Computer readable storage medium having game program stored thereon and game apparatus

• US 8,956,229 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Ichiro, Shimamura, Takayuki, Sato, Katsuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOSHI, ANKIT B
• Application Number:
  US12/539,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• 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 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 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

Posture/motion information is repeatedly obtained from predetermined detection means for detecting a posture or a motion of an input device operated by a user, and a power value used for moving an object in a virtual space is calculated. In addition, a follow-up power value, which follows the calculated power value, is repeatedly calculated based on the posture/motion information. Then, the object is moved based on the follow-up power value.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program which, when executed by a computer of a game apparatus, the game program being for moving an object in a virtual space based on a posture or a motion of an input device operated by a user, the game program causing the computer to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a first posture and/or motion information based on the input device operated by the user;

calculating a power value representing a power to be imparted to the object based on the first posture and/or motion information;

obtaining a second posture and/or motion information based on the input device operated by the user, the second posture and/or motion information being obtained after the first posture and/or motion information is obtained;

calculating a follow-up power value which follows the magnitude of the calculated power value, wherein the follow-up power value is based on the second posture and/or motion information, and wherein the follow-up power value is further based upon a calculated difference between the magnitude of the calculated power value and a previously calculated follow-up power value; and

moving the object based on imparting to the object a power corresponding to the calculated follow-up power value.

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first posture and/or motion information includes using a motion sensor included in the input device to obtain the first posture and/or motion information, and wherein the obtaining a second posture and/or motion information includes using the motion sensor to obtain the second posture and/or motion information.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the calculating a follow-up power value includes calculating the follow-up power value with a lower level of followability of the follow-up power value to the power value as the motion of the input device represented by the posture and/or motion information has a larger magnitude, and calculating the follow-up power value with a higher level of followability of the follow-up power value to the power value as the motion of the input device has a smaller magnitude.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the calculating a follow-up power value includes:

calculating a follow-up coefficient, which is a coefficient for causing the follow-up power value to follow the power value, based on the posture and/or motion information; and

calculating the follow-up power value based on the follow-up coefficient.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

calculating a posture of the input device based on the posture and/or motion information; and

calculating the power value based on the posture of the input device.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 2, wherein

the motion sensor includes at least an angular velocity sensor, and wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining angular velocity information detected by the angular velocity sensor as the posture and/or motion information; and

calculating the power value based on the angular velocity information.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the calculating a follow-up power value includes calculating the follow-up power value such that the follow-up power value is not smaller than the power value.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the calculating a follow-up power value comprises:

calculating a difference between the power value and a follow-up power value calculated immediately previously; and

calculating the follow-up power value based on the difference.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 2, wherein

the motion sensor includes at least an acceleration sensor, and wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining acceleration information detected by the acceleration sensor as the posture and/or motion information; and

calculating the follow-up power value based on the acceleration information.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein

the motion sensor further includes an angular velocity sensor, and wherein the operations further comprise:

calculating a posture of the input device based on the posture and/or motion information; and

calculating the power value based on the angular velocity information.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise decreasing the power value by a smaller degree as the acceleration represented by the acceleration information has a larger value.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein

the operations further comprise:

calculating a decreased power based on a decreased acceleration obtained by decreasing the acceleration represented by the acceleration information by a predetermined percentage;

calculating a ratio of the power value and the decreased power; and

correcting the follow-up power value based on the ratio; and

moving the object based on the corrected follow-up power value.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the correcting the follow-up power value comprises correcting the follow-up power value by a larger degree as the ratio is larger.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein moving the object based on the corrected follow-up power value comprises, when the follow-up power value exceeds a predetermined value, moving the object while adding a random motion to the movement of the object.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the moving the object comprises, when the posture and/or motion information fulfills a predetermined condition, moving the object based on the follow-up power value.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the moving the object based on the follow-up power value comprises:

calculating the posture of the input device based on the posture and/or motion information; and

moving the object based on the follow-up power value when the posture of the input device fulfills a predetermined condition.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

virtually setting a predetermined plane in an actual space as a reference plane at a predetermined timing based on the posture and/or motion information; and

when the posture of the input device obtains a predetermined relationship with respect to the reference plane, the moving the object based on the follow-up power value.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein moving the object comprises moving the object based on striking the object with a power corresponding to the follow-up power value.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein moving the object further comprises moving the object in a trajectory based upon the striking.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program which, when executed by a computer of a game apparatus, the game program being for moving an object in a virtual space based on a posture or a motion of an input device operated by a user, the game program causing the computer to perform operations comprising:

obtaining posture and/or motion information based on the input device operated by the user;

calculating a power value representing a power to be imparted to the object based on the posture and/or motion information;

moving the object based on imparting to the object a power corresponding to the calculated power value; and

counting time from when a maximum value of the calculated power values is obtained until the moving; and

correcting the calculated power value in accordance with the counted time, and moving the object based on imparting to the object a power corresponding to the corrected power value.

19. A game apparatus for moving an object in a virtual space based on posture and/or motion information or a motion of an input device operated by a user, the game apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface configured to communicate with the input device being operated by the user; and

one or more processors configured to;

obtain a first posture and/or motion information of the input device using the at least one communication interface;

calculate a power value representing a power to be given to the object based on the first posture and/or motion information;

obtaining a second posture and/or motion information based on the input device operated by the user, the second posture and/or motion information being obtained after the first posture and/or motion information is obtained;

calculate a follow-up power value, which follows the magnitude of the calculated power value, wherein the follow-up power value is based on the second posture and/or motion information, and wherein the follow-up power value is further based upon a calculated difference between the magnitude of the calculated power value and a previously calculated follow-up power value; and

move the object based on imparting to the object a power corresponding to the calculated follow-up power value.

22. A method for moving an object in a virtual space based on a posture and/or a motion of an input device operated by a user, the method comprising:

obtaining a first posture and/or motion information of the input device operated by the user;

calculating a power value representing a power to be given to the object based on the first posture and/or motion information;

obtaining a second posture and/or motion information based on the input device operated by the user, the second posture and/or motion information being obtained after the first posture and/or motion information is obtained;

calculating a follow-up power value which follows the magnitude of the calculated power value, wherein the follow-up power value is based on the second posture and/or motion information, and wherein the follow-up power value is further based upon a calculated difference between the magnitude of the calculated power value and a previously calculated follow-up power value; and

moving the object based on imparting to the object a power corresponding to the calculated follow-up power value.

23. A system for moving an object in a virtual space based on a posture or a motion of an input device operated by a user, the system comprising:

an input device; and

a processing system including at least one processor, the processing system configured to;

obtain a first posture and/or motion information of the input device operated by a user;

calculate a power value representing a power to be given to the object based on the first posture and/or motion information;

obtaining a second posture and/or motion information based on the input device operated by the user, the second posture and/or motion information being obtained after the first posture and/or motion information is obtained;

calculate a follow-up power value which follows the magnitude of the calculated power value, wherein the follow-up power value is based on the second posture and/or motion information, and wherein the follow-up power value is further based upon a calculated difference between the magnitude of the calculated power value and a previously calculated follow-up power value; and

move the object based on imparting to the object a power corresponding to the calculated follow-up power value.