Patent ID: 8894066

Claim:
A method of facilitating user preference in creative design of a controller for manipulating images or symbols on a display, the controller having a housing with an exterior surface and an interior region confining electrical components for producing signals for manipulating image or symbols on the display, comprising: providing a main casing configured to conformably fit around a portion of the exterior surface of and thereby receive the housing of the controller, the main casing having a patterned surface portion configured to support a set of building elements that are configurable for mating to the patterned surface portion; and providing in the set of building elements a subset of building elements that are matable to one another and configured for a user to build on the patterned surface portion of the main casing a customized replica of at least a portion of a play item and thereby transform the exterior surface of the housing of the controller to a customized shape and appearance in accordance with the user's preference.