Game apparatus, game program, storage medium storing game program and game control method

• US 7,938,721 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kiyuna, Tsuyoshi, Ota, Keizo, Mizuki, Kiyoshi, Miyamoto, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/593,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 13/426 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 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A game apparatus (10) includes an LCD (12) and an LCD (14), for example, and the LCD (14) is provided with a touch panel (22). On the LCD (12), a first game image is displayed, and on the LCD (14), a second game image is displayed. It is determined whether or not the first game image becomes an object to be operated on the basis of coordinates data detected in response to an operation of the touch panel (22) by a player, input data obtained from an operating switch (20), a microphone (34), or the like. When it is determined that the first game image becomes an object to be operated, the first game image and the second game image are switched and displayed, for example. Then, when it is determined that the first game image displayed on the LCD (14) does not become an object to be operated, the first game image is displayed on the LCD (12).

Claims

1. A game apparatus, comprising:

a first display portion;

a second display portion;

a memory storage to store data to display a game image;

an input device for configured to instruct a position on said second display portion;

a sensor to detect coordinates data corresponding to the position;

operational object determining programmed logic circuitry configured to determine whether or not a first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes an object to be operated on the basis of the coordinate data;

a processing system configured to cause;

a switch between said first game image which is being displayed on said first display portion and a second game image which is being displayed on said second display portion, and respectively displaying the images on said second display portion and said first display portion when a determination is made that said first game image becomes the object to be operated on the basis of the coordinate data; and

a game process on said game image displayed on second display portion on the basis of the coordinate data,

wherein the first game image displayed on said second display portion is changed on the basis of the coordinate data.

2. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry further determines whether or not said first game image displayed on said second display portion does not become the object to be operated, and

if said first game image displayed on said second display portion does not become the object to be operated by the operational object determining programmed logic circuitry, then the processing system is configured to cause said first game image to be displayed on said first display portion.

3. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if said first game image does not become the object to be operated by the operational object determining programmed logic circuitry, then the processing system is configured to cause said first game image to be changed on the basis of the coordinate data on said first display portion.

4. A game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied when said first game image is being displayed on said second display portion, and further determines that said first game image does not become the object to be operated,

if said first game image does not become an object to be operated by said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry, then the processing system is configured to cause said first game image displayed on said second display portion to be displayed on said first display portion and causes said second game image displayed on said first display portion on to be displayed on the second display portion.

5. A game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined condition includes no detection of said coordinate data for a fixed period of time.

6. A game apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a selected area storage for storing data to display a selected area to instruct returning said first game image displayed on said second display portion to said first display portion, wherein

the processing system is configured to cause said selected area to be displayed on said second display portion when said first game image is displayed on said second display portion, and

said predetermined condition includes the coordinate data that indicates a display position of said selected area.

7. A game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein if said first game image does not become the object to be operated, then the processing system is configured to cause the said selected area to be erased on said second display portion.

8. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said memory storage stores data to display a game image including a plurality of figures,

said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry determines whether or not any one of said plurality of figures of the second game image displayed on said second display portion is selected on the basis of the coordinate data, and by determining that said figure is selected determines that said first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes the object to be operated,

if said first game image becomes the object to be operated by said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry, then the processing system is configured to cause said first game image displayed on said first display portion to be displayed on said second display portion and to cause said second game image displayed on said second display portion to be displayed on said first display portion.

9. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein if said first game image becomes the object to be operated by said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry, then the processing system is configured to cause said first display portion to display a third game image obtained by changing said second game image in such a manner as to exclude the selected figure from said second game image displayed on second display portion and to cause said first game image displayed on said first display portion and said selected figure on said second display portion to be displayed.

10. A game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry further determines whether or not said selected figure is arranged in a predetermined position in said first game image on the basis of the coordinate data after the processing system causes said first game image to be displayed on said second display portion, and by determining that said selected figure is arranged in the predetermined position determines that said first game image does not become the object to be operated, and

if said first game image does not become the object to be operated by said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry, then the processing system is configured to cause said first display portion to display a fourth game image changed in such a manner as to arrange said selected figure in the predetermined position of said first game image, and to cause said third game image displayed on said first display portion to be displayed on said second display portion.

11. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said figure includes a game character or icon.

12. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory storage stores data to display a first game image including a plurality of game characters and data to display a second game image including a plurality of selected figures to select each of said plurality of game characters,

said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry further determines whether or not any of said plurality of selected figures displayed on said second display portion is selected on the basis of the coordinate data, and by determining that any of said plurality of selected figures is selected, determines that said game character corresponding to said selected figure out of said plurality of game characters displayed on said first display portion becomes the object to be operated, and the processing system is configured to cause said game character which is determined to become the object to be operated by said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry in such manner as to move to said second display portion.

13. A game apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry further determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied in a state that said game character is being displayed on said second display portion, and by determining that said predetermined condition is satisfied, further determines that said game character displayed on said second display portion does not become the object to be operated, and

the processing system is configured to cause said game character in such a manner as to move to said first display portion when said game character displayed on said second display portion does not become the object to be operated by said operational object determining programmed logic circuitry.

14. A game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

each of said plurality of game characters has a parameter that is associated with stored parameter data,

wherein said parameter is displayed on any one of said first display portion and/or said second display portion on the basis of the parameter data,

wherein the displayed parameter is changed on the basis of the coordinate data, and

wherein if said game character displayed on said second display portion does not become the object to be operated by said operational object programmed logic circuitry, said game character is changed on the basis of the coordinate data in such a manner as to move to said first display portion.

15. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means is a touch panel set on said second display portion.

16. A game apparatus, comprising:

a first display portion,

a second display portion,

a data storage medium for storing data to display a game image,

an input device for instructing an arbitrary position in said second display portion,

a processing system configured to carry out instructions for;

detecting coordinates data corresponding to a position instructed by said input device,

instructing a movement of said game image between said first display portion and said second display portion,

producing movement instruction data of the movement of the game image between the first display portion and the second display portion,

determining whether or not a first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes an object to be operated on the basis of the movement instruction data,

switching between said first game image which is being displayed on said first display portion and a second game image which is being displayed on said second display portion, and respectively displaying the first game image and the second game image on said second display portion and said first display portion when a determination is made that said first game image becomes an object to be operated, and

performing a game process on said game image displayed on said second display portion on the basis of the coordinates data, and wherein

the game process changes said first game image displayed on said second display portion on the basis of the coordinates data.

17. A non-transitory storage medium storing game program of a game apparatus having a first display portion, a second display portion, a memory storage for storing data to display a game image, and a user input device for instructing an arbitrary position in said second display portion, said game program causes a processing system of said game apparatus to execute;

detecting coordinate data corresponding to a position instructed by said user input device,

determining whether or not a first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes an object to be operated on the basis of the coordinate,

if said first game image becomes the object to be operated, switching between said first game image which is being displayed on said first display portion and a second game image which is being displayed on said second display portion, and respectively displaying them on said second display portion and said first display portion, and

performing a game process on said game image displayed on said second display portion on the basis of the coordinate data,

wherein said first game image displayed on said second display portion by said image display changes on the basis of the coordinate data.

18. A game control method of a game apparatus having a first display portion, a second display portion, a storage device for storing data to display a game image, and an input device for instructing an arbitrary position in said second display portion, the method comprising:

detecting coordinate data corresponding to a position instructed by said input device,

determining whether or not a first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes an object to be operated on the basis of the coordinate data,

if said first game image becomes the object to be operated, switching between said first game image which is being displayed on said first display portion and a second game image which is being displayed on said second display portion, and respectively displaying them on said second display portion and said first display portion, and

performing a game process on said game image displayed on said second display portion on the basis of the coordinate data,

wherein said first game image displayed on said second display portion changes on the basis of the coordinate data detected.

19. A non-transitory storage medium storing game program of a game apparatus having a first display portion, a second display portion, a memory storage device for storing data to display a game image, a user input device for instructing an arbitrary position in said second display portion, and a processor configured to instruct a movement of said game image between said first display portion and said second display portion, the game program having instructions to cause the processor of the game apparatus to execute:

detecting movement instructing data,

determining whether or not a first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes an object to be operated on the basis of the movement instructing data,

if said first game image becomes the object to be operated, switching between said first game image which is being displayed on said first display portion and a second game image which is being displayed on said second display portion, and respectively displaying them on said second display portion and said first display portion,

detecting coordinate data corresponding to the arbitrary position, and

performing a game process on said game image displayed on said second display portion on the basis of the coordinate data,

wherein said first game image displayed on said second display portion changes on the basis of the coordinates data.

