Game apparatus and computer-readable recording medium recording game program for controlling attitude and position of an object in a virtual space

• US 8,306,768 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamada, Yoichi, Fujibayashi, Hidemaro, Aonuma, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Richards, N Drew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dulka, John P
• Application Number:
  US12/388,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20100160045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/37, 463/43, 702/93, 702/85, 702/150
• US Class Current: 702/93
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6692 using special effects, generally involving post-processing, e.g. blooming
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data is obtained from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor. Next, at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space is controlled based on the angular speed data. When at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled based on the angular speed data, it is determined whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions. As a result, if the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined object is caused to start a predetermined motion.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:

an operation data obtaining unit for obtaining operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor;

a first control unit for controlling at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space based on the angular speed data;

a first acceleration condition determining unit for determining whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions when at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled by the first control unit;

a second control unit for causing the predetermined object to start a predetermined motion when the first acceleration condition determining unit determines that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined motion being a change of motion of the predetermined object from a first game state to a second game state; and

an attitude updating unit for updating the attitude of the predetermined object based on the angular speed data when the second control unit moves the predetermined object.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second control unit causes the predetermined object to start the predetermined motion with reference to at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object when the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second control unit determines a moving direction of the predetermined object based on the acceleration data when it is determined that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, and moves the predetermined object in the determined moving direction.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first acceleration condition determining unit determines whether or not a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is larger than a first predetermined value, and when the magnitude of the acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is larger than the first predetermined value, determines that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions.

5. A game apparatus comprising:

an operation data obtaining unit for obtaining operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor;

a first control unit for controlling at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space based on the angular speed data;

a first acceleration condition determining unit for determining whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions when at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled by the first control unit; and

a second control unit for causing the predetermined object to start a predetermined motion when the first acceleration condition determining unit determines that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined motion being a change of motion of the predetermined object from a first game state to a second game state, wherein

the second control unit includes a strike determination area setting unit for setting a strike determination area for determining whether or not the predetermined object collides with another object, when it is determined that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the second control unit includes:

a second acceleration condition determining unit for determining whether or not the acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is smaller than a second predetermined value after the strike determination area setting unit sets the strike determination area; and

a strike determination area erasing unit for erasing the strike determination area when the second acceleration condition determining unit determines that the acceleration is smaller than the second predetermined value.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the strike determination area setting unit sets an effect provided when the strike determination area collides with the other object, based on the acceleration data.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording a game program for causing a computer of a game apparatus to execute functionality comprising:

obtaining operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor;

controlling at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space based on the angular speed data;

determining whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions when at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled;

causing the predetermined object to start a predetermined motion when it is determined that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined motion being a change of motion of the predetermined object from a first game state to a second game state; and

updating the attitude of the predetermined object based on the angular speed data when the predetermined object is moved.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 8, wherein

the predetermined object starts the predetermined motion with reference to at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object when the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 8, wherein

a moving direction of the predetermined object is determined based on the acceleration data when it is determined that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, and the predetermined object is moved in the determined moving direction.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 8, wherein

whether or not a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is larger than a first predetermined value is determined, and when the magnitude of the acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is larger than the first predetermined value, the acceleration data is determined to satisfy the predetermined conditions.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording a game program for causing a computer of a game apparatus to execute functionality comprising:

obtaining operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor;

controlling at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space based on the angular speed data;

determining whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions when at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled; and

causing the predetermined object to start a predetermined motion when it is determined that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined motion being a change of motion of the predetermined object from a first game state to a second game state, wherein the program causes the computer to further execute functionality comprising setting a strike determination area for determining whether or not the predetermined object collides with another object, when it is determined that the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 12, wherein the program causes the computer to further execute:

determining whether or not the acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is smaller than a second predetermined value after the strike determination area is set; and

erasing the strike determination area when it is determined that the acceleration is smaller than the second predetermined value.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 12, wherein

an effect provided when the strike determination area collides with the other object is set based on the acceleration data.