Improvements in and relating to electronic shooting games

Abstract

 A simulated battlefield mine (1) for an electronic shooting game provides improved visual effects and new challenges for players. A flash beacon (10) is operated to flash repeatedly to provide a warning before a simulated mine explosion. In a vulnerable mode of operation the mine (1) may be hit by radiation from a shooting game gun as recorded at a sensor/transmitter unit (11). This may delay or prevent an explosion occurring. When an explosion occurs, strobe lights (9) are operated in a flashing mode, a siren (16) is activated, and a speaker (15) emits a sound simulating an explosion. At the same time, radiation is transmitted from the units (11) to hit players who are in the line of radiation. Many variations in the mode of operation are possible under computer (3) control.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a game of the electronic shooting or arena type. Such a game is described, for example, in British Patent Specification No. GB-A-2,216,813 (Haselhurst).

[0002] Heretofore, the technical developments in providing for the playing of such a game have been in the area of the body armour or vest worn by the players, in the guns and in central controllers. There have also been developments in the architectural layout of the arena itself.

[0003] From a commercial point of view, possibly the most important thing in success of an electronic shooting game is the novelty by way of new variations which are provided to players as they become more and more familiar with the game and thus require new challenges. This is particularly important now that electronic shooting games have become more commonplace. However, there is a limit to the number of new game variations which may be provided by technical developments in the body armour and controllers.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide an additional game apparatus which can integrate into existing electronic shooting game arenas and which provides for significantly more excitement for players who are already familiar with existing electronic shooting games.

[0005] According to the invention, there is provided a game apparatus for a game of the electronic shooting type, the apparatus comprising :
   a housing having an appearance similar to a battlefield mine and comprising means for mounting in a shooting game arena;
   a player signal output means mounted on the housing; and
   a controller connected to the output means and comprising means for activating the output means to simulate a mine explosion under predetermined conditions in playing the game.

[0006] In one embodiment, the controller comprises means for activating the output means to provide a warning of a simulated explosion.

[0007] Ideally, the game apparatus further comprises a radiation transmitter mounted on the housing and connected to the controller, and wherein the explosion simulating means comprises means for activating the transmitter to emit radiation to shoot players in the line or field of radiation during the simulated explosion.

[0008] Preferably, there are a plurality of radiation transmitters mounted to emit radiation in different directions.

[0009] In another embodiment, the game apparatus further comprises a radiation sensor mounted on the housing and connected to the controller, and wherein the controller comprises means for delaying or preventing a simulated explosion if the sensor detects radiation from a shooting game gun.

[0010] In a further embodiment, at least portion of the housing is of translucent material, and the housing comprises an internal support for a light source mounted within the housing to provide a glowing visual effect.

[0011] Preferably, the output means comprises at least one light source mounted externally of the housing.

[0012] Ideally, the controller comprises means for operating at least one light source in a flashing or intermittent mode to simulate an explosion.

[0013] In another embodiment, the controller comprises means for operating at least one light source in a flashing or intermittent mode to provide the explosion warning.

[0014] Preferably, the output means comprises a sound emitter means to provide an audible output during a simulated explosion.

[0015] According to another aspect, the invention provides a game apparatus for a game of the electronic shooting type, the apparatus comprising :
   a housing and means for mounting the housing in a shooting game arena;
   a player signal output means mounted on the housing;
   a radiation transmitter mounted on the housing; and
   a controller connected to the output means and to the radiation transmitter and comprising means for operating the output means and/or the radiation transmitter in a predetermined manner in playing of the game.

[0016] In this latter embodiment, the game apparatus may further comprise a radiation sensor and wherein the controller comprises means for preventing operation of the radiation transmitter if radiation from a gun of an electronic shooting game is detected at the sensor.

[0017] According to another aspect, the invention provides a game system comprising :-
   sets of body armour to be worn by players;
   shooting game toy guns associated with the body armour;
   a game controller; and
   a game apparatus as described above.

[0018] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : -

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a game apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from underneath of a battlefield mine of the game apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from above of the mine;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of the mine;

Figs. 5(a) and 5(b) are perspective views of parts of the housing of the mine; and

Figs. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) are diagrammatic views showing the mine in different modes of operation.

