Object selecting method

• US 20050192096A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Maehiro, Kazutoyo
• Granted Patent: US 7,878,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

When an upper part of a cross key is operated with a controller, a cursor is moved to an object name above an initial position where the cursor was located in a list, and an icon is moved to a corresponding object in an object display area. When a lower part of the cross key is operated, the cursor is moved to an object name below the initial position, and the icon is moved to the corresponding object in the object display area. When a right part of the cross key is operated, the icon is moved to the object to the right of an initial position where the icon was in the object display area, and the cursor is moved to the corresponding object name in the list. When a left part of the cross key is operated, the icon is moved to the object to the left of the initial position in the object display area, and the cursor is moved to the corresponding object name in the list.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a first operating system that receives a first operation input by a user;

a second operating system that receives a second operation input by the user;

a list display controller that displays a list of object names to be selected by the user on a display system;

an object display controller that displays an object display area where objects are displayed on the display system;

a first selection display controller that selects one of the object names in the list in response to the first operation input to the first operating system, and displays the object corresponding to the selected object name in a form indicating the object is selected when the object corresponding to the selected object name is displayed in the object display area; and

a second selection display controller that selects one of the objects displayed in the object display area in response to the second operation input to the second operating system, and displays the object name corresponding to the selected object in the list in a form indicating the name is selected.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first selection display controller selects the object name in the list based upon a display order in response to the first operation input to the first operating system.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second selection display controller selects the object based upon a positional relationship between the objects to be selected displayed in the object display area.

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

a determining system that determines whether the object corresponding to the object name selected in response to the first operation input to the first operating system is present in the object display area, wherein

the first selection display controller further comprises a system that indicates a direction where the object corresponding to the selected name virtually exists in a game when the determining system determines that the object corresponding to the selected object name is not present in the object display area.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the objects to be selected are divided into a plurality of groups depending on types, the game apparatus further comprising:

a third operating system that receives a third operation input by the user;

a group selection controller that selects one group of the plurality of groups in response to the third operation input to the third operation system, wherein

the first selection display controller selects, from the selected group, the object name in response to the first operation input to the first operating system, and

the second selection display controller selects, from the selected group, the object in response to the second operation input to the second operating system.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the groups comprise at least a group including a user controlled character and friendly objects and a group of enemy objects.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first operating system is positioned on a first line having two ends, and receives a direction corresponding to one of the ends operated by the user,

the first selection display controller selecting the object name based upon the direction received by the first operating system, and

wherein the second operating system is positioned on a second line extending in a direction different from the first line and having two ends, and receives a direction corresponding to one of the ends operated by the user, and

the second selection display controller selecting the object based upon the direction received by the second operating system.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second lines intersect at right angles to one another.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second operating systems are constructed by an operating part positioned within a range in which the user can operate the operating part with a predetermined finger of one hand when the hand is positioned at a predetermined position.

10. An object selecting method executed by a computer of a game apparatus having first and second operating systems that receive input by a user, the method comprising:

displaying a list containing object names to be selected by the user on a predetermined display system;

displaying an object display area where objects are displayed on the display system;

selecting one of the object names in the list in response to a first operation input to the first operating system;

displaying the object corresponding to the selected object name in a form indicating the object is selected when the object corresponding to the selected object name is displayed in the object display area;

selecting one of the objects displayed in the object display area in response to a second operation input to the second operating system; and

displaying the object name corresponding to the selected object in the list in a form indicating the name is selected.

11. The object selecting method according to claim 10, wherein the object name is selected based upon a display order in response to the first operation input to the first operating system.

12. The object selecting method according to claim 10, wherein the object is selected based upon a positional relationship between the objects to be selected displayed in the object display area.

13. The object selecting method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether the object corresponding to the object name selected in response to the first operation input to the first operating system is present in the object display area, and

displaying a direction where the object corresponding to the selected name virtually exists in a game when it is determined that the object corresponding to the selected object name is not present in the object display area.

14. The object selecting method according to claim 10, wherein the objects to be selected are divided into a plurality of groups depending on types, the method further comprising:

selecting one of the groups in response to a third operation input to a third operation system that receives input by the user;

selecting the object name in response to the first operation input to the first operating system in the selected group; and

selecting the object in response to the second operation input to the second operating system in the selected group.

15. The object selecting method according to claim 14, wherein the groups comprise a group including a user controlled character and corresponding friendly objects and a group of enemy objects.

16. The object selecting method according to claim 10, wherein

the first operating system is positioned on a first line having two ends, and receives a direction corresponding to one of the ends operated by the user,

the object name being selected based upon the direction received by the first operating system, and

wherein the second operating system is positioned on a second line extending in a direction different from the first line and having two ends, and receives a direction corresponding to one of the ends operated by the user,

the object being selected based upon the direction received by the second operating system.

17. The object selecting method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second lines intersect at right angles to one another.

18. The object selecting method according to claim 10, wherein the first and second operating systems are constructed by an operating part positioned within a range in which the user can operate the operating part with a predetermined finger of one hand when the hand is positioned at a predetermined position.

19. A recording medium on which is recorded a program executed by a computer of a game apparatus having first and second operating systems that receive input by a user, the program causing the computer to execute:

displaying a list containing object names to be selected by the user on a predetermined display system;

displaying an object display area where objects are displayed on the display system;

selecting one of the object names in the list in response to a first operation input to the first operating system;

displaying the object corresponding to the selected object name in a form indicating the object is selected when the object corresponding to the selected object name is displayed in the object display area;

selecting one of the objects displayed in the object display area in response to a second operation input to the second operating system; and

displaying the object name corresponding to the selected object in the list in a form indicating the name is selected.

20. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the object name is selected based upon a display order in response to the first operation input to the first operating system.

21. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the object is selected based upon a positional relationship between the objects to be selected displayed in the object display area.

22. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the program causes the computer to further execute:

determining whether the object corresponding to the object name selected in response to the first operation input to the first operating system is present in the object display area, and

displaying a direction where the object corresponding to the selected name virtually exists in a game when it is determined that the object corresponding to the selected object name is not present in the object display area.

23. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the objects to be selected are divided into a plurality of groups depending on types, and wherein the program further causes the computer to execute:

selecting one of the groups in response to a third operation input to a third operation system that receives input from the user;

selecting the object name in response to the first operation input to the first operating system in the selected group; and

selecting the object in response to the second operation input to the second operating system in the selected group.

24. The recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the groups comprise a group including a user controlled character and corresponding friendly objects and a group of enemy objects.

25. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein

the first operating system is positioned on a first line having two ends, and receives a direction corresponding to one of the ends operated by the user,

the object name being selected based upon the direction received by the first operating system, and

wherein the second operating system is positioned on a second line extending in a direction different from the first line and having two ends, and receives a direction corresponding to one of the ends operated by the user,

the object being selected based upon the direction received by the second operating system.

26. The recording medium according to claim 25, wherein the first and second lines intersect at right angles to one another.

27. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the first and second operating systems are constructed by an operating part positioned within a range in which the user can operate the operating part with a predetermined finger of one hand when the hand is positioned at a predetermined position.