Game apparatus for performing game processing according to an attitude of an input device and game program

• US 8,851,995 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimamura, Takayuki, Hiratake, Shinya, Kataoka, Toyoki, Yamashita, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/947,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37
• 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 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU sets a moving direction, that is, a position and an orientation of a moving object within a game space on the basis of angular velocity data transmitted from a first controller, that is, an attitude of a gyro sensor unit (gyro sensor). Then, when a second controller is drawn toward a near side in a state that a C button and a Z button thereof are simultaneously pressed, and the C button and the Z button are simultaneously released in that state, the moving object is shot.

Claims

1. A game apparatus which performs game processing according to data from a first controller and a second controller, the first controller including a first inertia sensor and an operating portion, the game apparatus comprising one computer configured to perform at least:

first determining for determining a movement of said first controller in a predetermined direction away from a reference point on the basis of data from said first inertia sensor,

second determining for determining an operation of said operation portion,

movement starting for, when said second determining determines the operation of said operation portion after said first determining determines the movement of said first controller in the predetermined direction, starting to move a first object within a game space in a predetermined direction, and

planned moving direction setting for changing the moving direction of said first object in accordance with data from said second controller, wherein

the first controller moves in a predetermined direction away from the second controller.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said second controller includes a gyro sensor, and outputs angular velocity data on the basis of an output from said gyro sensor, and

said planned moving direction setting changes the planned moving direction of said first object on the basis of said angular velocity data.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said second controller includes a second inertia sensor, and outputs inertia data on the basis of an output from said second inertia sensor, and

said planned moving direction setting changes the planned moving direction of said first object according to the attitude of the second controller on the basis said inertia data.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said operating portion includes a first key, and outputs key data on the basis of an operation performed on said first key, and

said movement starting instructs said first object to move at a timing when said key data satisfies a predetermined condition.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

when said first controller moves to a position along a predetermined direction away from a reference point with said first key operated on the basis of said key data, said movement starting instructs said first object to move at a timing when the operation performed on said first key ceases.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said first controller includes a stick configured to perform a direction input, and outputs stick input data, and

said movement starting instructs said first object to move at a timing when the stick input data satisfies a predetermined condition.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said second controller further includes a second key, and further outputs key data on the basis of an operation performed on said second key, and

said predetermined direction is set on the basis of a change of the attitude of the second controller from a reference, the reference being set on the basis of the attitude of the second controller when said operation is performed on said second key.

8. A non-transitory storage medium configured to being read by a processor of a game apparatus which performs game processing according to data from a first controller and a second controller, the first controller including a first inertia sensor and an operating portion, said storage medium storing a program, said program causes said processor to at least perform:

determining a movement of said first controller in a predetermined direction away from a reference point on the basis of data from said first inertia sensor,

determining an operation of said operation portion, and when said operation of said operation portion is determined after the movement of said first controller in the predetermined direction is determined, starting to move a first object within a game space in a predetermined direction, and

changing the moving direction of said first object in accordance with data from said second controller, wherein

the first controller moves in a predetermined direction away from the second controller.

9. A control method of a game apparatus which performs game processing according to data from a first controller and a second controller, the first controller including a first inertia sensor and an operating portion, including:

determining a movement of said first controller in a predetermined direction away from a reference point on the basis of data from said first inertia sensor,

determining an operation of said operation portion, and

when said operation of said operation portion is determined after the movement of said first controller in the predetermined direction is determined, starting to move, via one or more computer processing devices, a first object within a game space in a predetermined direction, and

changing the moving direction of said first object in accordance with data from said second controller, wherein

the first controller moves in a predetermined direction away from the second controller.

10. A game processing system which performs game processing according to data from a first controller and a second controller, the first controller including a first inertia sensor and an operating portion, the game processing system comprising one or more computer processors, configured to:

determine a movement of said first controller in a pulling direction on the basis of data from said first inertia sensor,

determine an operation of said operation portion,

when said operation of said operation portion is determined after said movement of said first controller in a pulling direction is determined, start to move a first object within a game space in a predetermined direction, and

change the moving direction of said first object in accordance with data from said second controller, wherein

the first controller moves in a predetermined direction away from the second controller.