a serial data stream which is wirelessly transmitted to a receiver/decoder which converts the serial data back to the original parallel signals. The receiver/decoder is connected to a keyboard encoder that is connected to the keyboard port of personal computer. The accelerometer sensor, microcontroller and encoder transmitter are adapted to be worn on a video player's person. The system allows for a realistic experience in a video environment in which movement of the video player is replicated and appreciated on a video screen.

Abstract: A method of conveying a command to a user using a practice system is provided. The method includes detecting movement of the user using a sensor; selecting a command from a list of pre-determined commands; and conveying the command to the user using a signaler.

Abstract: A computing system translates a world space position of a hand of a human target to a screen space cursor position of a user interface. When the cursor overlaps a button in the user interface, the computing system actuates the button in response to a movement of the hand in world space that changes the cursor position by a depth threshold along a z-axis regardless of an initial z-axis position of the cursor. When the button includes an activation lock, the computing system unlocks the activation lock, prior to button actuation, if the cursor path satisfies unlocking criteria.

Abstract: A device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications and augmented reality with one or more players is provided. The device includes infrared transmitters and infrared receivers to facilitate omni-directional two-way communication between two or more devices and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by a user. The housing includes a grip portion with a finger-operable trigger and a barrel portion. A mobile electronic device is used as an accessory to provide single player and multiplayer augmented reality game play and a user-interface including a display and a touch screen for programming the device and controlling various game and device functions.

Abstract: A game system moves a player character in a virtual game space in accordance with an operation by a player. Further, the player character's moving amount per predetermined unit time is detected at each predetermined time interval. A predetermined parameter (gage amount) value is calculated at each predetermined time interval based on the moving amount detected at each predetermined time interval. Also, the game system adds the predetermined parameter value calculated at each predetermined time interval for accumulation. In response to a predetermined operation performed by the player, the game system causes the player character to perform a predetermined motion (e.g., special shot) on a condition such that a value obtained as a result of the addition reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of conveying a command to a user using a practice system is provided. The method includes detecting movement of the user using a sensor; selecting a command from a list of pre-determined commands; and conveying the command to the user using a signaler.

Abstract: Game data variable in accordance with the state of an input device and usable for game processing is sequentially obtained. Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition for the game processing has been fulfilled based on the game data. Information on an indicated position on a game image, which is calculated from the game data when the predetermined condition has been fulfilled, is obtained. A moving speed of the input device which is calculated from the game data is also obtained. When the obtained moving speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed, an object which appears in a virtual game space and is related to the indicated position is processed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to controlling a video game in which ability of a game character is adjusted on the basis of events in the video game. For example, in a baseball video game, if the game player operating a pitcher character keeps selecting a pitching trajectory that a batter character is bad at hitting the ball object, the extent that the batter character is bad at hitting the ball object in the pitching trajectory will be gradually reduced. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the pitcher character to make the batter character out. Accordingly, advantageous level for the pitcher character will be reduced. Therefore, imbalance of the baseball video game is to be solved between the pitcher character and the batter character.

Abstract: A device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications between a two or more players is provided. The device includes two infrared transmitters and two infrared receivers and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by a user. The housing includes a grip portion with a finger-operable trigger, a barrel portion and a user-interface including a display and a keypad for programming the device and controlling various game and device functions. A first infrared transmitter transmits a directional infrared signal to another game participant and a first infrared receiver receives an acknowledgment signal therefrom in response to the transmitted directional signal. A second infrared transmitter and second infrared receiver facilitate omni-directional two-way communications between two or more devices before, during, and after a game of infrared electronic tag allowing functions such as game setup, player identification and gameplay analysis.

Abstract: A firearm that includes a mounting rail having remotely powered electrical connectors with which modified prior art tactical accessories, such as tactical lights, night vision devices, laser sighting modules and the like can be interconnected. More particularly, the mounting rail of the invention includes electrical connectors that are operably interconnected with a relatively large, long life battery mounted in the stock of the firearm.

