This invention relates to a game device. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a football game device.

One prior art device, the so-called "ShootPad" distributed by Will International Limited, includes a mat, with a football attached thereto. When the user kicks the football, the device is configured to register the speed and direction of the ball. The Shootpad uses sensors for determining the user's foot speed and a joypad for other game functions. This device is used as a controller for a games console executing particular football game software, to provide the user with a more realistic experience for playing those football games. It does not have any usable capability independent of a games console since the game computational processing is carried out by the console. The shootpad device has limited functionality. A user may only work the device as a controller for a games console, which tends to be expensive. Furthermore, the football simulation games tend to be designed for the games console's controller, and may not fully utilize all the functions of the football game device. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device comprising a mat, including a pressure sensor attachable thereto, a ball, attachable to the mat, a movement sensor, associated with the ball, a visual display, arranged to indicate a time period to a user, and an audio output, arranged to indicate a command and/or feedback to the user, such as to kick the ball or to stand on the pressure sensor and preferably to confirm when actions are performed correctly or not. The present invention provides a device for realistic simulation of playing or coaching football. The device includes a visual display and audio output, which is programmed for indicating timing and commands (and/or feedback) to the user. The device therefore provides a unique gaming experience for the user.

The device works independently of any other apparatus (such as a games console). It is therefore not dependent on expensive external devices. Furthermore, the device may includes its own built-in game which could be for example a football simulation game, which utilizes the features of the device.

Preferably, the movement sensor may be arranged to determine a direction and [possibly, speed of the ball. The visual display may include a plurality of lights, such as LEDs, configured to illuminate in an oscillatory manner to indicate the time period to the user. Therefore, the user can more readily understand the time period, and any change in the time period.

Preferably, the device further comprises a housing, attached to the mat, wherein the ball is attachable to the housing and the movement sensor is positioned between the ball and the housing. The housing may further comprise a computational module, for receiving signals from the pressure sensor and the movement sensor, and for controlling the visual display and audio output. Optionally, the computational module is configured to determine if the user has successfully acted upon the command at or in the time period.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a housing and a ball of the embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the housing and the ball of the embodiment of Figure 1 ; and Figure 4 is a view of an underside of the housing of the embodiment of Figure 1 .

A preferred embodiment of a game device 1 of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. As shown in Figure 1 , the game device 1 includes a mat 3, having several pressure sensors 5a, 5b positioned thereon. In this embodiment, two pressure sensors 5a, 5b are provided in axially opposed portions of the mat 3, such that a user, who preferably stands in a central portion of the mat 3, may exert pressure on the pressure sensors 5a, 5b to indicate left or right directional inputs. Accordingly, the pressure sensors 5a, 5b are positioned in left and right portions of the mat 1 .

As shown in more detail in Figure 2, the mat 3 also includes a housing 7, which supports a ball 13. The housing 7 is positioned at a front portion of the mat 3, such that the ball 13 is in front of the user. The housing 7 includes a movement sensor 15, for sensing movement of the ball 13. In this embodiment, the movement sensor 15 includes a receptacle 15a, attached to an underside of the ball 13, which is configured to rotate about an axis passing through the ball's 13 centre. The receptacle 15a therefore pivots or rotates in reaction to a force applied to the ball 13.

The movement sensor 15 further includes an annular sensor (not shown), positioned between the receptacle 15a and the housing 7. The annular sensor is configured to register the point of contact of the receptacle 15a as it pivots due to the force applied to the ball 13. In this embodiment, the annular sensor is split in a plurality of segments, such that contact with any one of those segments produces a signal and therefore registers the point of contact of the receptacle 15a. This point of contact on the annular sensor correlates to the direction of the force applied to the ball 13.

The annular sensor may, for example, register movement of the ball using a mechanical arrangement such as a combination of biasing means (e.g. springs) and switches (e.g. microswitches). Alternatively, it may use optical sensing with a light beam being broken by predetermined features which move when the ball is moved.

Optionally, the annular sensor may be configured to also register the magnitude of the force of contact of the receptacle 15a as it pivots due to the force applied to the ball 13. This correlates to the magnitude of the force applied to the ball 13. The housing 7 further comprises a computational module (not shown) for receiving data relating to the direction and magnitude of the force applied to the ball 13.

The housing 7 includes a visual display 9. In this embodiment, the visual display 9 includes a plurality of LED lights arranged in a linear fashion. The visual display 9 conveys a time period to the user, by illuminating each individual light from the leftmost LED to the rightmost LED in a sequential manner, which defines one time period. The visual display 9 is configured to convey the time period by oscillating between the leftmost and rightmost LED, which assists the user in determining the time period and any change in the time period. The housing 7 also includes a speaker 1 1 , for outputting audio to the user. The audio may be in the form of aural commands to the user, such as to kick the ball in a certain way, step on any of the pressure sensors 5a, 5b, provide feedback on the user's performance or any combination of the same.

The device 1 is controlled by the computational module, which is contained within the housing 7. The computational module is arranged to receive data from the movement sensor 15 and the pressure sensors 5a, 5b, and is arranged to control the speaker 7 and visual display 9. The computational module is associated with memory means, which stores audio files for the speaker 7.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the housing 7 includes a control panel 20 on a rear portion thereof, including a power switch 21 , a plurality of status lights 22a, 22b, a battery compartment 25, and a data port 23, for connection to a further device of the type described herein for multiplayer modes. Ports may also be provided for external headphones and/or speakers.

In use, the user stands on a central portion of the mat 3. The computational module informs the user of a time period by illuminating the visual display 9 as described above. During the time period, the computational module selects a particular audio file and plays the associated aural command through the speaker 1 1 . The user then must perform the necessary action (e.g. stand on a pressure sensor 5a, 5b or kick the ball 13 a certain way) either within the time period, or at the end of the time period. The computational module receives data from the pressure sensor 5a, 5b and the movement sensor 15 to confirm that the action was successfully or unsuccessfully performed in or at the time period.

In an optional embodiment, the device 1 is arranged to play commentary to the user, to inform the user that the action was successfully or unsuccessfully performed in or at the time period. That is, when the computational module receives data from the pressure sensor 5a, 5b and the movement sensor 15 to confirm the action was successful or unsuccessful, the computational module selects an audio file from the memory means containing appropriate commentary. The audio is then played through the speaker 1 1 .

Furthermore, the visual display 9 may be further configured to indicate more information to the user than just the timing. For example, the visual display 9 may indicate the command to the user (in conjunction with the aural command through the speaker 1 1 ) by either flashing or illuminating in a certain colour. In one embodiment, a flashing LED indicates that the user should kick the ball 13, and its colour indicates which direction the user should kick it. The skilled reader will understand that many combinations of visual display and audio output are possible.

As noted above, the colour and flashing nature of the LED's may represent a particular game command For example "Kick" may be represented by flashing LEDs and "Dodge" may be represented by always ON LEDs. Blue may always mean "Right" and Red may always mean "LEFT". The skilled reader will understand that other forms of movement sensor are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the movement sensor may be in the form of one or more accelerometers, configured to produce data relating to the acceleration of the ball for the computational module. Furthermore, a single, or any number of pressure sensors may be provided on the mat.

Thus the device is able to operate as a standalone gaming device without the need for an external games console or display device; thus reducing overall costs and greatly increasing the opportunities to use the device.