[0019] Referring to the drawings there is shown a game apparatus 1 which comprises a simulated battlefield mine, and a controller. The mine is indicated by the numeral 1 and is connected by a network control cable 2 to a computer 3 which acts as the controller for the mine 1. The computer 3 has an interface 4 to allow setting of operational parameters of the mine 1. The computer 3 is also connected to a number of other mines mounted at different locations within a shooting game arena. For clarity, these mines are not shown in the drawings. Communication with the different mines is via network cables 2.

[0020] As shown in the drawings, the mine 1 is shown suspended from a ceiling 5 by chains 6. However, it is envisaged that the mine may be mounted on a wall, or any support structure. It is also envisaged that by suitable modification to the housing of the mine, it may be mounted on the floor of an arena.

[0021] The mine 1 comprises a housing 7 of blue translucent plastics material of the type marketed under the Trade Name "HEXAL RIM 810". There is a low intensity fluorescent light bulb 8 mounted within the housing 7 to provide the visual effect of a blue glow to players of a shooting game. The housing 7 supports four strobe lights 9 mounted at equal angles with respect to each other to provide what may be regarded as an omni-directional visual effect. There is also a yellow-coloured xenon flash unit 10 mounted at the lowermost portion of the housing 7. The mine 1 also comprises four equally-spaced radiation sensors/transmitter units 11, in this embodiment constructed for sensing infrared radiation and for transmitting infrared radiation. The units 11 are mounted behind an amber-coloured plastics translucent plate. Accordingly, when neither the strobe lights 9 or the flash beacon unit 10 are operated the visual effect for players is a blue glow through the housing 7 from the low intensity bulb 8, and four more sharply defined amber-coloured lights at the units 11. This is the background mode and is illustrated in Fig. 6(a).

[0022] As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 to 5, the housing 7 comprises an upper section 7(a), an intermediate section 7(b), and a lower section 7(c). The upper section 7(a) houses a speaker 15, a siren 16 and a network circuit 17 which is connected to the network cable 3. The network circuit 17 has power output sockets connected to the various output devices of the mine 1 and thus forms part of the controller of the game apparatus. The intermediate section 7(b) has a fitting 18 for the low intensity bulb 8. The lowermost section 7(c) is of generally hemispherical shape to simulate a battlefield mine when viewed from underneath. The various sections have appropriate flanges and screw holes for connection together as illustrated in the drawings.

[0023] In this specification, the term "mine" is intended to cover not only what is conventionally referred to as a mine, but also other military weapons such as missiles etc..

[0024] The computer 3 is programmed to transmit control signals to the network circuit 17, the output power sockets of which provide control for the various energy-consuming signal output devices in the mine 1. In one embodiment, the output devices are operated to provide a warning before a simulated explosion. The explosion preferably takes the form of not only operation of the output devices, but also transmission of radiation from the units 11 so that players may be hit if they are within the line of radiation. In this case, the mine may be in a vulnerable mode whereby the players have an opportunity to de-activate the mine by shooting at the units 11 so that infrared signals are detected and the mine is deactivated for a pre-set period of time to allow players move from one part of the arena to another. The speaker 15 may be operated to indicate which mode is employed. Whether vulnerable or invulnerable, the mine may be operated to explode either randomly or at regular intervals.

[0025] In more detail, in one embodiment the computer 3 is programmed to cause the network 7 to activate the flash beacon 10 to flash at short intervals to provide a warning that the mine will explode. This is the mode illustrated in Fig. 6(b). Thus, the visual effect to a player is the blue glow from the housing 7, the yellow illumination from the units 11 and the repeated flashing of the beacon 10. During a period of possibly 2 to 5 seconds, the mine is vulnerable so that a player may shoot at the units 11. If infrared radiation from a player's gun is detected, the signal is decoded to identify which player has hit the mine and this data is transmitted to the computer 3. The computer 3 returns a signal to delay the mine explosion for a short time period of two to three seconds to allow the player move from one part of the arena to another without risk of being hit. The mine may be activated to explode in the vulnerable mode if it has not been hit, or if the time after a hit has expired.

