Game apparatus and storage medium having stored thereon game program

• US 8,292,727 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nonaka, Toyokazu, Matsumiya, Nobuo, Hatakeyama, Yuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKAARUP, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US12/556,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20100323783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 463/23, 463/43, 463/30, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/422 automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes

Abstract

Whether or not an angular velocity detected by an angular velocity sensor is used for a game process is determined, and a difficulty level of a game to be subjected to a game process is set so as to vary depending on whether the angular velocity is determined to be used or the angular velocity is determined not to be used. When the angular velocity is determined not to be used, a process of specifying a motion direction of an input device is performed by using acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor, whereas when the angular velocity is determined to be used, at least a part of the process of specifying the motion of the input device is performed by using the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor. Accordingly, based on the specified motion direction, the game process is performed while the set difficulty level is applied.

Claims

1. A system for performing a game process in accordance with a motion applied to an input device provided with at least one of an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, the system comprising:

an input device; and

a processing system, including one or more computer processors, configured to;

determine whether or not the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor so that an angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor is to be used for the game process or not to be used for the game process, respectively, and determine, when the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor, whether or not to use the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor for the game process;

set a difficulty level of a game to be subjected to the game process so as to vary depending on whether the processing system has determined to use the angular velocity or not to use the angular velocity;

perform a process of specifying a motion direction of the input device by using acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor when the processing system has determined not to use the angular velocity, and perform at least a part of the process of specifying the motion direction of the input device by using the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor when the processing system has determined to use the angular velocity; and

perform the game process in accordance with the specified motion direction while the set difficulty level is applied.

2. A method for performing a game process in accordance with a motion applied to an input device provided with at least one of an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, the method comprising:

determining, via one or more computer processors, whether or not the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor so that an angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor is to be used for the game process or not to be used for the game process, respectively, and for determining, when the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor, whether or not to use the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor for the game process;

setting, via one or more computer processors, a difficulty level of a game to be subjected to the game process so as to vary depending on whether the determining determines to use the angular velocity or the determining determines not to use the angular velocity;

specifying, via one or more computer processors, a motion direction for performing a process of specifying a motion direction of the input device by using acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor when the determining has determined not to use the angular velocity, and for performing at least a part of the process of specifying the motion direction of the input device by using the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor when the determining has determined to use the angular velocity; and

performing, via one or more computer processors, the game process in accordance with the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying while the difficulty level set by the difficulty level setting is applied.

3. A game apparatus for performing a game process in accordance with a motion applied to an input device provided with at least one of an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, the game apparatus comprising:

a determination unit for determining whether or not the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor so that an angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor is to be used for the game process or not to be used for the game process, respectively, and for determining, when the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor, whether or not to use the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor for the game process;

a difficulty level setting unit for setting a difficulty level of a game to be subjected to the game process so as to vary depending on whether the determination unit determines to use the angular velocity or the determination unit determines not to use the angular velocity;

a motion direction specifying unit for performing a process of specifying a motion direction of the input device by using acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor when the determination unit has determined not to use the angular velocity, and for performing at least a part of the process of specifying the motion direction of the input device by using the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor when the determination unit has determined to use the angular velocity; and

a game processing unit for performing the game process in accordance with the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying unit while the difficulty level set by the difficulty level setting unit is applied.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the game processing unit sets a moving direction of a player object in a virtual game world in accordance with the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying unit, and corrects the moving direction in accordance with the difficulty level, and causes the player object to move in the virtual game world, and

the difficulty level setting unit sets a level of correction of the moving direction as the difficulty level.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the difficulty level setting unit sets the level of correction relatively higher when the determination unit has determined not to use the angular velocity than when the determination unit has determined to use the angular velocity.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the difficulty level setting unit sets the level of correction to 0 so as not to correct the moving direction when the determination unit has determined to use the angular velocity.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the game processing unit sets the moving direction to a direction, in the virtual game world, corresponding to the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying unit, and corrects the moving direction when the moving direction points to and falls within a predetermined range, and

the difficulty level setting unit sets the level of correction by changing the predetermined range.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the game processing unit sets the moving direction to a direction, in the virtual game world, corresponding to the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying unit, and corrects the moving direction such that the moving direction points to and falls within a predetermined range, and

the difficulty level setting unit sets the level of correction by changing the predetermined range.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the angular velocity sensor is detachably connected to the input device,

the game apparatus further comprises a connection detection unit for detecting whether or not the angular velocity sensor is connected to the input device, and

the determination unit determines to use the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor for the game process when the connection detecting unit detects that the angular velocity sensor is connected to the input device.

