Game apparatus with game player physical strength recognition

• US 6,645,076 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sugai, Kazutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B.
• Application Number:
  US09/515,815
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

A game apparatus includes a game apparatus body and a manual controller for entering an operation command signal from a game player into the game apparatus body. The manual controller is provided therein with a vibrating motor. The game apparatus body calculates virtual damage of a player character caused by an attack from an enemy character, and determines a vibration interval based on the calculated damage. The game apparatus body drives the vibrating motor of the manual controller according to the determined vibration interval so that the manual controller is vibrated at the determined vibration interval.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:

operation input means for inputting a command from a game player and outputting an operation command signal in response to the command;

game control means for controlling a motion of a player character according to at least one of the operation command signal and a predetermined procedure in a game space and further controlling a motion of an enemy character which attacks said player character in the game space;

vibration output means for generating vibration when driven;

damage deriving means for deriving damage of said player character caused by an attack from said enemy character; and

driving means for determining a vibration interval based on a physical strength value of the player character, wherein the physical strength value repeatedly changes over time in response to the derived damage, and when the physical strength is changed, the driving means determines a changed vibration interval based on the changed physical strength, and said driving means further driving said vibration output means according to the changed vibration interval so that said vibration output means generates the vibration at the changed vibration interval.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means shortens the vibration interval as the physical strength value decreases.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said driving means drives said vibration output means when the physical strength value falls below a predetermined value.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration output means vibrates said operation input means.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said operation input means comprises a grip portion to be held by the game player upon performing the command input, and said vibration output means vibrates said grip portion.

6. A control method for a game apparatus comprising:

operation input means for inputting a command from a game player and outputting an operation command signal in response to the command;

game control means for controlling a motion of a player character according to at least one of the operation command signal and a predetermined procedure in a game space and further controlling a motion of an enemy character which attacks said player character in the game space; and

vibration output means for generating vibration when driven;

said control method comprising the steps of;

deriving damage of said player character caused by an attack from said enemy character;

determining a vibration interval based on a physical strength value of the player character, wherein the physical strength value repeatedly changes over time in response to the derived damage, and when the physical strength is changed, the driving means determines a changed vibration interval based on the changed physical strength; and

driving said vibration output means according to the changed vibration interval so that said vibration output means generates the vibration at the changed vibration interval.

7. The control method according to claim 6, wherein the vibration interval determining step comprising shortening the vibration interval as the physical strength value decreases.

8. The control method according to claim 7, wherein said driving step comprises driving said vibration output means when the physical strength value falls a predetermined value.

9. A recording medium recording therein a game program for use in a game apparatus comprising:

operation input means for inputting a command from a game player and outputting an operation command signal in response to the command;

game control means for controlling a motion of a player character according to at least one of the operation command signal and a predetermined procedure in a game space and further controlling a motion of an enemy character which attacks said player character in the game space; and

vibration output means for generating vibration when driven;

said game program, when read by said game apparatus, causing said game apparatus to execute the steps of;

deriving damage of said player character caused by an attack from said enemy character;

determining a vibration interval based on a physical strength value of the player character, wherein the physical strength value repeatedly changes over time in response to the derived damage, and when the physical strength is changed, the driving means determines a changed vibration interval based on the changed physical strength; and

driving said vibration output means according to the changed vibration interval so that said vibration output means generates the vibration at the changed vibration interval.

10. The recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the vibration interval determining step comprising shortening the vibration interval as the physical strength value decreases.

11. The recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the driving step comprises driving said vibration output means when the physical strength value falls a predetermined value.