Game system and game information storage medium used for same

• US 20090036213A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Masuyama, Iwao, Suzuki, Toshiaki, Tahara, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• 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

A game system includes a housing to be held by a player. The housing incorporates an XY-axis acceleration sensor to detect an acceleration in an X-axis and Y-axis direction and a Z-axis contact switch to detect an acceleration in an Z-axis direction. These sensor and switch detect at least one of an amount (e.g., tilt amount, movement amount, impact amount or the like) and a direction (e.g., tilt direction, movement direction, impact direction or the like) of a change applied to the housing. A simulation program provides simulation such that a state of a game space is changed related to at least one of the amount and direction of the change applied to the housing.

Claims

1. A game system, associated with a display device, the game system comprising:

a game apparatus having a game program storage device storing a game program and including a character data storage section to generate a display of a first moving character and a second moving character each movable on a game space and a processing device for executing the game program to generate a display of an image based on the result of processing by the processing device

a housing to be held by a player; and

a change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein said game program storage device stores game space data including image data to generate a display of a space for game play, and a display control program causes said display device to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program storage device includes a character control program to read out a first moving character and a second moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry such that a display state of the first moving character and the second moving character changes;

said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry is to detect, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing, and

said character control program simultaneously moves both the first and second moving characters within the displayed game space at respective moving speeds related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing so that the first and second moving characters each changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing and each continues to change position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing even if the tilt is maintained at a constant tilted state.

4. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry is for detecting both of said amount and direction of a change applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to both of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to said housing.

5. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said housing is a housing of said game apparatus, and

said game apparatus being a portable game apparatus having said display device provided integrally on one main surface of said housing.

7. A game system according to claim 1,

wherein the game space data including data to generate a display of a particular area defined such that, when the moving character moves within the game space, the moving character is different in action from that in another area,

said character control program controlling a display state of the moving character related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry, and display-controlling, when the moving character moves within the game space, the moving character being different in action from that in another area.

8. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the game space data includes space data to generate a display of a greater game space than a display area to be displayed by said display device,

the display control program including data to generate a display on said display device image data of a part of the game space existing in a range of the display area of the game space, and

a simulation program simulating a state of only the game space existing in the display area based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of a change in an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry.

9. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects as a change amount a moving amount of said housing and as a change direction a moving direction,

the game space data including space data to generate a display of a game space greater than a display area of said display device, and

the display control program displaying on said display device a space area of a part of a game space corresponding to the display area, and gradually moving the display area of the game space in the moving direction by an area corresponding to the moving amount according to a movement of said housing.

10. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said game apparatus has operating device to be operated by a player on one main surface of said housing, and

said character control enabling control based on a detection output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry and an operating state of said operating device.

21. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the moving character is automatically moved by the character control program based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to said housing.

31. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the character control program moves the moving character so that the moving character collides with another object in the virtual game space.

35. A game system according to claim 1, wherein an operation key which may be manipulated by the player is provided through a portion of the housing.

45. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the game system is a portable game system in which the display device and the housing are integrally formed with each other so that as the housing is moved by the player, the display device is also moved.

2. A game system comprising:

a display device;

a game apparatus having a game program storage device storing a game program and including a character data storage section to generate a display of a moving character movable on a game space and a processing device for executing the game program to generate a display of an image based on the result of processing by the processing device

a housing, to be held by a player, which is integrally formed with the display device so that as the housing is moved by the player, the display device is also moved; and

a change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein said game program storage device stores game space data including image data to generate a display of a space for game play, and a display control program causes said display device to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program storage device includes a character control program to read out a moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry such that a display state of the moving character changes;

said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of a sliding movement applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a sliding movement applied to said housing so that the moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of sliding movement applied to the housing.

22. A game system according to claim 2, wherein the moving character is automatically moved by the character control program based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of sliding movement applied to said housing.

27. A game system according to claim 2, wherein said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry is for detecting both of said amount and direction of a change applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to both of the amount and direction of sliding movement applied to said housing.

32. A game system according to claim 2, wherein the character control program moves the moving character so that the moving character collides with another object in the virtual game space.

36. A game system according to claim 2, wherein an operation key which may be manipulated by the player is provided through a portion of the housing.

41. A game system according to claim 2, wherein, upon execution, said character control program reads out another moving character stored in said character data storage section and enables control based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry such that a display state of the another moving character changes;

and

said character control program simultaneously moves the moving character and the another moving character within the displayed game space at respective moving speeds related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a sliding movement applied to said housing so that each of the moving character and the another moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of sliding movement applied to the housing.

