Operation Input Device, Operation Evaluation Method, Recording Medium, and Program

• US 20080096623A1
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Okubo, Takeshi, Fujii, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• 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: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A target information storage unit (203) stores information regarding a group of targets (target panels) which are disposed dispersedly on a virtual race course and which each have an objective speed set therefor. An operation input reception unit (201) receives an operation input for a moving object (racing car) to be run on the course. Then, a running condition managing unit (204) manages the running condition of the moving object based on this operation input. Meanwhile, a passage determination unit (206a) sequentially determines whether or not the moving object has passed on the course by contacting the respective targets, based on the managed running condition. Further, a speed comparison unit (206b) compares the speed of the moving object at the time of the passage and the objective speed of each target. Then, an evaluation unit (206) evaluates the operation input from a user based on the determination result and comparison result.

Claims

1. An operation input device, comprising:

a target information storage unit which stores information regarding a group of targets which are disposed at a plurality of positions in a virtual space and which each have an objective speed set therefor;

an operation input reception unit which receives an operation input for a moving object to be moved in the virtual space;

a moving condition managing unit which manages a moving condition of the moving object based on the received operation input; and

an evaluation unit which evaluates the received operation input by sequentially comparing a current position and current speed of the moving object which are based on the managed moving condition with disposing positions and objective speeds of the respective targets stored.

3. The operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a drawing unit which draws a view field image including the moving object and the respective targets, based on the managed moving condition; and

a display unit which displays the drawn view field image,

wherein when drawing a target that is positioned closest to the moving object, said drawing unit changes a shape of the target based on a relationship between the current speed of the moving object and the objective speed of the target.

4. The operation input device according to claim 3,

wherein said drawing unit draws the target, which includes a portion which is to be displayed at different positions according to a speed difference between the current speed of the moving object and the objective speed of the target.

2. An operation input device, comprising:

a target information storage unit which stores information regarding a group of targets which are disposed dispersedly on a running path laid in a virtual space and which each have an objective speed set therefor;

an operation input reception unit which receives an operation input for a moving object to be moved on the running path;

a moving condition managing unit which manages a moving condition of the moving object based on the received operation input;

a passage determination unit which sequentially determines whether or not the moving object has passed on the running path by contacting the respective targets, based on the managed moving condition;

a speed comparison unit which compares a speed of the moving object at a time of the determining and the objective speed of each target; and

an evaluation unit which evaluates the received operation input based on a determination result that is determined and a result of the comparing.

5. An operation evaluation method using a target information storage unit, said target information storage unit storing information regarding a group of targets which are disposed at a plurality of positions in a virtual space and which each have an objective speed set therefor, said method comprising:

an operation input receiving step of receiving an operation input for a moving object to be moved in the virtual space;

a moving condition managing step of managing a moving condition of the moving object based on the received operation input; and

an evaluating step of evaluating the received operation input by sequentially comparing a current position and current speed of the moving object which are based on the managed moving condition with disposing positions and objective speeds of the respective targets stored.

6. A recording medium storing a program for controlling a computer to function as:

a target information storage unit which stores information regarding a group of targets which are disposed at a plurality of positions in a virtual space and which each have an objective speed set therefor;

an operation input reception unit which receives an operation input for a moving object to be moved in the virtual space;

a moving condition managing unit which manages a moving condition of the moving object based on the received operation input; and

an evaluation unit which evaluates the received operation input by sequentially comparing a current position and current speed of the moving object which are based on the managed moving condition with disposing positions and objective speeds of the respective targets stored.

7. A program for controlling a computer to function as:

a target information storage unit which stores information regarding a group of targets which are disposed at a plurality of positions in a virtual space and which each have an objective speed set therefor;

an operation input reception unit which receives an operation input for a moving object to be moved in the virtual space;

a moving condition managing unit which manages a moving condition of the moving object based on the received operation input; and

an evaluation unit which evaluates the received operation input by sequentially comparing a current position and current speed of the moving object which are based on the managed moving condition with disposing positions and objective speeds of the respective targets stored.