Computer, program, and storage medium

• US 8,342,961 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capcom Company Limited (Capcom Entertainment Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Capcom Company Limited (Capcom Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Youichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US12/810,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20100279770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 463/32, 463/31, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 345/156, 345/158
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input

Abstract

There are provided controller control means for receiving acceleration of movement of a housing or an angular speed of rotation of the housing from a controller operated by a user and image generating means for generating a game image obtained by photographing a predetermined direction from a predetermined viewpoint in a three-dimensional game space and for moving the viewpoint when the received acceleration or angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Alternatively, there are provided controller control means for receiving an angular speed of rotation in a first specific direction of a housing from a controller operated by a user and image generating means for generating a game image obtained by photographing a three-dimensional game space from a predetermined viewpoint and for starting movement to the first specific direction of the viewpoint when the received angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

an i/o interface operable to receive input from a controller; and

a processor cooperatively operable with the i/o interface, and configured to facilitate

receiving acceleration of movement of a controller housing or an angular speed of rotation of the controller housing from the controller operated by a user; and

generating a game image obtained by photographing a predetermined direction from a predetermined viewpoint in a three-dimensional game space and moving the viewpoint when the received acceleration or angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

5. The computer according to claim 1, wherein

the processor receives acceleration of movement in the vertical direction and angular speeds of right rotation and left rotation in a horizontal plane of the controller housing;

the processor determines an initial position of the viewpoint and the point of gaze;

while the viewpoint stands still, if the angular speed of the right/left rotation detected by the angular speed sensor exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, the processor rotates the viewpoint to the right/left around the point of gaze at a predetermined angular speed;

while the viewpoint is rotated to the right/left, if the angular speed of the left/right rotation detected by the angular speed sensor exceeds a predetermined second threshold value, the processor stops rotation of the viewpoint; and

if acceleration in an upward or a downward direction detected by the acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined third threshold value, the processor returns the viewpoint to the initial position.

6. The computer according to claim 5, wherein

the processor does not make determination on whether an angular speed has exceeded the first threshold value or not, for a certain period of time after the processor stops rotation of the viewpoint since the angular speed has exceeded the second threshold value.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein

the acceleration of movement of the controller housing of the angular speed of rotation of the controller housing is with respect to a horizontal plane of the controller housing instead of with respect to a gravity force direction,

the viewpoint remains unmoved until the received acceleration or angular speed exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the acceleration of movement of the controller is in the vertical direction of the controller housing, and the angular speed of rotation comprises angular speeds of right rotation and left rotation in a horizontal plane of the controller housing.

2. A computer comprising:

an i/o interface operable to receive input from a controller; and

a processor cooperatively operable with the i/o interface, and configured to facilitate

receiving an angular speed of rotation in a first specific direction of a controller housing from a controller operated by a user; and

generating a game image obtained by photographing a three-dimensional game space from a predetermined viewpoint and starting movement of the viewpoint to the first specific direction when the received angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

3. The computer according to claim 2, wherein

the processor receives an angular speed of rotation in a second specific direction opposite to the first specific direction from the controller;

and

the processor stops movement of the viewpoint to the first specific direction when an angular speed in the second specific direction exceeds a predetermined threshold value while the viewpoint is moving to the first specific direction.

4. The computer according to claim 2, wherein

the processor receives acceleration of movement of the controller housing in a predetermined direction;

and

the processor returns the position of the viewpoint to a predetermined initial position when the received acceleration of movement exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

9. A program which makes a computer function as controller control means for receiving acceleration of movement of a controller housing or an angular speed of rotation of the controller housing from a controller operated by a user;

and

image generating means for generating a game image obtained by photographing a predetermined direction from a predetermined viewpoint in a three-dimensional game space and for moving the viewpoint if the received acceleration or angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

13. The program according to claim 9, wherein

the controller control means receives acceleration of movement in the vertical direction and angular speeds of right rotation and left rotation in a horizontal plane of the controller housing;

the image generating means determines an initial position of the viewpoint and the point of gaze;

while the viewpoint stands still, if the angular speed of the right/left rotation detected by the angular speed sensor exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, the image generating means rotates the viewpoint to the right/left around the point of gaze at a predetermined angular speed;

while the viewpoint is rotated to the right/left, if the angular speed of the left/right rotation detected by the angular speed sensor exceeds a predetermined second threshold value, the image generating means stops rotation of the viewpoint; and

if acceleration in an upward or a downward direction detected by the acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined third threshold value, the image generating means returns the viewpoint to the initial position.

14. The program according to claim 13, wherein

the image generating means does not make determination on whether the angular speed has exceeded the first threshold value or not, for a certain period of time after the image generating means stops rotation of the viewpoint since the angular speed has exceeded the second threshold value.

10. A program which makes a computer function as controller control means for receiving an angular speed of rotation in a first specific direction of a controller housing from a controller operated by a user;

and

image generating means for generating a game image obtained by photographing a three-dimensional game space from a predetermined viewpoint and for starting movement to the first specific direction of the viewpoint when the received angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

11. The program according to claim 10, wherein

the controller control means receives an angular speed of rotation in a second specific direction opposite to the first specific direction from the controller;

and

the image generating means stops movement of the viewpoint to the first specific direction when an angular speed in the second specific direction exceeds a predetermined threshold value while the viewpoint is moving to the first specific direction.

12. The program according to claim 10, wherein

the controller control means receives acceleration of movement of the controller housing in a predetermined direction;

and

the image generating means returns the position of the viewpoint to a predetermined initial position when the received acceleration of movement exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which makes a computer perform the function of:

receiving acceleration of movement of a controller housing or an angular speed of rotation of the controller housing from a controller operated by a user; and

generating a game image obtained by photographing a predetermined direction from a predetermined viewpoint in a three-dimensional game space and for moving the viewpoint when the received acceleration or angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which makes a computer perform the function of:

receiving an angular speed of rotation in a first specific direction of a controller housing from a controller operated by a user; and

generating a game image obtained by photographing a three-dimensional game space from a predetermined viewpoint and for starting movement to the first specific direction of the viewpoint when the received angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

17. A method of controlling a viewpoint, comprising:

receiving, in a computer, acceleration of movement of a controller housing or an angular speed of rotation of the controller housing, from a controller operated by a user; and

generating, by the computer, a game image obtained by photographing a predetermined direction from a predetermined viewpoint in a three-dimensional game space and moving the viewpoint when the received acceleration or angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein

the acceleration of movement of the controller housing of the angular speed of rotation of the controller housing is with respect to a horizontal plane of the controller housing instead of with respect to a gravity force direction,

the viewpoint remains unmoved until the received acceleration or angular speed exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

18. A method of controlling a viewpoint, comprising:

receiving, in a computer, an angular speed of rotation in a first specific direction of a controller housing, from a controller operated by a user; and

generating, by the computer, a game image obtained by photographing a three-dimensional game space from a predetermined viewpoint and starting movement of the viewpoint to the first specific direction when the received angular speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein

the computer receives an angular speed of rotation in a second specific direction opposite to the first specific direction from the controller;

and

the computer stops movement of the viewpoint to the first specific direction when an angular speed in the second specific direction exceeds a predetermined threshold value while the viewpoint is moving to the first specific direction.