3. A game system comprising:

a display device;

a game apparatus having a game program storage device storing a game program and including a character data storage section to generate a display of a moving character movable on a game space and a processing device for executing the game program to generate a display of an image based on the result of processing by the processing device

a housing, to be held by a player, which is integrally formed with the display device so that as the housing is moved by the player, the display device is also moved; and

a change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein said game program storage device stores game space data including image data to generate a display of a space for game play, and a display control program causes said display device to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program storage device includes a character control program to read out a moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry such that a display state of the moving character changes;

said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of an impact applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of an impact applied to said housing so that the moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to the housing.

23. A game system according to claim 3, wherein the moving character is automatically moved by the character control program based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to said housing.

28. A game system according to claim 3, wherein said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry is for detecting both of said amount and direction of a change applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to both of the amount and direction of impact applied to said housing.

37. A game system according to claim 3, wherein an operation key which may be manipulated by the player is provided through a portion of the housing.

42. A game system according to claim 3 wherein, upon execution, said character control program reads out another moving character stored in said character data storage section and enables control based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry such that a display state of the another moving character changes;

and

said character control program simultaneously moves the moving character and the another moving character within the displayed game space at respective moving speeds related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to said housing so that each of the moving character and the another moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to the housing.

6. A game system, associated with a display device, the game system comprising:

a game apparatus having a game program storage device storing a game program and including a character data storage section to generate a display of a moving character movable on a game space and a processing device for executing the game program to generate a display of an image based on the result of processing by the processing device a housing to be held by a player; and

a change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein said game program storage device stores game space data including image data to generate a display of a space for game play, and a display control program causes said display device to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program storage device includes a character control program to read out a moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry such that a display state of the moving character changes;

said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry is to detect, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing so that the moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing and continues to change position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing even if the tilt is maintained at a constant tilted state;

said game program storage device further includes a non-player character data storage section to generate a display of a non-player character to make a first action on the game space according to a predetermined program irrespectively of an operation by the player, and

said character control program provides control such that the non-player character makes a first action previously determined by a program when any of change states in amount and direction is not detected by said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry, and such that the non-player character makes in addition to the first action a second action related to at least one of an amount and a direction of a change based on an output of said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry when at least one of the change states in amount and direction is detected by said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry.

11. A game system, associated with a display to display an image, the game system comprising:

a game apparatus having a game program memory storing a game program and including a character data storage section to display a first moving character and a second moving character each movable on a game space and game space data including image data to display a space for game play;

a processor for executing the game program to generate a display of the image based on a result of execution by the processor;

a housing to be held by a player; and

a change-state detector related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein a display control program causes said display to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program memory includes a character control program to read out a first moving character and a second moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detector such that a display state of the moving character changes;

said change-state detector detects, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves both the first moving character and the second moving character within the displayed game space at respective moving speeds related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing so that each of the first and second moving characters change position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing and each continues to change position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing even if the tilt is maintained at a constant tilted state.

14. A game system according to claim 11, wherein:

said change-state detector detects both of said amount and direction of a change applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to both of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to said housing.

15. A game system according to claim 11, wherein:

said housing is a housing of said game apparatus, and

said game apparatus is a portable game apparatus having said display provided integrally on one main surface of said housing.

16. A game system according to claim 11,

wherein:

said game program memory further includes a non-player character data storage section to generate a display of a non-player character to make a first action on the game space according to a predetermined program irrespectively of an operation by the player, and

said character control program provides control such that the non-player character makes a first action previously determined by a program when any of change states in amount and direction is not detected by said change-state detector and such that the non-player character makes, in addition to the first action, a second action related to at least one of an amount and a direction of a change based on an output of said change-state detector when the at least one of change states in amount and direction is detected by said change-state detector.

18. A game system according to claim 11, wherein:

the game space data includes space data to generate a display of a greater game space than a display area to be displayed by said display,

the display control program includes data to generate a display on said display image data of a part of the game space existing in a range of the display area of the game space, and

a simulation program simulates a state of only the game space existing in the display area based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of a change in an output of change-state detector.

19. A game system according to claim 11, wherein:

said change-state detector detects as a change amount a moving amount of said housing and as a change direction a moving direction,

the game space data includes space data to generate a display of a game space greater than a display area of said display, and

the display control program displays on said display a space area of a part of a game space corresponding to the display area, and gradually moving the display area of the game space in the moving direction by an area corresponding to the moving amount according to a movement of said housing.

20. A game system according to claim 11, wherein:

said game apparatus has an operator to be operated by a player on one main surface of said housing, and

said character control program enables control based on a detection output to said change-state detector and an operating state of said operator.

