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

• US 8,641,524 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• 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:
  US12/575,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/1, 463/30, 463/31, 345/173, 345/174, 715/701, 715/702
• 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 game apparatus provided with a display for displaying a game space, a touch panel provided in association with the display, and a vibrator for vibrating at least a screen of said display, comprising:

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

an updating portion configured to update a flag for determining whether at least said character is in an attack state or a non-attack state,

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

an obtaining portion configured to obtain the flag at a time of the operation input to said touch panel when the player directly touches the display area of said character; and

a vibration controlling portion configured to control said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to the flag obtained by said obtaining portion.

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

said game program causes said game apparatus to:

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

update a flag for determining whether at least said character is in an attack state or a non-attack state;

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

obtain the flag at a time of the operation input to said touch panel when the player touches the display area of said character; and

control said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to the obtained flag.

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

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

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

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

obtaining the flag 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 obtained flag.

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

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

an updating portion configured to update status data indicating whether at least said character is in an attack state or a non-attack state,

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

an obtaining portion configured to obtain the status data at a time of the operation input to said touch panel when the player directly touches the display area of said character; and

a vibration controlling portion configured to control said vibrator in a vibration pattern according to the status data obtained by said obtaining portion.