Storage medium storing load detection program, load detection apparatus, and load detection method

• US 20090093315A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Tadashi, Matsunaga, Hiroshi, Sawatani, Yuji
• Application Number:
  US12/216,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• 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

Abstract

A game system includes a game apparatus. To the game apparatus are connected a monitor, a controller, and a load controller. When the game apparatus starts a game, prior to starting the main content, a weight value of a player is detected and the weight value is set as a reference value. When the reference value is already set, the detected weight value of the player is compared with the reference value. When a comparison result shows a match, the game apparatus continues game play. On the other hand, when the comparison result shows a mismatch, the game apparatus confirms the player whether to continue the game and when the game is continued, the weight value of the player detected this time is reset as the reference value.

Claims

1. A storage medium storing a load detection program to be executed by a computer of a load detection apparatus that includes a supporting board on which feet of a user can be put, said load detection program causing said computer to perform:

an instruction step of instructing to put the feet of said user on said supporting board;

a load value detection step of detecting a load value imposed on said supporting board;

a reference value setting step of setting the load value detected in said load value detection step, as a reference value of a weight value of said user;

an information processing step of performing information processing based on the reference value set in said reference value setting step and a load value to be detected in said load value detection step;

a judgment timing determination step of determining whether or not it is timing at which said reference value is to be judged;

a comparison step of comparing, when it is determined in said judgment timing determination step that it is timing at which said reference value is to be judged, the reference value set in said reference value setting step with the load value detected in said load value detection step; and

a reference value update step of resetting, when a comparison result obtained in said comparison step shows a mismatch, the load value detected in said load value detection step as said reference value.

2. A storage medium storing a load detection program according to claim 1, wherein in said comparison step, a difference between the reference value set in said reference value setting step and a load value to be detected in said load value detection step is detected and when the difference exceeds a predetermined value, a comparison result shows a mismatch.

3. A storage medium storing a load detection program according to claim 1, wherein

said load detection program further causes said computer to perform an instruction determination step of determining whether or not there is an instruction from said user to perform said information processing, and

in said judgment timing determination step, when it is determined in said instruction determination step that there is an instruction to perform said information processing, it is determined that it is judgment timing of said reference value.

4. A storage medium storing a load detection program according to claim 1, wherein

said load detection program further causes said computer to perform a load value determination step of determining whether or not, during performance of said information processing, a period of time during which a load value to be detected in said load value detection step is less than or equal to a predetermined value is maintained over a certain period of time, and

in said judgment timing determination step, when it is determined in said load value determination step that a period of time during which said load value is less than or equal to the predetermined value is maintained over a certain period of time, it is determined that it is timing at which said reference value is to be judged.

5. A load detection apparatus including a supporting board on which feet of a user can be put, said apparatus comprising:

an instruction means for instructing to put the feet of said user on said supporting board;

a load value detection means for detecting a load value imposed on said supporting board;

a reference value setting means for setting the load value detected by said load value detection apparatus, as a reference value of a weight value of said user;

an information processing means for performing information processing based on the reference value set by said reference value setting means and a load value to be detected by said load value detection means;

a judgment timing determination means for determining whether or not it is timing at which said reference value is to be judged;

a comparison means for comparing, when it is determined by said judgment timing determination means that it is timing at which said reference value is to be judged, the reference value set by said reference value setting means with the load value detected by said load value detection means; and

a reference value update means for resetting, when a comparison result obtained by said comparison means shows a mismatch, the load value detected by said load value detection means as said reference value.

6. A load detection method for a load detection apparatus including a supporting board on which feet of a user can be put, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) instructing to put the feet of said user on said supporting board;

(b) detecting a load value imposed on said supporting board;

(c) setting the load value detected in said step (b) as a reference value of a weight value of said user;

(d) performing information processing based on the reference value set in said step (c) and a load value to be detected in said step (b);

(e) determining whether or not it is timing at which said reference value is to be judged;

(f) comparing, when it is determined in said step (e) that it is timing at which said reference value is to be judged, the reference value set in said step (c) with the load value detected in said step (b); and

(g) resetting, when a comparison result obtained in said step (f) shows a mismatch, the load value detected in said step (b) as said reference value.