Simulative golf game system and a method for providing a simulative golf game and a storage medium for storing a simulative golf game program

• US 6,217,444 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Inoue, Shinya, Kataoka, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US08/935,017
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 473/409, 473/225, 473/219, 473/220, 473/221, 473/222, 473/266, 473/270, 434/252, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/4, 463/3
• US Class Current: 463/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 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 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• 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

A simulative golf game system provides a game image having a guide image indicating a stance setting, enabling the game player to easily recognize based on which stance is used, how the game is going to play. The guide image represents a power meter whose scale increases and decreases according to a spacing between the feet. The foot spacing determines the power applied to the shot and influences the flying distance of the golfball, thereby making the game more real.

Claims

1. A simulative golf game system comprising:

an operation unit for generating an operation signal for controlling a stance setting in accordance with manual operation of the operation unit by a player;

a game image producing unit for producing game images having a guide image indicating the stance setting set, including a spacing between feet of the player, in accordance with the operation signal from the operation unit, the game image producing unit including;

a flight distance calculator for calculating a flying distance of a golfball based on the stance setting including the spacing between the feet; and

the game image producing unit producing a game image depicting the flying distance of the golfball; and

a display unit for displaying the game images.

2. The simulative golf game system according to claim 1, wherein the stance setting includes setting a position of the feet with respect to a golfball, and the game image producing unit produces a game image having a feet position guide image indicating the position of the feet with respect to the golfball.

3. The simulative golf game system according to claim 2, wherein the game image producing unit further includes a trajectory calculator for calculating a trajectory of the golfball based on the position of feet with respect to the golfball, and produces a game image indicating a calculated, trajectory of the golfball.

4. A simulative golf game system, comprising:

an operation unit for generating an operation signal for controlling a stance setting in accordance with manual operation of the operation unit by a player, the stance setting including setting a spacing between feet of the player;

a game image producing unit for producing game images having a guide image indicating the stance setting set in accordance with the operation signal from the operation unit wherein the guide image indicates the spacing between the feet of the player;

the game image producing unit including a flight distance calculator for calculating a flying distance of a golfball in accordance with the stance setting, and producing a game image depicting the flying distance of the golfball; and

the game image producing unit further including a power calculator for calculating a shot power based on the spacing between the feet, and producing a game image having a power guide image indicating the shot power calculated.

5. The simulative golf game system according to claim 4, wherein the game image producing unit further includes an impact timing range calculator for calculating an impact timing range based on the spacing between the feet, and produces a game image having a timing range guide image indicating the impact timing range.

6. A method for simulating a golf game comprising the steps of:

accepting input establishing a stance setting including a spacing between feet of a player;

producing game images having a guide image indicating the stance setting including the spacing between the feet of the player;

calculating a flying distance of a golfball based on the stance setting including the spacing between the feet;

producing a game image indicating the flying distance of the golfball; and

displaying the game images.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

accepting input establishing a position of the feet with respect to the golfball; and

producing a game image having a feet position guide image indicating the position of feet with respect to the golfball that is established.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

calculating a trajectory of the golfball based on the position of the feet with respect to the golfball; and

producing a game image indicating the trajectory of the golfball calculated.

9. A method for simulating a golf game comprising the steps of:

accepting input establishing a stance setting including a spacing between feet of a player;

calculating a flying distance of a golfball based on the stance setting including the spacing between the feet;

calculating a shot power based on the spacing between the feet;

producing game images having a stance guide image indicating the stance setting, including the spacing between the feet of the player;

producing a game image indicating the flying distance of the golfball;

producing a game image having a shot power guide image indicating the shot power calculated; and

displaying the game images.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

calculating an impact timing range based on the spacing between the feet; and

producing a game image having a timing range guide image indicating the impact timing range calculated.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing a simulative golf game program in executable code which renders a computer having a display and an input device to execute the procedures of:

accepting input from the input device establishing a stance setting including a spacing between feet of a player;

producing game images having a guide image indicating the stance setting including the spacing between the feet of the player;

calculating a flying distance of a golfball based on the stance setting including the spacing between the feet;

producing a game image indicating the flying distance of the golfball; and

displaying the game images on the display.

12. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, and the program further includes the procedures of:

accepting input establishing aposition of the feet with respect to the golfball; and

producing a game image having a feet position guide image indicating the position of feet with respect to the golfball that is established.

13. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the program further includes the procedures of:

calculating a trajectory of the golfball based on the position of the feet with respect to the golfball; and

producing a game image indicating the trajectory of the golfball calculated.

14. A computer readable storage medium storing a simulative golf game program in executable code which renders a computer having a display and an input device to execute the procedures of:

accepting input establishing a stance setting including a spacing between feet of a player;

calculating a flying distance of a golfball based on the stance setting including the spacing between the feet;

calculating a shot power based on the spacing between the feet;

producing game images having a stance guide image indicating the stance setting, including the spacing between the feet of the player;

producing a game image indicating the flying distance of the golfball;

producing a game image having a shot power guide image indicating the shot power calculated; and

displaying the game images.

15. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the program further includes the procedures of:

calculating an impact timing range based on the spacing between the feet; and

producing a game image having a timing range guide image indicating the impact timing range calculated.

16. A simulative golf game system comprising:

an operation unit for generating an operation signal regarding a stance setting in accordance with an operation of a player;

a game image producing unit for producing a game image having a guide image representing a stance setting in accordance with an operation signal from the operation unit, the game image producing unit including a flight distance calculator for calculating a flying distance of a golfball based on the stance setting including the spacing between the feet; and

a display unit for displaying a produced game image having a guide image.

17. The simulative golf game system according to claim 16, wherein the game image producing unit produces a game image depicting the flying distance of the golfball.

18. The simulative golf game system according to claim 17, wherein the game image producing unit further includes a power calculator for calculating a shot power based on the spacing between the feet, and producing a game image having a power guide image indicating the shot power calculated.

19. A simulative golf game system comprising:

an operation unit for generating an operation signal for controlling a stance setting in accordance with manual operation of the operation unit by a player;

a game image producing unit for producing game images having a guide image indicating the stance setting set, including a spacing between feet of the player, in accordance with the operation signal from the operation unit;

the game image producing unit further including a power calculator for calculating a shot power based on the spacing between the feet, and producing a game image having a power guide image indicating the shot power calculated; and

a display unit for displaying the game images.

20. A method for simulating a golf game comprising the steps of:

accepting input establishing a stance setting including a spacing between feet of a player;

producing game images having a guide image indicating the stance setting including the spacing between the feet of the player;

calculating a shot power based on the spacing between the feet;

producing a game image having a shot power guide image indicating the shot power calculated; and

displaying the game images.

21. A computer readable storage medium storing a simulative golf game program in executable code which renders a computer having a display and an input device to execute the procedures of:

accepting input from the input device establishing a stance setting including a spacing between feet of a player;

producing game images having a guide image indicating the stance setting including the spacing between the feet of the player;

calculating a shot power based on the spacing between the feet;

producing a game image having a shot power guide image indicating the shot power calculated; and

displaying the game images on the display.