TOUCH SCREEN GAME CONTROLLER

摘要

Aspects of the present invention allow a touch screen device to operate as a gamepad for a video game running on a separate gaming device. Aspects of the present invention provide a virtual control interface through the touch screen that includes virtual game controls that perform the same function as a directional pad, buttons, triggers, and sticks found on a gamepad or other game controller. In one aspect, the virtual control interface provides an output that is substantially similar to an output generated by a gamepad able to interact with the gaming device. Substantially similar outputs allow a gaming device to respond to a functional control from a gamepad and an equivalent functional control from the virtual control interface the same way and without translation. Aspects of the present invention can provide different virtual control interfaces for different video game titles, different genres, and based on user customization.

主权项

1. A method for using a touch screen computing device to control a video game, the method comprising:
at the touch screen computing device, selecting, based on a characteristic of the video game, a virtual control interface that is optimized for use with the video game; outputting for display on the touch screen device's touch screen the virtual control interface, which comprises a plurality of virtual game controls; receiving through the touch screen an interaction on a virtual game control within the virtual control interface; generating a control signal in response to the interaction that comprises a functional instruction that is usable by a game execution environment to manipulate the video game; and outputting the control signal to the game execution environment.