Patent Publication Number: US-2023152881-A1

Title: Home and portable augmented reality and virtual reality game consoles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/796,772, filed on May 1, 2006, and 60/798,826, filed on May 9, 2006, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application generally relates to video games such as augmented reality and virtual reality video games. 
     Traditional video game consoles are connected to a single television set and are controlled by a single hand-held controller so that a single video game can be played. Although the processing power of video game systems has improved so that the resolution of the graphics of video games has increased, the way a user interacts with a video game has remained the same. A user still uses a single controller to control a video game that is displayed on a single television set. It is therefore desirable to offer a user an enhanced interaction experience with a video game. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Home and portable augmented reality and virtual reality video game systems are provided. 
     A home video game console is provided that has video and audio connections (e.g., one, two, three, or four or more connections) on the system such that Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) can be connected to the console (e.g., one, two, three, or four or more). In one embodiment, for example, one or more HMD audio/video connections are located on a front face of a video game system while one or more television audio/video connections are located on a rear face of the system (e.g., the face opposite that of the front face). 
     Additional controller connections may also be located on the console (e.g., on the front face of the console) such that, for example, hand-held controllers can also be electrically coupled to the video game system. 
     Connections may take many forms. For example, a video/audio/control connection may be provided that is operable to provide visual and audio data to a device as well as receive data from that device (or another device). As such, for example, a video/audio/control connection may provide audio and visual data to a HMD and may receive control data from the HMD. Examples of such control data may include, for example, the direction in which the HMD is facing as well as how the HMD moves. Inertial movement sensors (e.g., accelerometers) may be provided and control signals based on readings from these inertial movement sensors may be utilized to provide a control signal for a video game. One example of such an HMD-based video game control may be, for example, the direction and angle in which the video game displays a first-person perspective game at a particular moment. A video/audio/control connection may provide, and receive, signals from more than one device. For example, a video/audio/control connection may provide audio and visual data to an HMD as well as receive control data from a controller also connection to the video/audio/control connection (e.g., via a HMD). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any type of data may be provided in a video/audio/control connection to any device. For example, mechanical control data may be provided to an HMD or controller to direct the HMD or controller to vibrate (“rumble”). Connections may also be liminted in the type of data the connection receives or provides to one or more devices. Any number of connections may be included on a console that provide and/or receive any type of video, audio, and/or control data. For example, four or more connections may be provided on a console to provide and/or receive data from HMDs while an additional four or more connections may be provided on that console to provide and/or receive data from hand-held controllers. Video supplied to a HMD may, for example, be provided by the video game console as a result of reading and processing video game data on the video game console (e.g., from a removable storage medium including the video game). 
     In this manner, HMDs may be operable, for example, to just utilize one or more video signals, audio/video signals, or video/audio/control signals. In one video/audio/control embodiment, audio may be provided and utilized by the HMDs such that sound may be played to a user through speakers in the HMD. Video may then be played on one or more screens (e.g., non-transparent and/or transparent displays) on the HMDs. Control signals may them be sent such that, for example, the HDM can rumble at particular times (e.g., when a video game character associated to an HMD-wearing user gets shot, or punched, in the head). Similarly, an HMD may output one or more audio signals, video signals, control signals, or any combination of audio, video, and control signals. For example, an HDM may include one or more microphones such that, for example, a player can talk over an internet, or an intranet, connection to a competitor that is playing the same game at a different location. Such an HMD may also, for example, output readings from one or more inertial movement sensors (e.g., accelerometers and/or gyroscopes) or positioning receivers (e.g., global positioning system receivers). Such signals may be utilized to determine the movement, tilt, and position of an HMD. 
     A console may also be provided with battery recharging ports. For example, one or more controllers or HMDs may be wireless. Thus, a local power system may be desired to recharge the wireless controllers (e.g., unless wireless power transmission is utilized). Such a local power system may include one or more rechargeable batteries. 
     Thus, a user playing a video game may, for example, pause the game when a battery is LOW, remove the battery, and place the battery in a recharging port of a console. Similarly, the user may remove a second battery that has been recharged by the recharging port and place this recharged second battery into a device needing a battery (e.g., an HMD, controller, or any gaming device). A low battery indicator may displayed on the HMD, a controller, or on a video game (e.g., on a television display or an HMD display). The game may automatically be paused when, for example, a battery is LOW. 
     A video game console is provided that includes an augmented reality HMD. Such an augmented reality HMD may, for example, overlay video game indicia over a user&#39;s real, physical environment. A transparent display screen may be utilized in such an augmented reality HMD. An augmented reality HMD may be utilized as a virtual reality HMD, in which, for example, the HMD displays to a user a virtual environment in a manner that does not allow the user to see his/her actual, physical environment. A HMD with a non-transparent screen may, for example, provide virtual reality functionality and may also provide augmented reality functionality. For example, a non-transparent HMD may include a camera that captures a user&#39;s environment. The captured images may be processed and video game indicia may be added to the processed captured images. The processed captured images may then be displayed to a user through the HMD such that a user can see his/her physical, actual environment, as augmented by video game indicia. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The principles and advantages of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    is an illustration of a video game console that includes ports for connections with multiple head mounted displays constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is an illustration of a virtual reality display constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is an illustration of an augmented reality display constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is an illustration of an augmented reality display that is utilized with a stationary display, such as a home television, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is an illustration of connection cables and a flow chart of a video game process constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    are illustrations of display screens constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  7    is a game display, additional device, and controller constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8    are foot controllers constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  9    are controllers and head mounted displays constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  10    is a video game console with rechargeable battery ports constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  11    are video game packages constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  12    is a flow chart of a video game process constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  13    is an illustration of an architecture constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  14    is an illustration of a network topology constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  15    is a handheld video game constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  16    is a handheld video game constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  17    is a handheld video game constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG.  18    is a handheld video game in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  19    a handheld video game constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/400,296 (Docket No. JDM/002), filed on Mar. 25, 2003, entitled “Systems and Methods for Locating Cellular Phones and Security Measures for the Same” is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/932,536 (Docket No. JDM/005), filed on Sep. 1, 2004, entitled “Systems and Methods for Location Based Games and Employment of the Same on Location Enabled Devices” is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/208,943 (Docket No. JDM/007), filed on Aug. 22, 2005, entitled “Wireless Devices with Flexible Monitors and Keyboards” is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/281,812 (Docket No. JDM/008), filed on Nov. 11, 2005, entitled “Location-Based Games and Augmented Reality Systems” is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       FIG.  1    shows display  110  that may provide graphical user interface (GUI)  111 . Display  110  may be included in device  101 , which may be a stationary device (e.g., a television set) or a portable device (e.g., laptop, wireless telephone, or handheld gaming system). 
