Game for moving an object on a screen in response to movement of an operation article

• US 20050124413A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ueshima, Hiromu
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking

Abstract

Since a cursor displayed on a screen of a television monitor moves in conjunction with a motion of an operation article operated by a player, intuitive operation can be possible so that the player can play a game easily. A mermaid displayed on the screen follows the cursor when the player moves the cursor by operating the operation article. In this way, the player operates the mermaid indirectly and avoids obstacle objects and obstacle images.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising;

a stroboscope operable to direct light onto a operation article at predetermined intervals;

a imaging device operable to image said operation article with and without light emitted from said stroboscope, and generate a lighted image signal and a non-lighted image signal;

a differential signal generating unit operable to generate a differential signal between said lighted image signal and said non-lighted image signal;

a state information calculating unit operable to calculate state information of said operation article on the basis of said differential signal;

a coupled object control unit operable to control display of a coupled object which moves as said operation article moves in accordance with said state information of said operation article;

a restrictive image control unit operable to control a restrictive image which limits movement of said coupled object.

4. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a game managing unit operable to manage information indicating whether a player can continue a game and ends the game in accordance with said information.

6. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said restrictive image control unit comprises;

a background image control unit operable to control background scroll; and

wherein said background image includes said restrictive image.

8. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said restrictive image control unit comprises

a restrictive object control unit operable to control a restrictive object which consists of a single sprite or a plurality of sprites as said restrictive image.

10. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said restrictive image is an image constructing a maze.

12. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when said coupled object touches or enters an area where said restrictive image is displayed, a game is over.

14. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said state information of said operation article derived by said state information calculating unit includes any one of speed information, movement direction information, movement distance information, velocity vector information, acceleration information, motion path information, area information and location information, or a combination thereof.

16. An operation article operated by a player of said game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising;

a stick gripper held by said player; and

a reflecting portion which is attached to one end of said stick gripper and retroreflects light.

2. A game apparatus comprising;

a stroboscope operable to direct light onto a operation article at predetermined intervals;

a imaging device operable to image said operation article with and without light emitted from said stroboscope, and generate a lighted image signal and a non-lighted image signal;

a differential signal generating unit operable to generate a differential signal between the lighted image signal and the non-lighted image signal;

a state information calculating unit operable to calculate state information of said operation article;

a cursor control unit operable to control display of a cursor indicating location of said operation article on a screen;

a following object control unit operable to control display of a following object which follows said cursor on the basis of a coordinate information of said cursor.

3. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a restrictive image control unit operable to control a restrictive image which limits movement of the following object.

5. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a game managing unit operable to manage information indicating whether a player can continue a game and ends the game in accordance with said information.

7. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said restrictive image control unit comprises;

a background image control unit operable to control background scroll; and

wherein said background image includes said restrictive image.

9. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said restrictive image control unit comprises

a restrictive object control unit operable to control a restrictive object which consists of a single sprite or a plurality of sprites as said restrictive image.

11. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said restrictive image is an image constructing a maze.

13. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein, when said following object touches or enters an area where said restrictive image is displayed, a game is over.

15. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said state information of said operation article derived by said state information calculating unit includes any one of speed information, movement direction information, movement distance information, velocity vector information, acceleration information, motion path information, area information and location information, or a combination thereof.

17. An operation article operated by a player of said game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising;

a stick gripper held by said player; and

a reflecting portion which is attached to one end of said stick gripper and retroreflects light.

18. A game program which enables a computer to perform a process, said process comprising:

a step of directing light onto an operation article at predetermined intervals;

a step of imaging said operation article with and without light emitted, and generating a lighted and a non-lighted image signal;

a step of generating a differential signal between said lighted image signal and said non-lighted image signal;

a step of calculating state information of said operation article;

a step of controlling display of a coupled object which moves as said operation article moves in accordance with said state information of said operation article; and

a step of controlling a restrictive image which limits movement of said coupled object.

19. A game program which enables a computer to perform a process, said process comprising;

a step of directing light onto an operation article at predetermined intervals;

a step of imaging said operation article with and without light emitted, and generating a lighted and a non-lighted image signal;

a step of generating a differential signal between said lighted image signal and said non-lighted image signal;

a step of calculating state information of said operation article;

a step of controlling display of a cursor which indicates location of said operation article on a screen on the basis of said state information; and

a step of controlling display of a following object which follows said cursor on the basis of coordinate information of said cursor.