GAME APPARATUS AND GAME PROGRAM

• US 20100009754A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Hiratake, Shinya, Kataoka, Toyoki, Shimamura, Takayuki, Yamashita, Yoshikazu
• Granted Patent: US 8,535,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU sets a moving direction, that is, a position and an orientation of a moving object within a game space on the basis of angular velocity data transmitted from a first controller, that is, an attitude of a gyro sensor unit (gyro sensor). Then, when a second controller is drawn toward a near side in a state that a C button and a Z button thereof are simultaneously pressed, and the C button and the Z button are simultaneously released in that state, the moving object is shot.

Claims

1. A game apparatus which performs game processing according to an attitude of an input device, comprising:

an operation data obtaining means for obtaining operation data from said input device which outputs attitude correlation data on the basis of an attitude,

a moving direction setting means for changing a planned moving direction of a first object within a game space in accordance with said attitude correlation data,

a movement instruction inputting means for instructing said first object to move on the basis of said operation data, and

a movement starting means for deciding a moving direction of said first object to be said planned moving direction set at a timing on the basis of said movement instructing input, and starting to move said first object in said direction.

2. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an orientation setting means for deciding an orientation of a second object in accordance with the attitude of said input device, wherein

said planned moving direction setting means changes the moving direction of said first object in accordance with the orientation of said second object.

3. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said input device includes a gyro sensor, and outputs angular velocity data on the basis of an output from at least said gyro sensor as said operation data, and

said planned moving direction setting means changes the planned moving direction of said first object on the basis of said angular velocity data.

4. A game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said input device further includes a first acceleration sensor capable of being moved with said gyro sensor, and further outputs acceleration data on the basis of an output from at least said first acceleration sensor as said operation data, and

said planned moving direction setting means changes the planned moving direction of said first object on the basis of said angular velocity data and said acceleration data.

5. A game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said planned moving direction setting means calculates an attitude on the basis of said angular velocity data, and calculates the planned moving direction of said first object by bringing said attitude into correspondence with an attitude calculated by performing a correction on the basis of said acceleration data.

6. A game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said planned moving direction setting means calculates an attitude in a yaw direction on the basis of said angular velocity data, and calculates an attitude in a pitch direction on the basis of said acceleration data.

7. A game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said input device further includes a first key, and further outputs key data on the basis of an operation performed on said first key as said operation data, and

said movement instruction inputting means instructs said first object to move at a timing when said key data satisfies a predetermined condition.

8. A game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said input device further includes a second acceleration sensor capable of being independently moved with said gyro sensor and further outputs acceleration data on the basis of the output from said second acceleration sensor as said operation data, and

said movement instruction inputting means determines a state that said input device moves to a predetermined direction with said first key operated on the basis of said key data and said acceleration data, and instructs said first object to move at a timing when the operation by said first key is released.

9. A game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said input device further includes a stick capable of performing a direction input, and further outputs stick input data as said operation data, and

said movement instruction inputting means instructs said first object to move at a timing when the stick input data satisfies a predetermined condition.

10. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said input device further includes a second key, and further outputs key data on the basis of an operation performed on said second key as said operation data, and

said planned moving direction setting means calculates a change of the attitude from a reference on the basis of a change from the operation at the timing when said key is operated during the operation of said key.

20. A storage medium according to claim 1, wherein

said input device further includes a second key, and further outputs key data on the basis of an operation performed on said second key as said operation data, and

said planned moving direction setting means calculates a change of the attitude from a reference on the basis of a change from the operation at the timing when said key is operated during the operation of said key.

11. A storage medium capable of being read by a processor of a game apparatus which performs game processing in correspondence to an attitude from an input device, said storage medium storing a program,

said program causes said processor to function as

an operation data obtaining means for obtaining operation data from said input device which outputs attitude correlation data on the basis of an attitude

a planned moving direction setting means for changing a planned moving direction of a first object within a game space in accordance with said attitude correlation data,

a movement instruction inputting means for instructing said first object to move on the basis of said operation data, and

a movement starting means for deciding a moving direction of said first object to be said planned moving direction set at a timing on the basis of said movement instructing input, and starting to move said first object in said direction.

12. A storage medium according to claim 11, wherein said program causes said processor to further function as an orientation setting means for deciding an orientation of a second object in accordance with the attitude of said input device, wherein

said planned moving direction setting means changes the moving direction of said first object in accordance with the orientation of said second object.

13. A storage medium according to claim 11, wherein

said input device includes a gyro sensor, and outputs angular velocity data on the basis of an output from at least said gyro sensor as said operation data, and

said planned moving direction setting means changes the planned moving direction of said first object on the basis of said angular velocity data.

14. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein

said input device further includes a first acceleration sensor capable of being moved with said gyro sensor, and further outputs acceleration data on the basis of an output from at least said first acceleration sensor as said operation data, and

said planned moving direction setting means changes the planned moving direction of said first object on the basis of said angular velocity data and said acceleration data.

15. A storage medium according to claim 14, wherein said planned moving direction setting means calculates an attitude on the basis of said angular velocity data, and calculates the planned moving direction of said first object by bringing said attitude into correspondence to an attitude calculated by performing a correction on the basis of said acceleration data.

16. A storage medium according to claim 14, wherein said planned moving direction setting means calculates an attitude in a yaw direction on the basis of said angular velocity data, and calculates an attitude in a pitch direction on the basis of said acceleration data.

17. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein

said input device further includes a first key, and further outputs key data on the basis of an operation performed on said first key as said operation data, and

said movement instruction inputting means instructs said first object to move at a timing when said key data satisfies a predetermined condition.

18. A storage medium according to claim 17, wherein

said input device further includes a second acceleration sensor capable of being independently moved with said gyro sensor and further outputs acceleration data on the basis of the output from said second acceleration sensor as said operation data, and

said movement instruction inputting means determines a state that said input device moves to a predetermined direction with said first key operated on the basis of said key data and said acceleration data, and instructs said first object to move at a timing when the operation by said first key is released.

19. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein

said input device further includes a stick capable of performing a direction input, and further outputs stick input data as said operation data, and

said movement instruction inputting means instructs said first object to move at a timing when the stick input data satisfies a predetermined condition.

21. A control method of a game apparatus which performs game processing in accordance with an attitude from an input device, including following steps of

(a) an operation data obtaining step for obtaining operation data from said input device which outputs attitude correlation data on the basis of an attitude,

(b) a moving direction setting step for changing a planned moving direction of a first object within a game space in accordance with said attitude correlation data,

(c) a movement instruction inputting step for instructing said first object to move on the basis of said operation data, and

(d) a movement starting step for deciding a moving direction of said first object to be said planned moving direction set at a timing on the basis of said movement instructing input, and starting to move said first object in said direction.