GAME DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GAME, GAME CONTROL PROGRAM AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM

• US 20110159958A1
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Takeda, Junichi, Miura, Masakazu, Kawarazuka, Shunsuke
• Application Number:
  US13/055,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20110159958A1
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• 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 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics

Abstract

A game device capable of controlling a game without a special game operation is provided.

A controller 7 which is means for inputting game operation to a game device 3 comprises an acceleration sensor 73 detecting vibration applied to the input means. Control means for controlling the game in the game device 3 comprises means for determining an intensity level of a vibration value of vibration generated by a tap motion of a player when the controller 7 transmits a measured value of the vibration, and means for determining whether or not an array pattern of the determined intensity levels in time series order matches a previously-set command. The control means comprises means for, if it matches the previously-set command, executing special game control set corresponding to the matched command.

Claims

1. A game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein

the input means comprises vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means,

the control means comprises vibration level determination means for determining a level of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, and

the control means executes game control using determination information determined by the vibration level determination means as the operation input information received from the input means.

5. The game device according to claim 1, wherein

the input means comprises vibration generation means,

the control means comprises:

mounting determination means for determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration detection signal of a previously-set first predetermined value or less is received for a certain time-period from the vibration detection means;

vibration generation means for allowing the vibration generation means mounted on the mounting site to generate a first vibration for a predetermined time on the basis of a determination result produced by the mounting determination means;

natural-vibration value calculation means for calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from the vibration detection signal of the first vibration detected by the vibration detection means; and

vibration correction value calculation means for correcting a vibration detection signal of a second vibration applied to the mounting site as the operation input information detected by the vibration detection means, on the basis of the natural vibration value,

the vibration level determination means determines the level on the basis of the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means.

11. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising:

conversion value calculation means for calculating a conversion value on the basis of a predetermined equation, when the vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means is equal to or less than a second predetermined value.

12. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising:

associated vibration setting means which measures vibration detection signals of predetermined times detected by the vibration detection means, and when the input means has detected one-time vibration, sets vibrations to be detected except the one-time vibration, as associated vibrations associated with the one-time vibration, on the basis of the vibration detection signals measured at predetermined times.

2. A game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein

the input means comprises;

vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means; and

vibration level determination means for determining a level of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means,

the control means executes game control using determination information determined by the vibration level determination means as the operation input information received from the input means.

3. A game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein

the input means comprises vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means,

the control means comprises;

vibration pattern determination means for determining one or more level patterns of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, and

special input command determination means for determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination means matches a special predetermined input command,

the control means executes game control using the special input command determined to be matching by the special input command determination means, as the operation input information received from the input means.

6. The game device according to claim 3, wherein

the input means comprises vibration generation means,

the control means comprises:

mounting determination means for determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration detection signal of a previously-set first predetermined value or less is received for a certain time-period from the vibration detection means;

vibration generation means for allowing the vibration generation means mounted on the mounting site to generate a first vibration for a predetermined time, on the basis of a determination result produced by the mounting determination means;

natural-vibration value calculation means for calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site, from the vibration detection signal of the first vibration detected by the vibration detection means; and

vibration correction value calculation means for correcting a vibration detection signal of a second vibration applied to the mounting site as the operation input information detected by the vibration detection means, on the basis of the natural vibration value,

the pattern determination means determines the level pattern on the basis of the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means.

7. The game device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration pattern determination means comprises input vibration classification means for classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration into one or more level patterns using intensity as determination criterion, based on a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

8. The game device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration pattern determination means comprises tap/rest setting means for making a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration corresponding to an elapsed time axis to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

9. The game device according to claim 7, further comprising storage means,

wherein the control means comprises:

vibration correction value storage means for sequentially storing the vibration detection signals of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means in time sequence order in the storage means as a third vibration detection signal;

level pattern threshold calculation means for calculating a classification threshold for determining which level pattern the third vibration detection signal belongs to, on the basis of one or more pieces of information including newest information on the third vibration detection signals stored in time sequence by the vibration correction value storage means; and

level pattern storage means for determining which level pattern the corrected newest third vibration detection signal belongs to, on the basis of the calculated threshold, and storing information relating to the determined level pattern in time sequence order in the storage means.

