Game information, information storage medium and game apparatus

• US 20070015588A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Shingo, Unakami, Takanobu
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

Game information for causing an apparatus similar to a computer to function, the apparatus connected to an input system, the input system comprising: a tablet using an electromagnetic induction method; and a formed object incorporating a coil for performing predetermined communication using an electromagnetic induction method when placed on the tablet, and a memory for storing identification information on the formed object, so that, when the formed object is placed on the tablet, the apparatus obtains from the input system a placed position and direction on the tablet, and identification information on the formed object, wherein the apparatus is caused to function as: a change detecting unit for detecting a change of the placed position and the direction obtained from the input system; a selecting unit for selecting character information corresponding to the identification information obtained from the input system out of a plurality of character information, each of which includes image information on a character imitating a figure of the formed object and is associated with the identification information on the formed object; a character control unit for disposing the character, imitating the figure of the formed object placed on the tablet, in a game space according to the character information selected by the selecting unit, and for controlling motion and movement of the character according to the change detected by the change detecting unit; and an image generating unit for generating an image in the game space including the character controlled by the character control unit.

Claims

1. Game information for causing an apparatus similar to a computer to function, the apparatus connected to an input system, the input system comprising:

a tablet using an electromagnetic induction method; and

a formed object incorporating a coil for performing predetermined communication using an electromagnetic induction method when placed on the tablet, and a memory for storing identification information on the formed object,

so that, when the formed object is placed on the tablet, the apparatus obtains from the input system a placed position and a direction on the tablet, and identification information on the formed object,

wherein the apparatus is caused to function as;

a change detecting unit for detecting a change of the placed position and the direction obtained from the input system;

a selecting unit for selecting character information corresponding to the identification information obtained from the input system out of a plurality of character information, each of which includes image information on a character imitating a figure of the formed object and is associated with the identification information on the formed object;

a character control unit for disposing the character, imitating the figure of the formed object placed on the tablet, in a game space according to the character information selected by the selecting unit, and for controlling motion and movement of the character according to the change detected by the change detecting unit; and

an image generating unit for generating an image in the game space including the character controlled by the character control unit.

2. The game information as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus further functions as a correlating area setting unit for setting in the game space an area correlating with a placement detectable area on the tablet, and wherein the character control unit disposes the character, imitating the figure of the formed object placed on the tablet, at a position in the game space correlating with the placed position obtained from the input system with the direction obtained from the input system with reference to the area in the game space set by the correlating area setting unit.

3. The game information as claimed in claim 2, wherein the correlating area setting unit comprises an area variable unit for making the size of the area in the game space variable, the area set correlating with the placement detectable area on the tablet.

4. The game information as claimed in claim 3, wherein the area variable unit comprises a first variable unit for making the size of the area in the game space variable, the size set according to and corresponding to the character information selected by the selecting unit.

5. The game information as claimed in claim 3, wherein the area variable unit comprises a second variable unit for making the size of the area in the game space variable, the size set according to and corresponding to game progress.

6. The game information as claimed in claim 1, wherein the formed object comprises a pressure detecting part embedded therein for detecting pressure applied thereto from the outside thereof, the input system comprises a detecting unit for detecting the pressure detected by the pressure detecting part with predetermined communication, the apparatus obtains from the input system the pressure detected by the detecting unit, and the character control unit controls motion and movement of the character based on the pressure obtained from the input system.

8. The game information as claimed in claim 1, wherein the change detecting unit comprises a turn detecting unit for detecting a turn direction and/or an amount of turn by detecting a change per predetermined unit time for the direction obtained from the input system, and the character control unit controls motion and movement of the character based on the turn direction and/or the amount of turn detected by the turn detecting unit.

10. The game information as claimed in claim 1, wherein the change detecting unit comprises a speed detecting unit for detecting a speed by detecting a change per predetermined unit time for the placed position obtained from the input system, and the character control unit controls motion and movement of the character based on the speed detected by the speed detecting unit.

12. The game information as claimed in claim 1, wherein the change detecting unit comprises a path detecting unit for detecting a path by detecting a continuous change of the placed position obtained from the input system, and the character control unit controls motion and movement of the character based on the path detected by the path detecting unit.

