Storage medium having game program stored thereon and game apparatus

• US 20080132338A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshida, Misuzu
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

First acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a first direction of the input device and second acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a second direction of the input device different from the first direction are obtained based on a value detected by an acceleration detection section. Next, it is determined whether or not the first acceleration data is smaller than a first threshold value. When the first acceleration data is determined to be smaller than the first threshold value, predetermined calculation processing at least based on the second acceleration data is executed to calculate a first parameter used in game processing. When the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value, the first parameter is set to a predetermined value. The game processing is executed based on the first parameter.

Claims

1. A storage medium having stored thereon a game program executable by a computer of a game apparatus capable of using a value detected by an acceleration detection section provided in an input device for detecting an acceleration in at least two directions, the game program causing the computer to execute:

a first acceleration obtaining step of obtaining first acceleration data representing an acceleration in a first direction of the input device, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a second acceleration obtaining step of obtaining second acceleration data representing an acceleration in a second direction of the input device which is different from the first direction, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a first determination step of determining whether or not the first acceleration data is smaller than a first threshold value;

a first parameter setting step of, when the first acceleration data is determined to be smaller than the first threshold value in the first determination step, executing predetermined calculation processing at least based on the second acceleration data to execute first setting processing of calculating a first parameter used in game processing; and

when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value in the first determination step, executing second setting processing of setting the first parameter to a predetermined value; and

a game processing control step of executing the game processing based on the first parameter which is set in the first parameter setting step.

2. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the game causes a player to perform an operation of inclining the input device;

the first direction is a direction in which, when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, a centrifugal force is generated; and

the second direction is a direction in which, when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, an acceleration is generated by a force of the operation.

3. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the game causes a player to perform an operation of inclining the input device;

the first direction is a direction which, when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, perpendicularly crosses an arc which is a trajectory of a movement of a predetermined position in the input device made by the operation; and

the second direction is a direction which, when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, is a tangent direction to the arc.

4. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the first setting processing sets the first parameter to a predetermined value when a value calculated by the predetermined calculation processing based on the second acceleration data is outside a predetermined range; and

the second setting processing sets the first parameter to a border value of the predetermined range or a predetermined value outside the predetermined range.

5. A storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined calculation processing causes the first parameter to change in one way in accordance with an increase in the second acceleration data.

6. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the game causes a player to perform an operation of inclining the input device so as to keep the first direction and the second direction to be present in a vertical plane and so as to cause an inclination of the first direction with respect to a gravity direction is in a predetermined range; and

the first threshold value is larger than a maximum value of a gravitational acceleration generated in the first direction when the input device is inclined within the predetermined range.

7. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the game program causes the computer to further execute a removing step of removing a gravity component applied in the first direction from the first acceleration data obtained in the first acceleration obtaining step; and

the first determination step determines whether or not the first acceleration data after the gravity component is removed in the removing step is smaller than the first threshold value.

8. A storage medium according to claim 7, wherein:

the game program causes the computer to further execute;

a difference calculation step of calculating difference data between the first acceleration data of the current time which is obtained in the first acceleration obtaining step and the first acceleration data of the immediately previous time, and/or difference data between the second acceleration data of the current time which is obtained in the second acceleration obtaining step and the second acceleration data of the immediately previous time;

a determination step of determining whether or not the difference data calculated in the difference calculation step is smaller than a threshold value; and

a storage step of, at least when the difference data is determined to be smaller than the threshold value in the determination step, storing the first acceleration data of the current time obtained in the first acceleration obtaining step; and

the removing step subtracts data stored in the storage step from the first acceleration data of the current time obtained in the first acceleration obtaining step.

9. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the first setting processing calculates angle data representing an angle of the input device with respect to a gravity direction based on at least the second acceleration data, sets the first parameter based on the angle data, and when the angle data represents an angle outside a predetermined range, sets the first parameter to a predetermined value; and

the first threshold value is larger than a maximum value of a gravitational acceleration generated in the first direction when the input device is inclined within the predetermined range, in the predetermined calculation processing.

10. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the game program causes the computer to further execute a second determination step of determining whether the second acceleration data is smaller than a second threshold value; and

the first parameter setting step executes the second setting processing when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value in the first determination step and further the second acceleration data is determined to be larger than the second threshold value in the second determination step.

11. A storage medium according to claim 10, wherein:

the game causes a player to perform an operation of inclining the input device so as to keep the first direction and the second direction to be present in a vertical plane and so as to cause an inclination of the first direction with respect to a gravity direction is in a predetermined range; and

the second threshold value is larger than a maximum value of a gravitational acceleration generated in the second direction when the input device is inclined within the predetermined range.

12. A storage medium according to claim 10, wherein:

the predetermined calculation processing causes the first parameter to increase in one way in accordance with an increase in the second acceleration data;

the first setting processing sets the first parameter to a predetermined value when a value calculated by the predetermined calculation processing based on the second acceleration data is larger than a predetermined value; and

the second setting processing sets the first parameter to the predetermined value or another predetermined value larger than the predetermined value.

13. A storage medium according to claim 10, wherein:

the predetermined calculation processing causes the first parameter to decrease in one way in accordance with an increase in the second acceleration data;

the first setting processing sets the first parameter to a predetermined value when a value calculated by the predetermined calculation processing based on the second acceleration data is smaller than a predetermined value; and

the second setting processing sets the first parameter to the predetermined value or another predetermined value smaller than the predetermined value.

14. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the first setting processing calculates the first parameter by executing predetermined calculation processing based on at least the first acceleration data and the second acceleration data.

15. A storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined calculation processing calculates angle data representing an angle of the input device with respect to a gravity direction as the first parameter based on at least the first acceleration data and the second acceleration data.

16. A storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined calculation processing substitutes the first acceleration data and the second acceleration data for an inverse tangent function.

17. A storage medium according to claim 14, wherein:

the first setting processing sets the first parameter to a predetermined value when a value calculated by the predetermined calculation processing based on the first acceleration data and the second acceleration data is outside a predetermined range; and

the second setting processing sets the first parameter to a border value of the predetermined range or a predetermined value outside the predetermined range.

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

the first setting processing sets the first parameter to a predetermined angle when the calculated angle data is outside a predetermined range;

the second setting processing sets the first parameter to a border angle of the predetermined range or a predetermined angle outside the predetermined range; and

the first threshold value is larger than a maximum value of a component of the first direction of the gravitational acceleration at an angle of the input device with respect to a gravity direction, the angle being included in the predetermined range.

19. A storage medium according to claim 10, wherein:

the game program causes the computer to further execute a history storage step of storing a history of the second acceleration data obtained in the second acceleration obtaining step on a storage section accessible by the computer;

the second determination step refers to the history stored on the storage section to at least determine whether or not maximum data of the second acceleration data in an immediately previous predetermined period is larger than the second threshold value;

the first parameter setting step executes the second setting processing when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value in the first determination step and further the maximum data is determined to be larger than the second threshold value in the second determination step.

20. A storage medium having stored thereon a game program executable by a computer of a game apparatus capable of using a value detected by an acceleration detection section provided in an input device for detecting an acceleration in at least two directions, wherein:

the game causes a player to perform an operation of inclining the input device; and

the game program causes the computer to execute;

a first acceleration obtaining step of, when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, obtaining first acceleration data representing an acceleration in a direction perpendicularly crossing an arc which is a trajectory of a movement of a predetermined position in the input device made by the operation, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a second acceleration obtaining step of obtaining second acceleration data representing an acceleration in a tangent direction to the arc when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a first determination step of determining whether or not the first acceleration data is smaller than a first threshold value;

a game input data setting step of, when the first acceleration data is determined to be smaller than the first threshold value in the first determination step, substituting the first acceleration data and the second acceleration data to calculate inclination data representing an inclination of the input device with respect to a gravity direction and to set the inclination data as a first parameter used in game processing; and

when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value in the first determination step, setting the first parameter to a predetermined value; and

a game processing control step of executing the game processing based on the first parameter which is set in the game input data setting step.