     Game system  120  may communicate with display  110  (e.g., provide information to display  110  by communicicating with device  101 ) through a wire-based communication channel via wire-based link  129  or through a wireless communication channel. A wireless communications channel may be provided, for example, via wireless link  199  and a wireless link located on game system  120 . As such, game system  120  and device  101  may include, for example, one or more wire-based or wireless-based ports to communicate information (e.g., display and audio information). For example, game system  120  may include one, two, three, four, or more wire-based ports that are operable to provide a wire-based link that provides audio and video to ports in device  101 . Such ports may be, for example, coaxial ports, component video ports, audio/video ports, and/or any other type of audio and/or video port (e.g., a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port). In this manner, system  120  may provide video and audio to numerous television sets. In doing so, a single video game system may provide audio/video information to multiple television sets so that each player view the video game on her/her own television set. Furthering the example, each player may be provided with different video game indicia provided by a video game on the player&#39;s designated TV set. In doing so, for example, four players that play a first-person perspective game may view only his/her first-person perspective on a video game and not his/her opponent&#39;s first person perspectives. 
     Game system  120  may include any number of additional communication ports that may be, for example, wireless or wire-based. For example, game system  120  may include controller ports  122  and  124  and HMD ports  121  and  123 . Such a game system may provide two pairs of HMD and controller ports. A game system may include any number of HMD and controller ports (e.g., one, two, three, four, or more such port pairs). The controller and HMD ports may be located on one face of game system  120  (e.g., a front face), while television ports are located on an opposite face (e.g., the rear face). A game media-receiving device (e.g., a disc drive) may be located on game system  120 . For example, a game media-receiving device may be located on the top, front, or side face of game system  120 . A game media-receiving disc drive may be top loading or side loading (with respect to the disc). Disc-based media-receiving devices may include, for example, CD, DVD, Blue-Ray, and/or HD-DVD readers. Other types of game media-receiving devices may include, for example, flash readers or any type of memory cartridge. One or more permanent or removable hard drives may be provided to store game-related information. 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a single port may provide the functionality of a HMD port, a controller port, and/or a HMD and controller port. For example, a port located on a game system, or any device, may include wire connections for a controller in which only control signals are received by the game system from the game controller and also wire connections for a HMD in which both control signals and audio signals (e.g., microphone) signals are received by the game system from the HMD. Such a port may also receive other types of information (e.g., image information) from a device (e.g., a camera included in an HMD). Such a port on a game system, or any devce, may send information such as mechanical information to a controller (e.g., a “rumble” control signal), control information to a controller (e.g., how to configure the controller to operate), sound information to a controller, visual information to a controller, mechanical information to a HMD, control information to a HMD (e.g., to switch between an audgmented reality and virtual reality topology), visual information to a HMD, and audio information to an HMD. A port may, for example, be operable to detect which wire connections are made when a wire-based link is inserted into the system such that the game system can autonomously recognize the type of signals it has to provide and receive from a device. Similarly, the device may load, when connected, software for operating the device through the control port. As per another example, the device can send an identification number to the game system such that the game system can identify the type of device that was inserted into the port of the game system. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any port may include one or more wire-based links for one or more devices that are operable to receive (from the game system) sound, video, operational power, and/or additional signals (e.g., control signals to make the HMD or controller rumble or software updates to configure/change the software in a device) as well as transmit (to the game system) sound, video, control signals and/or additional signals (e.g., status information such as the status of a battery internal to a HMD). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that such a wire-based port may be provided as a wireless port that may provide any type of signal wirelessly (e.g., power, visual gaming information, audio, and/or control data). 
     Port  122  may, for example, be operable to receive a particular type of wire-based communication stream from controller  130  (and/or a HMD). Port  121  may, for example, be operable to receive a particular type of wire-based communication stream from HMD  140  (and/or a controller). HMD  140  may be, for example, a virtual reality headset and/or an augmented reality headset. HMD  140  may include positioning and/or intertial movement sensors  143  to determine, for example, the position of HMD  140  (e.g., the location of HDM in the world using positioning signals such as from a global positioning system (GPS)). HMD  140  may include (e.g., in addition to one or more GPS receivers) one or more inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers and/or gyroscopes) to determine the direction that HMD  140  is facing, moves, and the amount of movement (e.g., the velocity and acceleration of the movement). HMD  140  may include structures  141  that may be utilized to secure a display in front of a person&#39;s eyes. Structure  141  may be, for example, structures similar to glasses for grasping behind a person&#39;s ear or a belt or strap. One or more additional devices  142  may be included on such structures such as, for example, microphones, speakers, or mechanical movement devices (e.g., rumble devices). Port  123  may couple to a controller (and/or HMD). Port  124  may be coupled to a HMD (and/or a controller). 
