Game system and game program medium

• US 8,142,285 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimizu, Takao, Koizumi, Yoshiaki, Hayakawa, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEBREMICHAEL, BRUK A
• Application Number:
  US11/117,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,524 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307.A, 434/308, 434/365, 463/1, 463/47, 463/7, 463/35, 463/37, 463/31, 463/33, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A game system is composed by connecting a game apparatus with a monitor and a percussion type controller. A game player beats a first beating operation surface or a second beating operation surface to input an operation signal from the controller to the game apparatus. In the game apparatus, in response to the operation signal, a player character in a virtual world displayed on the monitor is moved in a left or a right direction. Furthermore, when a sound, input by clapping and so on in the vicinity of a microphone of the controller, is present, the game apparatus generates a shock wave from a position of the player character. By the shock wave, a predetermined change occurs, such as returning an enemy character to its initial position, gathering fairies in a form of block, and so forth.

Claims

1. A game system for advancing a game in accordance with a player'"'"'s beating operation and a sound input by causing a player character and a non-player character to appear in a virtual world on the basis of a game program, comprising:

a percussion-instrument-type controller formed to imitate a percussion instrument and to have a first operation surface and a second operation surface, each of which is subjected to elastic deformation by a beating operation with a hand of a player, wherein each of said first operation surface and said second operation surface comprises plurality of buttons, and said player activates one or more of said buttons by the beating operation to generate operation signal;

said percussion-instrument-type controller outputting said operation signal according to the beating operation;

a first moving programmed logic circuitry which moves said player character in a first manner in response to said operation signal according to the beating operation on said first operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller;

a second moving programmed logic circuitry which moves said player character in a second manner in response to said operation signal according to the beating operation on said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller, wherein moving speed and moving acceleration of said player character within the virtual world is determined by the beating operation on said first operation surface and/or the beating operation on said second operation surface, where a short beating time interval renders a large movement acceleration and a long beating time interval renders a small movement acceleration;

a third moving programmed logic circuitry which moves said player character in a third manner so that said player character moves in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed when no beating operation is performed on said first operation surface and said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller for a predetermined time period;

a causing programmed logic circuitry which causes said player character to perform an action in response to the operation signal due to simultaneous beating operations on said first operation surface and said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller for a predetermined time period;

a sound input device for inputting a sound signal;

a shock wave producing programmed logic circuitry which produces a shock wave emanating from a position of said player character in said virtual world in response to the sound input from said sound input device; and

a changing programmed logic circuitry which changes an action of said non-player character at a time that said non-player character is affected by said shock wave in said virtual world.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said first operation surface and said second operation surface have a size including a circle having a diameter of at least 3 cm when viewed from above.

3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said percussion-instrument-type controller resembles a shape of a percussion instrument.

4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said first moving programmed logic circuitry and said second moving programmed logic circuitry ignores said operation signal from said percussion-instrument-type controller if said operation signal is continuous within a predetermined time interval.

5. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said sound input device is provided on said percussion-instrument-type controller.

6. The game system according to claim 5, wherein said sound input device is provided in proximity to said first operation surface and said second operation surface.

7. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said percussion-instrument-type controller includes a first housing for supporting the first operation surface, a second housing for supporting the second operation surface, and a connecting portion for connecting said first housing and said second housing;

and

said sound input device includes a microphone provided on said connecting portion.

8. The game system according to claim 5, wherein said shock wave producing programmed logic circuitry ignores, when the operation signal is present from said percussion-instrument-type controller, a sound signal from said sound input device inputted within a predetermined time period.

9. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said first moving programmed logic circuitry moves said player character in a first direction according to said operation signal from said beating operation on said first operation surface;

and

said second movement programmed logic circuitry moves said player character in a second direction according to said operation signal from said beating operation on said second operation surface.

10. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a non-player character generator which causes said non-player character to appear in a predetermined position of said virtual world;

wherein said shock wave producing programmed logic circuitry generates a predetermined change according to a relative positional relationship in the virtual world between said player character and said non-player character in said virtual world when said sound signal is present.

11. The game system according to claim 10, wherein said shock wave producing programmed logic circuitry performs a predetermined process in association with said non-player character existing within a predetermined area, taking the position of said player character in said virtual world as a reference when said sound signal is present.

12. The game system according to claim 10, further comprising a fourth moving programmed logic circuitry which controls movement of said non-player character;

Wherein said shock wave producing programmed logic circuitry changes the movement of said non-player character by said fourth moving programmed logic circuitry in association with said non-player character existing within said predetermined area, taking the position of said player character in said virtual world as a reference when said sound signal is present.

13. The game system according to claim 12, wherein said non-player character generator causes said non-player character to appear in an initial position of said virtual world;

said fourth moving programmed logic circuitry moves said non-player character from said initial position toward said player character; and

said shock wave producing programmed logic circuitry returns said non-player character to said initial position, taking the position of said player character in said virtual world as a reference when said sound signal is present.

