Game apparatus, storage medium, game controlling method and game system

• US 10,183,216 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kawamoto, Kouichi, Tsugihashi, Kanako, Takahashi, Ryutaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US15/600,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20170252640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

A game apparatus includes a micon, and the micon measures step counts in correspondence with the magnitude of accelerations indicated by acceleration data from an acceleration sensor when a user carries the game apparatus in a sleep mode in which the apparatus is closed. The step counts are converted into earned coins. In each of a plurality of games executed by the game apparatus, by using the earned coins, a special item is purchased, playing in a special course is permitted, a hint is displayed, and a game is played in fast-forward.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising an input device, the apparatus configured to at least:

measure step counts using a motion detection device;

store the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advance the game on the basis of an input from said input device; and

advance the game by using the measured step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the measured step counts.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said step counts in said game are used on the basis of an input from said input device, and

game processing for advancing the game is executed on the basis of an input from said input device when said step counts are not used, and support processing for advancement of said game in addition to said game processing is executed when said step counts are used.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

information being a hint for advancement of said game is output when said step counts are used.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

processing of shortening a time required for advancing said game is executed when said step counts are used.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

convert the measured step counts into a step count correlation value correlating with said step counts and accumulate the step count correlation value; and

utilize said accumulated step count correlation value.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

utilize said step count correlation value in said game in a case that said step count correlation value is equal to or more than a predetermined value; and

perform a subtraction on said step count correlation value when said step count correlation value is utilized in said game.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

switch between an unused state and a used state of said game apparatus;

determine whether or not said used state switches to said unused state; and

measure step counts when a shift to said unused state is determined.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

switch between a power saving mode and a normal mode; and

determine whether or not said used state shifts to said unused state by determining whether or not said normal mode shifts to said power saving mode.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

disable said advancement of said game; and

switch from said used state to said unused state when said advancement of said game is disabled.

10. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

a game apparatus body has an openable and closeable mechanism, the apparatus is further configured to:

switch between a closed state and an opened state of said game apparatus body, and

determine whether or not said used state shifts to said unused state by determining whether or not said game apparatus body shifts from the opened state to the closed state.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device, wherein

said communication device automatically executes communication processing while step counts are measured.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said communication device automatically makes a search for another game apparatus, and automatically transmits and receives data with said other game apparatus when it is searched.

13. The game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said communication device automatically makes a search for an access point, and automatically transmits and receives data via said access point when it is searched.

21. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein advancing the game comprises at least one of providing a hint to supplement progress of the game, supporting development of one or more features of a game character, allowing one or more items to be purchased, and/or allowing one or more courses to be accessible.

22. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the game apparatus is configured to measure step count data using the motion detection device when the apparatus is in a low power or standby mode.

23. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the step count data is accessible by a plurality of game programs and the game programs can utilize the step count data to supplement advancement of the game programs.

24. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measured step counts stored in the memory are represented as a first value and the game is advanceable using the first value representative of the measured step counts stored in the memory.

14. A game apparatus comprising an input device, the apparatus configured to at least:

acquire steps counts counted using a motion detection device;

store the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advance the game on the basis of an input from said input device; and

advance the game by using the acquired step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the acquired step counts.

15. A non-transitory storage medium comprising a game program of a game apparatus having an input device, said game program causes a computer of said game apparatus to:

measure step counts using a motion detection device;

store the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advance the game on the basis of an input from said input device; and

advance the game by using the measured step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the measured step counts.

16. A non-transitory storage medium comprising a game program of a game apparatus having an input device, said game program causes a computer of said game apparatus to:

acquire steps counts counted using a motion detection device;

store the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advance the game on the basis of an input from said input device; and

advance the game by using the acquired step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the acquired step counts.

17. A game controlling method of a game apparatus having an input device, the method comprising:

measuring step counts using a motion detection device;

storing the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advancing the game on the basis of the input from said input device; and

advancing the game by using the measured step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the measured step counts.

18. A game controlling method of a game apparatus having an input device, the method comprising:

acquiring step counts counted using a motion detection device;

storing the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advancing the game on the basis of the input from said input device; and

advancing the game by using the acquired step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the acquired step counts.

19. A game system having an input device, the system comprising:

a processing system having at least one processor, the processing system configured to at least;

measure step counts using a motion detection device;

store the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advance the game on the basis of an input from said input device; and

advance the game by using the measured step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the measured step counts.

20. A game system comprising:

a game apparatus having an input device and a pedometer counting step counts, said game apparatus configured to at least;

acquire steps counts counted using the pedometer;

store the measured step counts in a memory, the step counts stored in the memory being accessible by a plurality of application programs that include at least a game;

advance the game on the basis of an input from said input device; and

advance the game by using the acquired step counts during execution of the game, said game being advanceable independently from the acquired step counts.