21. A storage medium having stored thereon a game program executable by a computer of a game apparatus capable of using a value detected by an acceleration detection section provided in an input device for detecting an acceleration in at least two directions, the game program causing the computer to execute:

a first acceleration obtaining step of obtaining first acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a first direction of the input device, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a second acceleration obtaining step of obtaining second acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a second direction of the input device which is different from the first direction, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a history storage step of storing a history of the second acceleration data obtained in the second acceleration obtaining step on a storage section accessible by the computer;

a first determination step of determining whether or not the first acceleration data is smaller than a first threshold value;

a second determination step of referring to the history stored on the storage section to at least determine whether or not maximum data of the second acceleration data in an immediately previous predetermined period is larger than the second threshold value; and

a game processing control step of executing predetermined game processing when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value in the first determination step and further the maximum data is determined to be larger than the second threshold value in the second determination step.

22. A game apparatus capable of using a value detected by an acceleration detection section provided in an input device for detecting an acceleration in at least two directions, the game apparatus comprising:

a first acceleration obtaining section for obtaining first acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a first direction of the input device, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a second acceleration obtaining section for obtaining second acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a second direction of the input device which is different from the first direction, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a first determination section for determining whether or not the first acceleration data is smaller than a first threshold value;

a first parameter setting section for, when the first acceleration data is determined to be smaller than the first threshold value by the first determination section, executing predetermined calculation processing at least based on the second acceleration data to execute first setting processing of calculating a first parameter used in game processing; and

when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value by the first determination section, executing second setting processing of setting the first parameter to a predetermined value; and

a game processing control section for executing the game processing based on the first parameter which is set by the first parameter setting section.

23. A game apparatus capable of using a value detected by an acceleration detection section provided in an input device for detecting an acceleration in at least two directions, wherein:

a game executable by the game apparatus causes a player to perform an operation of inclining the input device; and

the game apparatus comprises;

a first acceleration obtaining section for, when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, obtaining first acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a direction perpendicularly crossing an arc which is a trajectory of a movement of a predetermined position in the input device made by the operation, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a second acceleration obtaining section for obtaining second acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a tangent direction to the arc when the player performs the operation of inclining the input device, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a first determination section for determining whether or not the first acceleration data is smaller than a first threshold value;

a game input data setting section for, when the first acceleration data is determined to be smaller than the first threshold value by the first determination section, substituting the first acceleration data and the second acceleration data for an inverse tangent function to calculate inclination data representing an inclination of the input device with respect to a gravity direction and to set the inclination data as a first parameter used in game processing; and

when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value by the first determination section, setting the first parameter to a predetermined value; and

a game processing control section for executing the game processing based on the first parameter which is set by the game input data setting section.

24. A game apparatus capable of using a value detected by an acceleration detection section provided in an input device for detecting an acceleration in at least two directions, the game apparatus comprising:

a first acceleration obtaining section for obtaining first acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a first direction of the input device, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a second acceleration obtaining section for obtaining second acceleration data representing an acceleration applied in a second direction of the input device which is different from the first direction, based on a value detected by the acceleration detection section;

a history storage section for storing a history of the second acceleration data obtained by the second acceleration obtaining section on a storage section;

a first determination section for determining whether or not the first acceleration data is smaller than a first threshold value;

a second determination section for referring to the history stored on the storage section to at least determine whether or not maximum data of the second acceleration data in an immediately previous predetermined period is larger than the second threshold value; and

a game processing section for executing predetermined game processing when the first acceleration data is determined to be larger than the first threshold value by the first determination section and further the maximum data is determined to be larger than the second threshold value by the second determination section.