Methods for playing computer games without a display

Abstract

A method for playing computer games whereas before the game starts, visual percept is present and the player learns the rules and options that the game provides, and during the game the screen is blank, i.e., no visual stimuli are presented. Players' actions are based on other modalities except vision. Playing the game might require all or part of the modalities of auditory and visual mental imagery percept, memory, hand movements, speech, physiological measurements and prediction of hand motor coordination.

1 . In a computerized system, the system includes a display, storage capacity, a microphone and playing accessories, a method for playing computer games by one or more players, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a game having a pre-game activity session and a game activity session;   b) determining at said pre-game activity session the rules of said game, wherein said determining of said rules includes using visual stimuli of said at least one player, wherein said at least one player, at said pre-game activity session, percepts said pre-game activity stimuli, thereby learning the rules of said game;   c) turning off said computerized system display, whereby creating a darkened state; and   d) playing said game at said game activity session, wherein each of said players, at said game activity session, executes steps of said game using said determined rules, said game being in said darkened state, said player using one or more of said playing accessories and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of mental imagery visual percept, mental imagery auditory percept, memory, mental imagery tactile vibration and hand motor activities.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining of said rules further includes a step of recording the voice of said player, said voice conveyed by said microphone to said storage capacity, thereby creating an emotional state baseline of said player. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said voice parameters of said player are selected from the group including pitch, amplitude, pace, rhythm, prosodic and other features of speech. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-game activity further includes 1D (one dimensional) or 2D (two dimensional) auditory clues, auditory instructions, physiological parameters and analyzed speech. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said playing accessories are selected from the group of accessories including a computer keyboard, one or more joysticks, mouse, game pad, push buttons and other commonly known computer games accessories. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computerized system is a personal computer, a PDA computing device, a portable computing device or a mobile phone. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said playing accessories are selected from the group of accessories including a computer keyboard, one or more joysticks, mouse, game pad, push buttons and other commonly known computer games accessories. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session includes the steps of:
 i. recording the voice of said player, said voice conveyed by said microphone to said storage capacity, thereby creating a game emotional state of said player; and   ii. comparing said game emotional state of said player with said emotional state baseline of said player, thereby creating a current emotional state of said player; and   iii. modifying said game rules using said current emotional state of said player.   
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a ball game having a character associated with said player, wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the step of operating at least one of said playing accessories by said player to activate said character to throw said ball towards a blackboard or towards pluralities of blackboards spaced apart, and wherein said ball returns towards said character with trajectory and speed depending on said blackboard elasticity. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a target hitting game, wherein said target can be moving or stationary; wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the steps of:
 i. activating speakers to sound auditory signals, said auditory signals associated with the spatial location of said character; and   ii. operating at least one of said playing accessories by said player to activate missile launcher to launch a missile to hit said target.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said target is selected from the group consisting: ground targets, air targets, underwater targets. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said playing of said game further includes the step of activating speakers to sound auditory signal, said auditory signals associated with the spatial location of said target, and wherein said auditory signal can change in intensity, pitch and/or frequency. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said playing of said game further includes the step of activating a vibrator to provide to provide tactile information, said tactile information associated with the spatial location of said target. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a crossword puzzle having a character associated with said player, wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the steps of:
 i. providing said player with different pre-stored questions and phrases such as syllables, words, items, pictures, auditory grapheme or phoneme and sounds to increase the skills in learning in general and learning languages in particular; and   ii. providing an answer by said player,   
     wherein the correct answer is provided to said player by an auditory signal immediately after said answer of said player or at the end of said game. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a drawing game having a drawing pointer associated with said player, wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the step of operating at least one of said playing accessories by said player to activate said drawing pointer to draw a drawing task without said playing seeing at least a portion of said drawing. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a racing game race between two or more of said players each having a racing object associated with, wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session includes the step of operating at least one of said playing accessories by each of said players to activate said racing objects. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said racing object is selected from the group including vehicles and animals, wherein said vehicles are selected from the group including cars, planes and speeding boats, and wherein said animals are selected from the group including horses and dogs. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said playing of said game further includes the step of activating speakers to sound auditory signals, said auditory signals are respectively associated with the spatial location of said racing objects, and wherein said auditory signal can change in intensity, pitch, or frequency. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein playing of said game further includes the step of activating a vibrator to provide tactile information, said tactile information associated with the spatial location of said target. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a ball game having a character associated with said player, wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the step of operating at least one of said playing accessories by said player to activate said character to bounces said ball with a controllable force to reach a target location, and wherein the surface on which said ball is bouncing has different and changeable elasticity properties. 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the step of includes proving said player with selection of playing accessories, in particular in games that demand performance of dual-task. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the step of measuring at least one physiological monitoring tool selected from the group including: monitors of respiratory rhythms, heart rate, blood pressure, tactile, resistance skin conductance, encephalogram and electro-myograph. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a maze having obstacles and a character associated with said player, wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session includes the step of operating at least one of said playing accessories by said player, and wherein said obstacles force said character to walk, bent, run, jump, crawl, swim or shoot in a certain order and direction. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session includes the step of providing each of said players with a flash of visual percept from said display, wherein said game is stopped during said flash, and wherein said flash is activated by the player, randomly by said game or at the occurrence of predetermined events in said game. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game is a combat game having a character associated with said player, wherein said playing of said game at said game activity session, includes the steps of:
 i. activating speakers to sound auditory signals, said auditory signals associated with the spatial location of a missile launcher; and   ii. operating at least one of said playing accessories by said player to activate said character to move, including moving, jumping, crawling, swimming, air parachuting or hiding; and wherein said combat situated in a space domain selected from the group consisting: on the ground, at the air and underwater.   
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . (canceled)