Game system and game program medium

• US 20050245315A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimizu, Takao, Koizumi, Yoshiaki, Hayakawa, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• 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 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A game system is composed by connecting a game apparatus with a monitor and a percussion type controller. A game player beats a first beating operation surface or a second beating operation surface to input an operation signal from the controller to the game apparatus. In the game apparatus, in response to the operation signal, a player character in a virtual world displayed on the monitor is moved in a left or a right direction. Furthermore, when a sound input by clapping, and so on in the vicinity of a microphone of the controller is present, the game apparatus generates a shock wave from a position of the player character. By the shock wave, a predetermined change such as returning an enemy character to its initial position, gathering fairies in a form of block, and so forth occurs.

Claims

1. A game system for advancing a game by causing a first character to appear in a virtual world on the basis of a game program, comprising:

a controller having a first operation surface and a second operation surface each of which is subjected to elastic deformation by a beating operation with a hand of a player for outputting an operation signal according to said beating operation,

a first processing means for executing a first movement of said first character in response to said operation signal from said controller,

a sound input means for inputting a sound, and

a second processing means for generating a predetermined change in said virtual world when a sound input is present from said sound input means.

2. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said first operation surface and said second operation surface have a size including a circle having a diameter of 3 cm when viewed from a plane.

3. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said controller imitates a shape of percussion.

4. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said first processing means neglects said operation signal from said controller being continuous within a predetermined time interval.

5. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said sound input means is provided on said controller.

6. A game system according to claim 5, wherein said sound input means is provided in proximity to said first operation surface and said second operation surface.

7. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said controller includes a first housing for supporting the first operation surface, a second housing for supporting the second operation surface, and a connecting portion for connecting said first housing and said second housing, and

said sound input means includes a microphone provided on said connecting portion.

8. A game system according to claim 5, wherein said second processing means neglects, when the operation signal is present from said controller, a sound input from said sound input means within a predetermined time period from said operation signal from said controller.

9. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said second processing means includes a movement means for executing a second movement relating to said first character when said sound input is present.

10. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said first processing means moves said first character in said virtual world depending on at least an operation signal by a beating operation on said first operation surface and an operation signal by a beating operation on said second operation surface from said controller.

11. A game system according to claim 10, wherein said first processing means includes a first movement means for moving said first character to a first direction according to an operation signal by a beating operation on said first operation surface and a second movement means for moving said first character to a second direction according to an operation signal by a beating operation on said second operation surface.

12. A game system according to claim 10, further comprising a second character generating means for causing said second character to appear in a predetermined position of said virtual world, wherein

said second processing means generates a predetermined change according to a relative positional relationship in the virtual world between said first character and said second character in said virtual world when said sound input is present.

13. A game system according to claim 12, wherein said first processing means includes a third movement means for moving said first character when neither of an operation signal by a beating operation on the first operation surface nor an operation signal by a beating operation on the second operation surface is present.

14. A game system according to claim 12, wherein said second processing means performs a predetermined process in association with said second character existing within said predetermined area, taking a position of said first character in said virtual world when said sound input is present as a reference.

15. A game system according to claim 12, further comprising a third processing means for controlling a movement of said second character, wherein

said second processing means changes the movement of said second character by said third processing means in association with said second character existing within said predetermined area, taking a position of said first character in said virtual world when said sound input is present as a reference.

16. A game system according to claim 15, wherein,

said second character generating means causes said second character to appear in an initial position of said virtual world,

said third processing means moves said second character from said initial position toward said first character, and

said second processing means returns said second character to said initial position as to said second character existing within said predetermined area, taking a position of said first character in said virtual world when said sound input is present as a reference.

17. A recording medium recording a game program causing a game system provided with a controller for outputting an operation signal according to a beating operation and a sound input means to execute a game where a first character appears in a virtual world, wherein

said game program causes said game system to function as a first processing means for executing a first movement of said first character in response to said operation signal from said controller, and as a second processing means for causing a predetermined change in said virtual world when a sound input is present from said sound input means.

18. A recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said first processing means moves said first character within said virtual world according to at least an operation signal by a beating operation on the first operation surface and an operation signal by a beating operation on the second operation surface from said controller.

19. A recording medium according to claim 17, wherein

said game program further causes said game system to function as a second character generating means for causing said second character to appear in a predetermined position of said virtual world, and as a second processing means for generating a predetermined change in said virtual world according to a relative positional relationship between said first character and said second character in said virtual world when said sound input is present.