24. A game system according to claim 11, wherein the moving character is automatically moved by the character control program based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to said housing.

33. A game system according to claim 11, wherein the character control program moves the moving character so that the moving character collides with another object in the virtual game space.

38. A game system according to claim 11, wherein an operation key which may be manipulated by the player is provided through a portion of the housing.

46. A game system according to claim 11, wherein the game system is a portable game system in which the display device and the housing are integrally formed with each other so that as the housing is moved by the player, the display device is also moved.

12. A game system comprising:

a display device to display an image;

a game apparatus having a game program memory storing a game program and including a character data storage section to display a moving character movable on a game space and game space data including image data to display a space for game play;

a processor for executing the game program to generate a display of the image based on a result of execution by the processor;

a housing, to be held by a player, which is integrally formed with the display device so that as the housing is moved by the player, the display device is also moved; and

a change-state detector related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein a display control program causes said display to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program memory includes a character control program to read out a moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detector such that a display state of the moving character changes;

said change-state detector detects, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of a sliding movement applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a sliding movement applied to said housing so that the moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of sliding movement applied to the housing.

25. A game system according to claim 12, wherein the moving character is automatically moved by the character control program based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of sliding movement applied to said housing.

29. A game system according to claim 12, wherein said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry is for detecting both of said amount and direction of a change applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to both of the amount and direction of sliding movement applied to said housing.

34. A game system according to claim 12, wherein an operation key which may be manipulated by the player is provided through a portion of the housing.

39. A game system according to claim 12, wherein an operation key which may be manipulated by the player is provided through a portion of the housing.

43. A game system according to claim 12 wherein, upon execution, said character control program reads out another moving character stored in said character data storage section and enables control based on an output of said change-state detector such that a display state of the another moving character changes;

and

said character control program simultaneously moves the moving character and the another moving character within the displayed game space at respective moving speeds related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a sliding movement applied to said housing so that each of the moving character and the another moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of sliding movement applied to the housing.

13. A game system comprising:

a display device to display an image a game apparatus having a game program memory storing a game program and including a character data storage section to display a moving character movable on a game space and game space data including image data to display a space for game play;

a processor for executing the game program to generate a display of the image based on a result of execution by the processor;

a housing, to be held by a player, which is integrally formed with the display device so that as the housing is moved by the player, the display device is also moved; and

a change-state detector related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein a display control program causes said display to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program memory includes a character control program to read out a moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detector such that a display state of the moving character changes;

said change-state detector detects, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of an impact applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of an impact applied to said housing so that the moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to the housing.

26. A game system according to claim 13, wherein the moving character is automatically moved by the character controlled program based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to said housing.

30. A game system according to claim 13, wherein said change-state detecting programmed logic circuitry is for detecting both of said amount and direction of a change applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to both of the amount and direction of impact applied to said housing.

40. A game system according to claim 13, wherein an operation key which may be manipulated by the player is provided through a portion of the housing.

44. A game system according to claim 13 wherein, upon execution, said character control program reads out another moving character stored in said character data storage section and enables control based on an output of said change-state detector such that a display state of the another moving character changes;

and

said character control program simultaneously moves the moving character and the another moving character within the displayed game space at respective moving speeds related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to said housing so that each of the moving character and the another moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of impact applied to the housing.

17. A game system, associated with a display to display an image, the game system comprising:

a game apparatus having a game program memory storing a game program and including a character data storage section to display a moving character movable on a game space and game space data including image data to display a space for game play;

a processor for executing the game program to generate a display of the image based on a result of execution by the processor;

a housing to be held by a player; and

a change-state detector related to said housing for detecting at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing,

wherein a display control program causes said display to display a game space based on the game space data;

said game program memory includes a character control program to read out a moving character stored in said character data storage section and enable control related to said at least one of a change amount and a change direction applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detector such that a display state of the moving character changes;

said change-state detector detects, as said at least one change amount and change direction, at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing, and

said character control program moves the moving character within the displayed game space at a moving speed related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a tilt applied to said housing so that the moving character changes position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing and continues to change position relative to the displayed game space based on the at least one of an amount and a direction of tilt applied to the housing even if the tilt is maintained at a constant tilted state;

the game space data includes data to generate a display of a particular area defined such that, when the moving character moves within the game space, the moving character is different in action from that in another area,

said character control program controls a display state of the moving character related to the at least one of an amount and a direction of a change applied to said housing based on an output of said change-state detector, and display-controlling, when the moving character moves within the game space, the moving character being different in action from that in another area.