     A HMD may also include wireless communication devices such as, for example, wireless communication device  198 . Game system  120  may also include wireless communication devices to communicate to any number of controllers, HMDs, and/or stationary devices  101  (e.g., through wireless communication device  199 ). Similarly, a wireless communications device, such as device  199  and  198 , may communicate with remote devices such as remote databases. Game system  120  may also include one or more wireless communications devices to communicate with a controller, HMD, other stationary devices  101  or a remote device such as a remote database. 
     Game system  120  may be included in, for example, stationary device  101  or an HMD. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that HMDs may include one or more non-transparent display screens that a user may not see through (e.g., which may provide a virtual reality display) or a transparent display screen that is operable of displaying virtual images to provide a virtual reality video game. Images may be provided on a transparent display screen such that the user can still see his/her environment through the transparent display screen as augmented by the images. As such, a transparent display screen may provide an augmented reality video game. Similarly, a camera may be provided on a HMD and a non-transparent display screen may provide a game in which a user&#39;s environment is modified by video game indicia. For example, a video game character may be overlayed on a user&#39;s environment, as captured by the camera, and this modified environment may be displayed to a user. 
     Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that a screen that a user can see through and that is capable of displaying virtual indicia may be utilized as a virtual reality screen by displaying virtual indicia, that a user cannot see through, across the entire display screen. 
     A user, for example, may never be able to see through a non-transparent screen when the non-transparent display is ON or OFF, yet a user may be able to see through a transparent display screen while at least the transparent display is OFF. If a transparent screen is partially provided with video game indicia, an augmented reality video game may be provided (e.g., a user&#39;s environment may be modified by video game indicia), yet if the entire transparent screen displays a video game then a virtual reality video game may be provided. A user&#39;s environment may be modified by video game indicia by, for example, introducing a video game character into the user&#39;s environment. 
     Display  110  on device  101  (or a display on an HMD) may receive and display a GUI from game system  120  Accordingly, for example, game system  120  may read game code from a programmable medium (e.g., a DVD, blue-ray disk, flash memory, HD DVD) inserted into the game system and use the game code to provide signals representative of the GUI that display  110  can understand. Such signals may be, for example, signals that device  101  can understand and translate into information that display  110  can understand. Such a GUI may be, for example, the selection of the type of way the game should be displayed. For example, a game console operable of using HMDs may provide a display where a user can select augmented reality mode  112  (e.g., for all player&#39;s HMDs), virtual reality mode  113  (e.g., for all player&#39;s HMDs), controller only mode  114  (e.g., TV is a display and no indicia are provided to a HMD), a different display mode per player mode  115  (e.g., player  1  uses the television and player  2  uses an HMD in a virtual reality configuration), and/or an augmented reality with TV mode  116  (e.g., images are provided on the television and augmented reality indicia can interact with such images). 
     An HMD and/or video game controller may also be oriented with respect a device. Such a device may be placed around device  101  (e.g., played on top of device  101 ) such that the an HMD and/or video game controller can be oriented with respect to device  101 . 
     Such an orientation may, for example, be located about device  101  (e.g., placed on top of device  101 ). Such a device may, for example, transmit signals such that an HMD and/or a controller may determine whether the HMD and/or controller is facing the orientation device and the degree to which the controller and/or HMD is facing the device. For example, a device may include multiple structures that emit signals that can be distinguished (e.g., different IR, or microwave, signals). The HMD and/or controller may determine which of the IR, or microwave, signals it is receiving and may utilize these signals to determine that the HMD and/or controller is facing the device and that the HMD and/or controller is facing a particular part of the device (e.g., the left side of the device with respect to the user). Alternatively, for example, the device may include structures that transmit the same signal (e.g., the same IR signal) and an HMD and/or controller may utilize these signals to determine whether the controller is facing the device and to what degree the controller is facing the device (e.g., how strong the received IR signals are). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the strongest signal may be received, for example, when the HMD or controller faces the middle of the device. 
     The structures may be angled such that the signals provided by the structures hit the ground in different locations. In doing so, a HMD and/or controller may receive signals and determine if the HMD or controller is moving away from, or towards, the device by determing that the HMD and/or controller has picked up different signals from differently angled structures. 
     A HMD may include one or more inertial and/or positioning sensors to determine the direction that a user is facing. The HMD may utilize such sensors to determine information such as the pitch, tilt, and roll of the HMD as well as the velocity and acceleration of any movement. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that inertial sensors may be utilized to determine the position of a device. For examample, one or more accelerometers and/or gyroscopes may be utilized to determine the position of a device. For example, acceleration information may be obtained from an accelerometer. The integral of acceleration information may provide velocity information. The integral of velocity information may provide positional information. Any processing may occur on any device (e.g., an HMD, controller, and/or game system). 
     Information obtained from, for example, positioning and/or inertial sensors may be transmitted to a game console such that the game console can provide visual information dependent upon the direction that a user is facing. Accordingly, for example, the pitch, tilt, and roll of an HMD (and/or controller) as well as the velocity and acceleration of any movement may be utilized in determining which visual information should be displayed to a user (e.g., which information should be displayed on an HMD). 
     An HDM may also include positioning sensors to determine where the HDM is located. Global Positioning Sensors (GPS) may be utilized to determine, for example, the a device&#39;s location in the world and/or the users position with respect to a position reference. Local Positioning Sensors may be utilized to determine, for example, a device&#39;s location in a playfield and/or the device&#39;s position with respect to a postion reference. Such positioning information (as well as inertial movement infomration) may be utilized in any device such as a game system (e.g., handheld game system), HMD, and/or controller. Multiple video game systems may be utilized to provide a video game such as a multiplayer video game. 
