Systems and Methods for In-person Live Action Gaming

Abstract

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for live action gaming. According to one embodiment, a method facilitates scoring for an in-person, live-action game, for example, a projectile-tag scoring game or the like, involving multiple players. A gaming outfit worn by a first player or a projectile launcher of a second player may determine a shot hit by the second player against the first player based at least in part on detection of an impact of a projectile fired by the projectile launcher with the gaming outfit. A score for the in-person, live-action game may then be updated based on the shot hit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of facilitating scoring for an in-person, live-action game involving a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 determining, by a gaming outfit worn by a first player of the plurality of players, a shot hit against the first player based at least in part on detection of an impact of a projectile fired by a projectile launcher of a second player of the plurality of players with the gaming outfit; and   after determining the shot hit, providing feedback regarding the shot hit via a feedback sensor of the gaming outfit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback sensor comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and wherein said providing feedback comprises causing the one or more LEDs to produce a flashing light pattern or a non-flashing light pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a first pattern of the flashing light pattern or the non-flashing light pattern confirms the shot hit and a second pattern of the flashing light pattern or the non-flashing light pattern indicates the shot hit has resulted in elimination of the first player from the in-person, live-action game. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback sensor comprises one or more lights, and wherein said providing feedback comprises causing the one or more lights to produce a flashing light pattern or a non-flashing light pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback sensor comprises a haptic feedback sensor, and wherein said providing feedback comprises causing the haptic feedback sensor to produce vibration. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating a score for the in-person, live-action game based on the shot hit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming outfit includes a communication circuit operable to transmit information to a central server via a communication network and wherein the method further comprises causing real-time information regarding the in-person, live-action game maintained by the central server to be updated by notifying, by the gaming outfit via the communication circuit, the central server of the shot hit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining further comprising differentiating between a legitimate shot hit and a false positive hit from a non-projectile impact. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said differentiating is based at least in part on correlating two or more of:
 identifying information emitted by the projectile launcher;   information indicative of a shot having been fired by the projectile launcher;   a first time at which the shot was fired;   a range of the projectile launcher from the first player; and   a second time at which the impact was detected.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the in-person, live-action game comprises a projectile-tag scoring game. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detection of the impact of the projectile is performed by a piezo electric based impact pad of one or more piezo electric based impact pads associated with the gaming outfit that are capable of detecting physical impact. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming outfit includes one or more of a shirt, a pair of pants, a one-piece jumpsuit, and a helmet, wherein the detection of the impact of the projectile is performed by a piezo electric based impact pad of one or more piezo electric based impact pads associated with one or more of the shirt, the pair of pants, the one-piece jumpsuit, or the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detection of the impact of the projectile is performed based on electrical conductivity of the projectile or a portion of the gaming suit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the in-person, live-action game is played within an enclosed indoor arena including triangulation sensors and wherein the method further comprises determining a location of one or more of the first player and the second player based on information received from the triangulation sensors. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting by the gaming outfit or the projectile launcher that the second player is targeting the first player. 
     
     
         16 . A method of facilitating scoring for an in-person, live-action game involving a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 determining, by a gaming outfit worn by a first player of the plurality of players or a projectile launcher of a second player of the plurality of players, a shot hit by the second player against the first player based at least in part on detection of an impact of a projectile fired by the projectile launcher with the gaming outfit; and   updating a score for the in-person, live-action game based on the shot hit.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising after determining the shot hit, providing feedback regarding the shot hit via a feedback sensor of the gaming outfit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback sensor comprises one or more of a light emitting diode (LED), a light, or a vibrator, and wherein said providing feedback comprises activating the LED, the light, or the vibrator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the detection of the impact of the projectile is performed by a piezo electric based impact pad of one or more piezo electric based impact pads associated with the gaming outfit that are capable of detecting physical impact. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the first player and the second player with one or more of information about the in-person, live-action game, the score, and their respective playing status.