Game device, method of controlling game machine, information storage medium, and program distribution device and method

• US 6,530,839 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCE Tokyo Incorporated, Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Horio, Kenichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US09/887,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/46, 463/47, 200/61.01
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/06 using player-operated means for controlling the position of a specific area display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• 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 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A game in which a player is prevented from applying an excessive force to a button on a pressure sensitive controller. For a game device comprising a controller 32 for supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with the force pressing of a button, the predetermined range includes a response range in which at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall, and a response limit range in which the digital value at the predetermined threshold or greater falls. When a digital value supplied from the controller 32 falls in the response range, a response image changing in accordance with a change in the digital value is displayed. On the other hand, when the value falls in the response limit range, a response limit image whose change in accordance with the digital value is limited is displayed.

Claims

1. A game device comprising:

a controller for supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with a force pressing of a button, wherein said predetermined range includes a response range in which at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall, and a response limit range in which at least some of the digital values at said predetermined threshold or greater falls, and

output control means for providing a response output whose content is changed in accordance with a change in the digital value supplied from said controller when said digital value falls in said response range, and providing a response limit output whose content change in accordance with the digital value is limited when said digital value falls in said response limit range.

2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein said response limit output is an output whose content does not change in accordance with a change in said digital value, and is identical to the content of said response output corresponding to a maximum value of said response range.

3. A game device comprising:

a controller for supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with a force pressing of a button, wherein said predetermined range includes a response range in which at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall, and a response limit range in which at least some of the digital values at said predetermined threshold or greater falls, and

display and control means for displaying a response image changed in accordance with a change in the digital value supplied from said controller when said digital value falls in said response range, and displaying a response limit image whose change in accordance with the digital value is limited when said digital value falls in said response limit range.

4. The game device according to claim 3, wherein said response limit image is an image which does not change in accordance with a change in said digital value, and is identical to said response image corresponding to a maximum value of said response range.

5. The game device according to claim 3, wherein said response range is divided into a plurality of sub ranges, and

said display and control means displays, when the digital value supplied from said controller falls in one of the plurality of sub ranges, an image corresponding to a sub range, and displays the image corresponding to the sub range in which a maximum value of said response range falls when the digital value falls in said response limit range.

6. The game device according to claim 5, wherein said response limit range is set wider than any one of said plurality of sub ranges.

7. A method of controlling a game machine with a controller comprising:

supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with a force pressing of a button on said controller;

providing a response output whose content is changed in accordance with a change in a digital value supplied from said controller when said digital value falls in a response range; and

providing a response limit output whose content changes in accordance with the digital value is limited when said digital value falls in said response limit range,

wherein at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall in said response range, and any digital value at said predetermined threshold or greater falls in said response limit range.

8. An information storage medium used for storing a program for allowing a computer connectable to a controller for supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with a force pressing of a button to function as a game device, wherein said information storage medium contains a program configured for:

providing a response output whose content is changed in accordance with a change in a digital value supplied from said controller when said digital value falls in a response range, and

providing a response limit output whose content change in accordance with the digital value is limited, when said digital value falls in said response limit range,

wherein, at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall in said response range, and any digital value at said predetermined threshold or greater falls in said response limit range.

9. A program distribution device for distributing a program for allowing a computer connectable to a controller for supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with a force pressing of a button to function as a game device, wherein said program is configured for:

providing a response output whose content is changed in accordance with a change in a digital value supplied from said controller, when said digital value falls in a response range, and

providing a response limit output whose content change in accordance with the digital value is limited when said digital value falls in said response limit range,

wherein, at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall in said response range, and any digital value at said predetermined threshold or greater falls in said response limit range.

10. A program distribution method for distributing a program for allowing a computer connectable to a controller for supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with a force pressing of a button to function as a game device, wherein said program is configured for:

providing a response output whose content is changed in accordance with a change in the digital value supplied from said controller when said digital value falls in a response range, and

providing a response limit output whose content change in accordance with the digital value is limited when said digital value falls in said response limit range,

wherein, at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall in said response range, and any digital value at said predetermined threshold or greater falls in said response limit range.

11. A program for allowing a computer connectable to a controller for supplying one of digital values in a predetermined range in accordance with a force pressing of a button to function as a game device, wherein said program is configured for:

providing a response output whose content is changed in accordance with a change in the digital value supplied from said controller when said digital value falls in a response range, and

providing a response limit output whose content change in accordance with the digital value is limited when said digital value falls in said response limit range,

wherein, at least some of the digital values smaller than a predetermined threshold fall in said response range, and any digital value at said predetermined threshold or greater falls in said response limit range.