Information processing apparatus and storage medium having information processing program stored thereon

• US 20070266181A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Watanabe, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/42 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device

Abstract

An information processing apparatus calculates or obtains inclination data which changes in accordance with the inclination of an input device, from the operation data obtained from the input device. The operation data includes at least one of data on a taken image taken by the imaging means, data representing predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, data representing a direction connecting the two positions, and inclination data representing an inclination of the input device which is calculated based on the direction. The information processing apparatus replaces an object (panel, etc.) displayed on a screen with another object based on the inclination data and displays the replacement result.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for obtaining operation data from an input device, including imaging means for taking an image of an imaging target, and displaying a result of game processing executed in accordance with the operation data on a screen of a display device, wherein the operation data includes at least one of data on a taken image taken by the imaging means, data representing predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, data representing a direction connecting the two positions, and inclination data representing an inclination of the input device which is calculated based on the direction, the information processing apparatus comprising:

inclination data calculation means for calculating or obtaining the inclination data representing the inclination of the input device from the operation data obtained from the input device; and

replacement means for replacing an object displayed on the screen with another object based on the inclination data and displaying the replacement result.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replacement means replaces positions of a plurality of objects displayable on the screen.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the operation data includes at least one of the data on the taken image taken by the imaging means, the data representing the predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, and data representing a position of the imaging target in the taken image; and

the information processing apparatus further comprises;

indicated position calculation means for calculating an indicated position on the screen indicated by the input device from the operation data; and

selection means for selecting a plurality of target objects as replacement targets from the plurality of objects displayable on the screen using the indicated position; and

the replacement means replaces positions of the plurality of target objects.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection means selects a plurality of objects included in a predetermined area including the indicated position as the target objects.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

a plurality of object group images representing an object group including a plurality of objects are displayed on the screen; and

the selection means determines whether or not one of the plurality of object group images overlaps the indicated position at a predetermined timing, and selects the plurality of objects corresponding to the object group image overlapping the indicated position as the target objects.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the selection means determines whether or not one of the plurality of objects displayed on the screen overlaps the indicated position at a predetermined timing, and selects the object overlapping the indicated position as the target object; and

when a plurality of objects are selected as the target objects, the replacement means replaces positions of the target objects.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the replacement means replaces the positions of the plurality of objects by rotating the plurality of objects around an axis at a center of display positions thereof.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replacement means replaces the objects based on a change in the inclination of the input device represented by the inclination data during a predetermined time period.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the input device includes at least one operation key which can be pressed;

the operation data further includes key data which indicates whether or not the operation key is pressed; and

the replacement means determines the predetermined time period based on the key data.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the replacement means replaces the positions of the plurality of objects in a circulating manner; and

the replacement by the replacement means is executed by a number of times corresponding to a change amount in the inclination during the predetermined time period.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replacement means replaces the objects based on a change in the inclination which is represented by the inclination data with respect to a predetermined reference direction.

12. A game apparatus for obtaining operation data from an input device, including imaging means for taking an image of an imaging target and at least one operation key which can be pressed, and executing game processing executed in accordance with the operation data, wherein the operation data includes first data, which is at least one of data on a taken image taken by the imaging means, data representing predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, data representing a vector connecting the two positions, and inclination data representing an inclination of the input device which is calculated based on the vector, and second data which indicates whether or not the operation key is pressed, the game apparatus comprising:

operation data obtaining means for sequentially obtaining the operation data;

inclination calculation means for sequentially calculating or obtaining the inclination of the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

indicated position calculation means for sequentially calculating an indicated position on a screen indicated by the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

key input determination means for determining whether or not the operation key is pressed based on the second data included in the operation data;

operation target setting means for setting, as operation targets, puzzle elements located in a predetermined area including a position in a game space corresponding to the indicated position at the timing when the operation key is pressed, among a plurality of puzzle elements located in the game space and classified into a plurality of types;

storage means for storing the inclination of the input device at the timing when the operation key is pressed;

change amount calculation means for sequentially calculating a change amount in the inclination, calculated by the inclination calculation means, with respect to the inclination stored on the storage means while the operation is pressed;

rotation means for rotating the puzzle elements as the operation targets by a rotation amount obtained based on the change amount;

approximation means for approximating the change amount at the timing when the operation key is released to a rotation amount when positions of the puzzle elements as the operation targets are replaced in a circulating manner;

replacement means for replacing the positions of the puzzle elements as the operation targets in a circulating manner by rotating the puzzle elements by the approximated rotation amount;

deletion means for, when at least a predetermined number of puzzle elements classified into an identical group are arranged in a line in the game space as a result of the positions of the puzzle elements being replaced by the replacement means, deleting the puzzle elements arranged in the line; and

display control means for sequentially causing a display device to sequentially display an image of the game space including the puzzle elements.

