METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTER IN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL GAMING ENVIRONMENT
A method for allowing a player of a video game to control a three-dimensional game character in a three-dimensional game world includes the steps of acquiring video image data of a player of a game, analyzing the acquired video image data to identify the location or movement of a portion of the player's body; and using the identified location of the portion of the player's body to control behavior of a game character.
1 . A method for allowing a player of a video game to control a three-dimensional game character in a three-dimensional game world, the method comprising the steps of:
acquiring video image data of a player of a game;
analyzing the acquired video image data to identify the location of a portion of the player's body; and
using the identified location of the portion of the player's body to control behavior of a game character.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's head.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's hands.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's feet.
5 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's torso.
6 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's legs.
7 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's arms.
8 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a rightward direction when the player's head leans to the right.
9 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a leftward direction when the player's head leans to the left.
10 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in an upward direction when the player's head is raised.
11 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a upward direction when the player's head is lowered.
12 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in an downward direction when the player's head is raised.
13 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises steering a game character in a downward direction when the player's head is lowered.
14 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises causing a game character to crouch when the player's head is lowered.
15 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises causing a game character to assume an erect position when the player's head is raised.
16 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises causing a game character to jump when the player's head rises rapidly.
17 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises leaning a game character to the left when the player's head leans to the left.
18 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises leaning a game character to the right when the player's head leans to the right.
19 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises accelerating a game character when the player's head is lowered.
20 . The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises decelerating a game character when the player's head is raised.
21 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's hands.
22 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's feet.
23 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's torso.
24 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's legs.
25 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's arms.
26 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises decelerating a game character when the player's hands are held away from the player's body.
27 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises raising a game character's left hand when the player's left hand is raised.
28 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises raising a game character's right hand when the player's right hand is raised.
29 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises accelerating a game character when the distance between the game player's body and hand decreases.
30 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises decelerating a game character when the distance between the game player's body and hand increases.
31 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises turning a game character to the left when the distance between the player's left hand and body increases.
32 . The method of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises turning a game character to the right when the distance between the player's right hand and body increases.
33 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's feet.
34 . The method of claim 33 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's torso.
35 . The method of claim 33 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's legs.
36 . The method of claim 33 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's arms.
37 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's torso.
38 . The method of claim 37 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's legs.
39 . The method of claim 37 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's arms.
40 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's legs.
41 . The method of claim 40 wherein step (b) further comprises identifying the location of the player's arms.
42 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of analyzing the acquired video image data to determine a gesture made by the player.
43 . The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of controlling the game character responsive to the determined gesture.
44 . The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of spinning the game character clockwise in response to the gesture.
45 . The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of spinning the game character counter-clockwise in response to the gesture.
46 . A system for allowing a player of a video game to control a three-dimensional game character in a three-dimensional game world, the system comprising:
an image acquisition subsystem acquiring video image data of a player of a game;
an analysis engine identifying the location of a portion of the player's body; and
a translation engine using the identified location of the portion of the player's body to control behavior of a game character.
47 . The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's head.
48 . The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's hands.
49 . The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's feet.
50 . The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's torso.
51 . The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's legs.
52 . The system of claim 47 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's arms.
53 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a rightward direction when the player's head leans to the right.
54 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a leftward direction when the player's head leans to the left.
55 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in an upward direction when the player's head is raised.
56 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a upward direction when the player's head is lowered.
57 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in an downward direction when the player's head is raised.
58 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of steering a game character in a downward direction when the player's head is lowered.
59 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of causing a game character to crouch when the player's head is lowered.
60 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of causing a game character to assume an erect position when the player's head is raised.
61 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of causing a game character to jump when the player's head rises rapidly.
62 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of leaning a game character to the left when the player's head leans to the left.
63 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of leaning a game character to the right when the player's head leans to the right.
64 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of accelerating a game character when the player's head is lowered.
65 . The system of claim 47 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of decelerating a game character when the player's head is raised.
66 . The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's hands.
67 . The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's feet.
68 . The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's torso.
69 . The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's legs.
70 . The system of claim 66 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's arms.
71 . The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of decelerating a game character when the player's hands are held away from the player's body.
72 . The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of raising a game character's left hand when the player's left hand is raised.
73 . The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of raising a game character's right hand when the player's right hand is raised.
74 . The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of accelerating a game character when the distance between the game player's body and hand decreases.
75 . The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of decelerating a game character when the distance between the game player's body and hand increases.
76 . The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of turning a game character to the left when the distance between the player's left hand and body increases.
77 . The system of claim 66 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of turning a game character to the right when the distance between the player's right hand and body increases.
78 . The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's feet.
79 . The system of claim 78 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's torso.
80 . The system of claim 78 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's arms.
81 . The system of claim 78 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's legs.
82 . The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's torso.
83 . The system of claim 82 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's arms.
84 . The system of claim 82 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's legs.
85 . The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's arms.
86 . The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine identifies the location of the player's legs.
87 . The system of claim 46 wherein said analysis engine determines a gesture made by the player.
88 . The system of claim 87 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative for controlling the game character responsive to the determined gesture.
89 . The system of claim 87 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of spinning the game character clockwise in response to the gesture.
90 . The system of claim 87 wherein said translation engine outputs signals indicative of spinning the game character counter-clockwise in response to the gesture.