Game device and storage medium storing game program for performing a game process based on data from sensor

• US 9,211,475 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Application Number:
  US11/798,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,135 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• 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 13/428 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 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• 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 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

Obtaining means obtains acceleration data from an input device. Swing detection means detects a swing of the input device in a real space when an acceleration represented by the acceleration data satisfies a predetermined condition. Type determination means determines a type of swing of the input device in the real space by using an acceleration in a predetermined axial direction among all the accelerations represented by the acceleration data obtained by the obtaining means after the detection by the swing detection means. Object moving means moves a predetermined object in a virtual game space according to the type determined by the type determination means. Display control means displays the virtual game space with the object therein on a display device.

Claims

1. A game device for performing a game process by using acceleration data outputted from a multi-axis acceleration sensor provided in an input device, the game device comprising a processing system, said processing system including one or more computer processors configured to:

obtain the acceleration data from the input device;

detect a swing of the input device in a real space when an acceleration represented by the acceleration data satisfies a predetermined condition;

determine a type of swing of the input device in the real space by using an acceleration in a predetermined axial direction of the multi-axis acceleration sensor among all the accelerations represented by the obtained acceleration data after the swing is detected;

move a predetermined object in a virtual game space according to the determined type of swing; and

display the virtual game space with the object therein on a display device, wherein

one type of swing is selected from among a plurality of types pre-defined based on a twist given to the input device assembly while the input device is being swung in the real space, based on the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction, wherein

said one type of swing is selected among the plurality of types of swings based on the comparison of an average value of the acceleration along the predetermined axial direction over a predetermined time period during the swing of the input device with a range of values of acceleration values, the range having predetermined end values, and wherein

said one type of swing comprises a combination of a swing upwards or downwards given to the input device and a twist rightwards or leftwards given to the input device while the input device is being swung upwards or downwards.

2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein

the type of swing is determined based on the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction represented by the acceleration data, which is obtained during a predetermined period of time after the swing detection.

3. The game device according to claim 1, wherein

one type of swing is selected from among the plurality of types based on a comparison between a predetermined threshold value and the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction.

4. The game device according to claim 1, wherein:

the type determination determines, in advance, a first threshold value to be greater than a reference value and a second threshold value to be smaller than the reference value so that a difference between the first threshold value and the reference value is different from a difference between the second threshold value and the reference value, wherein the reference value is a value of the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction occurring when the input device is swung with no twist being given to the input device assembly; and

the type determination selects one of the plurality of types based on a comparison between the first and second threshold values and the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction.

5. The game device according to claim 1, wherein

the predetermined axial direction is a direction perpendicular to a direction of an axis about which the input device assembly is twisted.

6. The game device according to claim 1, wherein:

the object moving includes change-of-direction type selecting for selecting one of a plurality of change-of-direction types based on the determined type, each change-of-direction type representing a direction in which a movement direction of the object changes in the virtual game space; and

the object moving moves the object in the virtual game space according to the selected change-of-direction type.

7. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising:

acceleration history storage locations for storing a history of obtained acceleration data obtained over a predetermined period of time; and

the one or more computer processors is configured to;

determine a moving speed of the object in the virtual game space based on changes in an acceleration in the predetermined axial direction and that in an axial direction other than the predetermined axial direction among all the accelerations represented by the history of acceleration data stored in the acceleration history storage locations,

wherein the object moving moves the object according to the determined moving speed.

8. The game device according to claim 1, wherein:

the input device includes a control button for outputting predetermined control data when pressed down by a player;

the obtaining further obtains the control data from the input device; and

the swing detection detects a swing of the input device when the acceleration represented by the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined condition while the control data indicating that a predetermined control button is pressed down is being obtained.

