The present invention relates generally to video games and, more particularly, to a video game system having a control unit with an accelerometer that allows a user to navigate a video game character through a game environment by merely tilting the control unit.
Traditionally, the movement of characters, symbols and/or objects in video games is accomplished by using a joystick, a mouse, a computer keyboard, or game buttons. As used hereinafter, the term xe2x80x9ccharacterxe2x80x9d includes characters, symbols and/or objects. Joysticks typically consist of a handle mounted for pivotal movement between various radial positions. When a player moves the joystick in one direction, an electrical detection signal corresponding to the joystick position is communicated to a game controller to effect movement of a game character on a video display. Thus, the game controller processes the electrical signals and, according to a game program, moves the character in accordance with the position of the joystick.
In some games, the game player uses a joystick or mouse in conjunction with a button or keyboard to shoot targets in the game environment. Traditionally, in these games, the player moves the game character through the game environment by moving the joystick or the mouse. The player then shoots weapons by pressing a button or a keyboard key.
In other games, a light gun is used to choose a target to shoot at by pointing at different positions on the display and pulling the light gun""s trigger (i.e., the player aims and shoots). Traditionally, in these games the game controller automatically selects where the character moves in the game environment after certain targets are shot.
Trackballs represent another form of control mechanism used, for example, in golf and/or baseball games. Trackballs, however, are less favored than joysticks by many game designers and players because, generally, they are more difficult to control than joysticks.
Accordingly, there is a need for a single hand-held control unit that allows a user to navigate a video game character through a game environment by merely tilting the control unit and then shoot a target on a video display by merely pressing a button or pulling a trigger. The present invention is directed to addressing one or more of these needs.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game system including a game controller, a video display and a hand-held control unit. The game controller is coupled to the control unit and the video display. The control unit houses an accelerometer that senses the tilt of the control unit with respect to an axis. The accelerometer produces an acceleration signal indicating the tilt of the control unit with respect to the axis. The game controller processes the acceleration signal to control the movement of a game character on the video display .
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game system that further includes a light sensor housed in the control unit. The light sensor detects one or more light pixels from the video display and produces a detection signal to the game controller. The game controller determines from the detection signal the light pixels detected from the video display.
The present invention is particularly suited for video games where hand-held guns, swords, bats, clubs, rackets, gloves, etc. are used to manipulate characters on a video display.