Game system, game controller

• US 8,715,080 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yasuda, Shunpei, Kobe, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/642,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/43, 463/46, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details

Abstract

A first game controller that can be used by both a first game apparatus and a second game apparatus transmits its operation data by using a data format having a first data region including a header, a second data region including key data, and a third data region including data of an extended controller. A second game controller that can be used by the first game apparatus also uses a data format having similar three data regions, but the second data region is merely secured as a region, while all operation information is included in the third data region and transmitted.

Claims

1. A game system including at least a first game apparatus, a first game controller, and a second game controller, wherein

the first game controller is configured to be used by both the first game apparatus and a second game apparatus that is another game apparatus having compatibility with the first game apparatus, and

the first game controller comprises:

a predetermined operation key;

a sensor section;

a connection section to which an extended controller is connectable; and

a first transmission section that, during execution of a predetermined game process, generates transmission data having a data format including a first data region that contains predetermined header information, a second data region that contains key data indicating the content of operation performed on the operation key, and a third data region that contains first operation data indicating the contents of operations performed on the sensor section and the extended controller, and transmits the transmission data to the first game apparatus by means of wireless communication, and

the second game controller comprises;

a first operation section including at least a plurality of operation keys; and

a second transmission section that, during execution of a predetermined game process, generates transmission data in which the first data region, the second data region, and the third data region are arranged in the same order as in the data format generated by the first transmission section, and predetermined header information is stored in the first data region, second operation data indicating the content of operation performed on the first operation section is stored in the third data region, and the second data region is merely secured as a region, and transmits the transmission data to the first game apparatus by means of wireless communication.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the first game controller has a vertically long housing,

a plurality of operation keys are provided,

the sensor section includes at least an image pickup section, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor,

the second game controller includes a housing having grips held by left and right hands of a player, and

the first operation section comprises:

a first stick that is provided at an upper left position in a front surface of the housing of the second game controller, which position allows the player to operate the first stick with a thumb of his/her left hand when the player holds the grips;

a second stick that is provided at an upper right position in the front surface of the housing of the second game controller, which position allows the player to operate the second stick with a thumb of his/her right hand when the player holds the grips;

a direction key that is provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the first stick on the front surface of the housing, which position allows the player to operate the direction key with the thumb of the left hand when the player holds the grips;

a plurality of first type operation buttons that are provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the second stick on the front surface of the housing, which position allows the player to operate the first type operation buttons with the thumb of the right hand when the player holds the grips;

one or more second type operation button(s) that is provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the first stick and the second stick on the front surface of the housing, and above the direction key and the plurality of first type operation buttons;

a third type operation button that is provided at a position beneath the second type operation button(s) on the front surface of the housing, and between the direction key and the plurality of first type operation buttons; and

a plurality of fourth type operation buttons provided at positions in the vicinity of left and right ends of an upper surface of the housing of the second game controller, respectively, which positions allow the player to operate the fourth type operation buttons with his/her left and right index fingers, respectively, when the player holds the grips.

3. The game system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a third game controller that wirelessly communicates with the first game apparatus by using a wireless communication protocol different from that used by the first game controller and the second game controller.

4. The game system according to claim 3, wherein

the third game controller comprises:

a display section;

a second operation section;

a video reception section that receives video data from the first game apparatus;

a display control section that causes the display section to display a video based on the received video data; and

a third transmission section that transmits transmission data to the first game apparatus, based on an operation performed on the second operation section.

9. The game system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a third game controller that wirelessly communicates with the first game apparatus by using a wireless communication protocol different from that used by the first game controller and the second game controller.

10. The game system according to claim 9, wherein

the third game controller comprises:

a display section;

a second operation section;

a video reception section that received video data from the first game apparatus;

a display control section that causes the display section to display a video based on the received video data; and

a third transmission section that transmits transmission data to the first game apparatus, based on an operation performed on the second operation section.

5. A game controller that is configured to be used when connected to a first game apparatus by using the same wireless protocol as that used by a first controller, the first controller being used by both the first game apparatus and a second game apparatus that is another game apparatus having compatibility with the first game apparatus, and the first controller comprising:

an operation key;

a sensor section;

a connection section to which an extended controller is connectable; and

a first transmission section that, during execution of a predetermined game process, generates transmission data having a data format including a first data region that contains predetermined header information, a second data region that contains key data indicating the content of operation performed on the operation key, and a third data region that contains first operation data indicating the contents of operations performed on the sensor section and the extended controller, and transmits the transmission data to the first game apparatus by means of wireless communication, wherein

the game controller comprises;

an operation section including at least a plurality of operation keys; and

a second transmission section that, during execution of a predetermined game process, generates transmission data in which the first data region, the second data region, and the third data region are arranged in the same order as in the data format generated by the first transmission section, and predetermined header information is stored in the first data region, second operation data indicating the content of operation performed on the operation section is stored in the third data region, and the second data region is merely secured as a region, and transmits the transmission data to the first game apparatus by means of wireless communication.

6. The game controller according to claim 5 including a housing having grips held by left and right hands of a player, wherein

the control section comprises:

a first stick that is provided at an upper left position in a front surface of the housing of the game controller, which position allows the player to operate the first stick with a thumb of his/her left hand when the player holds the grips;

a second stick that is provided at an upper right position in the front surface of the housing of the game controller, which position allows the player to operate the second stick with a thumb of his/her right hand when the player holds the grips;

a direction key that is provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the first stick on the front surface of the housing, which position allows the player to operate the direction key with the thumb of the left hand when the player holds the grips;

a plurality of first type operation buttons that are provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the second stick on the front surface of the housing, which position allows the player to operate the first type operation buttons with the thumb of the right hand when the player holds the grips;

one or more second type operation button(s) that is provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the first stick and the second stick on the front surface of the housing, and above the direction key and the plurality of first type operation buttons;

a third type operation button that is provided at a position beneath the second type operation button(s) on the front surface of the housing, and between the direction key and the plurality of first type operation buttons; and

a plurality of fourth type operation buttons provided at positions in the vicinity of left and right ends of an upper surface of the housing of the game controller, respectively, which positions allow the player to operate the fourth type operation buttons with his/her left and right index fingers, respectively, when the player holds the grips.

7. The game controller according to claim 5, wherein

the second transmission section includes, in the second data region, third operation data indicating the content of operation performed on a part of the plurality of operation keys included in the operation section, thereby to generate the transmission data, and transmits the transmission data.

8. The game controller according to claim 7, wherein

the second transmission section regards, as the third operation data, data indicating the content of operation performed on the second type operation button among the plurality of operation keys included in the operation section.