Game device, game control method, information recording medium, and program

• US 8,298,083 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2009
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Asami, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US12/735,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20110003641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/22 Dancing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

In a game, a user competes for accuracy of user'"'"'s operation of a controller depending on whether a user can swing a controller at a target point in time. In a game device (401), for accurately determining the accuracy of user'"'"'s operation, a measurement unit (402) measures acceleration of the controller, an extraction unit (403) extracts a time point at which a first threshold is reached by an increasing acceleration and a time point at which the first threshold is reached by a decreasing acceleration, wherein the increasing and decreasing accelerations are measured by the measurement unit, and a determination unit (404) selects, from the time points extracted, a time point closest to the target point in time, and determines the accuracy of the user operation based on the difference between the target point in time and the time point selected.

Claims

1. A game device determining accuracy of user'"'"'s operation of a controller depending on whether a user moves a controller at a plurality of predetermined target points in time, the game device comprising:

a measurement unit that measures acceleration of the controller over a predetermined time zone associated with each predetermined target point;

an extraction unit that compares the measured acceleration of the controller, during the predetermined time zone associated with each target point, with a first threshold, and responsively stores an associated time point when the measured acceleration crosses the first threshold by an increasing acceleration and by a decreasing acceleration; and

a determination unit that establishes, for each predetermined time zone, a selected time point, from the stored associated time points for the predetermined time zone, which is closest to the predetermined target point in time, and determines a score based on a difference between each target point in time and the associated selected time point.

2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the extraction unit further compares the measured acceleration of the controller, during the predetermined time zone associated with each target point, with a second threshold, and responsively stores an associated time point when the measured acceleration crosses the second threshold and by an increasing acceleration and by a decreasing acceleration, the sign of the second threshold being a reverse sign of the first threshold.

3. The game device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measurement unit periodically measures the acceleration of the controller within each predetermined time zone, and the extraction unit interpolates the controller acceleration measured and extracts the time points at which the threshold(s) are reached.

4. A method for controlling a game executed by a measurement unit, an extraction unit, and a determination unit included in a game device determining accuracy of user'"'"'s operation of a controller depending on whether a user moves a controller at a plurality of predetermined target points in time, the method includes:

a measuring step that a measurement unit measures acceleration of the controller over a predetermined time zone associated with each predetermined target point;

an extracting step that an extraction unit compares the measured acceleration of the controller, during the predetermined time zone associated with each target point, with a first threshold, and responsively stores an associated time point when the measured acceleration crosses the first threshold by an increasing acceleration and by a decreasing acceleration; and

a determining step that a determination unit establishes for each predetermined time zone, a selected time point, from the stored associated time points for the predetermined time zone, which is closest to the target point in time, and determines a score based on the difference between each target point in time and the associated selected time point.

5. The method for controlling a game according to claim 4, wherein the extracting step further compares the measured acceleration of the controller, during the predetermined time zone associated with each target point, with a second threshold, and responsively stores an associated time point when the measured acceleration crosses the second threshold by an increasing acceleration by a decreasing acceleration, the sign of the second threshold being a reverse sign of the first threshold.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable information recording medium stored a program to execute a game determining accuracy of user'"'"'s operation of a controller depending on whether a user moves a controller at a predetermined target point in time, the program causes a computer that the controller is connected to function as:

a measurement unit that measures acceleration of the controller over a predetermined time zone associated with each predetermined target point;

an extraction unit that compares the measured acceleration of the controller, during the predetermined time zone associated with each target point, with a first threshold, and responsively stores an associated time point when the measured acceleration crosses the first threshold by an increasing acceleration and by a decreasing acceleration; and

a determination unit that establishes, for each predetermined time zone, a selected time point, from the stored associated time points for the predetermined time zone, which is closest to the predetermined target point in time, and determines a score based on a difference between each target point in time and the associated selected time point.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable information recording medium stored a program according to claim 6, wherein the extraction unit further compares the measured acceleration of the controller, during the predetermined time zone associated with each target point, with a second threshold, and responsively stores an associated time point when the measured acceleration crosses the second threshold and by an increasing acceleration and by a decreasing acceleration, the sign of the second threshold being a reverse sign of the first threshold.