Portal device and cooperating video game machine
A portal device for a video game includes a pad with different zones that can be illuminated by selectable colors, a toy sensor (e.g., an RFID tag sensor) associated with each zone, a controller and a communications port for communicating with a video game process executing on a game machine. The colors of each zone can be configured to one or a combination of three primary colors during game play, based on the game process. The portal device reacts to placement of tagged toys on zones and the color of the zones during play, and provides sensor data to the game process. The game process controls the game state in part based on data from the portal device and in part on other user input.
1. A method, comprising:
sending, by at least one processor of a game computer executing a video game process that manipulates an avatar relative to a game space in response to user input, an activation signal to a portal device that is communicatively coupled to the game computer, wherein the activation signal is configured for requesting activation of multiple toy sensors each associated with a different one of distinct toy placement zones of the portal device;
receiving, by the at least one processor, a portal output signal from the portal device, wherein the portal device determines the portal output signal based on at least one toy identifier for a corresponding at least one toy and an associated one or more of the distinct toy placement zones that the at least one toy identified by the at least one toy identifier is placed in;
determining, by the at least one processor, a change in game state of the video game process, based on the portal output signal, wherein the determining the change in the game state comprises setting a key color for unlocking a color-pattern lock based on colors assigned to one or more characters in the video game process wherein each of the one or more characters is mapped to a different one of the at least one toy identifier, and further based on the associated one or more of the distinct toy placement zones that the at least one toy identified by the at least one toy identifier is placed in; and
changing the game state.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the change in the game state comprises shifting an avatar to a different one of multiple rifts based on a color assigned to the associated one or more of the distinct toy placement zones.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the key color comprises selecting a color based on a mix of different primary colors assigned to different ones of at least two of the one or more characters.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the change in the game state comprises setting a variable trait of a character based on a color value determined from the portal output signal, wherein the variable trait is a mode of play that is assignable to different characters, or a scale of the character.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a color-determination signal to the portal output device, configured for determining a color used to illuminate each of the distinct toy placement zones.
6. An apparatus for playing a computer game, comprising:
a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and port for coupling a portal device to the processor, wherein the memory holds instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform:
executing a video game process that manipulates an avatar relative to a game space in response to user input;
sending an activation signal to a portal device that is communicatively coupled to the game computer while executing the video game process, wherein the activation signal is configured for requesting activation of multiple toy sensors each associated with a different one of distinct toy placement zones of the portal device;
receiving a portal output signal from the portal device, wherein the portal device determines the portal output signal based on at least one toy identifier for a corresponding at least one toy and an associated one or more of the distinct toy placement zones that the at least one toy identified by the at least one toy identifier is placed in;
determining a change in game state of the video game process, based on the portal output signal, wherein the determining the change in the game state comprises setting a key color for unlocking a color-pattern lock based on colors assigned to one or more characters in the video game process wherein each of the one or more characters is mapped to a different one of the at least one toy identifier, and further based on the associated one or more of the distinct toy placement zones that the at least one toy identified by the at least one toy identifier is placed in; and
changing the game state.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for determining the change in the game state at least in part by shifting an avatar to a different one of multiple rifts based on a color assigned to the associated one or more of the distinct toy placement zones.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for setting the key color at least in part by selecting a color based on a mix of different primary colors assigned to different ones of at least two of the one or more characters.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for determining the change in the game state at least in part by setting a variable trait of a character based on a color value determined from the portal output signal, wherein the variable includes at least one of: a mode of play that is assignable to different characters, or a scale of the character.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for sending a color-determination signal to the portal output device, configured for determining a color used to illuminate each of the distinct toy placement zones.
11. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising the portal device communicatively coupled to the processor, the portal device comprising:
a base supporting an electronic circuit in an assembly;
a pad coupled to the base, the pad configured for placement and removal of toys; wherein the pad is divided into distinct toy placement zones;
an array of light-emitting devices fixed in relation to the pad, and configured to independently illuminate each of the distinct zones with any one of multiple colors in response to varying information from the processor; and
the multiple toy sensors coupled to the electronic circuit and configured for sensing an identity of one or more toys placed on the pad and for sensing which of the distinct toy placement zones the one or more toys are placed.