10. The game device according to claim 8, further comprising storage means,

wherein the control means comprises:

tap time-interval storage means which, with respect to the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration value calculation means, sequentially stores, in time sequence order, time intervals at which the vibration detection signals of the second vibration adjacent to each other in time sequence are input;

rest determination time correction means for calculating a corrected rest determination time, on the basis of the time interval and/or a previously-set rest determination time stored in the tap time-interval storage means, when it is determined that the vibration detection signal is not input; and

rest period determination means for determining, as the rest period, the elapsed time axis along which it is determined that the vibration detection signal is not input, when it is determined that a difference time value S between a current time value and a time value input by the vibration detection signal of the second vibration is larger than the corrected rest determination time

4. A game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein

the input means comprises;

vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means; and

vibration pattern determination means for determining one or more level patterns of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means,

the control means comprises special input command determination means for determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination means matches a special predetermined input command, and

the control means executes game control using the special input command determined to be matching by the special input command determination means, as the operation input information received from the input means.

13. A method of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration detection means for detecting vibration, said method comprising:

a vibration level determination step of determining a level pattern of a vibration value detected by the vibration detection means to obtain determination information; and

a game control step based on vibration-level-determination, which controls execution of a game using the determination information obtained in the vibration level determination step as game control information.

14. A method of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration generation means and vibration detection means for detecting vibration, said method comprising:

a mounting determination step which determines that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site, when a vibration value equal to or lower than a previously-set predetermined value is detected for a certain time-period by the vibration detection means;

a vibration start step of starting a first vibration by the vibration generation means on the basis of a determination result in the mounting determination step;

a vibration detection step of actuating the vibration detection means to detect the first vibration when the first vibration occurs in the vibration start step;

a natural-vibration value calculation step of calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site, from a first vibration value based on the first vibration detected in the vibration detection step;

a correction value calculation step of calculating a correction value in accordance with the natural vibration value and a second vibration value based on the second vibration, when the vibration detection means has detected a second vibration applied to the mounting site for operation input; and

a correction value operation conversion step of converting operation input information based on the correction value into game control information.

15. The method of game control according to claim 14, comprising:

a vibration pattern determination step of determining one or more level patterns of the correction value calculated in the correction value calculation step;

a special input signal determination step of determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined in the vibration pattern determination step matches a previously-set special input command; and

a command execution step of executing game control using the special input command determined to be matching in the special input signal determination step as the operation input information input from the input means.

16. The method of game control according to claim 14, wherein the vibration pattern determination step includes input vibration classification step of classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration into one or more level patterns using intensity as a criterion, in response to a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

17. The method of game control according to claim 14, wherein the vibration pattern determination step includes tap/rest setting step which makes a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration corresponding to an elapsed time axis to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

18. A computer readable recording medium storing a program executable by a game device which includes an input means having a vibration detection means for detecting vibration, said program controlling game progress in the game device and comprising:

a vibration level determination program of determining a level pattern of a vibration value detected by the vibration detection means to obtain determination information; and

game-control program based on a vibration-level-determination, for controlling execution of a game, using the determination information obtained by the vibration level determination program as game control information.

19. A computer readable recording medium storing a program executable by a game device which includes an input means having vibration generation means and vibration detecting means, said program controlling game progress in the game device and comprising:

a mounting determination program having a step of determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site, when a vibration value equal to or lower than a previously-set predetermined value is detected for a certain time-period by the vibration detection means;

a vibration start program having a step of starting a first vibration by the vibration generation means, in accordance with a determination result based on the mounting determination program;

a vibration detection program having a step of actuating the vibration detection means to detect the first vibration when the first vibration occurs by virtue of the vibration start program;

a natural-vibration value calculation program having a step of calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from a first vibration value based on the first vibration detected by the vibration detection program;

a correction value calculation program having a step of calculating a correction value in accordance with the natural vibration value and a second vibration value based on the second vibration, when the vibration detection means has detected a second vibration applied to the mounting site for operation input; and

a correction value operation conversion program having a step of converting operation input information based on the correction value into game control information.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said program further comprises:

a vibration pattern determination program having a step of determining which level pattern of one or more level patterns the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation program corresponds to;

a special input command determination program having a step of determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination program matches a previously-set special input command; and

a command execution program having a step of executing game control, using the special input command determined to be matching by the special input command determination program, as the operation input information input from the input means.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the vibration pattern determination program includes input vibration classification program having a step of classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration into one or more level patterns taking intensity as a criterion, in response to a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the vibration pattern determination program comprises tap/rest setting program having a step of making a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration corresponding to an elapsed time axis, to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

23. (canceled)