Video game controller hub with control input reduction and combination schemes

(54) VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER HUB WITH CONTROL INPUT REDUCTION AND COMBINATION SCHEMES

(76) Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Encino, CA (US);

Bran Ferren, Beverly Hills, CA (US)

Correspondence Address:
GLENN PATENT GROUP
3475 EDISON WAY, SUITE L
MENLO PARK, CA 94025 (US)

(21) Appl. No.: 10/735,400

(22) Filed: Dec. 11, 2003

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Provisional application No. 60/433,050, filed on Dec. 13, 2002.

Publication Classification (51) Int. CI.7 A63F 13/06

A video game controller hub receives a number of control input sets from an equal number of video game controllers, and provides a preferably smaller number of control input sets to a video game console. Each of the control input sets provided to the video game console by the controller hub is used to control a distinct on-screen entity, e.g. vehicle, character, or team. A number of players therefore collectively control a single on-screen entity. The reduction in the number of control input sets is performed according to reduction and combination schemes that are preferably specified by the user to suit a particular video game. The reduction in the number of control input sets increases the number of players that may concurrently participate in a video game without requiring support from the video game console or software, and the collaborative nature of the control of on-screen entities provides for exciting variations in game play.

VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER HUB WITH
CONTROL INPUT REDUCTION AND
COMBINATION SCHEMES

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/433,050, filed Dec. 13, 2002, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by the reference thereto.

BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to video gaming consoles. In particular, the invention relates to systems for increasing the number of players that may concurrently participate in a video game.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] The continued rise in popularity of video gaming consoles, such as the GameCube®, manufactured by Nintendo; the Playstation2®, manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.; and the Xbox®, manufactured by Microsoft Corporation, is a well known phenomenon. The sustained success of such platforms is in large part due to the greater realism of game play provided by increasingly sophisticated game physics and increasingly powerful graphics rendering engines.

[0006] However, another factor behind the increasing popularity is an improved ability of players to interact with one another meaningfully during game play. For example, multi-player adapters are available that increase the number of players that can participate in a video game. Whereas several consoles directly support connection for only two players, multi-player adapters allow four or more players to participate. An example is the InterAct Multiplayer Adapter manufactured by InterAct Accessories, Inc.

[0007] Multi-player adapters pass the control inputs generated by the controllers on to the video game console for interpretation by the game software. Thus, use of a multiplayer adapter requires that the game software be designed to handle the increased number of control input sets. Use of multi-player adapters is thus limited to a fraction of all available games. Furthermore, because each controller connected to the multi-player adapter is used to control a separate on-screen entity, e.g. character or vehicle, as the number of participating players increases, the amount of screen real-estate dedicated to each entity must be decreased. For example, in racing games, each of four players is provided with a view of his vehicle, but only a relatively limited extent of the vehicle surroundings.

[0008] An alternative approach for providing multi-player interaction is network based game play, in which multiple players, each with a dedicated game console, share a common game state maintained by a networked game server. Each player's game console connects to the game server, and transmits to the server the actions of the local player. The console in turn receives from the server updates of the game state, for presentation to the local player on the local display. One such system is XboxLive®, operated by Microsoft Corporation.

[0009] While the networked based approach does address the above mentioned screen real estate issue, it too requires specialized support from game software. Furthermore, it requires network access the network game server that maintains the common game state. Each player must therefore have a network connection, and, typically, must also pay a subscription fee to gain access to the server.

[0010] What is needed is a system that allows multiple players to interact during video game play, but does not require specialized support from the game software, does not require access to a network or game server, and does not result in a reduction of on-screen real-estate dedicated to each player. Additionally, it would be desirable for the system to support and encourage new and exciting variations in game play and player interaction.

SUMMARY

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a video game controller hub receives a number of control input sets from an equal number of video game controllers, and provides a preferably smaller number of control input sets to a video game console. Each of the control input sets provided to the video game console by the controller hub is used to control a distinct on-screen entity, e.g. vehicle, character, or team. A number of players therefore collectively control a single on-screen entity. The reduction in the number of control input sets is performed according to reduction and combination schemes that are preferably specified by the user to suit a particular video game. The reduction in the number of control input sets increases the number of players that may concurrently participate in a video game without requiring support from the video game console or software, and the collaborative nature of the control of on-screen entities provides for exciting variations in game play.

[0012] The reduction scheme specified indicates a mapping of the control input sets received by the controller hub onto the control input sets provided to the video game console, and therefore a mapping of controllers onto onscreen entities. The hub may be deactivated by specifying a one-to-one mapping of the control input sets received by the controller hub onto the control input sets provided to the video game console. The combination scheme specifies how corresponding control inputs within the control input sets are combined. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the combination scheme uses combination procedures based on voting, selection, and averaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a controller hub connected to a plurality of controllers and a video game console according to the invention; and

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a control input reduction and combination scheme implemented by a controller hub according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION

[0015] The invention is a video game controller hub that receives a number of control input sets from an equal number of video game controllers, and provides a preferably smaller number of control input sets to a video game