     Furthermore, a positioning system may be utilized to periodically provide position information for an HMD while inertial sensors can be utilized to update this position between updates from the position system. For example, a GPS system may be utilized to periodically determine the location of a device, such as an HMD, and one or more accelerometers and/or gyrscopes may utilize intertial movement information such as acceleration to determine how the device moves, and the device&#39;s position changes, between GPS updates. 
     HMD&#39;s may include memory to store the visual video game information received from the game console and may, for example, further process the visual information such that the visual information can be displayed on a particular HMD. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the game system can receive identification information from the HMD such that the game system can perform any such additional processing (e.g., for a particular brand and/or version and/or type of an HMD). 
       FIG.  2    shows topology  200  that may include display  230 , which may be included in a HMD. Stationary television  210  is positioned in front of display  230  in  FIG.  2   . Display  230  may be a a non-transparent display screen such that a virtual reality game may be provide on the non-transparent screen. As such, for example, a user may not see through the non-transparent display screen when the display screen is ON or OFF. Such a display screen may receive visual information from the game console (e.g., either wirelessly or through a wire). Such visual information may be utilized to display, for example, a virtual sky  231 , clouds  232 , trees  233 , virtual characters  234 , and any other type of virtual object. As such, a game console may provide an HMD with a virtual world that a user can interact with. A user may utilize a controller to walk through the environment where if a user turns his/her head to the left, the portion of the virtual environment shown to a user scrolls out to the right such that a new portion of a virtual environment scrolls in from the left. A user may press a button on a controller to move throughout the game in the direction the user is facing. Alternatively, movement through a video game may be controlled by one or more positioning and/or inertial movement devices. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a transparent screen may be utilized to emulate a virtual reality display by displaying non-transparent virtual indicia across the entire transparent display such that the transparent display essentially becomes non-transparent. Due to the non-transparency of dispaly  230 , television  210  can not be seen when looking through display  230 . 
       FIG.  3    shows a transparent display screen positioned in front of television  310  in topology  300 . As the display screen is transparent, a user looking through the display can see television  310 . Transparent screen may be provided with virtual images  331  and  332  (which may be provided from a game console) over a user&#39;s physical environment. 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that by displaying images on a transparent display screen, the display screen may become semi-transparent. A virtual reality game may be provided if a virtual reality screen fills the entire transparent display. GUI&#39;s for initiating the start or features of an augmented and/or virtual reality games may cover the entire screen. 
     Virtual objects may be, for example, virtual characters that move around. A HMD may include a landscape detector that can determine its surroundings. As such, the HMD may position virtual objects over a user&#39;s surroundings and have the virtual objects interact with a user&#39;s physical environment. For example, a virtual spider may crawl across a user&#39;s floor and then climb up a user&#39;s television and/or wall. Information from the landscape detector may be provided to a video game to assist in orienting a video game character. Similarly, information from positioning and/or intertial movement sensors from video game devices (e.g., HMDs, handheld game systems, and/or controllers) may be utilized to orient characters. For example, a device may be placed on top of a television that sends signals and different angles on the user&#39;s floor. Thus, the device may determine the location and landscape of the portion of a user&#39;s floor that is located in front of the television. Accordingly, this device may transmit such landscape information to a video game system such that the video game system can place virtual objects on an HMD. A video game system may then, for example, utilize a device on a HMD to determine if the HMD is facing the telivision (e.g., as the device on the telision may provide signals, such as IR signals, to the HMD so the HMD can determine orientation information and send this orientation information to the game system) and can detect the landscape of the floor in front of the telivsion. The game system can then determine how the landscape determined by the television device and the HMD device overlap such that appropriate video game indicia may be provided to the HMD. The tilt, pitch, and roll of the HMD may also be utilized in determining how such objects, or any visual information, is displayed. Similarly, an HMD and/or controller may, for example, provide information that is received by the video game console and/or a device located about a telivsion such that this information may be utilized by the video game system to determine the location and presentation (e.g., rotation) of images on an HMD for a particular moment in time. A landscape detector may take many forms. For example, a landscape detector may be a camera and images taken from the camera may be utilized to determine the landscape a user is confronted with. 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that an HMD may be provided by a game console with information about a particular game level or a portion of a game. HMD may then process this information and utilize control signals (e.g., the way the HMD moves, controls received from a controller) and process such control signals to appropriately display particular visual information in a particular location. Such processing may also occur, for example, at a video game system. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that an HMD may be a video game system in and upon itself such that a portable gaming system may be realized by the HMD. Any number of controllers may be coupled to such a HMD, or any HMD or game system, to provide controls for controlling the video game. 
       FIG.  4    shows display  430  that is located in front of television  410  in topology  400 . As display  430  is a transparent display, a user looking through display  430  may be able to see television  410 . Display  430  is operable to provide virtual indicia (e.g., virtual character  431 ) to a user such that a user&#39;s physical environment is augmented with virtual gaming indicia. 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that since a game console may provide display information to both display  430  and stationary television  410 , the game console can coordinate such display information. For example, the game console can provide a video game by providing display information to an HMD display and a stationary display. For example, a game console can provide particular visual information to television  410  such that an environment is displayed on the television. A user&#39;s HMD can then provide virtual indicia to interact with the environment displayed on stationary display  410 . For example, a HMD may provide virtual spiders and a spider cave can be displayed on stationary display  410 . As such, the spiders displayed on the HMD may be displayed as coming out of the cave when the spiders are first displayed to a user on an HMD. 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a HMD may include a number of light sensors to detect the light coming from the television such that the television can be located. Similarly, the game console may know the type of visual information that was provided to the television display and can use the sensors on the HMD to pick up this information. As such, the game console can determine the different portions of the stationary display by providing different visual information to the different portions and detecting where the different visual information was sensed by the HMD. For example, the console may provide different colors (or amounts of light or types of light) to different portions and move these colors and the HMD can then detect the colors and send the color location information to the console. If the movements of the two match, then the console may assume that the user is looking at a particular portion of stationary display  410 . A game console can use such information to change the virtual information on the HMD or stationary display  410 . Alternatively, one or more devices may be placed about (e.g., on top of or underneath) that may be utilized to provide the game console with information that would allow the console to orient a HMD or controller with the device. For example, the device may transmit signals, a HMD or controller may receive the signals and the HMD, controller, and/or video game system may utilize the received information to determine the orientation of the HDM and/or contoller with respect to the device (e.g., whether, and to what extent, a controller is facing the stationary display). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple controllers and multiple HMDs may utilize the same device located about the stationary display to assist in orienting the HMDs and/or controllers with the device (e.g., with the TV about which the device is located). 
