Game apparatus, input device used in game apparatus and storage medium

• US 7,331,856 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD. (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD. (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Shun, Itagaki, Takao, Hasumi, Takanori, Takayama, Kazuhiro, Yamada, Hideyuki, Abe, Takashi, Yokoyama, Yutaka, Himoto, Atsunori, Tosaki, Kenji, Kawamura, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/657,154
• Time in Patent Office: 2,721 Days
• Field of Search: 463 2- 5, 463/7, 463 36- 38, 345/156, 345/158, 434/247, 434/307.R, 434/250, 434/258
• US Class Current: 463/7
• 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 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A video monitor 13 is provided on the front surface of a game apparatus casing 2. An operation panel 11 is provided immediately below the video monitor 13. Light detection units 15 for detecting a position provided on both side of the upper end. In the game apparatus casing below the video monitor 13 there are provided a game processing board 10 for generally controlling the game apparatus, an operation device control board 16 for controlling maraca-shaped operation device 20 operated by a game player, and a position detecting board 17 for detecting a position of the operation device 20. The game apparatus enables a game player to operate operation device by natural motions without directly operating the operation device, etc.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a display unit having a display screen in front of which a game player takes a position;

an operation device to be operated by the game player;

a position detector configured to detect movements of said operation device; and

a game control unit,

the game control unit being configured to control a game progress by executing the acts of;

displaying at least four disappearance positions at outer areas on said display screen such that an inner area on the display screen is surrounded by said plurality of disappearance positions;

displaying a plurality of command marks on the display screen, which are blown out one after the other from a position in said inner area in concert with a rhythm of music, wherein each of the blown-out command marks moves from the appearance position toward one of said disappearance positions;

detecting, based on data detected by said detector, movements of said operation device operated by the game player who, at each time of blowing-out of the command marks, tries to move the operation device, in a timing before it disappears, along the movement of the command mark or toward one of the disappearance positions toward which the command mark moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the movements of the operation device agree with the moving directions of the command marks as well as whether the movements of said operation device agree with the rhythm of music.

2. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of said operation devices griped by hands of the game player, wherein said movement detection means detects movements of the operation devices operated by the game player.

3. A method for executing a game in response to a motion of a game player who takes in position in front of a monitor display connected to a game apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying on a display screen of said monitor display a least four target marks at outer areas on the display screen of the monitor with an inner area on the display screen surrounded by said outer areas;

displaying on the display screen a plurality of command marks which are blown out one after the other from said inner area in concert with a rhythm of music outputting from a speaker, wherein each of the blown-out command marks moves from the blown-out position toward one of said target marks and eventually disappears;

detecting, by a detecting means connected to said game apparatus, movements of hands of the game player, who, at each time of blowing-out of the command marks, tries to move, in a timing before it disappears, one of the hands along the movement of the command mark or toward one of the target marks toward which the command mark moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the hand movements agree with the moving directions of the command marks as well as whether the hand movements agree with the rhythm of music.

4. A method for executing a game in response to a motion of a game player who takes a position in front of a monitor display connected to a game apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying on a display screen of the monitor display a plurality of target positions at outer areas on the display screen of the monitor with an inner area on the display screen surrounded by said outer areas;

displaying on the display screen a plurality of command marks which are blown out one after the other from said inner area in concert with a rhythm of music outputting from a speaker, wherein each of the blown-out command marks moves from the appearance position toward one of said target positions and eventually disappears;

detecting, with a detecting means connected to said game apparatus, movements of hands of the game player, who, at each time of blowing-out of the command marks, tries to move, in a timing before it disappears, one of the hands along the movement of the command mark or toward one of the target positions toward which the command mark moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the hand movements agree with the moving directions of the command marks as well as whether the hand movements a agree with the rhythm of music.

5. A game apparatus comprising:

a display unit having a display screen;

a position detector configured to detect movements of hands of a game player who takes a position in front of said display screen; and

a game control unit,

wherein said game control unit controls a game progress by executing the acts of;

displaying on the display screen a plurality of disappearance positions at outer areas on the display screen with an inner area on the display screen surrounded by said outer areas;

displaying a plurality of command marks on the display screen, which are blown out one after the other from a position in the inner area in concert with a rhythm of music, wherein each of the blown-out command marks moves from the appearance position toward one of said plurality of disappearance positions and disappears at said one of the disappearance positions toward which the command mark moves;

detecting, based on data detected by said detector, movements of hands of the game player, who, at each time of blowing-out of the command marks, tries to move, in a timing before it disappears, one of the hands along the movement of the command mark or toward one of the disappearance positions toward which the command mark moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the hand movements agree with the moving directions of the command marks as well as whether the hand movements agree with the rhythm of music.

