Video game controller with expansion panel

Abstract

A video game controller is provided to be used with a video gaming system. The controller may include at least one body segment with control inputs, and an expansion panel with additional control inputs. The controller may have an open position and a closed position, with the expansion panel accessible only when the controller is in the open position. Moving the controller between open and closed positions may switch video game execution between a play mode and a configuration mode. In the configuration mode, the user may set programming values or change the configuration of the video game being played. Moving the controller between open and closed positions may instead or in addition provide the user more resources to play the game. The user's character may get additional powers or the user may be provided a clue or hint to pursue game play.

1 . A remote game device to be used with a game processor executing video game software comprising: 
 a first body segment including a first body control input; and    a panel slidably connected to and retained by the first body segment including an expansion panel control input;    the remote game device configured to allow manual movement of the panel relative to the body between:    a first position where the panel control input is covered by the first body segment and inaccessible to a user; and    a second position where the panel control input is uncovered and accessible to the user.    
   
   
       2 . The remote game device of  claim 1  further comprising a second body segment where the panel is slidably connected to and retained by the second body segment in addition to the first body segment.  
   
   
       3 . The remote game device of  claim 2  wherein in the first closed position panel control input is covered by one or both of the first body segment and the second body segment.  
   
   
       4 . The remote game device of  claim 1  wherein in response to moving the remote game device to the first position, game execution switches to a first mode, and in response to moving the remote game device to the second position, game execution switches to a second mode.  
   
   
       5 . The remote game device of  claim 1  wherein with the remote game device in the second position, game execution switches to a second mode in response to user input at the panel control inputs.  
   
   
       6 . The remote game device of  claim 4  wherein the first mode of game execution is a game play mode and the second mode of game execution is a configuration mode.  
   
   
       7 . The remote game device of  claim 4  wherein the second mode of game execution provides additional game play resources to the user or game avatar than the resources available to the user or game avatar in the first mode of game execution.  
   
   
       8 . The remote game device of  claim 1  wherein the remote device responds to signals transmitted from a game assembly that includes a game processor.  
   
   
       9 . A video game system comprising: 
 a remote game device including: 
 a body including at least one body control input; and  
 a sliding panel, connected to and retained by the body, and  
 including at least one expansion panel control input;  
   a game assembly including: 
 a manually removable memory element with game commands and audiovisual content;  
 a display including a speaker;  
 a game processor including a microprocessor and means to access the memory element, the game processor configured to:  
 respond to remote game device control inputs; and  
 execute game commands stored on the memory element.  
   
   
   
       10 . The video game system of  claim 9  wherein the sliding panel slidably moves relative to the body between a first position with the panel control input uncovered and a second position with the panel control input covered by the body.  
   
   
       11 . The video game system of  claim 10  wherein the game is executed in a first mode in response to moving the remote game device to the first position and the game is executed in a second mode in response to moving the remote game device to the second position.  
   
   
       12 . The video game system of  claim 10  wherein the game is executed in a second mode in response to user input at the panel control inputs with the remote game device in the first position.  
   
   
       13 . The video game system of  claim 10  wherein the body includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment slidably connected to a first end of the panel and the second segment slidably connected to a second end of the panel and where in the second position, both the first body segment and the second body segment cover the panel control inputs and the first and second body segments are proximate to each other.  
   
   
       14 . The remote game device of  claim 9  wherein the remote device responds to command signals transmitted from the game assembly.  
   
   
       15 . A method of video game play using a remote game device with a sliding panel including expansion panel control inputs and with open and closed positions, the method comprising: 
 providing a portable memory device including game instructions and audiovisual content;    accessing and executing the game instructions and audiovisual content stored on the memory device at a game processor;    in response to moving the remote game device to a closed position, executing the game instructions on the game processor in a first mode of game execution;    in response to moving the remote game device to an open position and accessing the panel control inputs, executing the game instructions on the game processor in a second mode of game execution.    
   
   
       16 . The method of video game play of  claim 15  wherein in the first mode of game execution the game is played and in the second mode of game execution game parameters are configured.  
   
   
       17 . The method of video game play of  claim 15  wherein execution of game instructions in the second mode provides to at least one player additional resources for game play.  
   
   
       18 . The method of video game play of  claim 15  wherein execution of game instructions in the second mode provides a game avatar additional resources for game play.  
   
   
       19 . The method of video game play of  claim 15  wherein accessing panel control inputs includes user input to the game processor at panel control inputs.  
   
   
       20 . The method of video game play of  claim 15  further comprising 
 transmitting from the game processor an electronic signal;    converting the transmitted electronic signal to a sonic signal at a display;    receiving the sonic signal at the remote game device;    selecting data related to game play from a memory on the remote game device in response to the received sonic signal; and    displaying the selected data on the remote game device.