       FIG.  5    shows a flow chart and wire-based communication link  520 . The flow chart may begin when, for example, a game system is turned ON in step  501 . Step  502  may be utilized to determine whether or not a game is inserted into the game system. Step  503  may be utilized to load game data if a game is inserted in step  502 . Step  503  may also, for example, determine user input/output options (e.g., the types of devices that are communicating with the game system). Step  504  may be utilized to automatically detect if visors (e.g., HMDs) are in communication with the game system (e.g., coupled via wire-based links or communicating wirelessly). Step  505  may be utilized to auto-dectect controllers. If a game is not inserted, for example, a default GUI may be displayed in step  509  (e.g., a GUI that displays system information—not game information) until a game is inserted or downloaded and initiated in step  508 . Step  506  may be utilized to determine whether or not the devices coupled to the game system are operable with the game system. Step  506  may receive, for example, identification information and may communicate with a remote server to identify the identification information if the game system does not know the identity of the identification information. Similarly, a game system may update the software on the game system such that the game system is compatible with the component. Similarly, the component (e.g., HMD) may include a software update for the game system and may include identification of this software update to the game system such that the game system can determine whether or not the software update is needed (e.g., installed). If the software update is needed, then the game system can, for example, download the software update from the component (e.g., from the controller and/or HMD). Step  507  may be utilized to set default input/output configurations for a game to configurati 0 ons viable with the detected input/output devices (e.g., channels). Step  512  may be utilized to display the detected input/output devices with options for setting game type and input/output devices for each player. Step  511  may be utilized to receive user adjustments and/or confirmations. Step  510  may then set user adjustments and/or confirmations. 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any type of wire-based link may be utilized to communicate with a game system. For example, a wire-based link that includes communication wires for both a HMD and a controller may be utilized such as wire-based link  520 . Such a wire-based link  520  may be utilized such that a game system can determine whether a controller, HMD, or a controller and HMD are coupled to a port that received wire-based link  520 . Particularly, wire-based link  520  may include a structure  521  that provides two communication wires  528  and  529 . Communication wires  528  and  529  may each include a bundle of wires. Communication wires  528  and  529  may be coupled to separate control devices (e.g., two separate controllers or a controller and HDM). Communication wires  528  and  529  may be combined into a single bundle at the other end of structure  522  (e.g., end  523 ). End  423  may then provide the wires included in wires  528  and  529  in a particular configuration. For example, the top wires (e.g., the top  3  wires) may be controller wires, while the bottom wires (e.g., the bottom  3  wires) may be HMD wires. A game system can then detect whether a controller or HDM or both are connected to the game system by determining which wires are provided (e.g., which wires electrically couple with corresponding wires on a game system port). Thus, if only a controller is coupled to a port, then structure  522  may only include wire  528  and, as such, only wires corresponding to a controller may be provided at end  523  (e.g., no HMD wires may be provided). 
       FIG.  6    shows GUIs  600  that may be utilized in a video game system. GUI  610  may include a GUI that provides the default control scheme determined or provided by the video game system. For example, a game system may detect that a controller and a HMD is coupled to the game system and may autonomously associate the controller and the HMD to the game to the controls for a single player. GUI  610  may then allow a user to modify these control schemes such that, for example, the HMD may be changed from being associated to a first player to being associated to a second player (e.g., in a game where one player is the “eyes” of the team and the other player provides “controls” for the team). GUI  610  may then detect if new devices are coupled to the game system (e.g., an additional controller or HMD) and then may autonomously associate these new devices to a player, display these choices to the players, and then allow the players to adjust the autonomously determined control schemes. 
     GUI  630  may be utilized to set up display options. For example, one or more players may be able to change the display options from displaying all of the players HMD video output on a display screen for guests to view (e.g., by providing a split screen on the TV) or to display a particular HMD video output on the TV for guests to view. 
     GUI  620  may be utilized to automatically detect the type of device (or devices) coupled to each input/output slot. Players may be able to, for example, use GUI  620  to chose a particular configuration for a particular controller or HMD (e.g., instruct a game system to provide VR or AR visual information to an HMD operable of providing both AR and VR). 
     GUI  640  may be utilized to associate particular devices to a particular type of controller that may be utilized by a particular game. For example, a player may designate one controller (e.g., the controller in slot  2 ) as being associated with his/her left hand and another controller (e.g., the controller in slot  3 ) as being associated with his/her right hand. The player may also designate a particular HMD (e.g., the HMD in slot  1 ) as being associated with his/her head. 
