User Creatable Machines

Abstract

A number of components parts are presented to a user in a game from which they can select and assemble a number of parts into a machine. Some or all of the component parts may have controllable parameters and these are mapped to an input on the games controller used to play the game.

1 . A game comprising:
 a library of elements;   a game application arranged to:   provide the library of elements to a user;   enable user selection and arrangement of a plurality of elements from the library to create a machine; and   map any controllable parameters of each element to an input on a games controller.   
   
   
       2 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the game application is further arranged to store mappings in a mapping data store. 
   
   
       3 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the library of elements comprises, for each element, at least one associated physical parameter. 
   
   
       4 . A game according to  claim 3 , wherein the game application is further arranged to:
 calculate at least one force on the machine at run time based on inputs received from the games controller and the at least one physical parameter associated with each of the plurality of elements.   
   
   
       5 . A game according to  claim 4 , wherein the game application is further arranged to:
 input said at least one force to a simulator for defining a motion of the machine.   
   
   
       6 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the library of elements comprises, for each element, at least one connection point. 
   
   
       7 . A game according to  claim 6 , wherein the game application is further arranged to:
 provide a mechanism for aligning elements.   
   
   
       8 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein identical controllable parameters are mapped to the same input on a games controller. 
   
   
       9 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises a first sub-machine and a second sub-machine and mapping any controllable parameters of each element to an input on a games controller comprises:
 mapping any controllable parameters of each element in the first sub-machine to an input on a first games controller; and   mapping any controllable parameters of each element in the second sub-machine to an input on a second games controller.   
   
   
       10 . A method in a game comprising:
 providing a library of elements to a user;   enabling user selection and arrangement of a plurality of elements from the library to create a machine; and   mapping any controllable parameters of each element to an input on a games controller.   
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 storing mappings in a mapping data store.   
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the library of elements comprises, for each element, at least one associated physical parameter and wherein the method further comprises:
 calculating at least one force on the machine at run time based on inputs received from the games controller and the at least one physical parameter associated with each of the plurality of elements.   
   
   
       13 . A game according to  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 inputting said at least one force to a simulator for defining a motion of the machine.   
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein mapping any controllable parameters of each element to an input on a games controller comprises:
 mapping identical controllable parameters to the same input on a games controller.   
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the machine comprises a first sub-machine and a second sub-machine and mapping any controllable parameters of each element to an input on a games controller comprises:
 mapping any controllable parameters of each element in the first sub-machine to an input on a first games controller; and   mapping any controllable parameters of each element in the second sub-machine to an input on a second games controller.   
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the library of elements comprises, for each element, at least one connection point and wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a mechanism for aligning elements.   
   
   
       17 . A method in a game comprising:
 displaying a plurality of machine components to a gamer;   enabling receipt of a first user input selecting at least two machine components from said plurality of machine components to be joined to create a machine; and   mapping any controllable parameters associated with each of said at least two machine components to at least one control on a user input device.   
   
   
       18 . A method in a game according to  claim 17 , wherein said first user input further comprises information on relative positioning of said at least two machine components within said machine. 
   
   
       19 . A method in a game according to  claim 17 , wherein each machine component has at least one associated physical parameter, and wherein said method further comprises:
 on receipt of a second user input from said at least one control, calculating at least one force on said machine based on said second user input, said controllable parameters associated with each of said at least two machine components and physical parameters associated with each of said at least two machine components.   
   
   
       20 . A method in a game according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 outputting said at least one force to a simulator arranged to generate motion parameters for said machine.