14. An information storage medium storing the game information as claimed in claim 1, and being readable by the apparatus similar to a computer.

7. Game information for causing an apparatus similar to a computer to function, the apparatus connected to an input system, the input system comprising:

a tablet using an electromagnetic induction method; and

a printed matter, which has a character picture printed on the printing surface thereof, incorporating a coil for performing predetermined communication using an electromagnetic induction method when placed on the tablet, and a memory for storing identification information on the printed matter,

so that, when the printed matter is placed on the tablet, the apparatus obtains from the input system a placed position and a direction on the tablet, and identification information on the printed matter,

wherein the apparatus is caused to function as;

a change detecting unit for detecting a change of the placed position and the direction obtained from the input system;

a selecting unit for selecting character information corresponding to the identification information obtained from the input system from a plurality of character information, each of which includes image information on the character printed on the printed matter and is associated with the identification information on the printed matter;

a character control unit for disposing the character, printed on the printed matter placed on the tablet, in a game space according to the character information selected by the selecting unit, and for controlling motion and movement of the character according to the change detected by the change detecting unit; and

an image generating unit for generating an image in the game space including the character controlled by the character control unit.

9. The game information as claimed in claim 7, wherein the change detecting unit comprises a turn detecting unit for detecting a turn direction and/or an amount of turn by detecting a change per predetermined unit time for the direction obtained from the input system, and the character control unit controls motion and movement of the character based on the turn direction and/or the amount of turn detected by the turn detecting unit.

11. The game information as claimed in claim 7, wherein the change detecting unit comprises a speed detecting unit for detecting a speed by detecting a change per predetermined unit time for the placed position obtained from the input system, and the character control unit controls motion and movement of the character based on the speed detected by the speed detecting unit.

13. The game information as claimed in claim 7, wherein the change detecting unit comprises a path detecting unit for detecting a path by detecting a continuous change of the placed position obtained from the input system, and the character control unit controls motion and movement of the character based on the path detected by the path detecting unit.

15. An information storage medium storing the game information as claimed in claim 7, and being readable by the apparatus similar to a computer.

16. A game apparatus connected to an input system, the input system comprising:

a tablet using an electromagnetic induction method; and

a formed object incorporating a coil for performing predetermined communication with the tablet using an electromagnetic induction method when placed on the tablet, and a memory for storing identification information on the formed object,

so that the apparatus obtains from the input system a placed position and a direction on the tablet, and identification information on the formed object when the formed object is placed on the tablet, the apparatus comprising;

a change detecting unit for detecting a change of the placed position and the direction obtained from the input system;

a selecting unit for selecting character information corresponding to the identification information obtained from the input system out of a plurality of character information, each of which includes image information on a character imitating a figure of the formed object and is associated with the identification information on the formed object;

a character control unit for disposing the character, imitating the figure of the formed object placed on the tablet, in a game space according to the character information selected by the selecting unit, and for controlling motion and movement of the character according to the change detected by the change detecting unit; and

an image generating unit for generating an image in the game space including the character controlled by the character control unit.

17. A game apparatus connected to an input system, the input system comprising:

a tablet using an electromagnetic induction method; and

a printed matter, which has a character picture on a printing surface thereof, incorporating a coil for performing predetermined communication using an electromagnetic induction method when placed on the tablet, and a memory for storing identification information on the printed matter,

so that the apparatus obtains from the input system a placed position and a direction on the tablet, and identification information on the printed matter when the printed matter is placed on the tablet, the apparatus comprising;

a change detecting unit for detecting a change of the placed position and the direction obtained from the input system;

a selecting unit for selecting character information corresponding to the identification information obtained from the input system out of a plurality of character information, each of which includes image information on a character printed on the printed matter and is associated with the identification information on the printed matter;

a character control unit for disposing the character, printed on the printed matter placed on the tablet, in a game space according to the character information selected by the selecting unit, and for controlling motion and movement of the character according to the change detected by the change detecting unit; and

an image generating unit for generating an image in the game space including the character controlled by the character control unit.