[0026] The mine may also be activated to explode in an invulnerable mode where the player does not have the opportunity to shoot at it to delay the explosion. In this case, the warning simply allows players to move out of the shooting range of the mine 1.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 6(c), the effect when the mine explodes is that the strobe lights 9 flash at a relatively high frequency to provide a strong flashing light signal. In addition, both the siren 16 and the amplifier 15 operate to provide a strong sound effect. In particular, the speaker 15 provides a simulated explosion sound.

[0028] It will thus be appreciated that the game apparatus of the invention provides for considerably improved excitement as it adds another dimension to electronic shooting games. This extra dimension may be simply an improved visual effect with a mine exploding with signal output devices operating only. To make the game more difficult for players, the mine may be operated in an invulnerable mode to shoot using the units 11. The degree of difficulty may be varied by simple computer control whereby the mine may, for example, be operated in an invulnerable mode. There is complete versatility in the manner in which the mine may be operated.

[0029] A major advantage is the fact that the invention adds a different aspect to the game, while at the same time easily integrating into existing game arenas.

[0030] The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described. The housing may be designed to appear like another military weapon within the definition above of a "mine", such as a missile.

[0031] It is also envisaged that the game apparatus of the invention need not necessarily have a housing with the appearance of a mine and it need not be operated to simulate a mine explosion. In this case, the game apparatus may take the form of a housing mounted on a ceiling or any other arena structure and which may be capable of transmitting infrared signals to hit players under computer control. This control may be on a fixed timing basis or may alternatively take account of hits by players at the device. Such a game apparatus would therefore be quite similar to the device described above with the exception that it does not physically resemble a military weapon and it does not perform a simulated explosion, but does operate to provide an extra degree of game difficulty by shooting at players.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for a game of the electronic shooting type, the apparatus comprising :
   a housing (7) having an appearance similar to a battlefield mine and comprising means (6) for mounting in a shooting game arena;
   a player signal output means (9,10,15,16) mounted on the housing; and
   a controller (3) connected to the output means and comprising means for activating the output means to simulate a mine explosion (Fig. 6(c)) under predetermined conditions in playing the game.

2. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises means for activating the output means (10) to provide a warning (Fig. 6(b)) of a simulated explosion.

3. A game apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2 further comprising a radiation transmitter (11) mounted on the housing (7) and connected to the controller (3), and wherein the explosion simulating means comprises a means for activating the transmitter (11) to emit radiation to shoot players in the line or field of radiation during the simulated explosion.

4. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are a plurality of radiation transmitters (11) mounted to emit radiation in different directions.

5. A game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a radiation sensor (11) mounted on the housing (1) and connected to the controller (3), and wherein the controller comprises means for delaying or preventing a simulated explosion if the sensor detects radiation from a shooting game gun.

6. A game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least portion of the housing (7) is of translucent material, and the housing comprises an internal support (18) for a light source (8) mounted within the housing (7) to provide a glowing visual effect (Fig. 6(a)).

7. A game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the output means comprises at least one light source (9,10) mounted externally of the housing.

8. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the explosion simulating means in the controller comprises means for operating at least one light source (9) in a flashing or intermittent mode to simulate an explosion.

9. A game apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the controller comprises means for operating at least one light source (10) in a flashing or intermittent mode to provide the explosion warning.

10. A game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the output means comprises a sound emitter means (15,16) to provide an audible output during a simulated explosion.

11. A game apparatus for a game of the electronic shooting type, the apparatus comprising :
   a housing and means for mounting the housing in a shooting game arena;
   a player signal output means mounted on the housing;
   a radiation transmitter mounted on the housing; and
   a controller connected to the output means and to the radiation transmitter and comprising means for operating the output means and/or the radiation transmitter in a predetermined manner during playing of the game.

12. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a radiation sensor and wherein the controller comprises means for preventing operation of the radiation transmitter if radiation from a gun of an electronic shooting game is detected at the sensor.

13. A game system comprising :-
   sets of body armour to be worn by players; shooting game toy guns associated with the body armour;
   a game controller (13); and
   a game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.

Drawing