Game device, and game system

• US 20030078086A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Shinichi, Matsuyama, Shigenobu, Niihama, Naoki
• Granted Patent: US 6,767,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0015 for cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 : for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6669 : using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 : Ball

Abstract

A golf game device that generates a natural interest in golf without taking up a large amount of space. A player swings a grip which is shaped like the grip of a golf club. On a first monitor, a virtual club head moving in accordance with the movement of the grip is displayed. An imaginary shaft extends from the grip, and the virtual club head is displayed as if it were attached to the end of the shaft. The player takes aim at his target direction (to which a ball is to be hit) by viewing scenery displayed on a second monitor, and hits a ball displayed in his underfoot view on the first monitor. The front view and underfoot view change according to the position where a virtual player stands in the game space. Accordingly, the player can play with the sense that he is actually playing a golf course.

Claims

1. A game device in which a real interface device operated by a player within a real space is represented by a virtual interface device in a virtual space, the game device comprising:

position detection means for detecting the position of the real interface device within the real space, wherein the real interface device is shaped like a virtual contact unit;

conversion means for converting the detected real position of the real interface device into a virtual position within the virtual space that is a virtual position of a virtual contact unit within the virtual space;

calculating means for calculating the virtual position of the virtual operation unit based on the virtual position of the virtual contact unit; and

operating means for moving the virtual operation unit within the virtual space so that its movement follows the movement of the real interface device within the real space, which causes the real position of the real interface device to be detected by the position detective means, the virtual position of the virtual contact unit to be calculated by the converting means, and the virtual position of the virtual operation unit to be calculated by the calculating means, executed repeatedly;

wherein the virtual interface device in the game device includes the virtual contact unit and the virtual operation unit, the virtual contact unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that a virtual player who manipulates the virtual interface device contacts in order to operate the virtual interface device, and the virtual operation unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that gives action on an object operated by the virtual interface device.

2. The game device set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

display means for displaying the virtual operation unit; and

position determining means for determining a display position at which the virtual operation unit is displayed by utilizing the display means, based on the virtual position of the virtual operation unit.

3. The game device set forth in claim 2, wherein the real interface device and the virtual interface are configured to be somewhat long, and

the game device further including twist detecting means for detecting a twist angle at which the real interface device rotates from the standard position around the axis of the real interface device;

and

the operating means displays by utilizing the display means the virtual operation unit of the virtual interface device that rotates at the twist angle around the axis of the virtual interface device.

4. The game device set forth in claim 3, wherein the twist detecting means calculates the twist angle of the real interface device based on signals outputted from acceleration sensor installed on the real interface device.

5. The game device set forth in claim 2, wherein the game device is a golf game device, and further comprising:

front displaying means for displaying scenery in front of the player, wherein ‘

front’

is the direction in which the virtual player is to hit the ball; and

the displaying means further displays scenery at the virtual player'"'"'s feet.

6. The game device set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

display controlling means for generating an underfoot view and a front view and for displaying them by utilizing the displaying means and the front displaying means, wherein the views are from the virtual player'"'"'s viewpoint that is calculated from the virtual position of the virtual contact unit; and

underfoot view storing means for storing an underfoot view whose resolution is higher than that of an underfoot view generated by the display controlling means; and

the display controlling means controls the underfoot views so that the underfoot view stored in the underfoot view storing means is displayed on behalf of the underfoot view generated by the display controlling means.

7. The game device set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

display controlling means for displaying an underfoot view and a front view by utilizing the displaying means and the front displaying means, wherein the views are from the virtual player'"'"'s viewpoint (hereinafter, virtual viewpoint) that is calculated based on the virtual position of the virtual contact unit; and

view controlling means for shifting a viewpoint for catching the front view from the virtual viewpoint, wherein the shift is executed whether the front view that is to be displayed by utilizing the front display means is close to or far from the virtual player.

8. The game device set forth in claim 1, wherein the position detecting means further comprising:

at least a pair of light-detecting means for detecting light from light emitting means or light reflecting means; and

measuring means for measuring the position of the light emitting means or the light reflecting means and outputting the measurement result to the conversion means;

wherein the light emitting means and/or the light reflecting means are installed on the real interface device.

9. The game device set forth in claim 1, wherein the calculating means determines the virtual position of the virtual operation unit by regarding it as a position at which a straight line intersects with the ground of the virtual space;

wherein the line goes through the virtual position of the virtual contact unit, and is at an angle (hereinafter, virtual inclination angle φ

) with standard plane in the virtual space.

10. The game device set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

inclination detecting means for detecting a real inclination angle between the real interface device and the standard plane in the real space; and

the calculating means calculates the virtual position of the virtual operation unit by regarding the real inclination angle detected as the virtual inclination angle θ

.

11. The game device set forth in claim 10, wherein the inclination detecting means calculates the real inclination angle of the real interface device based on signals outputted from an acceleration sensor installed in the real interface device.