9. A non-transitory storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a computer of a game device for performing a game process by using acceleration data outputted from a multi-axis acceleration sensor provided in an input device, the game program instructing the computer to perform:

obtaining the acceleration data from the input device;

swing detection for detecting a swing of the input device in a real space when an acceleration represented by the acceleration data satisfies a predetermined condition;

type determination for determining a type of swing of the input device in the real space by using an acceleration in a predetermined axial direction of the multi-axis acceleration sensor among all the accelerations represented by the obtained acceleration data after the swing detection;

object moving for moving a predetermined object in a virtual game space according to the type determined by the type determination; and

display control for displaying the virtual game space with the object therein on a display device, wherein

the type determination selects one type of swing from among a plurality of types pre-defined based on a twist given to the input device assembly while the input device is being swung in the real space, based on the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction, wherein

said one type of swing is selected among the plurality of types of swings based on the comparison of an average value of the acceleration along the predetermined axial direction over a predetermined time period during the swing of the input device with a range of values of acceleration values, the range having predetermined end values, and wherein

said one type of swing comprises a combination of a swing upwards or downwards given to the input device and a twist rightwards or leftwards given to the input device while the input device is being swung upwards or downwards.

10. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 9, wherein

the type determination determines the type based on the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction represented by the acceleration data, which is obtained during a predetermined period of time after the detection by the swing detection.

11. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 9, wherein

the type determination selects one type from among the plurality of types based on a comparison between a predetermined threshold value and the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction.

12. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 9, wherein:

the type determination determines, in advance, a first threshold value to be greater than a reference value and a second threshold value to be smaller than the reference value so that a difference between the first threshold value and the reference value is different from a difference between the second threshold value and the reference value, wherein

the reference value is a value of the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction occurring when the input device is swung with no twist being given to the input device assembly; and

the type determination selects one of the plurality of types based on a comparison between the first and second threshold values and the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction.

13. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 9, wherein

the predetermined axial direction is a direction perpendicular to a direction of an axis about which the input device assembly is twisted.

14. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 9, wherein:

the object moving includes change-of-direction type selecting for selecting one of a plurality of change-of-direction types based on the type determined by the type determination, each change-of-direction type representing a direction in which a movement direction of the object changes in the virtual game space; and

the object moving moves the object in the virtual game space according to the change-of-direction type selected by the change-of-direction type selecting.

15. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 9, wherein

the game program instructs the computer to further perform:

storing in a memory a history of acceleration data obtained over a predetermined period of time; and

determining a moving speed of the object in the virtual game space based on changes in an acceleration in the predetermined axial direction and that in an axial direction other than the predetermined axial direction among all the accelerations represented by the history of acceleration data stored in the memory,

wherein the object moving moves the object according to the determined moving speed.

16. The non-transitory storage medium storing a game program according to claim 9, wherein:

the input device includes a control button for outputting predetermined control data when pressed down by a player;

the obtaining further obtains the control data from the input device; and

the swing detection detects a swing of the input device when the acceleration represented by the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined condition while the control data indicating that a predetermined control button is pressed down is being obtained.

17. A method for performing a game process by using acceleration data outputted from a multi-axis acceleration sensor provided in an input device, the method comprising:

obtaining the acceleration data from the input device;

detecting a swing of the input device in a real space when an acceleration represented by the acceleration data satisfies a predetermined condition;

determining a type of swing of the input device in the real space by using an acceleration in a predetermined axial direction of the multi-axis acceleration sensor among all the accelerations represented by the obtained acceleration data after the swing detection;

moving a predetermined object in a virtual game space according to the determined type; and

displaying the virtual game space with the object therein on a display device, wherein

the determining a type of swing selects one type of swing from among a plurality of types pre-defined based on a twist given to the input device assembly while the input device is being swung in the real space, based on the acceleration in the predetermined axial direction, wherein

said one type of swing is selected among the plurality of types of swings based on the comparison of an average value of the acceleration along the predetermined axial direction over a predetermined time period during the swing of the input device with a range of values of acceleration values, the range having predetermined end values, and wherein

said one type of swing comprises a combination of a swing upwards or downwards given to the input device and a twist rightwards or leftwards given to the input device while the input device is being swung upwards or downwards.