Storage medium storing game program, game apparatus and game control method

• US 8,419,538 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Mashimo, Masahiko, Saito, Shinya, Yano, Keiichi, Okada, Norihide
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/416,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,540 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/7, 463/9, 463/25, 463/30, 463/36, 463/38
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• 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 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• 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

A game apparatus includes an LCD, and a game screen is displayed on the LCD. A touch panel is provided on the LCD. The game screen presents a marker image so as to be variable in position in time with performance of music, and also presents a timer circle image for indicating touch timing for the marker image. A player needs to touch a marker image to be touched with precise timing, listening to the music or watching the timer circle image. The player'"'"'s touch is evaluated on the basis of the touch timing and the touch position. If the touch is evaluated as a failure, the game screen is shaken.

Claims

1. A non-transitory storage medium storing a game program for a game apparatus comprising a display unit and a touch panel provided on a top surface of the display unit, wherein

said game program allows a processor of said game apparatus to execute:

touch input detection for detecting a touch input to the touch panel;

touch timing control for processing a first timing with which the touch input is to be performed;

touch image display for generating a touch image to be touched by a player on the touch panel and displaying the touch image on said display unit;

touch timing detection for detecting a second timing for the touch input detected in said touch input detection;

timing coincidence degree detection for detecting a degree of coincidence of said first timing and said second timing;

touch position detection for detecting whether or not a touch position indicated by said touch input represents a position to touch; and

touch evaluation for evaluating the touch input according to result of detection in said timing coincidence degree detection and result of detection in said touch position detection, wherein

said touch image display includes first timing display for displaying said first timing visibly as an image overlapping said touch image during the whole time period said touch image is displayed on the display unit.

2. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 1, wherein said position to touch includes a position set in said touch panel in relation to said touch image.

3. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 1, wherein

said game program further allows execution of touch image display change for changing display of said touch image, at least according to evaluation in said touch evaluation.

4. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 3, wherein

in said touch image display change, a display position of said touch image is changed.

5. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 3, wherein

in said touch image display change, a size of said touch image is changed.

6. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 3, wherein

said game program further allows execution of communication for carrying out data communications with another game apparatus, and

in said communication, when a match-up game is played with a player of said other game apparatus, attack data according to evaluation in said touch evaluation is transmitted to the other game apparatus.

7. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 6, wherein

in said touch image display change, when said attack data is received from another game apparatus in said communication, display of said touch image is changed.

8. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 3, wherein

in said touch image display, said touch image is generated on the basis of three-dimensional graphics techniques including a three-dimensional graphics rendering process and a viewpoint conversion process to two-dimensional image, and

in said touch image display change, a viewpoint position in said viewpoint conversion process is changed, at least according to evaluation in said touch evaluation.

9. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 3, wherein

said game program further allows execution of change time period setting for setting a time period during when display of said touch image is changed, and

in said touch image display change, display of said touch image is changed for the time period set in said change time period setting.

10. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 1, wherein

said game program further allows execution of music performance for performing music, and

in said touch timing control, said first timing is controlled in synchronization with rhythm of the music performed in said music performance.

11. A non-transitory storage medium storing a game program for playing a match-up game with connection of two or more game apparatuses comprising a display unit, a touch panel provided on a top surface of the display unit, and a communication network, wherein

said game program allows a processor of each of said game apparatuses to execute:

touch input detection for detecting a touch input to the touch panel;

touch timing control for processing a first timing with which the touch input is to be performed;

touch image display for generating a touch image to be touched by a player on the touch panel and displaying the touch image on said display unit;

touch timing detection for detecting a second timing for the touch input detected in said touch input detection;

timing coincidence degree detection for detecting a degree of coincidence of said first timing and said second timing;

touch position detection for detecting whether or not a touch position indicated by said touch input represents a position to touch;

touch evaluation for evaluating the touch input according to result of detection in said timing coincidence degree detection and result of detection in said touch position detection;

attack data transmission for transmitting attack data to said another game apparatus via said communication network according to evaluation in said touch evaluation; and

attack data reception for receiving attack data from said another game apparatus via said communication network, wherein

in said touch evaluation, when attack data is received in said attack data reception, the touch input is evaluated with the attack data taken into consideration, wherein

said touch image display includes first timing display for displaying said first timing visibly as an image overlapping said touch image during the whole time period said touch image is displayed on the display unit.

12. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 11, wherein

said position to touch includes a position set in said touch panel in relation to said touch image.

13. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 11, wherein

said game program further allows execution of touch image display change for changing display of said touch image when attack data is received in said attack data reception.

14. The non-transitory storage medium storing game program according to claim 13, wherein

in said touch image display change, a display position of said touch image is changed.

15. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 13, wherein in said touch image display change, a size of said touch image is changed.

16. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 13, wherein

in said touch image display, said touch image is generated on the basis of three-dimensional graphics techniques including a three-dimensional graphics rendering process and a viewpoint conversion process to two-dimensional image, and

in said touch image display change, a viewpoint position in said viewpoint conversion process is changed on the basis of said attack data.

17. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 13, wherein

said game program further allows execution of change time period setting for setting a time period during when display of said touch image is changed, and

in said touch image display change, display of said touch image is changed for the time period set in said change time period setting.

18. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 11, wherein said game program further allows execution of music performance for performing music, and

in said touch timing control, said first timing is controlled in synchronization with rhythm of the music performed in said music performance.

19. A game apparatus comprising a display unit and a touch panel provided on a top surface of the display unit, and a processing system, including a computer processor, the computer processor configured to perform:

touch input detection for detecting a touch input to the touch panel;

touch timing control for processing a first timing with which the touch input is to be performed;

touch image display for generating a touch image to be touched by a player on the touch panel and displaying the touch image on said display unit;

touch timing detection for detecting a second timing for the touch input detected by said touch input detection;

timing coincidence degree detection for detecting a degree of coincidence of said first timing and said second timing;

touch position detection for detecting whether or not a touch position indicated by said touch input represents a position to touch; and

touch evaluation for evaluating the touch input according to result of detection in said timing coincidence degree detection and result of detection by said touch position detection, wherein

said touch image display includes a first timing display for displaying said first timing visibly as an image overlapping said touch image during the whole time period said touch image is displayed on the display unit.

20. The game apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

said position to touch includes a position set in said touch panel in relation to said touch image.

21. A game apparatus comprising a display unit and a touch panel provided on a top surface of the display unit, a processing system, including a computer processor, and a communication network for playing a match-up game with connection of at least one of the other game apparatuses, the computer processor configured to perform:

touch input detection for detecting a touch input to the touch panel;

touch timing control for processing a first timing with which the touch input is to be performed;

touch image display for generating a touch image to be touched by a player on the touch panel and displaying the touch image on said display unit;

touch timing detection for detecting a second timing for the touch input detected by said touch input detection programmed logic circuitry;

timing coincidence degree detection for detecting a degree of coincidence of said first timing and said second timing;

touch position detection for detecting whether or not a touch position indicated by said touch input represents a position to touch;

touch evaluation for evaluating the touch input according to result of detection in said timing coincidence degree detection and result of detection by said touch position detection, wherein

said touch image display includes a first timing display for displaying said first timing visibly as an image overlapping said touch image during the whole time period said touch image is displayed on the display unit;

the computer processor further configured to perform;

attack data transmission for transmitting attack data to said another game apparatus via said communication network according to evaluation by said touch evaluation; and

attack data reception for receiving attack data from said another game apparatus via said communication network, wherein

said touch evaluation, when attack data is received by said attack data reception, evaluates the touch input with the attack data taken into consideration.

22. A game control method for a game apparatus comprising a display unit and a touch panel provided on a top surface of the display unit, including the following:

detecting a touch input to the touch panel;

processing a first timing with which the touch input is to be performed;

generating a touch image to be touched by a player on the touch panel and displaying the touch image on said display unit;

detecting a second timing for the touch input detected in said detecting a touch input to the touch panel;

detecting a degree of coincidence of said first timing and said second timing;

detecting whether or not a touch position indicated by said touch input represents a position to touch; and

evaluating the touch input according to result of detection in said detecting a degree of coincidence and result of detection in said detecting whether or not a touch position indicated by said touch input represents a position to touch, wherein

said generating a touch image includes displaying said first timing visibly as an image overlapping said touch image during the whole time period said touch image is displayed on the display unit.

