GAME APPARATUS, STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME PROGRAM AND GAME CONTROLLING METHOD

• US 20130244783A1
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: NAKAJIMA, Souichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

A game apparatus includes an LCD, and a touch panel is placed on a top surface of the LCD. A player instructs an enemy character displayed on the LCD by use of a stick to attack the enemy character. For example, in a case that the enemy character exists at a depth of a game screen, little damage is applied to the enemy character, and a weak vibration is applied to the game apparatus. Conversely, in a case that the enemy character exists at a front of the game screen, much damage is applied to the character, and a strong vibration is applied to the game apparatus. In either case, the vibrations are transmitted to the fingers or hands of the payer via the stick.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A game apparatus capable of playing a game by a player, a vibrator being provided in relation with the game apparatus, comprising:

a display which displays a game image including a character;

a touch panel provided in association with the display and configured to point a coordinates position within a displaying area of the display; and

a processor configured to perform;

updating at least one parameter associated with the character in accordance with progress of the game;

obtaining the parameter at a time that a coordinates position touched by the touch pane is included within a displaying area of the character; and

vibrating, based on the parameter, the vibrator in a vibration pattern.

14. The game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the parameter changes a displaying manner of the character.

15. The game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the parameter changes a state of the character.

16. The game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the character is assigned with a plurality of vibration patterns, the vibrator is vibrated with a vibration pattern selected from the plurality of vibration patterns in accordance with the parameter.

17. The game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the parameter is updated in accordance with progress of the game regardless of whether or not the touch panel is touched by the player.

18. The game apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a memory including a table in which the parameters and the vibration patterns are stored in correspondence to each other, wherein the vibration pattern is selected according to the parameter by referring to the table.

19. The game apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

the table is prepared for each character.

21. A game system which is capable of playing a game by a player and includes a vibrator which applies vibration to the player, comprising:

a display which displays a game image including a character;

a touch panel provided in association with the display and configured to point a coordinates position within a displaying area of the display; and

a processor configured to perform;

updating at least one parameter associated with the character in accordance with progress of the game;

obtaining the parameter at a time that a coordinates position touched by the touch panel is included within a displaying area of the character; and

vibrating, based on the parameter, the vibrator in a vibration pattern.

22. A game method in a game system which is capable of playing a game by a player and includes a processor, a display which displays a game image including a character, a touch panel provided in association with the display and configured to point a coordinates position within a displaying area of the display and a vibrator which applies vibration to the player, the processor performing:

updating at least one parameter associated with the character in accordance with progress of the game;

obtaining the parameter at a time that a coordinates position touched by the touch panel is included within a displaying area of the character; and

vibrating, based on the parameter, the vibrator in a vibration pattern.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores a game program executed by a processor included in a game system which is capable of playing a game by a player and includes a vibrator which applies vibration to the player, a display which displays a game image including a character and a touch panel provided in association with the display and configured to point a coordinates position within a displaying area of the display, the game program causes the processor to perform:

updating at least one parameter associated with the character in accordance with progress of the game;

obtaining the parameter at a time that a coordinates position touched by the touch panel is included within a displaying area of the character; and

vibrating, based on the parameter, the vibrator in a vibration pattern.