Abstract: A fire arm that includes a mounting rail having remotely powered electrical connectors with which modified prior art tactical accessories, such as tactical lights, night vision devices, laser sighting modules and the like can be interconnected. More particularly, the mounting rail of the invention includes electrical connectors that are operably interconnected with a relatively large, long life battery mounted in the stock of the firearm.

Abstract: A system for providing collaboration among a plurality of devices in a mobile ad hoc network is disclosed. The system consists of a module within each of the devices that is operable to perform login, synchronization, data loss recovery, and conflict avoidance and resolution functions.

Abstract: A shooting game apparatus includes an LCD for displaying a target and an operating button for a player to perform an operation for shooting the target. For example, an enemy character is switched between an ineffective state in which it is never damaged even if an attack hits it, and an effective state in which it is damaged if an attack hits it. Different images are displayed depending on whether the target is in the ineffective state or in the effective state. In a case where the target is in the effective state, when a player character enters into a state of being continuously damaged because it is positioned an area where it receives continuous damage, for example, the target is switched into the ineffective state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally toward computer-implemented methods for targeting objects in a gaming system. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a method for targeting an object in a gaming system that includes receiving a soft lock command and applying a soft lock to an object in the game. The soft lock designates an action site on a portion of the object that was proximate to an aiming reference when the soft lock was commanded. The action site is proximate to a location where a selected game action will occur if the game action is commanded. Once the soft lock is applied, the aiming reference can be moved away from the action site. Another aspect of the invention is directed toward a method of targeting an object in a gaming system that includes receiving a command to hard lock a portion of an object, applying the hard lock, and displaying at least one selectable sub-target associated with the object.

Abstract: A power or life meter is displayed in a video game. Firing a weapon depletes the indicated power. Meanwhile, the power is recharged at a predetermined rate. If the indicated power exceeds capacity, the game character is adversely impacted. If the indicated power is completely depleted, the game character loses a benefit.

Abstract: To provide a game device for presenting to a player inputting the amount of operation while utilizing a gauge, the length of a gauge which corresponds to a desired amount of operation. In a game device in which an object placed in a virtual three dimensional space is moved by a distance according to the displayed length of the gauge when the player carries out a predetermined operation, a target position to which the object is going to be moved is obtained (S102), a distance between the target movement position and the present position of the object is calculated (S103), and the length of the gauge corresponding to the calculated distance L is calculated based on the distance L (S104). Then, the target length of the gauge is presented based on the calculated length of the gauge (S105).

Abstract: Two general effects of laser radiation interaction with balloon surface material or with gases surrounding or filling balloons are used for the play: the destruction and the shift of the inflated balloons. The kind of the laser-material interaction is selected depending on the game structure so that the desirable effect is produced by the minimal laser energy. The energy minimization is provided by the selection of the surface properties, the laser radiation parameters, the characteristics of the gases surrounding and inflating balloons, and the creation of the gas pressure inside the balloons. The desirable effects are generated by absorption of the used laser radiation or by laser-induced breakdown.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively controlling the impact between a club head and a golf ball. A golf club head has a face with an actuator material or device mechanically coupled to influence face motion. The face actuation controls impact parameters, impact properties, or resulting ball parameters such as speed, direction and spin rates resulting from the impact event between the face of the club and the golf ball. Further, the apparatus has a control device for determining the actuation of the face. Several embodiments are presented for controlling parameters such as ball speed and direction. The invention can use energy derived from the ball impact, converted into electrical energy, and then reapplied in a controlled fashion to influence an aspect of the face, such as position, velocity, deformation, stiffness, vibration, motion, temperature, or other physical parameter.

Abstract: Provided is technology enabling the generation of images of high realistic sensation upon accurately reflecting the operator's behavior. The information processing device has a controller to be used for inputting an operational instruction, and having a function of outputting a detectable wave to be used for detecting its own position and direction; a plurality of sensors for detecting the intensity of the detectable wave transmitted from the controller at mutually different positions; a position/direction calculation unit for calculating the position and direction of the controller in a real space based on the ratio of the intensity of the detectable wave detected with each of the plurality of sensors; an image generation unit for generating an image reflecting the operational instruction input with the controller, and the position and direction of the controller calculated with the position/direction calculation unit; and a display unit for displaying the image generated with the image generation unit.

