Method and apparatus for simulating interactive spinning bar gymnastics on a 3D display

• US 7,682,250 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikebata, Yoshihito, Petofalvi, Steven, Shimura, Yukimi, Lee, Yoonjoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US11/464,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/37, 345/473, 345/173
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• 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 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics

Abstract

The video or other computer graphics display shows, on a touch screen, a spinnable bar having a control wheel affixed to an end thereof. Strokes of a stylus applied to the surface of the wheel controls the direction and/or rate of spin of the wheel and bar. An animated game character holding on to the spinning bar may spin with the bar and perform acrobatic acts in response to other touch screen or other types of control inputs.

Claims

1. A method for modeling a gymnastic exercise comprising:

displaying an animated game character holding on to an elongated object, the animated game character being moveable independently of said elongated object;

detecting user manipulation of a control input device;

determining, in response to said detected user manipulation, whether said user in manipulating said control input device has supplied a gesture simulating touch imparting a push to said elongated object;

using animation to cause said displayed elongated object to appear to spin with an angular momentum so that repeated gestures simulating pushes in the direction of spin increase the apparent rate said virtual object spins;

using animation to make the displayed elongated object appear to impart spin to said independently-movable animated game character so that said animated game character appears to spin with the spinning elongated object; and

changing the rate of the spin of said elongated object in response at least in part to the detected control input.

2. The method as in claim 1 further including skipping animation frames to impart the appearance of a more rapid spin in response to at least a predetermined number of control inputs occurring within a certain time period.

3. The method as in claim 2 further including calculating a rotation index in response to a stroke count, and using the rotation index to determine when to switch to a next animation frame.

4. The method as in claim 1 including calculating a rotation index based at least in part on a stroke count.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein said detecting includes detecting stroke inputs on a touch screen.

6. The method of claim 1, further including moving the independently movable animated game character in response to user manipulation of a control input device.

7. A method of simulating gymnastic exercise comprising:

displaying, on a 3D computer graphics display, a representation of an elongated object having first and second ends and a wheel affixed axially to said first end thereof;

detecting touch screen stroke inputs to determine whether said touch screen stroke inputs comprise a gesture imparting spin to said wheel and, in response thereto, imparting spin at a controlled rate to said wheel and the affixed elongated object with an angular momentum so that repeated gestures in the direction of spin increase the apparent rate said elongated object spins;

animating, on said display, an avatar holding on to said elongated object, said avatar being movable independently of said elongated object but also capable of simulating holding said elongated object to thereby begin spinning with said elongated object, and displaying said avatar to appear to spin with said elongated object; and

detecting other touch screen inputs and, in response to a further recognized gesture, controlling said avatar to release its hold on said elongated object and jump off of said spinning elongated object.

8. A method of simulating rotation of a virtual object on a graphical display, comprising:

displaying at least one virtual object and an independently-moveable game character on a graphical display, the virtual object comprising a virtual game play inanimate elongated object and the independently-moveable game character is an avatar configured to move independently of the virtual game play inanimate elongated object;

detecting stroke inputs a user provides by manipulating an input device;

determining whether the detected stroke inputs comprise gestures simulating imparting rotational motion to the at least one virtual object;

animating said displayed virtual object to spin at a rate that is responsive to detected stroke inputs determined to comprise gestures simulating the imparting of rotational motion to the at least one virtual object; and

using animation to simulate the spinning virtual object appearing to impart rotational motion to the independently-movable game character in simulated contact with said rotating virtual object;

determining whether the detected stroke inputs comprise a gesture indicating said independently-movable game character should dismount from said rotating virtual object; and

if said detected stroke inputs are determined to comprise a gesture indicating dismount, using animation to simulate said independently-movable game character dismounting from said rotating virtual object.