       FIG.  7    shows portable system  700  that may include HMD  710  (which may include wireless communications device  712  and inertial/positioning sensors  711 ) coupled to a portable system  720  that may include, for example, inertial/positioning sensors  721  and media input device  723  (e.g., a HD DVD or DVD player). Portable game system  720  may be attached to a user via attachments  728  and  729 . Attachments  728  and  729  me used, for example, to attach game system  720  around a user&#39;s neck such that game system  720  rests across a user&#39;s chest or back. Such a configuration reduces the wires around a user&#39;s body such that when a user swings controller  730 , the changes that a user&#39;s arms gets caught in wires coupling HMD  710  to game system  720  is reduced. Controller  730  may include any number of buttons  731 ,  732 , and  733 . For example, buttons  733  may be reachable by a user&#39;s thumb. A user&#39;s palm may grip controller  730  under buttons  733 . A user&#39;s other fingers (and possible a user&#39;s thumb) may then be in position to easily interact with buttons  731  and  732 . 
     Controller  730 , HMD  710 , and game system  720  may communicate wirelessly (e.g., through wireless communication devices). Controller  730 , HMD  710  and game system  720  may communicate with other devices (e.g., either wirelessly or via wires) such as other game systems (e.g., for multiplayer functionality) controllers or HMDs (e.g., if more than one player is using a single game system). Game system  720  may also be placed around a playfield such that one or more HMDs and controllers can wirelessly communicate with game device  720 . Game device  720  may, for example, be powered by one or more batteries (e.g., removable rechargeable batteries). Game system  720 , controller  730 , and HMD  710  may include any number of positioning and/or inertial movement determination systems. 
       FIG.  7    shows shoe  820  that may include control pad  810 . Control pad  810  may sense when a user presses down on control pad  810  such that controls are provided to a game system. Such information could be utilized, for example, to synch the running style of a player&#39;s character in a virtual world such that other players can be provided with a virtual character that is more closely matching the movements of the actual player controlling the character. Portable game device  851  may be provided that may be able to couple around a user&#39;s shoe. Control pad  810  (or control pad  850  may be placed in a user&#39;s she). Device  851  may not include game medium and run a game but may, for example, include inertial movement and/or positioning sensors and may wireless communicate controls and movement/position information to another device (e.g., game device  720  of  FIG.  7   ) through wireless communication device  852 . Device  851  may be attached to a user via attachments  854  and  853  and may communicate with pad  850  through wire(s)  857 . 
     Pad  861  may be placed in a user&#39;s shoe and coupled to device  865  via wire  867 . Device  865  may be secured to a shoe by straps  866 . Device  865  may communicate through wireless communications device  868 . 
       FIG.  9    shows a number of additional devices such as a control glove coupled to device  914  (e.g., a portable game system and/or a device having any number of inertial movement and/or positioning devices). Device  914  may include any number of inertial movement/positioning devices  914  and wireless communications device  916  and attachments  911  and  912 . A control glove may include any number of control regions  901 - 907  that, when physically connected or within a particular distance of one another, produce a control signal indicative of the control regions that were touched. Regions may, for example, have one or more capacitance sensors and power may be provided to the regions such that the regions have a particular capacitance. The capacitance sensors can then sense the amount of capacitance when the sensors come into contact with another region to determine the regions that are within a particular distance or physically touching. Alternatively, a particular amount of voltage may be provided to a region such that other regions can sense this particular amount of voltage when the regions are physically coupled together or are brought within a particular proximity of one another. Alternatively still, a region may be a SENSE region that senses an electrical characteristic from a POWER region (e.g., region  910 ) while another region may be a POWER region that provides an electrical characteristic that the SENSE region can determine (e.g., regions  902 - 907 ). Mechanical control  909  may also be provided that may include, for example, a rotational ball that may be rolled to provide particular control signals and pressed to provide additional control signals. A control signal may be provided by a glove, for example, when region  901  touches, or comes into the proximity of, region  902 . A different control signal may be provided from a glove, for example, when region  901  touches, or comes into the proximity of, region  903 . 
     A HMD may be provided as a compact HMD such as individual devices  920  and  930  with a retractable display portion  922  and  932  that are coupled to extendable portions  921  and  931 , respectively to provide HMD configuration  940 . An additional structure may be provided to mechanically coupled displays  922  and  932  together to provide stability (e.g., provide the type of forehead stability that a pair of glasses may provide). 
     HMD configuration  960  may also be provided in which devices  951  and  952  house a flexible display  953 . An additional strap  961  may be provided to provide support for the HMD from the top of a person&#39;s head. Additional strap  962  may be provided to provide, for example, support from the back of a user&#39;s head. Devices  951  and  952  may be shaped to grip behind a user&#39;s ear such that additional support is provided. 
       FIG.  10    shows game system  1010  that may include, for example, media player  1011  associated with eject button  1012 , input/output ports  1013  that may be used, for example, to coupled HMDs and/or controllers. Game system  1010  may also include memory slots  1016  that may receive memory (e.g., compact flash) and read information from, and/or write information to, received memory (e.g., a player&#39;s profile and/or particular game information such as the player&#39;s progress in a particular game). Game system  1010  may also include battery slots  1014  that may, for example, receive a rechargeable battery and recharge the rechargeable battery if, for example, the battery is not already fully charged. Thus, a user may use, for example, a battery powered wireless HMD and a battery powered wireless controller and, when a particular battery needs recharging, a user can simply take out a charged battery in a rechargeable slot, put the battery that needs charging into the rechargeable slot, and then use the charged battery to power the device needing a charged battery. Power indicators  1015  may be provided that are representative of the amount of charging that has occurred. For example, power indicators  1015  may be YELLOW when the battery is charging and GREEN when the battery is fully charged. Alternatively, power indicators  1015  may be RED when the battery has LOW power, YELLOW when the battery has MEDIUM power, and GREEN when the battery has HIGH power. Thus, a user may be able to select the most charged battery when a new battery is needed. Alternatively, power indicators  1015  may include a percentage number that is indicative of the percentage that the battery is charged. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different types of batteries may store different amounts of energy. Thus, power indicators  1015  may include the amount of time that a battery is expected to operate in a particular device (e.g., a controller). Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that different devices may consume power at a faster rate than other devices. As such, different batteries may be utilized for different devices and such batteries may be color coded (e.g., batteries for an HMD may be RED while batteries for a controller are GREEN). Different types of batteries may be configured to operate on the same recharging interface or, for example, game system  1010  may include different types of recharging ports which also may be color coded to correspond to the types of batteries the recharging ports are operable to recharge. 
