GAME APPARATUS AND GAME PROGRAM

• US 20100248833A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okamura, Yuichiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/428 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 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• 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 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

The game apparatus obtains angular velocity data and acceleration data from an input device equipped with at least an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor, and determines whether or not a ball has been thrown in accordance with the angular velocity data. When it is determined that ball-throwing is fulfilled, the game apparatus calculates the intensity of swinging the input device and a curve amount. The game apparatus applies a force and a curve to a ball in accordance with the calculated intensity of swinging and the curve amount, and performs a process of causing the ball to move and curve in a predetermined direction.

Claims

1. A game apparatus which obtains operation data including angular velocity data and acceleration data from an input device equipped with an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor, and which performs a game process based on the operation data, the game apparatus comprising:

determination means for determining whether or not the angular velocity data satisfies a predetermined condition;

movement control means for controlling a movement of a predetermined object in a game space in accordance with the acceleration data obtained in a predetermined period of time which is defined based on a point of time at which the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition; and

display control means for displaying, on a screen, the predetermined object, whose movement is controlled by the movement control means.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement control means controls a moving speed of the object in accordance with the acceleration data.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movement control means controls the moving speed of the object by applying a force to the object in accordance with the magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

position determination means for determining a position of the object, in accordance with the angular velocity data, during a period of time until the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition,

wherein the movement control means causes the object to start moving from a position determined by the position determination means toward a predetermined direction when the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

angular velocity storage means for sequentially storing the angular velocity data,

wherein the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition in accordance with the angular velocity data stored in the angular velocity storage means when the magnitude of an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data represents a local maximum value, and is greater than a predetermined threshold.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movement control means further controls a moving direction of the object In accordance with the acceleration data.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising

acceleration storage means for sequentially storing the acceleration data,

wherein the movement control means controls the moving speed of the object in accordance with acceleration data stored in the acceleration storage means during a predetermined period of time which elapses between a determination time, at which the determination means has determined that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition, and a predetermined length of period before the determination time.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the movement control means controls the moving speed of the object in accordance with a maximum value of acceleration in the acceleration data during the predetermined period of time.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the movement control means further controls the moving speed of the object in accordance with an orientation of the input device at the determination time, the orientation being calculated based on the angular velocity data.

10. The game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the movement control means further changes the moving speed of the object in accordance with the acceleration data obtained at and after the determination time.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data obtained at and after the determination time is greater than the maximum value of acceleration during the predetermined period of time, the movement control means further changes the moving speed of the object in accordance with the magnitude of the acceleration indicated by the acceleration data obtained at and after the determination time.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement control means causes the object in the game space to be ejected in a predetermined direction when the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition, and determines a moving speed of the object immediately after the ejection in accordance with acceleration data obtained at or before the ejection of the object, and corrects the moving speed of the object immediately after the ejection in accordance with acceleration data newly obtained over a predetermined period of time immediately after the ejection of the object.

13. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program executed by a computer of a game apparatus which obtains operation data including angular velocity data and acceleration data from an input device equipped with an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor, and which performs a game process in accordance with the operation data, the computer being caused to function as:

determination means for determining whether or not the angular velocity data satisfies a predetermined condition;

movement control means for controlling a movement of a predetermined object in a game space in accordance with the acceleration data obtained in a predetermined period of time which is defined based on a point of time at which the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition; and

display control means for displaying, on a screen, the predetermined object, whose movement is controlled by the movement control means.

14. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 13, wherein the movement control means controls a moving speed of the object in accordance with the acceleration data.

15. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 14, wherein the movement control means controls the moving speed of the object by applying a force to the object in accordance with the magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data.

16. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 13, further causing the computer to function as

position determination means for determining a position of the object, in accordance with the angular velocity data, during a period of time until the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition,

wherein the movement control means causes the object to start moving from a position determined by the position determination means toward a predetermined direction when the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

17. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 13, further causing the computer to function as

angular velocity storage means for sequentially storing the angular velocity data,

wherein the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition in accordance with the angular velocity data stored in the angular velocity storage means when the magnitude of an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data represents a local maximum value, and is greater than a predetermined threshold.

18. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 14, wherein the movement control means further controls a moving direction of the object in accordance with the acceleration data.

19. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 14, further causing the computer to function as

acceleration storage means for sequentially storing the acceleration data,

wherein the movement control means controls the moving speed of the object in accordance with acceleration data stored in the acceleration storage means during a predetermined period of time which elapses between a determination time, at which the determination means has determined that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition, and a predetermined length of period before the determination time.

20. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 19, wherein the movement control means controls the moving speed of the object in accordance with a maximum value of acceleration in the acceleration data during the predetermined period of time.

21. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 20, wherein the movement control means further controls the moving speed of the object in accordance with an orientation of the input device at the determination time, the orientation being calculated based on the angular velocity data.

22. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 20, wherein the movement control means further changes the moving speed of the object in accordance with the acceleration data obtained at and after the determination time.

23. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 22, wherein when the magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data obtained at and after the determination time is greater than the maximum value of acceleration during the predetermined period of time, the movement control means further changes the moving speed of the object in accordance with the magnitude of the acceleration indicated by the acceleration data obtained at and after the determination time.

24. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 13, wherein the movement control means causes the object in the game space to be ejected in a predetermined direction when the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition, and determines a moving speed of the object immediately after the ejection in accordance with acceleration data obtained at or before the ejection of the object, and corrects the moving speed of the object immediately after the ejection in accordance with acceleration data newly obtained over a predetermined period of time immediately after the ejection of the object.

