Input device, game device, and method and recording medium for same

• US 6,312,335 B1
• Filed: 01/23/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Himoto, Atsunori, Tosaki, Kenji, Oikawa, Akitoshi, Sugahara, Hisamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/012,223
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 273/148.B, 273/438, 242/84.5, 242/21, 242/223-249, 242/253-255, 700/90, 340/710, 514/363, 345/164, 972/73, 434/69, 364/410, 272/1.R, 337/19
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/818 Fishing
• 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 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 Virtual fishing

Abstract

An input device in which a player moves the whole of the input device and a game processing device for processing a simulated game are disclosed. The input device is modeled on an instrument required for a prescribed action in real-life. The input device includes detecting means for detecting physical quantities corresponding to the movement of the input device as a whole and converting the physical quantities to a detection signal which is output. The input device further includes vibration transmitting means, fixed to the casing of the input device so that vibration is transmitted to the input device, for inducing mechanical displacement corresponding to prescribed instruction signals. The game processing device includes game developing means for developing a game simulating the real-life action and for providing a display indicating that the instrument has received an impact at a time during the game corresponding to a time when the instrument would receive an impact during the real-life action. The game processing device further includes instruction means for outputting an instruction signal to the input device indicating that the impact has been received at a time during the game corresponding to a time when the impact would be received. When movement information indicating the movement of the input device and supplied by the input device reaches a prescribed condition, the development of the game by said game developing means is changed.

Claims

1. A game processing device which processes a simulated game wherein an input device operated by a player is modeled on an instrument required for a prescribed action in real-life, comprising:

game developing means for developing a game simulating said real-life action and providing a display indicating that said instrument has received an impact at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said instrument would receive an impact during said real-life action;

acceleration means for measuring a magnitude of an acceleration of the input device; and

instruction means for outputting an instrument signal to said input device indicating that said impact has been received at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said impact would be received, wherein the development of the game by said developing means is changed, and said game simulates fishing, said input device is modeled on a fishing rod and reel, and said game developing means determines that a fish has escaped after a “

bite”

when the rod is raised with a magnitude of acceleration above an acceleration threshold or the reel is rotated above a threshold number of rotations, while the fish is moving.

2. A game processing method for processing a simulated game wherein an input device operated by a player is modeled on an instrument required for a prescribed action in real life, comprising:

a game developing step in which a game simulating said real-life action is developed and a display is provided indicating that said instrument has received an impact at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said instrument would receive an impact during said real-life action;

an acceleration measuring step for measuring a magnitude of an acceleration of the input device; and

an instruction step whereby an instruction signal is output to said input device indicating that said impact has been received at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said impact would be received, wherein said game developing step changes the development of the game, and said game simulates fishing, said input device is modeled on a fishing rod and reel, and said game developing step determines that a fish has escaped after a “

bite”

when the rod is raised with a magnitude of acceleration above an acceleration threshold or the reel is rotated above a threshold number of rotations, while the fish is moving.

3. A mechanically readable recording medium on which programs for executing the steps according to claim 2 in a computer are stored.

4. A game processing device which processes a game simulating fishing wherein an input device operated by a player is modeled on a fishing rod and reel, comprising:

game developing means for developing the game simulating fishing and providing a display indicating that said rod has received an impact at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said rod would receive an impact during said real-life action;

and instruction means for outputting an instruction signal to said input device indicating that said impact has been received at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said impact would be received;

wherein when it is determined that there has been a bite in the course of the game, said game developing means determines that a fish nibbled at a bait when the reel is rotated at least a first threshold number of rotations or the rod is raised with a magnitude of acceleration exceeding a first threshold acceleration, after the “

bite”

;

said game developing means determines that the fish is partially reeled in when the reel is rotated at least a second threshold number of rotations, after the fish has nibbled at the bait and while the fish is not moving;

said game developing means determines that the fish is landed when the fish is repeatedly partially reeled in and the rod is raised by at least a threshold distance; and

said game developing means determines that the fish has escaped after a “

bite”

when the rod is raised with a magnitude of acceleration above an acceleration threshold or the reel is rotated above a threshold number of rotations, while the fish is moving; and

said instruction means transmits vibrations to the player indicating that there is a “

bite”

at said input device, by outputting said instruction signal to said input device when it is judged that there has been a “

bite”

in the course of the game.

5. An input device for use with a game processing device that simulates fishing, wherein the input device is operable by a player, comprising:

an instrument modeled on a fishing rod and reel;

wherein the game processing device includes game developing means for developing a game simulating fishing and providing a display indicating that said fishing rod and reel have received an impact at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said fishing rod and reel would receive an impact during the fishing, said game developing means determines that a fish has escaped after a “

bite”

when the rod is raised with a magnitude of acceleration above an acceleration threshold or the reel is rotated above a threshold number of rotations, while the fish is moving;

acceleration means for measuring a magnitude of an acceleration of the fishing rod; and

instruction means for outputting an instruction signal to said input device indicating that said impact has been received at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said impact would be received, wherein the development of the game by said developing means is changed.

6. A method of operating an input device with a game that simulates fishing, wherein the input device is operable by a player, comprising:

providing the input device as a fishing rod and reel;

developing a game simulating fishing;

providing a display indicating that said fishing rod and reel have received an impact at a timing during said fishing game corresponding to a time when said fishing rod and reel would receive an impact during the fishing;

measuring a magnitude of an acceleration of the fishing rod; and

outputting an instruction signal to said fishing rod and reel indicating that said impact has been received at a timing during said game corresponding to a time when said impact would be received; and

determining that a fish has escaped after a “

bite”

when the rod is raised with a magnitude of acceleration above an acceleration threshold or the reel is rotated above a threshold number of rotations, while the fish is moving.