GAME MACHINE, GAME PROGRAM, AND GAME MACHINE CONTROL METHOD

• US 20110172017A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Camelot Schools LLC
• Original Assignee: Camelot Schools LLC
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki, Shimizu, Shuji, Sako, Kentaro, Takahashi, Shugo
• Application Number:
  US12/674,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• 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 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6669 using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 : Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 : involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

[Problems] To provide a game machine comprising a controller including an acceleration sensor therein, personifiable and treatable as a mascot by using an information output function and expressiveness, and exhibiting an improved capability of entertaining the user gaming.

[Means for Solving Problems] A game machine comprises a game progressing unit 281 repeating according to a predetermined rule an operation signal input turn for receiving an input of an operation signal and an object varying turn for varying the display of an object by computation corresponding to the operation signal so as to progress a game, a controller 1c having an acceleration sensor for sensing the acceleration in a predetermined direction and adapted to output an operation signal according to the sensed acceleration, a speaker 1d provided to the controller 1c and adapted to output sound information, an operation signal evaluating unit 283 for setting an evaluation criterion according to the setting operation by the operator and evaluating the operation signal from the controller 1c with reference to the evaluation criterion, and an output information determining unit 284 for determining the output of the sound information corresponding to the evaluation.

Claims

1. A game machine for proceeding with a game by inputting an operating signal to operate an object displayed in a screen, comprising:

a game progressing unit operable to proceed with the game by repeating according to a predetermined rule an operation signal input turn for receiving an input of the operation signal and an object varying turn for varying the display of the object by computation corresponding to the operation signal;

a controller provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and configured to output the operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;

a sound output unit provided for the controller and operable to output sound information;

an operation signal evaluating unit operable to set an evaluation criterion according to the setting operation by the operator and evaluating the operation signal from the controller with reference to the evaluation criterion; and

an output information determining unit operable to determine the output of sound information corresponding to the evaluation by the operation signal evaluating unit,

wherein, in the operation signal input turn, an operation signal is acquired from the controller;

the acquired operation signal is evaluated by the operation signal evaluating unit;

the output information determining unit determines sound information in accordance with the evaluation; and

the sound information is output through the controller from which the operation signal is input.

2. A game machine for proceeding with a game by inputting an operating signal to operate an object displayed in a screen, comprising:

a game progressing unit operable to proceed with the game by repeating according to a predetermined rule an operation signal input turn for receiving an input of the operation signal through each of a plurality of controllers and an object varying turn for varying the display of the object by computation corresponding to the operation signal;

the plurality of controllers each of which is provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and configured to output the operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;

a gallery control unit operable to determine the output of sound information or the operation of an object which is assigned to each of the controllers in accordance with the operation signal output from any of the controllers,

wherein in the operation signal input turn assigned to one controller, the gallery control unit performs, in response to an operation signal output from another controller, the output of sound information or the operation of an object which is assigned to this another controller.

3. The game machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the controllers include controllers belonging to other game machines which communicate with this game machine through a communication line, and wherein the game progressing unit operates to proceed with the same game among the plurality of game machines by synchronous process with the other game machines.

4. A game program for proceeding with a game by:

using a controller provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and a sound output unit for outputting sound information, and configured to output an operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor; and

changing an object displayed in a screen on the basis of the operating signal input through the controller, the game program causing a computer to perform;

a game progressing step of proceeding with the game by repeating according to a predetermined rule an operation signal input turn for receiving an input of the operation signal and an object varying turn for varying the display of the object by computation corresponding to the operation signal; and

an operation signal evaluating step of setting an evaluation criterion according to the setting operation by the operator;

an output information determining step of determining the output of the sound information in accordance with the evaluation in the operation signal evaluating step; and

an evaluation information output step of, in the operation signal input turn, acquiring an operation signal from the controller, evaluating the acquired operation signal in accordance with the evaluation criterion, outputting the sound information determined in accordance with the evaluation through the controller from which the operation signal is input.

5. A game program for proceeding with a game by:

using a plurality of controllers each of which is provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and a sound output unit for outputting sound information, and configured to output an operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;

changing an object displayed in a screen on the basis of an operating signal input through each of the controllers, the game program causing a computer to perform;

a game progressing step of proceeding with the game by repeating according to a predetermined rule an operation signal input turn for receiving an input of the operation signal through each of a plurality of controllers and an object varying turn for varying the display of the object by computation corresponding to the operation signal; and

a gallery control step of, in the operation signal input turn assigned to one controller and in response to an operation signal output from another controller, performing the output of sound information or the operation of an object which is assigned to this another controller.

6. The game program as claimed in claim 5 wherein the controllers include controllers belonging to other game machines which communicate with this game machine through a communication line, and wherein the plurality of game machines proceed with the same game by performing synchronous process among these game machines in the game progressing step.

7. A game machine control method for proceeding with a game by:

using a controller provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and a sound output unit for outputting sound information, and configured to output an operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor; and

changing an object displayed in a screen on the basis of the operating signal input through the controller, the game machine control method comprising;

a game progressing step of proceeding with the game by repeating according to a predetermined rule an operation signal input turn for receiving an input of the operation signal and an object varying turn for varying the display of the object by computation corresponding to the operation signal; and

an operation signal evaluating step of setting an evaluation criterion according to the setting operation by the operator;

an output information determining step of determining the output of the sound information in accordance with the evaluation in the operation signal evaluating step; and

an evaluation information output step of, in the operation signal input turn, acquiring an operation signal from the controller, evaluating the acquired operation signal in accordance with the evaluation criterion, outputting the sound information determined in accordance with the evaluation through the controller from which the operation signal is input.

8. A game machine control method for proceeding with a game by:

using a plurality of controllers each of which is provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and a sound output unit for outputting sound information, and configured to output an operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;

changing an object displayed in a screen on the basis of an operating signal input through each of the controllers, the game machine control method comprising;

a game progressing step of proceeding with the game by repeating according to a predetermined rule an operation signal input turn for receiving an input of the operation signal through each of a plurality of controllers and an object varying turn for varying the display of the object by computation corresponding to the operation signal; and

a gallery control step of, in the operation signal input turn assigned to one controller and in response to an operation signal output from another controller, performing the output of sound information or the operation of an object which is assigned to this another controller.

9. The game machine control method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the controllers include controllers belonging to other game machines which communicate with this game machine through a communication line, and wherein the plurality of game machines proceed with the same game by performing synchronous process among these game machines in the game progressing step.