     For example, controller  1021 , or any device, may include a battery port  1021  with power indicator  1022 . Battery port  1021  may be utilized to couple a battery to a controller such that the controller can be powered from a battery in battery port  1021 . Controller  1020  may include memory input  1023  for receiving memory and reading/writing information from/to the memory. Controller  1021  may include interface  1024  that is coupled to a wire that may be inserted into port  1013 . Glove controllers, wireless routers, head mounted displays, foot controllers, or any other additional controller or gaming device may be operable to be powered, at least partially, by a rechargeable battery that can be recharged, for example, by a recharging port on system  1010 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any controller may include a wire-based link for interfacing with game system  1010  and any such wire-based link may provide power to the device from system  1010 . As such game system  1010 , or any controller or HMD, may include any type and any number of power regulation devices. 
       FIG.  11    shows game package schemes  1100  that may include game package  1110 ,  1120 , and  1130 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that game systems may be packaged with a variety of different devices and that such packages increase the whimsical and festive nature of both the game system, the devices, and the package itself. Providing packaging with a whimsical and festive nature may directly increase the commercial success of a particular package. 
     Game package  110  may include, for example, a console, a head mounted display, a controller, a power coverter/regulartor/surge protector, cables (e.g., cables to connect to different types of television sets such as coaxial, audio/video, and component cables), a rechargeable battery (or two or more rechargeable batteries), and a remote control (e.g., for playing a media inserted into a media player that is not game media such as a HD DVD movie). Gaming package  1110  may, for example, include additional components or may include less components. Gaming package  1110  may, for example, not include a power converter/regulator. Additionally, the controller may, for example, be a wireless (or wire-based) controller and the HMD may be a wire-based (or wireless HMD). Package  1120  may include, for example, a HMD, wireless controller, television interface cables, and two rechargeable batteries (or one or any number of rechargeable battery). Gaming package  1130  may include, for example, a console, a controller, and television interface cables. A gaming package may also include, for example, a particular game (and components that are designed around the theme of the game) or a game demo and advertising/operational manuals. 
       FIG.  12    shows process  1200  that may include, for example, step  1210  in which a game may be transported (e.g., downloaded) or inserted into a HMD, or portable system, for portable play. Step  1210  may, for example, be utilized to play the game off the source of where the game is being read (e.g., from an insertable game medium in a stationary game system or located in the memory of a remote server) so that the game may be transported (e.g., downloaded) into the portable system (e.g., HMD-based system). Step  1210  may be utilized to transport the game from a portable, handheld gaming system to the HMD. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a game may be transferred from an insertable storage medium (e.g., game disc) into the Random Access Memory (RAM) of a video game system (e.g., a portable game system such as a HMD-based portable game device or a stationary system). 
     Step  1220  may be provided, for example, to download the game (or a game portion) to, for example, the memory of the HMD (or removable memory that can be inserted into a HMD or a game system electrically coupled to the HMD). 
     Step  1230  may be utilized to determine when a user desires to play a game and the game may be played in step  1240 . Step  1250  may be utilized to determine whether the game is over or the game progress is desired to be saved. Step  1260  may be utilized to upload the game status (e.g., to a remote server or to a game system) and/or store locally in step  1270 . Step  1280  may upload game results. 
       FIG.  13    shows architecture  1300  that may be utilized for a game system (e.g., a portable game system or a stationary game system). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that components may be added to, or removed from, architecture  1330 . For example, architecture  1330  may include one or more processors  1310 , power sources  1320 , output devices  1325 , memory  1330 , connection terminals  1335 , additional components  1340 , location/inertial sensing devices  1245 , manual input controls  1350 , wireless transmitters/receivers  1355 , sensory feedback  1360  (e.g., mechanical rumbler, additional sound maker, light producer), and/or microphones/speakers  1365 . 
       FIG.  14    shows network  1400  topology that may be utilized. Network  1451  may be utilized to communicate information from, for example, content facility  1480  to portable game devices  1460  or stationary game devices  1470 . The internet, or an internet, may be utilized to facility the communication. Content facility  1480  may, for example, allow video games to be downloaded to gaming devices, progress to be uploaded, and scores to be uploaded (for online competitions). Information may be stored on remote databases  1481 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that content facility  1480  may also be utilized to facility multiplayer games by routing information (e.g., information on the game&#39;s progress and player movements) between players that are located remotely from one another. 
       FIG.  15    shows portable game system  1510  that may include game display  1520  and any number of inertial and/or positioning sensors  1530 . Portable game system  1510  may be a wireless telephone (e.g., a cellular phone) that is operable of making telephone calls in addition to playing video games. One or more directional indicia  1540  may be utilized to show the direction that device  1510  is moving in. Three dimensional indicia may be utilized to depict the pitch/roll/tilt of a device. As such, system  1510  may include any number of inertial and positioning devices to determine the direction system  1510  is facing, the pitch, roll, and tilt of system  1510  and the velocity and acceleration of system  1510  in any direction (e.g., how fast the system rolls, pitches, tilts, moves, and/or the distance the system displaces). Additional information may be displayed indicative of the velocity and acceleration of the movement of the device. Multiple controls may be provided as well as multiple speakers and microphones. A portable system may include a game media port for playing new games or the game system may be dedicated to one or more games and may not include a game port (or an ability to wireless download games or play games over a wireless connection). 
