Audio-visual games and game computer programs embodying interactive speech recognition and methods related thereto

Abstract

Featured is a game applications programs, software, systems and methods that are such as to provide an interactive gaming experience for one or more game players by using speech recognition techniques in combination with interactive techniques and functionalities thereby as creating an interface that allows spoken words and/or phrases of a game player to initiate any one of a number of functionalities, actions or informational outputs in connection with the conduct of the game. Such methods, programs, and systems can further include creating an interface that allows a game player to initiate a function or action to be performed by the game player's character, to initiate a dialog or interaction between a player's character and a non-player character appearing in a game or to request information from a non-player character or about a phase of the game in general as part of the play of the game.

1 . A method for a game comprising the step of: 
 initiating an interactive dialog between a non-player character and a game player, wherein the response from the game player is an audio input.    
   
   
       2 . The game method of  claim 1 , wherein said initiating a dialog includes: 
 the game player selecting a response from one or more possible responses;    the game player providing an auditory reply that corresponds to the selected response.    
   
   
       3 . The game method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of: 
 creating a game program output corresponding to the selected response of the game player.    
   
   
       4 . The game method of any of claims  2  or  3 , wherein said initiating a dialog includes; 
 displaying a text message from the non-player character for the game player.    
   
   
       5 . The game method of  claim 4 , wherein said initiating a dialog includes the non-player character providing an auditory output corresponding to the text message from the non-player character for the game player.  
   
   
       6 . The game method of any of claims  2  or  3 , wherein said initiating a dialog includes the non-player character providing an auditory output corresponding to the text message from the non-player character for the game player.  
   
   
       7 . The game method of  claim 4 , wherein the text message being displayed is in the form of one of a statement or a query to the game player.  
   
   
       8 . The game method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing one of a computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and a cellphone; and    executing said initiating a dialog on said one of the computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and the cellphone.    
   
   
       9 . The game method of any of claims  1 - 3 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing one of a computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and a cellphone; and    executing said initiating a dialog on said one of the computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and the cellphone.    
   
   
       10 . The game method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing one of a computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and a cellphone; and    executing said initiating a dialog on said one of the computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and the cellphone.    
   
   
       11 . The game method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing one of a computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and a cellphone; and    executing said initiating a dialog on said one of the computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and the cellphone.    
   
   
       12 . The game method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said initiating a dialog includes arranging each of the one or more possible responses so as to include a key portion, and    wherein the auditory input from the game player corresponds to the key portion.    
   
   
       13 . A method for a initiating a dialog between a non-player character of a game and a game player, said dialoging method comprising the steps of: 
 displaying one or more text messages from the non-player character for the game player and displaying one or more possible responses of the game player to the one or more text messages;    the game player selecting a response from the one or more possible responses;    the game player providing an auditory reply that corresponds to the selected response; and    creating a game program output corresponding to the selected response of the game player.    
   
   
       14 . The dialoging method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of the non-player character providing an auditory output corresponding to the one or more text messages from the non-player character for the game player.  
   
   
       15 . The dialoging method of  claim 14 , wherein the text message being displayed is in the form of one of a statement or a query to the game player.  
   
   
       16 . The dialoging method of any of claims  13 - 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing one of a computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and a cellphone; and    executing said steps of displaying, the game player selecting a response, the game player providing an auditory reply, and creating a game program output on said one of the computer, a dedicated gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a video game machine and the cellphone.    
   
   
       17 . The dialoging method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of 
 arranging each of the one or more possible responses so as to include a key portion; and    wherein said providing an auditory input includes providing an auditory input from the game player corresponds to the key portion.    
   
   
       18 . A method for a game comprising the step of: 
 initiating an open dialog between a non-player character and a game player, wherein the dialog is initiated by the game player at one of any time during the conduct of the game or following one of a non-player character's actions or words.    
   
   
       19 . The game method of  claim 18 , wherein said initiating a dialog includes: 
 the game player providing an auditory input corresponding to one of a request for game information or a desired action in the game; and    determining from the game player's auditory input a response to the game player auditory input; and    creating an output so as to one of provide the requested game information to the game player or initiate the desired game action.    
   
   
       20 . The game method of  claim 19 , wherein said determining includes determining a response based on one or more of game environmental context information and character history.  
   
   
       21 . The game method of  claim 19 , wherein said determining includes determining a response based on one or more of what has happened in the game and what is happening in the game as of the time the game player provided the auditory input.  
   
   
       22 . The game method of  claim 19 , wherein said determining includes deriving the game player's one of desired action or request for information by mapping language elements contained in the auditory input to the game context.  
   
   
       23 . An interactive method for a game, comprising the step of 
 the game player providing an auditory input so the game player is playing the role of the player character in the conduct of the game.    
   
   
       24 . The interactive game method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step(s) of: 
 the game player determining a desired game action responsive to actions or words of one or more non-player characters in the game; and wherein    the provided auditory input is an instruction inputted into the game by the game player so as to cause the game to perform or carry out the desired game action.    
   
   
       25 . The interactive game method of  claim 24 , wherein the instruction is a natural language statement to perform the desired action and wherein said interactive game method further comprises the steps of: 
 determining from the natural language statement of the game player the desired action to be performed in the play of the game.    
   
   
       26 . The interactive game method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the game is a magic game,    the desired action is to cast a spell,    the statement is the language spoken to cast the spell,    said determining include determining from the statement the spell that is to be cast; and    the interactive method further comprises casting the spell.    
   
   
       27 . A method for a game that uses speech recognition function to convert auditory input from a game player to an action in the play of the game; said game method comprising the step(s) of: 
 initiating a learn protocol of the speech recognition function at one or more times during the play of the game,    prompting the game player at each of the one or more times using language and expression consistent with the game and for the specific time the learning protocol is being initiated, and    requesting the game player to recite a predetermined phrase, word or passage, the predetermined phrase, word or passage being selected so as to be consistent with the game of play at the specific time the learning protocol is being initiated.