12. The game device set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

trajectory storing means for storing the virtual positions of the virtual operation unit taken at predetermined time intervals Δ

T₁;

area determining means for determining whether the newest virtual position of the virtual operation unit stored is in a hit area in which the object operated by the virtual interface device exists;

stay determining means for determining whether the virtual operation unit has been consecutively existing for prescribed stay time Ts or more, based on the virtual positions stored, when the newest virtual position of the virtual operation unit exists in the hit area; and

addressing means for determining that the player is addressing the ball when the virtual operation unit has been in consecutive existence in the hit area for the prescribed stay time Ts or greater.

13. The game device set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

passage determining means for determining whether the virtual operation unit has passed through the hit area when the player has addressed the ball;

speed determining means for determining whether passage time is less than or equal to the prescribed passage time Tp, when the virtual operation unit has passed through the hit area;

operation determining means for determining whether the player has manipulated the object by the virtual interface device, when the passage time is or under the prescribed passage time Tp.

14. The game device set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

trajectory determining means for determining the trajectory of the virtual operation unit in the hit area based on the data stored in the trajectory storing means, when the operation determining means determines that the player has manipulated the object; and

trajectory calculating means for calculating the trajectory on which the object has moved, based on the trajectory of the virtual operation unit.

15. The game device set forth in claim 13, wherein the real interface device and the virtual interface device is configured to be somewhat long, and the game device further comprises:

twist detecting means for detecting a twist angle at which the real interface device rotates from standard position around the longitudinal axis of the real interface device;

trajectory determining means for determining the trajectory of the virtual operation unit in the hit area based on the data stored in the trajectory storing means, when the operation determining means determines the player has manipulated the object; and

trajectory calculating means for calculating the trajectory on which the object has moved, based on the trajectory of the virtual operation unit and the twist angle detected.

16. The game device set forth in claim 13, wherein the operation determining means determines the player has manipulated the object, when the distance between the trajectory of the virtual operation unit and the object is within an allowable range and the passage time is or under the prescribed passage Tp.

17. A game method employed in a game device in which a real interface operated by a player within in a real space is represented by a virtual interface device within a virtual interface device, the game method comprising the steps of:

detecting the position of the real interface device within the real space, wherein the real interface device is shaped like a virtual contact unit;

converting the detected real position of the real interface device into a virtual position within the virtual space that is a virtual position of a virtual contact unit within the virtual space;

calculating the virtual position of the virtual operation unit based on the virtual position of the virtual contact unit; and

moving the virtual operation unit within the virtual space so that its movement follows the movement of the real interface device within the real space, which repeatedly causes the real position of the real interface device to be detected by the position detective means, the virtual position of the virtual contact unit to be calculated by the converting means, and the virtual position of the virtual operation unit to be calculated by the calculating means;

wherein the virtual interface device in the game device includes the virtual contact unit and the virtual operation unit, the virtual contact unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that a virtual player who manipulates the virtual interface device contacts in order to operate the virtual interface device, the virtual operation unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that gives action on an object operated by the virtual interface device.

18. A game program employed in a game device in which a real interface operated by a player within in a real space is represented by the virtual interface device within a virtual interface device, the game program causing a computer to execute the steps of:

detecting the position of the real interface device within the real space, wherein the real interface device is shaped like a virtual contact unit;

converting the detected real position of the real interface device into a virtual position within the virtual space that is a virtual position of a virtual contact unit within the virtual space;

calculating the virtual position of the virtual operation unit based on the virtual position of the virtual contact unit; and

moving the virtual operation unit within the virtual space so that its movement follows the movement of the real interface device within the real space, which repeatedly causes the real position of the real interface device to be detected by the position detective means, the virtual position of the virtual contact unit to be calculated by the converting means, and the virtual position of the virtual operation unit to be calculated by the calculating means;

wherein the virtual interface device in the game device includes the virtual contact unit and the virtual operation unit, the virtual contact unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that a virtual player who manipulates the virtual interface device contacts in order to operate the virtual interface device, the virtual operation unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that gives action on an object operated by the virtual interface device.

19. A game system in which a real interface device operated by a player within a real space is represented by a virtual interface device within a virtual space, comprising:

the real interface device configured to be shaped like a virtual contact unit;

position detection means for detecting the position of the real interface device within the real space;

conversion means for converting the detected real position of the real interface device into a virtual position within the virtual space that is a virtual position of a virtual contact unit within the virtual space;

calculating means for calculating the virtual position of the virtual operation unit based on the virtual position of the virtual contact unit; and

operating means for moving the virtual operation unit within the virtual space so that its movement follows the movement of the real interface device within the real space, which repeatedly causes the real position of the real interface device to be detected by the position detective means, the virtual position of the virtual contact unit to be calculated by the converting means, and the virtual position of the virtual operation unit to be calculated by the calculating means;

wherein the virtual interface device in the game device includes the virtual contact unit and the virtual operation unit, the virtual contact unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that a virtual player who manipulates the virtual interface device contacts in order to operate the virtual interface device, the virtual operation unit is a portion of the virtual interface device that gives action on an object operated by the virtual interface device.