Object selecting method

• US 7,878,904 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Maehiro, Kazutoyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US11/039,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,199 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

When an upper part of a cross key is operated with a controller, a cursor is moved to an object name above an initial position where the cursor was located in a list, and an icon is moved to a corresponding object in an object display area. When a lower part of the cross key is operated, the cursor is moved to an object name below the initial position, and the icon is moved to the corresponding object in the object display area. When a right part of the cross key is operated, the icon is moved to the object to the right of an initial position where the icon was in the object display area, and the cursor is moved to the corresponding object name in the list. When a left part of the cross key is operated, the icon is moved to the object to the left of the initial position in the object display area, and the cursor is moved to the corresponding object name in the list.

Claims

1. A game apparatus, comprising:

a first input system that receives a first operation input by a user;

a second input system that receives a second operation input by the user;

a third input system that receives a third operation input by the user;

a memory that stores, in association with object names, data of positions at which objects are in a three-dimensional coordinate system and data of positions at which the objects are in a screen coordinate system, the objects being divided into a plurality of groups depending on types, the plurality of groups including at least a first group including a user controlled character and friendly objects and a second group including enemy objects;

a group selection controller that selects a selected group of the plurality of groups in response to the third operation input to the third input system;

a list display controller that displays a list of selectable object names of selectable objects included in the selected group to be selected by the user on a display system;

an object display controller that displays an object display area where at least one of the objects is displayed on the display system;

a first selection display controller that selects, from the selectable object names of the selectable objects included in the selected group and displayed in the list, a selected object name in response to the first operation input to the first input system, and displays an associated object corresponding to the selected object name in a form indicating the associated object is selected when the associated object is displayed in the object display area;

a second selection display controller that selects, from the selectable objects included in the selected group and displayed in the object display area, a selected object in response to the second operation input to the second input system, and displays an associated object name corresponding to the selected object and displayed in the list in a form indicating the associated object name is selected; and

a determiner that determines whether the associated object corresponding to the selected object name is displayed in the object display area based on the data stored in the memory,

wherein the object display area is distinct from the list of selectable object names,

wherein the first selection display controller and the second selection display controller control the placement of an icon that points, in the object display area, to one of the selected object and the associated object corresponding to the selected object name,

wherein the first selection display controller and the second selection display controller control the placement of a cursor that points, in the list, to one of the selected object name and the associated object name corresponding to the selected object,

wherein the icon points in the direction of the associated object corresponding to the selected object name, based on the data stored in the memory, when the determiner determines that the associated object is not displayed in the object display area, and

wherein the third operation input by the user to the third input system specifies the selected group from among the plurality of groups, the group selection controller directly selects the selected group in response to the third operation, and the objects and object names associated with the selected group are selectable via the first operation and the second operation.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first selection display controller selects the selected object name in the list based upon a display order in response to the first operation input to the first input system.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second selection display controller selects the selected object based upon a positional relationship between the selectable objects displayed in the object display area.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first input system is positioned on a first line having two first input ends, and receives a first direction corresponding to one of the two first input ends operated by the user,

the first selection display controller selects the selected object name based upon the first direction received by the first input system,

the second input system is positioned on a second line extending in directions different from the first line and having two second input ends, and receives a second direction corresponding to one of the two second input ends operated by the user, and

the second selection display controller selects the selected object based upon the second direction received by the second input system.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first and second lines intersect at right angles to one another.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second input systems are configured by an operating part positioned within a range in which the user can operate the operating part with a predetermined finger of one hand when the hand is positioned at a predetermined position.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an initial group decider that decides an initial group in response to a command selected by the user,

wherein the group selection controller changes the initial group to the new selected group in response to the third operation input by the user to the third input system.

8. An object selecting method executed by a computer of a game apparatus including a first input system, a second input system, and a third input system that receive, respectively, a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation each input by a user, the game apparatus further including a memory that stores, in association with object names, data of positions at which objects are in a three-dimensional coordinate system and data of positions at which the objects are in a screen coordinate system, the objects being divided into a plurality of groups depending on types, the plurality of groups including at least a first group including a user controlled character and friendly objects and a second group including enemy objects, the method comprising:

selecting a selected group of the plurality of groups in response to the third operation input to the third input system;

displaying a list containing selectable object names of selectable objects included in the selected group to be selected by the user on a predetermined display system;

displaying an object display area where at least one of the objects is displayed on the display system;

selecting, from the selectable object names of the selectable objects included in the selected group and displayed in the list, a selected object name in response to the first operation input to the first input system;

displaying an associated object corresponding to the selected object name in a form indicating the associated object is selected when the associated object is displayed in the object display area;

selecting, from the selectable objects included in the selected group and displayed in the object display area, a selected object in response to the second operation input to the second input system;

displaying an associated object name corresponding to the selected object in the list in a form indicating the associated object name is selected; and

determining whether the associated object corresponding to the selected object name is displayed in the object display area based on the data stored in the memory,