6. A game apparatus, comprising:

game control means;

image generator means which generates image data for displaying game elements on a display screen of a display unit;

a sound generator which outputs a sound from a speaker; and

movement detection means which detects movements of a game player who takes a position in front of the screen of said display unit,

wherein said game control means controls a game progress by executing the acts of;

displaying on the display screen a least four target marks at outer areas on the display screen of the monitor with an inner area on the display screen surrounded by said outer areas;

displaying command marks which are blown out one after the other from the inner area on said display screen in concert with a rhythm of music outputting from the speaker, wherein each of the command marks moves from the blown-out position toward one of said target marks and eventually disappears;

detecting, based on data detected by said movement detection means, movements of hands of the player who, at each time of blowing-out of the command marks, tries to move, in a timing before it disappears, one of the hands along the movement of the command mark or toward one of the target marks toward which the command mark moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the hand movements agree with the moving directions of the command marks as well as whether the hand movements agree with the rhythm of music.

7. A game apparatus, comprising:

game control means;

image generator means which generates image data for displaying game elements on a display screen of a display unit;

a sound generator which outputs a sound from a speaker; and

movement detection means which detects movements of a game player who takes a position in front of the screen of said display unit,

wherein said game control means controls a game progress by executing the acts of;

displaying on the display screen a least four target marks at outer areas on the display screen of the monitor with an inner area on the display screen surrounded by said outer areas;

displaying moving marks which are blown out one after the other from the inner area on said display screen in concert with a rhythm of music outputting from the speaker, wherein each of the moving marks moves from the blown-out position toward one of said target marks, wherein each of the moving marks eventually disappears;

detecting, based on data detected by said movement detection means, movements of hands of the player who, at each time of blowing-out of the moving marks, tries to move, in a timing before it disappears, one of the hands along the movement of the moving mark or toward one of the target marks toward which the moving mark moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the hand movements agree with the moving directions of the moving elements as well as whether the hand movements agree with the rhythm of music.

8. A game apparatus comprising:

game control means;

a monitor display;

sound generating means which outputs a sound from a speaker;

image generator means which generates image data to display game elements on the monitor display; and

movement detection means which detects movements of a game player who take a position in front of said monitor display,

wherein said game control means controls a game session by executing the acts of;

displaying on a display screen of said monitor display at least four target marks at outer areas on the display screen of the monitor;

displaying moving elements which appear one after the other from an inner area surrounded by said outer areas on said display screen in concert with a rhythm of music outputting from the speaker wherein each of the appeared moving elements moves toward one of said target marks, wherein each of the moving marks eventually disappears;

detecting, based on data detected by said movement detection means, movements of hands of the player who, at each appearance of the moving elements, tries to move, in a timing before it disappears, one of the hands toward one of the target marks to which the appeared moving element moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the hand movements agree with the moving directions of the moving elements as well as whether the hand movements agree with the rhythm of music.

9. A game apparatus comprising:

game control means;

a monitor display;

sound generating means which outputs a sound from a speaker;

image generator means which generates image data to display game elements on the monitor display; and

movement detection means which detects movements of a game player who take a position in front of said monitor display,

wherein said game control means controls a game session by executing the acts of;

displaying on a display screen of said monitor display at least four target marks at outer areas of the display screen of the monitor;

displaying moving elements which appear one after the other from a center area surrounded by said outer areas on said display screen in concert with a rhythm of music outputting from the speaker wherein each of the appeared moving elements moves toward one of said target marks, wherein each of the moving marks eventually disappears;

detecting, based on data detected by said movement detection means, movements of hands of the player who, at each appearance of the moving elements, tries to move, in a timing before it disappears, one of the hands toward one of the target marks to which the appeared moving element moves; and

judging whether or not the directions of the hand movements agree with the moving directions of the moving elements as well as whether the hand movements agree with the rhythm of music.