     A location-based game may be provided where a players physical movements correlate to a video game characters virtual movements. Particularly, the location of a device (e.g., the changes in a position of a device) may be utilized to move a virtual character. Such location information may be obtained from any number of positioning systems (e.g., GPS, Galileo, or a local positioning system) and/or inertial sensors. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that inertial sensors may be utilized to provide a positioning system by utilizing velocity/acceleration/directional information to determine changes in a user&#39;s position. Positioning systems may utilize inertial information to update location approximations during periods when the positioning system is unable to update a location approximate on its own (e.g., between receptions of GPS signals). 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a game can be programmed to help minimize errors that result from error accumulations in inertial sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. For example, a game may be programmed with narrow passageways at particular points in the game such that the need for complex movement information is minimized (e.g., the game can just determine movement in the direction of the passageway to move a character and does not need to use other movement information). Such passageways can also be utilized to determine errors as a person walking through the passageway would be expected to walk through the passageway and not hit a wall. If the game receives information that a user has hit a wall, the game may be able to assume that such readings are errors and the game can try to negate such errors from future readings. Similarly, a video game character can be told to stop at particular times (e.g., at particular save checkpoints, or level completion points, or when talking to a character) such that inertial errors can be detected and/or inertial systems can be reset and/or recalibrated. Such checkpoints that are built into the game may also allow, for example, some positioning systems (e.g., GPS systems) to update the location before game progress continues such that a reference point is established when a user is not moving. 
       FIG.  16    shows game systems  1610  and  1620 . A game may be provided in which a character is always aligned with an alignment line (e.g., alignment line  1625  or  1675 ). Such a line may be, for example, a vertical line or a horizontal line (and may be transparent to a user). Thus, the character will move along the line if movement occurs along the line, but if movement occurs not along the line, the game will scroll such that the game environment moves. Such an alignment line may allow a character to always be positioned in a particular area of the game such that a particular portion of the environment may always be seen on all, or a particular side, or a character. An alignment point may be provided such that the character never moves (e.g., is always center on the screen) and user movements are used to move the character through the virtual environment by scrolling the virtual environment with respect to the virtual character. Such an alignment line may be centered. 
       FIG.  17    shows systems  1710  and  1720  with a vertical alignment line (e.g., line  1725  and  1775 ) that is off-centered (e.g., approximately 75-95% on one side of the display). 
       FIG.  18    shows game systems  1810  and  1820  that may include alignment areas (e.g., alignment areas  1825  and  1875 ). A character may move freely within an alignment area (e.g., a centered box) but when the character hits the perimeter, the character may not, for example, move through that perimeter. Instead, the game environment may scroll such that the character can always move but is always within the alignment area. Manual game controls may be provided or transparent game controls may be provided (e.g., via positioning and/or inertial movement sensors). 
       FIG.  19    shows gaming devices (e.g., dedicated portable gaming devices) that may be shaped similar to a tool used in a game such as, for example, a gun or shovel. For example, a gaming device may be coupled to a shovel and a user may move around a virtual environment my walking with the shovel and the user may dig in a particular location in the virtual environment by stopping and moving the shovel in a particular manner (e.g., digging). The GUI on the shovel may then sense such movement and may switch from displaying one environment (e.g., a treasure map or virtual world) to another display (e.g., a mini-game or digging/action indicia such as a display associated to the particular type of movement). 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more cameras can be coupled to a HMD, or attached to a particular portion of a user&#39;s body (e.g., shoulder). Such a camera may, for example, take video of the user&#39;s surroundings. If attached to a HMD, the camera may point towards the front of the HMD such that the camera substantially captures the user&#39;s perspective of his/her environment. Such pictures may be processed by the HMD, a game system, or another device and utilized to provide information that may assist in providing a video game. For example, a HMD may have a non-transparent screen, but may provide an augmented reality game by using a camera. More particularly, a camera may continually capture the user&#39;s perspective, add video game indicia to the captured pictures/video, and then display the new composite pictures/video to a user on the non-transparent display. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that such composite pictures/video may be provided on a transparent display. As such, a user may be able to see his/her surroundings while using a non-transparent display so that the user can move freely (e.g., run) in his/her actual environment and interact with video game indicia added to the pictures/video of his/her actual environment. Processing a picture/video of an environment may provide different types of information to a game system. For example, a picture/video may be processed to determine the landscape of a user&#39;s environment as well as any objects that are located in the user&#39;s environment (e.g., tree). As per another example, processing a picture/video may assist in determining the lighting of a user&#39;s environment. Alternatively still, processing a picture/video may assist in determining other players that are in a user&#39;s environment. For example, reflective devices may be placed on other HMDs such that processing a picture, or using additional sensors, may determine the location of such reflective devices such that other players can be located. The information from a camera may be shared to other HMDs. For example, if playing a multiplayer game, a user on your team may view a friendly user&#39;s camera information such that members of the same team can perform better (e.g., coordinate attacks on an enemy). A camera may also be pointed towards a user&#39;s face such that communications to other users may include such camera information. Thus, a user may be able to see another user on a portion of his/her HMD and may communicate to that user. 
     A video game system may also use a camera to provide picture/video data to a game console to affect the picture/video data that is provided to a stationary television set. For example, a camera may be utilized to capture the picture/video of a player such that the picture/video may be utilized to generate a video game player. 
     Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the present invention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, the present invention more generally involves providing video games. As such, for example, rechargeable battery ports may be utilized in a game system that is not operable to couple to a HMD or gaming devices with inertial/positioning sensors. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of the present invention may be implemented in other ways then those described herein. All such modifications are within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.