GAME APPARATUS, STORAGE MEDIUM, GAME CONTROLLING METHOD AND GAME SYSTEM

• US 20120214595A1
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: KAWAMOTO, Kouichi, TSUGIHASHI, Kanako, TAKAHASHI, Ryutaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,199,167 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 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• 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 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• 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 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

A game apparatus includes a micon, and the micon measures step counts in correspondence with the magnitude of accelerations indicated by acceleration data from an acceleration sensor when a user carries the game apparatus in a sleep mode in which the apparatus is closed. The step counts are converted into earned coins. In each of a plurality of games executed by the game apparatus, by using the earned coins, a special item is purchased, playing in a special course is permitted, a hint is displayed, and a game is played in fast-forward.

Claims

1. A game apparatus having an inputter, comprising:

a step count measurer which measures step counts;

a game processor which advances a game on the basis of an input from said inputter; and

a utilizer which utilizes the step counts measured by said step count measurer in said game, wherein

said game processor executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

2. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said utilizer utilizes said step counts in said game on the basis of an input from said inputter, and

said game processor executes game processing for advancing the game on the basis of an input from said inputter when said step counts are not utilized by said utilizer, and executes support processing for supporting advancement of said game in addition to said game processing when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

3. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said game processor outputs information being a hint for advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

4. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said game processor executes processing of shortening a time required for advancing said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

5. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an accumulator which converts the step counts measured by said step count measurer into a step count correlation value correlating with said step counts and accumulates the same; and

said utilizer utilizes said step count correlation value accumulated by said accumulator in said game.

6. A game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said utilizer utilizes said step count correlation value in said game in a case that said step count correlation value is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and further comprising:

a subtracter which performs a subtraction on said step count correlation value when said step count correlation value is utilized by said utilizer in said game.

7. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a switcher which switches between an unused state and a used state of said game apparatus, and

a switch determiner which determines whether or not said used state switches to said unused state, wherein

said step count measurer measures step counts when a shift to said unused state is determined by said switch determiner.

8. A game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said switcher switches between a power saving mode and a normal mode, and

said switch determiner determines whether or not said used state shifts to said unused state by determining whether or not said normal mode shifts to said power saving mode.

9. A game apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising

a disabler which disables said game processor;

and

said switcher switches from said used state to said unused state when said game processor is disabled by said disabler.

10. A game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

a game apparatus body has an openable and closeable mechanism,

said switcher switches between a closed state and an opened state of said game apparatus body, and

said switch determiner determines whether or not said used state shifts to said unused state by determining whether or not said game apparatus body shifts from the opened state to the closed state.

11. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communicator, wherein

said communicator automatically executes communication processing while step counts are measured by said step count measurer.

12. A game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said communicator automatically makes a search for another game apparatus, and automatically transmits and receives data with said other game apparatus when it is searched.

13. A game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said communicator automatically makes a search for a predetermined access point, and automatically transmits and receives data via said access point when it is searched.

14. A game apparatus having an inputter, comprising:

a step count acquirer which acquires steps counts;

a game processor which advances a game on the basis of an input from said inputter; and

a utilizer which utilizes the step counts acquired by said step count acquirer in said game, wherein

said game processor executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

15. A storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus having an inputter, said game program causes a computer of said game apparatus to function as:

a step count measurer which measures step counts;

a game processor which advances a game on the basis of an input from said inputter; and

a utilizer which utilizes the step counts measured by said step count measurer in said game, wherein

said game processor executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

16. A storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus having an inputter, said game program causes a computer of said game apparatus to function as:

a step count acquirer which acquires steps counts;

a game processor which advances a game on the basis of an input from said inputter; and

a utilizer which utilizes the step counts acquired by said step count acquirer in said game, wherein

said game processor executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

17. A game controlling method of a game apparatus having an inputter, comprising steps of:

(a) measuring step counts;

(b) advancing a game on the basis of the input from said inputter; and

(c) utilizing the step counts measured by said step (a) in said game, wherein

said step (b) executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said step (c).

18. A game controlling method of a game apparatus having an inputter, comprising steps of:

(a) acquiring step counts;

(b) advancing a game on the basis of the input from said inputter; and

(c) utilizing the step counts acquired by said step (a) in said game, wherein

said step (b) executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said step (c).

19. A game system having an inputter, comprising:

a step count measurer which measures step counts;

a game processor which advances a game on the basis of an input from said inputter; and

a utilizer which utilizes the step counts measured by said step count measurer in said game, wherein

said game processor executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.

20. A game system including a game apparatus having an inputter and a pedometer measuring step counts,

said game apparatus, comprising:

a step count acquirer which acquires steps counts;

a game processor which advances a game on the basis of an input from said inputter; and

a utilizer which utilizes the step counts acquired by said step count acquirer in said game, wherein

said game processor executes processing of supporting advancement of said game when said step counts are utilized by said utilizer.