Game machine and data storage medium having stored therein game program

• US 7,744,465 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimamura, Takayuki, Suzuki, Ryunosuke, Yamada, Yoichi, Yoshinobu, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US10/930,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,127 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 33, 348/14.07, 700/85, 345/19, 345/427, 345/419, 345/2.1, 345/591, 707/100, 707/104.1, 343/757, 715/739, 715/854, 715/709, 715/708, 715/205, 715/700, 702/178, 434/308, 709/203
• US Class Current: 463/32
• 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 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• 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 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/307 for displaying an additional window with a view from the top of the game field, e.g. radar screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A game machine is provided with two display units, that is, a first LCD and a second LCD. On the second LCD, feature information unique to each object located in a virtual game space is displayed. When a player selects, based on information displayed on the second LCD, one of the objects provided in the virtual game space, a focus point of a virtual camera provided in the virtual game space is set so that the virtual camera is oriented to a direction of the selected object, and the state of the virtual game space captured by the virtual camera is displayed on the first LCD. With this, the virtual game space can be displayed without impairing its worldview. Also, the player can be allowed to easily specify a desired focus target in the virtual game space.

Claims

1. A game machine provided with a first display unit and a second display unit to cause a game to proceed in a virtual game space, the game machine comprising:

an input unit to be operated by a player;

a first display controller which generates a first image representing a scene captured by a virtual camera provided in the virtual game space and causes the first image to be displayed on the first display unit;

a second display controller which generates a second image for allowing the player to specify a desired focus target in a virtual game space and causes the second image to be displayed on the second display unit;

a focus target determining mechanism which determines the focus target based on an input from the input unit; and

a virtual camera controller which directs the virtual camera to capture another scene in the virtual game space having the focus target determined by the focus target determining mechanism, wherein the first display controller generates a third image representing the another scene to be displayed on the first display unit,

wherein the first display controller causes the third image which is displayed on the first display unit, and

wherein a plurality of objects are present in the virtual game space, and the game machine further comprises feature information storage locations which store feature information unique to each of the plurality of objects, and

based on an operation performed by a player on the input unit, the focus target determining mechanism determines one of the plurality of objects as a focus target object,

the second display controller generates the second image including the feature information corresponding to the focus target object,

the virtual camera controller sets a focus point of the virtual camera at the focus target object, and

the first display controller generates the first image from which an image for distinguishing the focus target object from other objects is excluded.

2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of objects are present in the virtual game space,

the game machine further comprises feature information storage locations which store feature information unique to each of the plurality of objects,

based on an operation performed by a player on the input unit, the focus target determining mechanism determines one of the plurality of objects as a focus target object,

the second display controller generates the second image including the feature information corresponding to the focus target object, and

the virtual camera controller sets a focus point of the virtual camera at the focus target object.

3. The game machine according to claim 2, further comprising a feature information selecting mechanism which selects one piece of the feature information of the plurality of objects as selected feature information in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit, wherein

the focus target determining mechanism determines an object corresponding to the selected feature information as the focus target object, and

the second display controller generates the second image including an image for distinguishing the selected feature information from other pieces of feature information.

4. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein

the second display controller generates the second image including at least one command for changing the objects, and

the game machine further comprises:

command selecting means which selects one of the commands in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit; and

object changing mechanism which changes the focus target object according to the selected command.

5. The game machine according to claim 4, further comprising:

state storage locations which store a state of the focus target object; and

state changing mechanism which changes the state of the focus target object, wherein whether the command is selectable depends on a current state of the focus target object, and

the second display controller generates the second image which allows the player to ascertain which command is currently selectable.

6. The game machine according to claim 2, further comprising:

state storage locations which store a state of the focus target object; and

a state changing mechanism which changes the state of the focus target object, wherein

the second display controller generates the second image including information indicative of a current state of the focus target object.

7. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein

the virtual camera controller changes either one of a position of the virtual camera and a zoom scaling in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit or when a game state enters a predetermined state, and sets a focus point of the virtual camera to the focus target object irrespective of the change.

8. The game machine according to claim 2, further comprising a portrait image generator which generates a portrait image of the objects through rendering, wherein

the second display controller generates the second image including the portrait image as the feature information.

9. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the virtual game space is a three-dimensional virtual game space,

the second display controller generates the second image including a two-dimensional map corresponding to the virtual game space,

the game machine further comprises a coordinate detecting mechanism which detects, based on an input from the input unit, coordinates indicative of a position specified by the player on the second display unit,

based on the coordinates detected by the coordinate detecting mechanism, the focus target determining mechanism determines a point in the virtual game space corresponding to the position specified by the player on the second display unit as a focus target point, and

the virtual camera controller sets the focus point of the virtual camera at the focus target point.

10. The game machine according to claim 9, further comprising a distance calculator which calculates a distance from a position of the virtual camera to the focus target point in the virtual game space, wherein

the virtual camera controller sets an angle of view of the virtual camera so that the angle of view is decreased as the distance calculated by the distance calculator is longer.

