Game apparatus, storage medium storing game program and game controlling method

• US 8,469,809 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakajima, Souichi
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/196,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,882 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/1, 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• 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 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

A game apparatus includes an LCD, and a touch panel is placed on a top surface of the LCD. A player instructs an enemy character displayed on the LCD by use of a stick to attack the enemy character. For example, in a case that the enemy character exists at a depth of a game screen, little damage is applied to the enemy character, and a weak vibration is applied to the game apparatus. Conversely, in a case that the enemy character exists at a front of the game screen, much damage is applied to the character, and a strong vibration is applied to the game apparatus. In either case, the vibrations are transmitted to the fingers or hands of the payer via the stick.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a game apparatus provided with a touch panel having an associated display, and a vibrator for vibrating at least a screen of said display, including:

displaying a game character on said screen, said character having at least one associated game related parameter;

selecting said character by using a pointing device on said touch panel;

detecting the state of a parameter associated with said character in response to said selection of said character by a player; and

vibrating said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to the state of the detected parameter when the player directly touches said character, wherein said game related parameter comprises a position of the game character in a game space.

2. A game apparatus provided with a display for displaying a game screen, a touch panel provided in association with the display, and a vibrator for vibrating at least a screen of said display, comprising:

a game screen for displaying the game including an image of a character appearing in a game on the screen of said display;

updating programmed logic circuitry for updating a parameter for changing a display manner of said character or a state of said character in the game in correspondence to the proceeding of the game;

detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting position coordinates in response to an operation input to said touch panel by a player;

obtaining programmed logic circuitry for obtaining the parameter of said character at a time of the operation input to said touch panel when the player directly touches the display area of said character; and

vibration controlling programmed logic circuitry for vibrating said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to the parameter obtained by said obtaining programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said updating programmed logic circuitry updates arrangement coordinates of said character in a game space, and

said vibration controlling programmed logic circuitry vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to said arrangement coordinates.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said updating programmed logic circuitry updates a flag for determining whether at least said character is in an attack state or a non-attack state, and

said vibration controlling programmed logic circuitry vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to turn-on/off of said flag.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said updating programmed logic circuitry updates life, offensive power and mentality of said character, and

said vibration controlling programmed logic circuitry vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to at least one of the life, offensive power and mentality of said character.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said vibration controlling programmed logic circuitry includes selecting one vibration pattern corresponding to said parameter out of a plurality of vibration patterns.

6. A storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus provided with a display for displaying a game screen, a touch panel provided in association with the display, and a vibrator for vibrating at least a screen of said display,

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

displaying the game screen including an image of a character appearing in a game on the screen of said display;

updating a parameter for changing a display manner of said character or a state of said character in the game in correspondence to the proceeding of the game;

detecting position coordinates in response to an operation input to said touch panel by a player;

obtaining the parameter of said character at a time of the operation input to said touch panel when the player directly touches the display area of said character; and

vibration controlling for vibrating said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to the parameter obtained by said obtaining, wherein

said updating updates arrangement coordinates of said character in a game space, and

said vibration controlling vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to said arrangement coordinates.

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

said updating updates a flag for determining whether at least said character is in an attack state or a non-attack state, and

said vibration controlling vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to turn-on/off of said flag.

8. The storage medium storing a game program according to claim 6, wherein

said updating updates life, offensive power and mentality of said character, and

said vibration controlling vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to at least one of the life, offensive power and mentality of said character.

9. The storage medium storing a game program according to claim 6, wherein

said vibration controlling includes selecting one vibration pattern corresponding to said parameter out of said plurality of vibration patterns.

10. A game controlling method of a game apparatus provided with a display for displaying a game screen, a touch panel provided in association with the display, and a vibrator for vibrating at least a screen of said display, includes:

displaying the game screen including an image of a character appearing in a game on the screen of said display;

updating a parameter for changing a display manner of said character or a state of said character in the game in correspondence to the proceeding of the game;

detecting position coordinates in response to an operation input to said touch panel by a player;

obtaining the parameter of said character at a time of the operation input to said touch panel when the player directly touches the display area of said character; and

vibrating said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to the parameter obtained by said obtaining the parameter, wherein

said updating a parameter updates arrangement coordinates of said character in a game space, and

said vibrating vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to said arrangement coordinates.

11. The game controlling method according to claim 10, wherein

said updating a parameter updates a flag for determining whether at least said character is in an attack state or a non-attack state, and

said vibrating vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to turn-on/off of said flag.

12. The game controlling method according to claim 10, wherein

said updating a parameter updates life, offensive power and mentality of said character, and

said vibrating vibrates said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to at least one of the life, offensive power and mentality of said character.

13. The game controlling method according to claim 10, wherein

said vibrating includes selecting one vibration pattern corresponding to said parameter out of said plurality of vibration patterns.