25. A game apparatus which obtains operation data including angular velocity data and acceleration data from an input device equipped with an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor, and which performs a game process based on the operation data, the game apparatus comprising:

determination means for determining whether or not the angular velocity data satisfies a predetermined condition;

movement control means for changing a moving direction of a predetermined object in a game space in accordance with the acceleration data obtained in a predetermined period of time which is defined based on a point of time at which the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition; and

display control means for displaying, on a screen, the predetermined object whose movement is controlled by the movement control means.

26. The game apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the determination means causes the object to start moving when the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

27. The game apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the movement control means changes the moving direction of the object in accordance with the magnitude and the direction of an acceleration in a first direction included in the acceleration data.

28. The game apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the movement control means further obtains the angular velocity data during the predetermined period of time, and changes the moving direction of the object in accordance with an angular velocity around a first axis included in the angular velocity data and the acceleration in the first direction.

29. The game apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the movement control means changes the moving direction of the object in accordance with an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data and an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data, both data being obtained during a predetermined length of period before and after a determination time at which the determination means has determined that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

30. The game apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the movement control means increases or decreases an amount of change in the moving direction of the object in accordance with the magnitude of the acceleration.

31. The game apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the movement control means determines a direction to which a moving direction of the object is to be changed in accordance with the angular velocity data obtained during the predetermined length of period before and after the determination time.

32. The game apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising

orientation calculation means for calculating an orientation of the input device in accordance with the angular velocity data,

wherein, the movement control means determines a direction to which a moving direction of the object is to be changed in accordance with the orientation at a predetermined point of time after the determination time, the orientation being calculated by the orientation calculation means.

33. The game apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising

position determination means for determining a position of the object in accordance with the angular velocity data during a period of time until the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition,

wherein, the movement control means causes the object to start moving from a position determined by the position determination means toward a predetermined direction, and changes the moving direction of the object after the object starts moving, when the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

34. The game apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising

angular velocity storage means for sequentially storing the angular velocity data,

wherein, the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition in accordance with the angular velocity data stored in the angular velocity storage means when the magnitude of an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data represents a local maximum value, and is greater than a predetermined threshold.

35. The game apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

orientation calculation means for calculating an orientation of the input device in accordance with the angular velocity data; and

orientation determination means for determining whether or not the orientation of the input device calculated by the orientation calculation means is a predetermined orientation,

wherein after the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition, and when the orientation determination means determines the orientation of the input device is the predetermined orientation, the movement control means decreases an amount of change in the moving direction of the object.

36. The game apparatus according to claim 35, wherein when the magnitude of an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data is lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is in a predetermined range, the movement control means decreases the amount of change in the moving direction of the object.

37. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program executed by a computer of a game apparatus which obtains operation data including angular velocity data and acceleration data from an input device equipped with an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor, and which performs a game process in accordance with the operation data, the computer being caused to function as:

determination means for determining whether or not the angular velocity data satisfies a predetermined condition;

movement control means for changing a moving direction of a predetermined object in a game space in accordance with the acceleration data obtained in a predetermined period of time which is defined based on a point of time at which the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition; and

display control means for displaying, on a screen, the predetermined object, whose movement is controlled by the movement control means.

38. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 37, wherein the determination means causes the object to start moving when the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

39. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 37, wherein the movement control means changes the moving direction of the object in accordance with the magnitude and the direction of an acceleration in a first direction included in the acceleration data.

40. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 39, wherein the movement control means further obtains the angular velocity data during the predetermined period of time, and changes the moving direction of the object in accordance with an angular velocity around a first axis included in the angular velocity data and the acceleration in the first direction.

41. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 37, wherein the movement control means changes the moving direction of the object in accordance with an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data and an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data, both data being obtained during a predetermined length of period before and after a determination time at which the determination means has determined that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

42. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 41, wherein the movement control means increases or decreases an amount of change in the moving direction of the object in accordance with the magnitude of the acceleration.

43. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 41, wherein the movement control means determines a direction to which a moving direction of the object is to be changed in accordance with the angular velocity data obtained during the predetermined length of period before and after the determination time.

44. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 41, further causing the computer to function as

orientation calculation means for calculating an orientation of the input device in accordance with the angular velocity data,

wherein, the movement control means determines a direction to which a moving direction of the object is to be changed in accordance with the orientation at a predetermined point of time after the determination time, the orientation being calculated by the orientation calculation means.

45. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 37, further causing the computer to function as

position determination means for determining a position of the object in accordance with the angular velocity data during a period of time until the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition,

wherein, the movement control means causes the object to start moving from a position determined by the position determination means toward a predetermined direction, and changes the moving direction of the object after the object starts moving, when the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition.

46. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 37, further causing the computer to function as

angular velocity storage means for sequentially storing the angular velocity data,

wherein, the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition in accordance with the angular velocity data stored in the angular velocity storage means when the magnitude of an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data represents a local maximum value, and is greater than a predetermined threshold.

47. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 37, further causing the computer to function as

orientation calculation means for calculating an orientation of the input device in accordance with the angular velocity data;

and

orientation determination means for determining whether or not the orientation of the input device calculated by the orientation calculation means is a predetermined orientation,

wherein after the determination means determines that the angular velocity data satisfies the predetermined condition, and when the orientation determination means determines the orientation of the input device is the predetermined orientation, the movement control means decreases an amount of change in the moving direction of the object.

48. The computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program, according to claim 47, wherein when the magnitude of an angular velocity indicated by the angular velocity data is lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is in a predetermined range, the movement control means decreases the amount of change in the moving direction of the object.