Quick passing feature for sports video games

Abstract

An improved passing feature for sports videogames that enables passing of, for example, a virtual ball, in a direction that is different than the direction in which the virtual player is moving on the virtual playing field. In accordance with the instant invention, the moving direction for a virtual player and the passing direction for that player are made independent, thereby providing more fluid passing and greatly enhancing gameplay. The passing feature can be implemented on a game controller having one or two analog joysticks.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a videogame, wherein a user interactively controls a game player having a game object in a virtual game environment using a game controller having a first analog joystick and a second analog joystick, the method comprising: 
 monitoring signals from the first joystick and controlling the moving direction of the game player having a game object based on signals received from the first joystick;    monitoring signals from the second joystick while the moving direction of the player is being controller by the first joystick; and    upon receipt of signals from the second joystick, display a pass of the game object in a direction indicated by the second joystick while also displaying the player continuing to move in the direction indicated by the first joystick.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the videogame is a sports videogame having two virtual teams, and the game object is an object used to score points in the videogame.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the videogame is a basketball videogame and the game object is a virtual basketball.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing a plurality of trick animations for the player that display the player moving in one direction while passing in another direction, and selecting a trick animation for display from the plurality of animations when the user causes the player to pass in a direction that is different from the direction that the player is moving in at the time of the pass.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the videogame is executed on a game console that is connected to a television for display.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including using the first joystick as an analog joystick and using the second joystick as a digital joystick, wherein the first joystick adjusts the direction and speed of the player and the second joystick causes a pass upon reaching a predetermined threshold.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including using the first joystick and the second joystick as analog joysticks, wherein the first joystick controls the direction and speed of the player based on an angle of inclination thereof, respectively, and the second joystick controls the direction and characteristic of the pass based on the direction and angle of inclination thereof, respectively.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the angle of inclination of the second joystick controls the speed of the pass of the game object.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the angle of inclination of the second joystick controls the type of pass of the game object.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the angle of inclination of the second joystick controls the distance of the pass.  
     
     
         11 . In a videogame, wherein a user interactively controls a game player having a game object in a virtual game environment using a game controller having a analog joystick and a digital control element, the method comprising: 
 monitoring signals from the joystick and controlling the moving direction of the game player having a game object based on signals received from the joystick;    monitoring signals from the digital control element while the moving direction of the player is being controller by the joystick;    upon receipt of a signal from the control element, displaying the player continuing to move in the current direction that the player was moving at the time the signal from the control element is received;    while continuing to move the player in the current direction, monitoring the joystick for a pass signal; and    upon receiving the pass signal, displaying a pass of the game object in a direction indicated by the joystick while also displaying the player continuing to move in the current direction.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the videogame is a sports videogame having two virtual teams, and the game object is an object used to score points in the videogame.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the videogame is a basketball videogame and the game object is a virtual basketball.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further including providing a plurality of trick animations for the player that display the player moving in one direction while passing in another direction, and selecting a trick animation for display from the plurality of animations when the user causes the player to pass in a direction that is different from the direction that the player is moving in at the time of the pass.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the videogame is executed on a game console that is connected to a television for display.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further including using the first joystick as an analog joystick, wherein the first joystick adjusts the direction and speed of the player.