14. A non-transitory recording medium recording a game program causing a game system, provided with a percussion-instrument-type controller formed to imitate a percussion instrument for outputting an operation signal according to a player'"'"'s beating operation;

said percussion-instrument-type controller comprises elastically deformable first operation surface and second operation surface, wherein each of said first operation surface and said second operation surface comprises plurality of buttons, and said player activates one or more of said buttons by the beating operation to generate said operation signal; and

a sound input device for generating a sound signal, to execute a game in accordance with the player'"'"'s beating operation and the sound input where a player character and a non-player character appear in a virtual world;

wherein said game program causes said game system to perform;

first moving which moves said player character in a first manner in response to said operation signal according to the beating operation on said first operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller;

second moving which moves said player character in a second manner in response to said operation signal according to the beating operation on said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller, wherein moving speed and moving acceleration of said player character within the virtual world is determined by the beating operation on said first operation surface and/or the beating operation on said second operation surface, where a short beating time interval renders a large movement acceleration and a long beating time interval renders a small movement acceleration;

third moving which moves said player character in a third manner so that said player character moves in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed when no beating operation is performed on said first operation surface and said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller for a predetermined time period;

causing said player character to perform an action in response to the operation signal due to simultaneous beating operations on said first operation surface and said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller for a predetermined time period;

shock wave producing which produces a shock wave emanating from a position of said player character in said virtual world in response to the sound input from said sound input device; and

changing an action of said non-player character at a time that said non-player character is affected by said shock wave in said virtual world.

15. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 14, wherein said game program further causes said game system to perform:

non-player character generating which causes said non-player character to appear in a predetermined position of said virtual world; and

shock wave producing which generates a predetermined change in said virtual world according to a relative positional relationship between said player character and said non-player character in said virtual world when said sound signal is present.

16. A method for advancing a game in accordance with a player'"'"'s beating operation and a sound input by causing a player character and a non-player character to appear in a virtual world on the basis of a game program, the method comprising:

subjecting elastic deformation by a beating operation with a hand of a player to a first operation surface and a second operation surface of a percussion-instrument-type controller formed to imitate a percussion instrument, wherein each of said first operation surface and said second operation surface comprises plurality of buttons, and said player activates one or more of said buttons by the beating operation to generate operation signal;

said percussion-instrument-type controller outputting said operation signal according to the beating operation,

first moving, using a microprocessor, for moving said player character in a first manner in response to said operation signal according to the beating operation on said first operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller;

second moving, using said microprocessor, for moving said player character in a second manner in response to said operation signal according to the beating operation on said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller, wherein moving speed and moving acceleration of said player character within the virtual world is determined by the beating operation on said first operation surface and/or the beating operation on said second operation surface, where a short beating time interval renders a large movement acceleration and a long beating time interval renders a small movement acceleration;

third moving, using said microprocessor, for moving said player character in a third manner so that said player character moves in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed when no beating operation is performed on said first operation surface and said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller for a predetermined time period;

causing, using said microprocessor, said player character to perform an action in response to the operation signal due to simultaneous beating operations on said first operation surface and said second operation surface of said percussion-instrument-type controller for a predetermined time period;

inputting a sound signal from a sound input device, producing, using said microprocessor, a shock wave emanating from a position of said player character in said virtual world in response to the sound input from said sound input device; and

changing, using said microprocessor, an action of said non-player character at a time that said non-player character is affected by said shock wave in said virtual world.

17. The method for advancing a game in accordance with a player'"'"'s beating operation and a sound input according to claim 16, said method further comprising:

non-player character generating which causes said non-player character to appear in a predetermined position of said virtual world; and

shock wave producing which generates a predetermined change in said virtual world according to a relative positional relationship between said player character and said non-player character in said virtual world when said sound signal is present.

18. The method for advancing a game in accordance with a player'"'"'s beating operation and a sound input according to claim 17, wherein said shock wave producing performs a predetermined process in association with said non-player character existing within said predetermined area, taking a position of said player character in said virtual world as a reference when said sound signal is present.

19. The method for advancing a game in accordance with a player'"'"'s beating operation and a sound input according to claim 17, further comprising:

fourth moving which controls a movement of said non-player character;

wherein said shock wave producing changes the movement of said non-player character by said fourth moving in association with said non-player character existing within said predetermined area, taking a position of said player character in said virtual world as a reference when said sound signal is present.

20. The method for advancing a game in accordance with a player'"'"'s beating operation and a sound input according to claim 19, wherein said non-player character generating causes said non-player character to appear in an initial position of said virtual world;

said fourth moving moves said non-player character from said initial position toward said player character; and

said shock wave producing returns said non-player character to said initial position, taking a position of said player character in said virtual world as a reference when said sound signal is present.