13. A letter input acceptance apparatus for obtaining operation data from an input device, including imaging means for taking an image of an imaging target, a first operation key and a second operation key, and accepting a letter input in accordance with the operation data, wherein the operation data includes first data, which is at least one of data on a taken image taken by the imaging means, data representing predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, data representing a vector connecting the two positions, and inclination data representing an inclination of the input device which is calculated based on the vector, and second data which indicates whether or not the operation key is pressed, the letter input acceptance apparatus comprising:

operation data obtaining means for sequentially obtaining the operation data;

inclination calculation means for sequentially calculating or obtaining the inclination of the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

indicated position calculation means for sequentially calculating an indicated position on a screen indicated by the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

key input determination means for determining whether or not the operation key is pressed based on the second data included in the operation data;

first display control means for causing a display device to display a plurality of letter group images representing a letter group including a plurality of letters;

second display control means for causing the display device to display a plurality of letter images each representing a letter included in the letter group represented by the letter group image which overlaps the indicated position at the timing when the first operation key is pressed, such that the plurality of letter images have a predetermined positional relationship;

replacement means for replacing positions of the plurality of letter images based on the inclination calculated by the inclination calculation means;

input acceptance means for, when the second operation key is pressed, accepting an input of a letter represented by the letter image displayed at a predetermined position among the plurality of letter images; and

third display control means for causing the display device to display the letter accepted by the input acceptance means.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon an information processing program executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus for obtaining operation data from an input device, including imaging means for taking an image of an imaging target, and displaying a result of game processing executed in accordance with the operation data on a screen of a display device, wherein the operation data includes at least one of data on a taken image taken by the imaging means, data representing predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, data representing a direction connecting the two positions, and inclination data representing an inclination of the input device which is calculated based on the direction, the information processing program causing the computer to execute:

an inclination data calculation step of calculating or obtaining the inclination data representing the inclination of the input device from the operation data obtained from the input device; and

a replacement step of replacing an object displayed on the screen with another object based on the inclination data and displaying the replacement result.

15. A storage medium according to claim 14, wherein in the replacement step, the computer replaces positions of a plurality of objects displayable on the screen.

16. A storage medium according to claim 15, wherein:

the operation data includes at least one of the data on the taken image taken by the imaging means, the data representing the predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, and data representing a position of the imaging target in the taken image; and

the information processing program further causes the computer to execute;

an indicated position calculation step of calculating an indicated position on the screen indicated by the input device from the operation data; and

a selection step of selecting a plurality of target objects as replacement targets from the plurality of objects displayable on the screen using the indicated position; and

in the replacement step, the computer replaces positions of the plurality of target objects.

17. A storage medium according to claim 16, wherein in the selection step, the computer selects a plurality of objects included in a predetermined area including the indicated position as the target objects.

18. A storage medium according to claim 16, wherein:

a plurality of object group images representing an object group including a plurality of objects are displayed on the screen; and

in the selection step, the computer determines whether or not one of the plurality of object group images overlaps the indicated position at a predetermined timing, and selects the plurality of objects corresponding to the object group image overlapping the indicated position as the target objects.

19. A storage medium according to claim 16, wherein:

in the selection step, the computer determines whether or not one of the plurality of objects displayed on the screen overlaps the indicated position at a predetermined timing, and selects the object overlapping the indicated position as the target object; and

in the replacement step, when a plurality of objects are selected as the target objects, the computer replaces positions of the target objects.

20. A storage medium according to claim 15, wherein in the replacement step, the computer replaces the positions of the plurality of objects by rotating the plurality of objects around an axis at a center of display positions thereof.