10. The game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the motion direction specifying unit calculates an attitude of the input device by using at least the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor when the determination unit has determined to use the angular velocity, and

calculates a direction of acceleration exerted on the input device by using the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and specifies the motion direction of the input device in an actual space by using the attitude and the direction of the acceleration exerted.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the motion direction specifying unit includes an attitude correction unit for correcting the attitude of the input device, the attitude being calculated by using the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor, by using the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and

the motion direction specifying unit specifies the motion direction of the input device by using the attitude of the input device, the attitude having been corrected by the attitude correction unit, and by using the direction of the acceleration exerted.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein,

when the determination unit has determined not to use the angular velocity, the motion direction specifying unit calculates an attitude of the input device and a direction of acceleration exerted on the input device by using the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and

specifies the motion direction of the input device in an actual space by using the attitude and the direction of the acceleration.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program executed on a computer of a game apparatus performing a game process in accordance with a motion applied to an input device provided with at least one of an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, the computer being caused to at least perform:

determination for determining whether or not the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor so that an angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor is to be used for the game process or not to be used for the game process, respectively, and for determining, when the input device is provided with the angular velocity sensor, whether or not to use the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor for the game process;

difficulty level setting for setting a difficulty level of a game to be subjected to the game process so as to vary depending on whether the determination determines to use the angular velocity or the determination determines not to use the angular velocity;

motion direction specifying for performing a process of specifying a motion direction of the input device by using acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor when the determination has determined not to use the angular velocity, and for performing at least a part of the process of specifying the motion direction of the input device by using the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor when the determination has determined to use the angular velocity; and

game processing for performing the game process in accordance with the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying while the difficulty level set by the difficulty level setting is applied.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 13, wherein

the game processing sets a moving direction of a player object in a virtual game world in accordance with the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying, and corrects the moving direction in accordance with the difficulty level, and causes the player object to move in the virtual game world, and

the difficulty level setting sets a level of correction of the moving direction as the difficulty level.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 14, wherein

the difficulty level setting sets the level of correction relatively higher when the determination has determined not to use the angular velocity than when the determination has determined to use the angular velocity.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 15, wherein

the difficulty level setting sets the level of correction to 0 so as not to correct the moving direction when the determination has determined to use the angular velocity.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 14, wherein

the game processing sets the moving direction to a direction, in the virtual game world, corresponding to the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying, and corrects the moving direction when the moving direction points to and falls within a predetermined range, and

the difficulty level setting sets the level of correction by changing the predetermined range.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 14, wherein

the game processing sets the moving direction to a direction, in the virtual game world, corresponding to the motion direction specified by the motion direction specifying, and corrects the moving direction such that the moving direction points to and falls within a predetermined range, and

the difficulty level setting sets the level of correction by changing the predetermined range.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 13, wherein

the angular velocity sensor is detachably connected to the input device,

the game program further causes the computer to perform connection detection for detecting whether or not the angular velocity sensor is connected to the input device, and

the determination determines to use the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor for the game process when the connection detecting detects that the angular velocity sensor is connected to the input device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 13, wherein

the motion direction specifying calculates an attitude of the input device by using at least the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor when the determination has determined to use the angular velocity, and

calculates a direction of acceleration exerted on the input device by using the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and specifies the motion direction of the input device in an actual space by using the attitude and the direction of the acceleration exerted.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 20, wherein

the motion direction specifying includes attitude correction for correcting the attitude of the input device, the attitude being calculated by using the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor, by using the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and

the motion direction specifying specifies the motion direction of the input device by using the attitude of the input device, the attitude having been corrected by the attitude correction, and by using the direction of the acceleration exerted.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon the game program according to claim 13, wherein,

when the determination has determined not to use the angular velocity, the motion direction specifying calculates an attitude of the input device and a direction of acceleration exerted on the input device by using the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and

specifies the motion direction of the input device in an actual space by using the attitude and the direction of the acceleration.