Abstract: A device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications between a two or more players is provided. The device includes two infrared transceivers and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by a user. The housing includes a grip portion with a finger-operable trigger, a barrel portion and a user-interface including a display and a keypad for programming the device and controlling various game and device functions. A first infrared transceiver transmits a directional infrared signal to another game participant and receives an acknowledgment signal therefrom in response to the transmitted directional signal. A second infrared transceiver facilitates omnidirectional two-way communications between two or more devices. The transceivers facilitate communications between game players before, during, and after a game of infrared electronic tag such as game setup, player identification and gameplay analysis.

Abstract: A game system includes a game apparatus and a controller. The controller is furnished with an acceleration sensor for detecting accelerations in at least two axis directions. Game processing corresponding to the kind of an acceleration input by means of the controller is executed. For determining the kind, reference timing when acceleration in a first-axis direction is below a threshold value to take on a minimum value is detected. Then, it is determined whether or not an angle between acceleration change vectors before and after the reference timing is equal to or more than a predetermined angle. When the angle is not equal to or more than the predetermined angle, it is determined that the acceleration input is an acceleration input in any one of the two-axis directions, and when the angle is equal to or more than the predetermined angle, it is determined that the acceleration input is an acceleration input in a direction including the two-axis directions as components.

Abstract: A position detection system includes: a scan beam illumination section which causes a first-direction line-shaped scan beam that is parallel to the X-axis to scan in the Y-axis direction at a predetermined scanning speed, then causes a second-direction line-shaped scan beam that is parallel to the Y-axis to scan in the X-axis direction at a predetermined scanning speed; a light-receiving section which detects the timings at which the first and second-direction line-shaped scan beams pass through a pointing position on a screen; and a position calculation section which calculates the pointing position by a pointing device on the screen, based on the time from the start of scanning of the first-direction line-shaped scan beam until the passage thereof through the pointing position is detected and the time from the start of scanning of the second-direction line-shaped scan beam until the passage thereof through the pointing position is detected.

Abstract: There are disclosed a game machine, game route selection method and information storage medium that in case where a plurality of performance positions in a three-dimensional space where a game performance corresponding to a player's operation instruction is performed, and a plurality of moving routes interconnecting the plurality of performance positions are set, the game machine displays predetermined option images for selecting the moving routes where the viewpoint can next move in the performance positions, and allows any one of these option images to be selected by a pointing device.

Abstract: An operation unit provided with an operation axis as an input unit of an entertainment unit is more effectively utilized. An entertainment unit receives input information from an operation unit and calculates a displacement value with respect to the rotation movement of the operation axis around a predetermined standard axis based on the position information of the operation axis included in the input information and based on the displacement value the display condition of the object is changed. In another mode, a first parameter is set based on the tilt angle of the operation axis, and a second parameter is set according to the rotation angle or rotation angular velocity of the operation axis. An evaluation value for the operation object is set based on the first and second parameters, and where either one of the first and second parameters exceeds a predetermined value the evaluation value of the player character may be changed or clearing may occur.

Abstract: A game of tag using wireless devices is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, players in a game space are each assigned a player to tag and assigned to another player to be tagged. Thus, each player is both “it” (trying to tag a target player) and a target (trying to evade being tagged). Interaction among players is conducted via wireless device.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a game machine and information storage medium that make it possible for players to perceive which player has succeeded in attacking which target, in a simple manner. When players have launched attacks against a target, attacking player identification information, which is information for identifying which player has succeeded in attacking that target, is associated with that target and is kept and saved. Targets 40-1 and 40-2 that have been hit by shots 32-1 and 32-2 from players 1 and 2 turn red and blue, which are symbolic colors for players 1 and 2, or change shape to symbolic shapes for players 1 and 2. If player 1, whose symbolic color is red, succeeds in attacking a target then player 2, whose symbolic color is blue, succeeds in attacking the same target, the color of the target first changes from a neutral color to red, then to blue.