wherein the object display area is distinct from the list of selectable object names,

wherein the placement of an icon that points to one of the selected object and the associated object corresponding to the selected object name is controlled by the selection of the selected object name in the list of selectable object names and by the selection of the selected object displayed in the object display area,

wherein the placement of a cursor that points to one of the selected object name and the associated object name corresponding to the selected object is controlled by the selection of the selected object name in the list of selectable object names and by the selection of the selected object displayed in the object display area,

wherein the icon points in the direction of the associated object corresponding to the selected object name, based on the data stored in the memory, when the determining determines that the associated object is not displayed in the object display area,

wherein the third operation input by the user to the third input system specifies the selected group from among the plurality of groups, the selected group is directly selected in response to the third operation, and the objects and object names associated with the selected group are selectable via the first operation and the second operation.

9. The object selecting method according to claim 8, wherein the selected object name is selected based upon a display order in response to the first operation input to the first input system.

10. The object selecting method according to claim 8, wherein the selected object is selected based upon a positional relationship between the selectable objects displayed in the object display area.

11. The object selecting method according to claim 8, wherein

the first input system is positioned on a first line having two first input ends, and receives a first direction corresponding to one of the first input ends operated by the user,

the selected object name is selected based upon the first direction received by the first input system,

the second input system is positioned on a second line extending in directions different from the first line and having two second input ends, and receives a second direction corresponding to one of the second input ends operated by the user, and

the selected object is selected based upon the second direction received by the second input system.

12. The object selecting method according to claim 11, wherein the first and second lines intersect at right angles to one another.

13. The object selecting method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second input systems are configured by an operating part positioned within a range in which the user can, operate the operating part with a predetermined finger of one hand when the hand is positioned at a predetermined position.

14. The object selecting method according to claim 8, further comprising:

deciding an initial group in response to a command selected by the user,

wherein the initial group is changed to the selected group in response to the third operation input by the user to the third input system.

15. A non-transitory recording medium on which is recorded a program executed by a computer of a game apparatus including a first input system, a second input system, and a third input system that receive, respectively, a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation input by a user, the game apparatus further including a memory that stores, in association with object names, data of positions at which objects are in a three-dimensional coordinate system and data of positions at which the objects are in a screen coordinate system, the objects being divided into a plurality of groups depending on types, the plurality of groups including at least a first group including a user controlled character and friendly objects and a second group including enemy objects, the program causing the computer to execute:

selecting a selected group of the plurality of groups in response to the third operation input to the third input system;

displaying a list containing selectable object names of selectable objects included in the selected group to be selected by the user on a predetermined display system;

displaying an object display area where at least one of the objects is displayed on the display system;

selecting, from the selectable object names of the selectable objects included in the selected group and displayed in the list, a selected object name in response to the first operation input to the first input system;

displaying an associated object corresponding to the selected object name in a form indicating the associated object is selected when the associated object is displayed in the object display area;

selecting, from the selectable objects included in the selected group and displayed in the object display area, a selected object in response to the second operation input to the second input system;

displaying an associated object name corresponding to the selected object in the list in a form indicating the associated object name is selected; and

determining whether the associated object corresponding to the selected object name is displayed in the object display area based on the data stored in the memory,

wherein the object display area is distinct from the list of selectable object names,

wherein the placement of an icon that points to one of the selected object and the associated object corresponding to the selected object name is controlled by the selection of the selected object name in the list of selectable object names and by the selection of the selected object displayed in the object display area,

wherein the placement of a cursor that points to one of the selected object name and the associated object name corresponding to the selected object is controlled by the selection of the selected object name in the list of selectable object names and by the selection of the selected object displayed in the object display area,

wherein the icon points in the direction of the associated object corresponding to the selected object name, based on the data stored in the memory, when the determining determines that the associated object is not displayed in the object display area,

wherein the third operation input by the user to the third input system specifies the selected group from among the plurality of groups, the selected group is directly selected in response to the third operation, and the objects and object names associated with the selected group are selectable via the first operation and the second operation.

16. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the selected object name is selected based upon a display order in response to the first operation input to the first input system.

17. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the selected object is selected based upon a positional relationship between the selectable objects displayed in the object display area.

18. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 15, wherein

the first input system is positioned on a first line having two first input ends, and receives a first direction corresponding to one of the first input ends operated by the user,

the selected object name is selected based upon the first direction received by the first input system,

the second input system is positioned on a second line extending in directions different from the first line and having two second input ends, and receives a second direction corresponding to one of the second input ends operated by the user, and

the selected object is selected based upon the second direction received by the second input system.

19. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 18, wherein the first and second lines intersect at right angles to one another.

20. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the first and second input systems are configured by an operating part positioned within a range in which the user can operate the operating part with a predetermined finger of one hand when the hand is positioned at a predetermined position.

21. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the program further causes the computer to execute:

deciding an initial group in response to a command selected by the user,

wherein the initial group is changed to the selected group in response to the third operation input by the user to the third input system.