Game apparatus and recording medium storing a game program

• US 7,588,498 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Iizuka, Etsushi, Tahara, Kouzou
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US11/068,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 345/156
• US Class Current: 463/44
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller

Abstract

The player proceeds with a game while operating a touch panel to slant a game stage with a perception that the touch panel is a plane present in a game space and capable of freely slanting. The object moves in accordance with the slant of the game stage, and the viewing direction moves in accordance with the slant to such a position that the game stage appears slanting. Thus, a game allowing the player to input the slant of the game stage in the game space intuitively and easily can be provided.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for displaying a game space, in which a game stage is set, in a first display section, the game apparatus comprising:

a touch panel;

input coordinate position output programmed logic circuitry for outputting an input coordinate position with respect to a touch panel coordinate position defined in the touch panel, in accordance with a touch operation on the touch panel;

slant setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a slant of the game stage in the game space in accordance with the input coordinate position which is output; and

a first display control for displaying, on the first display section, the game stage, the slant of which is changed by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry;

wherein the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a first direction when an output value of the input coordinate position regarding a first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than a reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the first direction when the output value of the input coordinate position regarding the first axis is smaller than the reference value, and

the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a second direction perpendicularly crossing the first direction when an output value of the input coordinate position regarding a second axis perpendicularly crossing the first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than the reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the second direction when the output value of the input coordinate position regarding the second axis is smaller than the reference value.

2. A game apparatus for displaying a game space on a first display section and executing a game by which a game object moves on a game stage which is set in the game space, the game apparatus comprising:

a touch panel;

input coordinate position output programmed logic circuitry for outputting an input coordinate position with respect to a touch panel coordinate position defined in the touch panel, in accordance with a touch operation on the touch panel;

slant setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a slant of the game stage in the game space in accordance with the input coordinate position which is output;

a motion regulator for regulating a motion of the game object on the game stage in accordance with the slant;

a motion controller for controlling the motion of the game object in accordance with the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry, based on the regulation of the motion regulator; and

a first display control for displaying, on the first display section, the game space including the game object controlled by the motion controller;

wherein the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a first direction when an output value of the input coordinate position regarding a first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than a reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the first direction when the output value of the input coordinate position regarding the first axis is smaller than the reference value, and

the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a second direction perpendicularly crossing the first direction when an output value of the input coordinate position regarding a second axis perpendicularly crossing the first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than the reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the second direction when the output value of the input coordinate position regarding the second axis is smaller than the reference value.

3. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first direction is a viewing direction of a virtual camera used by the first display control for imaging the game space.

4. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second direction is a direction perpendicularly crossing the viewing direction of the virtual camera used by the first display control for imaging the game space.

5. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets a slanting angle of the game stage in the first direction in accordance with a difference between the value of the input coordinate position regarding the first axis of the touch panel coordinate position and the reference value.

6. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the motion regulator regulates a motion of the game object moving on the game stage toward the direction of the slant of the game stage which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry.

7. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first display control displays the game stage, on the first display section, as slanting in the game image in accordance with the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry.

8. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first display control moves a viewing direction of a virtual camera such that the game stage appears slanting in the direction of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry with the game object as the center, and thus displays the game space as seen from the virtual camera on the first display section.

9. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first display control moves the viewing direction of the virtual camera in a direction opposite to the direction of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry with the game object as the center, and thus displays the game stage, on the first display section, as slanting in the direction of the slant in the game image.

10. A game apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a second display section covered with the touch panel and different from the first display section; and

a second display control for displaying, on the second display section, a flat plate-like object as slanting in the game image in accordance with the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry.

11. A game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second display control moves a viewing direction of the virtual camera in a direction opposite to the direction of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry with the flat plate-like object as the center, and thus displays the flat plate-like object, on the second display section, as slanting in the direction of the slant in the game image.

12. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the slant, the first display control fixes the slant of the game stage shown in the game image regardless of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry and displays the slanted game stage on the first display section.

13. A computer-readable recording medium storing a game program to be executed by a computer of a game apparatus which displays a game space, in which a game stage is set, on a first display section and includes a touch panel, the game program causing the computer to function as:

an input coordinate position detector for detecting an input coordinate position with respect to a touch panel coordinate position defined in the touch panel in accordance with a touch operation on the touch panel;

slant setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a slant of the game stage in the game space in accordance with the detected input coordinate position; and

a first display control for displaying, on the first display section, the game stage, the slant of which is changed by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry;

wherein the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a first direction when a detected value of the input coordinate position regarding a first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than a reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the first direction when the detected value of the input coordinate position regarding the first axis is smaller than the reference value, and

the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a second direction perpendicularly crossing the first direction when a detected value of the input coordinate position regarding a second axis perpendicularly crossing the first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than the reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the second direction when the detected value of the input coordinate position regarding the second axis is smaller than the reference value.

14. A computer-readable recording medium storing a game program causing a computer of a game apparatus, which displays a game space on a first display section and includes a touch panel, to execute a game by which a game object moves on a game stage which is set in the game space, the game program causing the computer to function as:

an input coordinate position detector for detecting an input coordinate position with respect to a touch panel coordinate position defined in the touch panel, in accordance with a touch operation on the touch panel;

slant setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a slant of the game stage in the game space in accordance with the detected input coordinate position;

a motion regulator for regulating a motion of the game object on the game stage in accordance with the slant;

a motion controller for controlling the motion of the game object in accordance with the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry, based on the regulation of the motion regulator; and

a first display control for displaying, on the first display section, the game space including the game object controlled by the motion controller;

wherein the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a first direction when a detected value of the input coordinate position regarding a first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than a reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the first direction when the detected value of the input coordinate position regarding the first axis is smaller than the reference value, and

the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the game stage to be slanted in a second direction perpendicularly crossing the first direction when a detected value of the input coordinate position regarding a second axis perpendicularly crossing the first axis of the touch panel coordinate position is larger than the reference value, and sets the game stage to be slanted in a direction opposite to the second direction when the detected value of the input coordinate position regarding the second axis is smaller than the reference value.

15. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein the first direction is a viewing direction of a virtual camera used by the first display control for imaging the game space.

16. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein the second direction is a direction perpendicular crossing the viewing direction of the virtual camera used by the first display control for imaging the game space.

17. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets a slanting angle of the game stage in the first direction in accordance with a difference between the value of the input coordinate position regarding the first axis of the touch panel coordinate position and the reference value.

18. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein the motion regulator regulates a motion of the game object moving on the game stage toward the direction of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry.

19. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein the first display control displays the game stage, on the first display section, as slanting in the game image in accordance with the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry.

20. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein the first display control moves a viewing direction of a virtual camera such that the game stage appears slanting in the direction of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry with the game object as the center, and thus displays the game space as seen from the virtual camera on the first display section.

21. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 20, wherein the first display control moves the viewing direction of the virtual camera in a direction opposite to the direction of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry with the game object as the center, and thus displays the game stage, on the first display section, as slanting in the direction of the slant in the game image.

22. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein:

the game apparatus further comprises a second display section covered with the touch panel and different from the first display section; and

the game program causes the computer to function further as second display control for displaying, on the second display section, a flat plate-like object as slanting in the game image in accordance with the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry.

23. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 22, wherein the second display control moves the viewing direction of the virtual camera in a direction opposite to the direction of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry with the flat plate-like object as the center, and thus displays the flat plate-like object, on the second display section, as slanting in the direction of the slant in the game image.

24. A recording medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein, when the slant setting programmed logic circuitry sets the slant, the first display control fixes a slant of the game stage shown in the game image regardless of the slant which is set by the slant setting programmed logic circuitry and displays the slanted game stage on the first display section.