GAMEPLAY SYSTEM WITH PLAY AUGMENTED BY MERCHANDISE

Number: 20210263588
Published: 2021-08-26
Filed: 2020-12-18
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Elbert; Jeffrey, Hickman; Bob, Strong; Brent David
CPC: G06F3/011; G06F3/017; G06T19/006; G06F3/014; A63G33/00; A63G31/00
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Physical-merchandise-augmented interactive gameplay hardware.

Abstract

A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or another object held or worn by a player. The system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.

Background

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description

The present invention relates, in general, to augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and other gameplay systems and experiences configured for interactive gameplay for one or more players or participants, and, more particularly, to a gameplay system configured to provide augmented or modified gameplay or interactive experiences based upon detection or sensing of an augmenting object (e.g., a particular piece of merchandise that is worn, handheld, or otherwise made a part of gameplay by a player or participant). 2. Relevant Background

There are numerous situations where it is desirable to provide participants with unique interactive experiences. For example, theme and amusement parks and other large venues continue to strive to entertain visitors in a way that allows them to participate in the experience. This may involve providing interactivity such that they can modify or effect the produced experience. In particular applications, a ride or space may include gameplay that is interactive with the system being adapted to sense visitor input and to respond by changing audio outputs, visual displays, and the like.

To date, though, it has been difficult to provide interactive experiences on rides and other settings with a larger number of participants that are individualized so that each participant can immediately recognize that actions they have taken individually has changed gameplay or the experience. Instead,

Claims

1. A system for providing augmented interactive experiences, comprising: a display system operating to present to a participant located in or proximate to a predefined space an image within an interactive experience; a show controller controlling the display system to selectively display the image within the interactive experience; an entitlements service validating an association of a digital augmenting object to the participant; and a gesture tracking mechanism tracking gestures of the participant in the predefined space, wherein the entitlements service operates to determine a location of the participant in the predefined space during the interactive experience, and wherein the show controller operates the display system to generate and display the image based on the location of the participant, the gestures tracked by the gesture tracking mechanism, and the digital augmenting object. || 10. A system for providing augmented interactive experiences, comprising: an interactive system providing an interactive effect to a participant of an interactive experience; a digital augmenting object linked to the participant; and a gesture tracking assembly processing a captured image of a space including an image of the participant, wherein the interactive system generates the interactive effect based on a set of interactive elements defined for the digital augmenting object and based on a gesture performed by the participant that is tracked by the processing of the captured image by the gesture tracking assembly. || 15. A method of providing augmented interactive experiences, comprising: in memory, storing a differing set of interactive elements for each of a plurality of digital augmenting objects; assigning one of the digital augmenting objects to a participant of an interactive experience that includes passenger vehicles moving along a ride path through a predefined space; linking a seat on one of the passenger vehicles to the participant; based on a location of the seat during the interactive experience, tracking gestures of the participant; and with a display system, generating and displaying an image in the predefined space based on the gestures of the participant and based on the set of interactive elements associated with the one of the digital augmenting objects assigned to the participant.