11. The game machine according to claim 10, wherein

the virtual camera controller sets a vertical angle of an isosceles triangle as the angle of view of the virtual camera, the isosceles triangle having a base of a fixed length and a height being changed in proportion to the distance calculated by the distance calculator.

12. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein of three coordinates for specifying a position of the focus target point, the focus target determining mechanism determines two of the coordinates based on the coordinates detected by the coordinate detecting mechanism and another one of the coordinates based on a predetermined rule.

13. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein the virtual camera controller moves a position of the virtual camera in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit or in an automatic manner, and

the second display controller generates the second image having displayed therein an area in a predetermined range on the two-dimensional map, which corresponds to an entirety of the virtual game space, with reference to a point corresponding to the position of the virtual camera.

14. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein the second display controller generates the second image by rotating the two-dimensional map so that, on the second display unit, a direction connecting a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera and a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point is a predetermined direction on the second display unit.

15. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are relatively fixed in position, and

the second display controller generates the second image by rotating the two-dimensional map so that, on the second display unit, a direction connecting a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point and a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera is perpendicular to a horizontal direction of the virtual camera in the first display unit.

16. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein the second display unit is shaped as a rectangle, and

the second display controller generates the second image by rotating the two-dimensional map so that, on the second display unit, a direction connecting a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point and a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera coincides with a vertical side of the rectangle of the second display unit.

17. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein the second display controller generates the second image by zooming in or out of the two-dimensional map so that a distance on the second display unit between a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point and a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera is a predetermined distance.

18. The game machine according to claim 9, further comprising:

a photographic object controller which disposes a photographic object moving in the virtual game space with a predetermined algorithm;

an evaluation target image storage locations which store the first image generated by the first display controller as an evaluation target image in accordance with a specific operation performed by the player on the input unit; and

an evaluating mechanism which evaluates the evaluation target image based on a state of disposition of the photographic object in the evaluation target image.

19. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein as the input unit, at least a touch panel is provided on the second display unit.

20. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a game program for causing a computer connected to a first display unit, a second display unit, and an input unit to be operated by a player to implement a game in a virtual game space, the game program causing the computer to function as:

a first display controller which generates a first image representing a scene captured by a virtual camera provided in the virtual game space and causes the first image to be displayed on the first display unit;

a second display controller which generates a second image for allowing the player to specify a desired focus target in a virtual game space and causes the second image to be displayed on the second display unit;

a focus target determining mechanism which determines the focus target based on an input from the input unit;

a virtual camera controller which directs the virtual camera to capture another scene in the virtual game space having the focus target determined by the focus target determining means, wherein the first display controller generates a third image representing the another scene which is displayed on the first display unit,

wherein a plurality of objects are present in the virtual game space, and

the game program further causes the computer to;

function as feature information storage location device which stores feature information unique to each of the plurality of objects, and

based on an operation performed by a player on the input unit, the focus target determining mechanism determines one of the plurality of objects as a focus target object,

the second display controller generates the second image including the feature information corresponding to the focus target object,

the virtual camera controller sets a focus point of the virtual camera at the focus target object, and

wherein the first display controller generates the first image from which an image for distinguishing the focus target object from other objects is excluded.

21. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the game program further causes the computer to function as feature information selecting mechanism which selects one piece of the feature information of the plurality of objects as selected feature information in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit,

the focus target determining mechanism determines an object corresponding to the selected feature information as the focus target object, and

the second display controller generates the second image including an image for distinguishing the selected feature information from other pieces of feature information.

22. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the second display controller generates the second image including at least one command for changing the objects, and

the game program further causes the computer to function as:

command selecting mechanism which selects one of the commands in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit; and

object changing mechanism which changes the focus target object.

23. The storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the game program further causes the computer to function as:

state storage locations which store a state of the focus target object; and

state changing mechanism which changes the state of the focus target object,

whether the command is selectable depends on a current state of the focus target object, and

the second display controller generates the second image which allows the player to ascertain which command is currently selectable.

24. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the game program further causes the computer to function as:

state storage locations which store a state of the focus target object; and

a state changing mechanism which changes the state of the focus target object, and

the second display controller generates the second image including information indicative of a current state of the focus target object.

25. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the virtual camera controller changes either one of a position of the virtual camera and a zoom scaling in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit or when a game state becomes a predetermined state, and sets a focus point of the virtual camera to the focus target object irrespective of the change.

26. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the game program further causes the computer to function as portrait image generator which generates a portrait image of the objects through rendering, and

the second display controller generates the second image including the portrait image as the feature information.

27. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein

the virtual game space is a three-dimensional virtual game space,

the second display controller generates the second image including a two-dimensional map corresponding to the virtual game space,

the game program further causes the computer to function as coordinate detecting mechanism which detects, based on an input from the input unit, coordinates indicative of a position specified by the player on the second display unit,

based on the coordinates detected by the coordinate detecting mechanism, the focus target determining mechanism determines a point in the virtual game space corresponding to the position specified by the player on the second display unit as a focus target point, and

the virtual camera controller sets the focus point of the virtual camera at the focus target point.

28. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as distance calculator which calculates a distance from a position of the virtual camera to the focus target point in the virtual game space, and

the virtual camera controller sets an angle of view of the virtual camera so that the angle of view is decreased as the distance calculated by the distance calculating means is longer.

29. The storage medium according to claim 28, wherein the virtual camera controller sets a vertical angle of an isosceles triangle as the angle of view of the virtual camera, the isosceles triangle having a base of a fixed length and a height being changed in proportion to the distance calculated by the distance calculator.

30. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein of three coordinates for specifying a position of the focus target point, the focus target determining means determines two of the coordinates based on the coordinated detected by the coordinate detecting means and another one of the coordinates based on a predetermined rule.

31. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the virtual camera controller moves a position of the virtual camera in accordance with an operation performed by the player on the input unit or in an automatic manner, and

the second display controller generates the second image having displayed therein an area in a predetermined range on the two-dimensional map, which corresponds to an entirety of the virtual game space, with reference to a point corresponding to the position of the virtual camera.

32. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the second display controller generates the second image by rotating the two-dimensional map so that, on the second display unit, a direction connecting a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera and a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point is a predetermined direction on the second display unit.

33. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the second display controller generates the second image by zooming in or out of the two-dimensional map so that a distance on the second display unit between a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point and a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera is a predetermined distance.

34. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the game program further causes the computer to function as:

a photographic object controller which disposes a photographic object moving in the virtual game space with a predetermined algorithm;

evaluation target image storage locations which store the first image generated by the first display controller as an evaluation target image in accordance with a specific operation performed by the player on the input unit; and

an evaluating mechanism which evaluates the evaluation target image based on a state of disposition of the photographic object in the evaluation target image.

35. A method of selecting a focus target in a virtual game space comprising the steps of:

displaying, on a first display unit, a first image representing a scene captured by a virtual camera provided in the virtual game space;

storing feature information unique to each of a plurality of objects present in the virtual game space;

displaying, on a second display unit, an image which allows one or more images corresponding to the stored feature information to allow a player to specify a desired one of the plurality of objects as a desired focus target in a virtual game space;

directing the virtual camera to capture another scene in the virtual game space having the desired focus target, and

displaying on the first display unit a third image representing the another scene, wherein an image for distinguishing the focus target object from other objects is excluded in the first image.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

storing feature information unique to each of a plurality of objects present in the virtual game space;

determining one of the plurality of objects as a focus target object;

displaying, on the second display unit, feature information corresponding to the focus target object; and

setting a focus point of the virtual camera at the focus target object.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a piece of the feature information of the plurality of objects as selected feature information;

determining an object corresponding to the selected feature information as the focus target object; and

displaying, on the second display unit, an image for distinguishing the selected feature information from the other pieces of information.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

displaying, on the second display unit, at least one command for changing between the plurality of objects;

selecting one of the at least one commands; and

changing the focus target object according to the selected command.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

storing a state of the focus target object;

changing the state of the focus target object wherein

whether a command is selectable depends on a current state of the focus target object; and

displaying an image, on the second display unit, allowing a player to ascertain which of the at least one commands is currently selectable.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

storing a state of the focus target object;

changing the state of the focus target object; and

displaying an image, on the second display unit, including information indicative of a current state of the focus target object.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

changing either one of a position of the virtual camera and a zoom scaling; and

setting a focus point of the virtual camera to the focus target object irrespective of the change.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the virtual game space is a three-dimensional virtual game space, and the image displayed on the second unit includes a two dimensional map corresponding to the virtual game space, further comprising the steps of:

detecting coordinates on the two dimensional map indicative of a position specified by the player;

determining a point in the virtual game space corresponding to the position specified by the player on the two dimensional map as a focus target point; and

setting a focus point of the virtual camera at the focus target point.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

calculating a distance from a position of the virtual camera to the focus target point in the virtual game space; and

setting an angle of view so that the angle of view is decreased as the calculated distance grows longer.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

setting a vertical angle of an isosceles triangle as the angle of view of the virtual camera, the isosceles triangle having a base of a fixed length and a height being changed in proportion to the calculated distance.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

determining two of the three coordinates for specifying a position of the focus target point based on the detected coordinates and another one of the coordinates based on a predetermined rule.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

moving a position of the virtual camera in accordance with an operation performed by the player or in an automatic manner; and

displaying, on the second display unit, an area in a predetermined range on the two-dimensional map, which corresponds to an entirety of the visible virtual game space, with reference to a point corresponding to the position of the virtual camera.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

displaying the second image by rotating the two-dimensional map so that, on the second display unit, a direction connecting a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera and a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point is a predetermined direction on the second display unit.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

displaying the second image by zooming in or out of the two-dimensional map so that a distance on the second display unit between a point on the two-dimensional map corresponding to the focus target point and a point on the two dimensional map corresponding to a position of the virtual camera is a predetermined distance.