21. A storage medium according to claim 14, wherein in the replacement step, the computer replaces the objects based on a change in the inclination of the input device represented by the inclination data during a predetermined time period.

22. A storage medium according to claim 21, wherein:

the input device includes at least one operation key which can be pressed;

the operation data further includes key data which indicates whether or not the operation key is pressed; and

in the replacement step, the computer determines the predetermined time period based on the key data.

23. A storage medium according to claim 21, wherein:

in the replacement step, the computer replaces the positions of the plurality of objects in a circulating manner; and

the replacement in the replacement step is executed by a number of times corresponding to a change amount in the inclination during the predetermined time period.

24. A storage medium according to claim 14, wherein in the replacement step, the computer replaces the objects based on a change in the inclination which is represented by the inclination data with respect to a predetermined reference direction.

25. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program executable by a computer of a game apparatus for obtaining operation data from an input device, including imaging means for taking an image of an imaging target and at least one operation key which can be pressed, and executing game processing executed in accordance with the operation data, wherein the operation data includes first data, which is at least one of data on a taken image taken by the imaging means, data representing predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, data representing a vector connecting the two positions, and inclination data representing an inclination of the input device which is calculated based on the vector, and second data which indicates whether or not the operation key is pressed, the game program causing the computer to execute:

an operation data obtaining step of sequentially obtaining the operation data;

an inclination calculation step of sequentially calculating or obtaining the inclination of the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

an indicated position calculation step of sequentially calculating an indicated position on a screen indicated by the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

a key input determination step of determining whether or not the operation key is pressed based on the second data included in the operation data;

an operation target setting step of setting, as operation targets, puzzle elements located in a predetermined area including a position in a game space corresponding to the indicated position at the timing when the operation key is pressed, among a plurality of puzzle elements located in the game space and classified into a plurality of types;

a storage step of storing the inclination of the input device at the timing when the operation key is pressed in storage means of the game apparatus;

a change amount calculation step of sequentially calculating a change amount in the inclination, calculated in the inclination calculation step, with respect to the inclination stored on the storage means while the operation is pressed;

a rotation step of rotating the puzzle elements as the operation targets by a rotation amount obtained based on the change amount;

an approximation step of approximating the change amount at the timing when the operation is released to a rotation amount when positions of the puzzle elements as the operation targets are replaced in a circulating manner;

a replacement step of replacing the positions of the puzzle elements as the operation targets by rotating the puzzle elements by the approximated rotation amount;

a deletion step of, when at least a predetermined number of puzzle elements classified into an identical group are arranged in a line in the game space as a result of the positions of the puzzle elements being replaced, deleting the puzzle elements arranged in the line; and

a display control step of sequentially causing a display device to sequentially display an image of the game space including the puzzle elements.

26. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a letter input acceptance program executable by a computer of a letter input acceptance apparatus for obtaining operation data from an input device, including imaging means for taking an image of an imaging target, a first operation key and a second operation key, and accepting a letter input in accordance with the operation data, wherein the operation data includes first data, which is at least one of data on a taken image taken by the imaging means, data representing predetermined two positions in the imaging target in the taken image, data representing a vector connecting the two positions, and inclination data representing an inclination of the input device which is calculated based on the vector, and second data which indicates whether or not the operation key is pressed, the letter input acceptance program causing the computer to execute:

an operation data obtaining step of sequentially obtaining the operation data;

an inclination calculation step of sequentially calculating or obtaining the inclination of the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

an indicated position calculation step of sequentially calculating an indicated position on a screen indicated by the input device from the first data included in the operation data;

a key input determination step of determining whether or not the operation key is pressed based on the second data included in the operation data;

a first display control step of causing a display device to display a plurality of letter group images representing a letter group including a plurality of letters;

a second display control step of causing the display device to display a plurality of letter images each representing a letter included in the letter group represented by the letter group image which overlaps the indicated position at the timing when the first operation key is pressed, such that the plurality of letter images have a predetermined positional relationship;

a replacement step of replacing positions of the plurality of letter images based on the inclination calculated in the inclination calculation step;

an input acceptance step of, when the second operation key is pressed, accepting an input of a letter represented by the letter image displayed at a predetermined position among the plurality of letter images; and

a third display control step of causing the display device to display the letter accepted in the input acceptance step.