Program, information storage medium, and image generation system

• US 9,044,669 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Bandai Games Inc., Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nonaka, Toyokazu, Harada, Takahiro, Ono, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Application Number:
  US11/797,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,953 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 37, 463/31, 463/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

An image generation system performs a game process of causing a game character to make a predetermined movement for a given object based on an operation input from an operation section including an acceleration sensor and causing the given object to move in an object space. The image generation system includes: an operation input detection section which detects whether or not a plurality of operation inputs including a first operation input and a second operation input for causing the game character to make a predetermined movement have been performed based on an output value from the acceleration sensor; a character movement control section which controls the game character to make a predetermined movement based on the first operation input; and an object movement control section which controls a movement state of the given object based on at least one of the first operation input and the second operation input.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function, the program comprising:

game processing instructions which perform a game process of causing a game character to make a predetermined movement for a given object based on an operation input from an operation input device having a movement sensor and causing the given object to move in an object space; and

image generation instructions which generate an image of the object space viewed from a virtual camera;

the game processing instructions including;

operation input detection instructions which detect whether or not a plurality of operation inputs including a first operation input and a second operation input have been performed based on an output value from the movement sensor, the second operation input being separately performed from the first operation input;

character movement control instructions which control the game character to make a predetermined movement based on one of the first operation input and the second operation input; and

object movement control instructions which control a movement state of the given object based on another one of the first operation input and the second operation input,

wherein the movement sensor detects a change in position, orientation or rotation of the operation input device, the movement sensor being configured to sense movement in at least two orthogonal directions, and

wherein the object movement control instructions set a power value as a game parameter based on the first operation input, the power value being set during a charging state where the movement state and the movement result of the given object is not executed until after the charging state is completed, and the object movement control instructions control the movement state and the movement result of the given object based on the set power value.

2. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the character movement control instructions control the game character to make a predetermined movement based on the first operation input;

and

wherein the object movement control instructions control the movement state of the given object based on at least one of the first operation input and the second operation input.

3. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the operation input detection instructions detect whether or not the operation input has been performed based on the output value from the movement sensor and an operation input from an operation input sensor other than the movement sensor provided in the operation input device.

4. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the object movement control instructions control at least one of a moving direction, a moving path, and a moving pattern of the given object based on at least one of the first operation input and the second operation input.

5. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the object movement control instructions control the game character to make a movement for storing the power value based on the first operation input.

6. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the operation input detection instructions determine a presence or absence of the first operation input, or a start or completion of the first operation input based on the output value from the movement sensor and an operation input from an operation input sensor other than the movement sensor provided in the operation input device.

7. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the operation input detection instructions set a first operation input acceptance time, and does not accept the first operation input when the acceptance time has expired.

8. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the game processing instructions include an adjustment section which sets an initial setting operation period in which an initial setting operation input is accepted, and adjusts a reference value for determining the output value from the movement sensor based on the output value from the movement sensor obtained by the operation input device in the initial setting operation period;

and

wherein the operation input detection instructions detect the operation inputs by determining the output value from the movement sensor based on the adjusted reference value.

9. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the game processing instructions include a movement display object display control instructions that perform a display control process of a movement display object for displaying information of the movement of the game character performed when the operation inputs have been detected;

and

wherein the image generation instructions generate a game image including the movement display object.

10. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the game processing instructions include a movement state display object display control instructions that perform a display control process of a movement state display object for displaying information about control of the movement state of an object performed when the operation inputs have been detected;

and

wherein the image generation instructions generate a game image including the movement state display object.

11. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the operation input detection instructions set a time limit corresponding to each of the operation inputs, and does not accept each operation input when the time limit for each operation input has expired.

12. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the operation input detection instructions set a total time limit for the operation inputs, sets a time limit for a subsequent operation input based on a time required for a preceding operation input and the total time limit, and does not accept an operation input when the set time limit has expired.

13. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the operation input detection instructions detect whether or not the operation inputs have been performed based on an output value from a first movement sensor provided in a first controller and an output value from a second movement sensor provided in a second controller.

14. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the second operation input is an operation input separately performed after the first operation input.

15. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the object movement control instructions detect duration of one of the first operation input and the second operation input, and determines a power value stored by the first operation input based on the duration.

16. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the operation input detection instructions detect whether or not the operation input device is held in a predetermined posture based on the output value from the movement sensor, and determines that the first operation input or second operation input, has been performed when the operation input device is held in the predetermined posture.

17. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the object movement control instructions detect information on orientation or rotation of a controller based on at least one of the first operation input and the second operation input, and controls at least one of a moving direction, a moving path, and a moving pattern of the given object based on the information on orientation or rotation.

18. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the predetermined movement is a shaking pattern that includes an oscillation along a single axis.

19. The information storage medium as defined in claim 18,

wherein the shaking pattern is a substantially lateral or vertical shaking pattern.

20. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1,

wherein the first operation input is shaking input, and the object movement control instructions set a power value based on the duration of the shaking input.

21. An image generation system comprising:

an operation input device having a movement sensor configured to detect a change in position, orientation or rotation of the operation input device, the movement sensor being configured to sense movement in at least two orthogonal directions;

at least one hardware processor programmed to;

generate an image of the object space viewed from a virtual camera,

perform a game process of causing a game character to make a predetermined movement for a given object based on an operation input from the movement sensor and causing the given object to move in an object space,

detect whether or not a plurality of operation inputs including a first operation input and a second operation input for causing the game character to make a predetermined movement have been performed based on an output value from the movement sensor, the second operation input being separately performed from the first operation input,

control the game character to make a predetermined movement based on one of the first operation input and the second operation input, and

control a movement state and a movement result of the given object based on another one of the first operation input and the second operation input, wherein a power value is set as a game parameter based on the first operation input, the power value being set during a charging state where the movement state and the movement result of the given object is not executed until after the charging state is completed, and the movement state and the movement result of the given object are controlled based on the set power value.

22. A non-transitory computer readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform the following processes:

performing a game process of causing a game character to make a predetermined movement for a given object based on an operation input from an operation section including a movement sensor and causing the given object to move in an object space; and

generating an image of the object space viewed from a virtual camera;

detecting whether or not a plurality of operation inputs including a first operation input and a second operation input for causing the game character to make a predetermined movement have been performed based on an output value from the movement sensor, the second operation input being separately performed from the first operation input;

controlling the game character to make a predetermined movement based on one of the first operation input and the second operation input; and

controlling a movement state of the given object based on another one of the first operation input and the second operation input,

wherein the movement sensor detects a change in position, orientation or rotation of an operation input device, the movement sensor being configured to sense movement in at least two orthogonal directions, and

wherein the object movement control section sets a power value as a game parameter based on the first operation input, the power value being set during a charging state where the movement state and the movement result of the given object is not executed until after the charging state is completed, and the object movement control section controls the movement state and the movement result of the given object based on the set power value.

23. An electronic apparatus comprising:

an operation input device having a movement sensor configured to detect a change in position, orientation or rotation of the operation input device, the movement sensor being configured to sense movement in at least two orthogonal directions;

at least one hardware processor programmed to;

generate an image of an object space viewed from a virtual camera;

perform a game process of causing a game character to make a predetermined movement for a given object based on the operation input from the movement sensor and causing the given object to move in the object space,

detect whether or not a plurality of operation inputs including a first operation input and a second operation input for causing the game character to make a predetermined movement have been performed based on an output value from the movement sensor, the second operation input being separately performed from the first operation input;

control the game character to make a predetermined movement based on one of the first operation input and the second operation input, and

control a movement state and a movement result of the given object based on another one of the first operation input and the second operation input, wherein

a power value is set as a game parameter based on the first operation input, the power value being set during a charging state where the movement state and the movement result of the given object is not executed until after the charging state is completed, and the movement state and the movement result of the given object are controlled based on the set power value.