20. A game control method of a game apparatus having a first display portion, a second display portion, a storage device for storing data to display a game image, a user input device for instructing an arbitrary position in said second display portion, and movement instructing programmed logic circuitry for instructing a movement of said game image between said first display portion and said second display portion, the method comprising:

detecting movement instructing data,

determining whether or not a first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes an object to be operated on the basis of the movement instructing data,

if said first game image becomes an object to be operated, switching between said first game image which is being displayed on said first display portion and a second game image which is being displayed on said second display portion, and respectively displaying them on said second display portion and said first display portion,

detecting coordinate data corresponding to the arbitrary position instructed by said user input device, and

performing a game process on said game image displayed on said second display portion on the basis of the coordinate data,

wherein said first game image displayed on said second display portion changes on the basis of the coordinate data.

21. A game apparatus, comprising:

a first display portion;

a second display portion;

a memory storage device for storing data to display a game image;

a first input device for instructing an arbitrary position in said second display;

a coordinate sensor for detecting coordinate data corresponding to a position instructed by said first input device;

a second input device different from said first input device, the second input device operable to detect second input data;

a processing system configured to;

determine whether or not a first game image displayed on said first display portion becomes an object to be operated on the basis of the second input data;

switch between said first game image which is being displayed on said first display portion and a second game image which is being displayed on said second display portion, and respectively displaying them on said second display portion and said first display portion, if said first game image becomes the object to be operated; and

perform a game process on said game image displayed on second display portion on the basis of the coordinate data

wherein said first game image displayed on said second display portion changes on the basis of the coordinate data.

22. A computer system comprising:

a first display screen;

a second display screen;

a user input device configured to interact with the second display screen, the interaction between the user input device and the second display screen resulting in coordinate data related to an interaction position; and

a processing system configured to cause;

a first image displayed on the first display screen and a second image displayed on the second display screen to be respectively displayed on the other display screen when the first image becomes an operational object based at least in part on the coordinate data related to the interaction position on the second display screen.

23. A computer game system comprising:

a first display portion;

a second display portion;

a memory storage device configured to store a virtual game object;

a first user input device configured to accept user input relating to a position of the second display;

a processing system configured to;

animate movement of the virtual game object from the first display portion to the second display portion based on a received movement instruction, such that the virtual game object gradually transitions from the first display portion to the second display portion; and

perform an action on the virtual game object based at least in part on the position of user input on the second display.

24. A computer system comprising:

a first display portion;

a second display portion;

a memory storage device configured to store a virtual game object;

a first user input device configured to accept positional user input data relating to a position of the second display;

a second input device configured to accept second input data, the second input device different from the first user input device;

a processing system configured to carry out instructions of;

determining an operational object based at least in part on the second input data;

switching a first game image displayed on the first display portion and a second game image displayed on the second display portion when the first game image becomes an operational object, so that the first game image is displayed on the second display portion and the second game image is displayed on the first display portion; and

changing the first game image on the second display portion based at least in part on the positional user input data.

25. A method for use on a computer system, the computer system including a first display portion, a second display portion, a processor, a first user input device, a second user input device, and a memory unit, the method comprising:

displaying a first game image on the first display portion;

displaying a second game image on the second display portion;

detecting coordinate data from the first display portion;

detecting second input data from the second user input device;

determining an operational object on the basis of the second input data;

if a first game image displayed on the first display portion is the operational object, then switching the first game image and displaying the first game image on the second display portion and displaying a second game image on the first display portion; and

performing a game process on the first game image that is displayed on the second display portion based at least in part on the coordinate data.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-readable instructions for performance a method for use on a computer system including a first display portion, a second display portion, a processor, a first user input device, a second user input device, and a memory unit, the stored instructions comprising instructions configured to:

detect coordinate data from the first display that relates to the a point indicated by the first user input device on the first display portion;

detect second input data from the second user input device;

determine an operational object on the basis of the second input data;

if a first game image displayed on the first display portion is the operational object, then switch to the first game image and display the first game image on the second display portion and display a second game image on the first display portion; and

perform a game process on the first game image that is displayed on the second display portion based at least in part on the coordinate data.