Abstract: A device for proceeding a game in correspondence with the game scores. The game device (10) enables game play by moving a viewpoint arranged inside a three-dimensional virtual space, and comprises a storing unit (102) for storing a plurality of movement courses of the viewpoint branching off from a certain scene in the three-dimensional virtual space, together with the conditions for such branch-off, a picture processing unit (108-116) for performing data processing (101) to form pictures in accordance with the operation signals from an operating unit through the implementation of algorithms, and for performing picture conversion to form the image viewed from such viewpoint, and a course selecting unit (101) for selecting the movement course corresponding to the game score from among said plurality of viewpoint movement courses, and for moving the viewpoint along such selected movement course.

Abstract: Enhanced realism of a real-time simulator having multiple computer-controlled units results from making the units capable of reacting to only those other units that each of them can be aware of because of their spatial relationships to the unit. Awareness is based upon probabilities; it can persist after a relationship changes; and it can be influenced by a units designation of a target. Each unit selects a target based upon a score incorporating multiple aspects of its tactical situation, and can change targets when the situation changes. A unit selects a strategy in response to which of a set of tactical configurations exist between the unit and its target; the strategy can change short of completion when the configuration changes. A plan produces guidance commands from the high-level strategy. The guidance commands are converted into control settings for guiding the subject unit using a physics engine for simulating the physical dynamics of the unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic game apparatus comprising a plurality of player positions wherein each contestant is assigned a given player position, each position, each position having an equal number of target areas on a display by which each of the contestants proceeds from a first target area to a last target area, wherein the first contestant who activates all of the target areas in the shortest time interval wins, each target area having a light sensitive portion and a visual display portion, the light sensitive portion responsive to a user-controlled light emitting means for aiming and firing a light beam at the light sensitive portion to activate the target area, wherein the visual display portion is activated in response thereto to produce an illuminated pattern indicative of target activation.

Abstract: A video game system for playing a game while controlling a movable game object. A player operates first and second steering units 12, 14 with his or her right and left hands to input first and second propulsion vectors for first and second propulsion units in the movable game object. A steering information computing unit 30 is responsive to the first and second propulsion vectors to compute direction and rotation information indicating in how direction and manner the movable game object having the first and second propulsion units moves. These direction and rotation information are output as a steering signal. A game computing means 40 is responsive to the steering signal for computing the game so that the movable game object moves within a game space. This is indicated on a display 44.

Abstract: A gun game machine from where a player takes out and holds a model gun to play a game. When the number of operations of a trigger lever (6) attains the preset number of times, the game is stopped and, at the same time, a solenoid (20) operates to disengage a boss (23) of a lever (19) from a recess (22b) of a advance and retreat member (15) and the advance and retreat member is ejected down by the effect of a spring (24). When the player pushes up the advance and retreat member (15) to set, a sensor (16) detects the pushing action and resets the trigger count value for enabling the game to continue. The action of pushing up the advance and retreat device (15) is similar to the real action of loading a cartridge into a real gun and the player can enjoy a game having realism.

Abstract: A gun game machine wherein the player can hold a model gun in the hand away from an machine casing. This gun game machine comprises a bullet hitting optical detection unit installed in the model gun for detecting a simulated bullet hitting position, a sliding cover provided on an exposed outward portion of the gunbarrel of the model gun and slidable in the longitudinal direction of the gunbarrel section, and a cover driving means for instantaneously moving the sliding cover at high speed. The model gun and the game machine casing may be coupled to each other by means of a flexible cable containing electric conductors. The sliding cover makes a long reciprocating motion similar to the so-called blow-back movement of an actual gun, so that the player can feel a similar reaction or impact corresponding to the firing of the actual gun. This simulated firing operation also serves to attract spectators to the game.