23. A non-transitory storage medium storing a game program for a game apparatus comprising a display unit and a touch panel provided in relation to the display unit, said game program allowing a processor of said game apparatus to execute following:

touch input detection for detecting position data of a touched position by a touch input to said touch panel;

touch image display for generating a touch image to be touched by a player and displaying the touch image on said display unit;

touch position setting for setting a position to be touched on said touch panel in relation to the touch image;

timing image display for displaying a timing image on said display unit, and varying the timing image repeatedly;

first timing detection for detecting first timing data indicative of a first timing that a timing that the timing image becomes to have a predetermined relationship with the touch image is a timing with which a touch to the touch image is to be performed;

second timing detection for detecting second timing data indicative of a second timing that is a timing that the position data is detected in said touch input detection;

timing determination for determining whether or not the first timing data and the second timing data are coincident with each other;

position determination for determining whether or not the touched position designates the position to be touched based on the position data detected in said touch input detection and position data of the position to be touched set in said touch position setting; and

evaluation for evaluating the touch input according to a determination result in said timing determination and a determination result in said position determination.

25. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said first timing is a timing being set in advance.

26. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 23, wherein

said game program allowing the processor of said game apparatus to further execute music performance for performing a piece of music, wherein said first timing is set according to the music performance.

24. A game apparatus, comprising:

a display unit;

a touch panel provided in relation to said display unit;

a processing system, including a computer processor, the computer processor being configured to perform;

touch input detecting for detecting position data of a touched position by a touch input to said touch panel;

touch image displaying for generating a touch image to be touched by a player and displaying the touch image on said display unit;

touch position setting for setting a position to be touched on said touch panel in relation to the touch image;

timing image displaying for displaying a timing image on said display unit, and varying the timing image repeatedly;

first timing detecting for detecting first timing data indicative of a first timing that a timing that the timing image becomes to have a predetermined relationship with the touch image is a timing with which a touch to the touch image is to be performed;

second timing detecting for detecting second timing data indicative of a second timing that is a timing that the position data is detected in said touch input detection;

timing for determining whether or not the first timing data and the second timing data are coincident with each other;

position determining for determining whether or not the touched position designates the position to be touched based on the position data detected in said touch input detecting and position data of the position to be touched set in said touch position setting; and

evaluating for evaluating the touch input according to a determination result in said timing determination and a determination result in said position determining.

27. A game system using a display unit and a touch panel provided in relation to the display unit, comprising:

a touch input detecting portion which detects position data of a touched position by a touch input to said touch panel;

a touch image displaying portion which displays a touch image to be touched by a player on said display unit;

a touch position setting portion which sets a position to be touched on said touch panel in relation to the touch image;

a timing image displaying portion which displays a timing image on said display unit and varies the timing image repeatedly;

a first timing detecting portion which detects first timing data indicative of a first timing that a timing that the timing image becomes to have a predetermined relationship with the touch image is a timing with which a touch to the touch image is to be performed;

a second timing detecting portion which detects second timing data indicative of a second timing that is a timing that the position data is detected in said touch input detection;

a timing determining portion which determines whether or not the first timing data and the second timing data are coincident with each other;

a position determining portion which determines whether or not the touched position designates the position to be touched based on the position data detected in said touch input detection and position data of the position to be touched set in said touch position setting; and

an evaluating portion which evaluates the touch input according to a determination result by said timing determining portion and a determination result by said position determining portion.

28. A method of controlling a game in a game system using a display unit and a touch panel provided in relation to the display unit, comprising:

detecting position data of a touched position by a touch input to said touch panel;

displaying a touch image to be touched by a player on said display unit;

setting a position to be touched on said touch panel in relation to the touch image;

displaying a timing image on said display unit and varying the timing image repeatedly;

detecting first timing data indicative of a first timing that a timing that the timing image becomes to have a predetermined relationship with the touch image is a timing with which a touch to the touch image is to be performed;

detecting second timing data indicative of a second timing that is a timing that the position data is detected in said touch input detection;

determining whether or not the first timing data and the second timing data are coincident with each other;

determining whether or not the touched position designates the position to be touched based on the position data detected in said touch input detection and position data of the position to be touched set in said touch position setting; and

evaluating the touch input according to a determination result by the timing determining and a determination result by the position determining.