Storage medium having game program stored thereon and game apparatus

• US 7,922,588 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kawai, Toshinori, Moro, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/521,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 463 7- 9, 463/30, 463 36- 43, 463 49- 57, 273/148.B, 273/148.R, 273/309, 273/317.1, 273/340, 273/348, 273361-367, 273/108.1, 273/127.R, 273/461, 345/686, 345/949, 345/950
• US Class Current: 463/43
• 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 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

Designated coordinates, on the display screen, designated by the pointing device are acquired, and target coordinates, in the virtual game space, corresponding to the designated coordinates are calculated. A distance from reference coordinates set on the display screen to the designated coordinates is calculated and speed information based on the distance is calculated. A predetermined object is moved toward the target coordinates in the virtual game space at a movement speed represented by the speed information.

Claims

1. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a game program to be executed by a computer of a game apparatus which displays on a display screen a game image representing at least a portion of a virtual game space, and which is operated using a pointing device for detecting for a position, on the display screen, designated by a player, the game program causing the computer to execute:

acquiring designated coordinates, on the display screen, designated by the pointing device;

calculating target coordinates, in the virtual game space, corresponding to the designated coordinates;

calculating a distance from reference coordinates set on the display screen to the designated coordinates;

calculating speed information using the distance; and

moving a predetermined object toward the target coordinates in the virtual game space at a movement speed represented by the speed information.

2. The non-transitory storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the game program causes the computer to further execute setting, as the reference coordinates, a position, on the display screen, which is superimposed on a position at which an object to be operated by the player is displayed.

3. The non-transitory storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein a position of the reference coordinates is fixed as a center position of the display screen.

4. The non-transitory storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein a position which is on a game field set in the virtual game space and on which the designated coordinates on the display screen are superimposed is calculated as target coordinates.

5. The non-transitory storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein a target speed of the object, using a predetermined function, is calculated as the speed information calculated from the distance.

6. The non-transitory storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 5, wherein the target speed corresponding to the distance having a value greater than a first threshold value is set so as to have a constant value of a maximum target speed.

7. The non-transitory storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 5, wherein the target speed is set to zero when the distance has a value smaller than a second threshold value.

8. The non-transitory storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a touch panel attached to the display screen.

9. A game apparatus which displays on a display screen a game image representing at least a portion of a virtual game space, and which is operated using a pointing device for detecting for a position, on the display screen, designated by a player, the game apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory storing instructions that, when executed by said processor, control said processor to;

acquire designated coordinates, on the display screen, designated by the pointing device;

calculate target coordinates, in the virtual game space, corresponding to the designated coordinates;

calculate a distance from reference coordinates set on the display screen to the designated coordinates;

calculate speed information using the distance; and

move a predetermined object toward the target coordinates in the virtual game space at a movement speed represented by the speed information.

10. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said processor is further controlled to set, as the reference coordinates, a position, on the display screen, which is superimposed on a position at which an object to be operated by the player is displayed.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a position of the reference coordinates is fixed as a center position of the display screen.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, as the target coordinates, a position which is on a game field set in the virtual game space and on which the designated coordinates on the display screen are superimposed.

13. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a target speed of the object is calculated, using a predetermined function, as the speed information calculated from the distance.

14. The game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the target speed corresponding to the distance having a value greater than a first threshold value is set so as to have a constant value of a maximum target speed.

15. The game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, when the distance has a value smaller than a second threshold value, the target speed is set to zero.

16. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pointing device is a touch panel attached to the display screen.

17. A method of controlling a game apparatus which displays on a display screen a game image representing at least a portion of a virtual game space, and which is operated using a pointing device for detecting for a position, on the display screen, designated by a player, comprising:

acquiring designated coordinates, on the display screen, designated by the pointing device;

calculating target coordinates, in the virtual game space, corresponding to the designated coordinates;

calculating a distance from reference coordinates set on the display screen to the designated coordinates;

calculating speed information using the distance; and

moving a predetermined object toward the target coordinates in the virtual game space at a movement speed represented by the speed information.

18. A game system which displays on a display screen a game image representing at least a portion of a virtual game space, and which is operated using a pointing device for detecting for a position, on the display screen, designated by a player, the game system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory storing instructions that, when executed by said processor, control said processor to;

acquire designated coordinates, on the display screen, designated by the pointing device;

calculate target coordinates, in the virtual game space, corresponding to the designated coordinates;

calculate a distance from reference coordinates set on the display screen to the designated coordinates;

calculate speed information using the distance; and

move a predetermined object toward the target coordinates in the virtual game space at a movement speed represented by the speed information.