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

• US 9,427,657 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Katsuhisa, Suzuki, Ichiro, Shimamura, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOSHI, ANKIT B
• Application Number:
  US12/539,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,575 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/428 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 13/44 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes

Abstract

Based on posture/motion information obtained from predetermined detection means for detecting a posture or a motion of an input device operated by a user, a virtual plane is calculated at a predetermined timing and set as reference plane. Then, based on motion information, the posture of the input device is calculated as necessary. In accordance with the posture of the input device with respect to the reference plane, predetermined game processing such as moving an object in a virtual space or the like is executed.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program to be executed by a computer operationally coupled to an input device operated by a user in an actual space, the input device further being operationally coupled to a sensor configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device, the computer executing the game program to move an object in a virtual space based on the posture and/or motion information obtained from the sensor, the game program, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to at least:

obtain input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

calculate the posture of the input device in the actual space based on the input device posture and/or motion information;

set a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that the computer sets based on the calculated posture of the input device at a predetermined timing;

obtain additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

calculate a further posture of the input device in the actual space based on the additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor; and

display the object moving in the virtual space in accordance with the calculated further posture of the input device relative to the set virtual reference plane in the actual space.

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a motion sensor which is included in the input device.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the virtual reference plane is set based on the posture of the input device obtained when the user operates the input device.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 1, wherein the game program causing the computer to move the object based on determining a movement angle of the input device relative to the set virtual reference plane.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program to be executed by a computer operationally coupled to an input device operated by a user in an actual space, the input device further being operationally coupled to a sensor configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device, the computer executing the game program to move an object in a virtual space based on the posture and/or motion information obtained from the sensor, the game program, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to at least:

obtain input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

calculate a posture of the input device in the actual space based on the input device posture and/or motion information;

set a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that the computer sets based on the calculated posture of the input device at a predetermined timing;

calculate an angle made by the set virtual reference plane and a posture of the input device after the predetermined timing;

determine whether or not the angle made by the virtual reference plane and the posture of the input device after the predetermined timing, satisfies a predetermined condition;

when the predetermined condition is determined to be satisfied, move the object in the virtual space in accordance with the posture of the input device after the predetermined timing; and

generating images of the object moving in the virtual space in accordance with the posture of the input device.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 5, wherein it is determined whether or not the posture of the input device and the virtual reference plane have become horizontal based on the calculated angle.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 5, wherein it is determined whether or not a sign of the angle made by the posture of the input device and the virtual reference plane has been inverted based on the calculated angle.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 7, wherein:

regarding the input device, three axes perpendicular to one another are defined; and

the virtual reference plane is set based on calculated postures of the input device along directions of predetermined two axes among the defined three axes.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 8, wherein:

two planes usable for setting the virtual reference plane are calculated based on the postures along the directions of the predetermined two axes respectively; and

the virtual reference plane is set based on the two calculated planes.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 9, wherein a plane is calculated by including one predetermined axis among the defined three axes and a gravity direction as one of the two planes.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 10, wherein a plane is calculated as one of the two planes by including an axis defined as a longitudinal direction axis of the input device among the defined three axes and the gravity direction.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 9, wherein a plane is calculated as one of the two planes by including an axis defined as an up-down direction axis of the input device among the defined three axes and the gravity direction.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 9, wherein a plane is calculated as one of the two planes by including the gravity direction and a virtual axis calculated by applying a rotation, which directs an axis defined as a longitudinal direction axis of the input device among the defined three axes to the gravity direction, to an axis defined as an up-down direction axis of the input device among the defined three axes.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 9, wherein weights are applied to the calculated two planes based on respective predetermined conditions, a plane is calculated which corresponds to a weighted average of these two planes, and the obtained plane is set as the virtual reference plane.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 14, wherein a heavier weight is applied to a plane, among the two calculated planes, which is located closer to the virtual reference plane immediately previously set.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 14, wherein a heavier weight is applied to a plane, among the two calculated planes, which is calculated based on an axis located farther from the gravity direction.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 8, wherein an axis located farther from the gravity direction among the predetermined two axes defined regarding the input device is selected as an axis for calculation, and the virtual reference plane is set based on the posture of the input device along the axis for calculation.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 17, wherein an axial plane is set for calculation based on the axis for calculation, and the virtual reference plane is set based on the axial plane for calculation.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 18, wherein the virtual reference plane is set based on a previous reference plane, which is a reference plane immediately previously set, and the axial plane for calculation.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 19, wherein weights are applied to the previous reference plane and the axial plane for calculation based on respective predetermined conditions, a plane that corresponds to a weighted average of these two planes is calculated, and the obtained plane is set as the virtual reference plane.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 20, wherein a heavier weight is applied to the previous reference plane.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 20, wherein a heavier weight is applied on the axial plane for calculation as the axis for calculation is located farther from the gravity direction.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 9, wherein the virtual reference plane is set based on a plane, among the two calculated planes, which is closer to a previous reference plane, which is a reference plane immediately previously set.

24. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 23, wherein weights are applied to the plane closer to the previous reference plane and to the previous reference plane based on respective predetermined conditions, a plane that corresponds to a weighted average of these two planes is calculated, and the obtained plane is set as the virtual reference plane.

25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 24, wherein a heavier weight is applied to the previous reference plane.

26. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program to be executed by a computer operationally coupled to an input device operated by a user in an actual space, the input device further being operationally coupled to a sensor configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device, the game program to move an object in a virtual space based on the posture and/or motion information obtained from the sensor, the game program, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to at least:

obtain input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

calculate the posture of the input device in the actual space based on the input device posture and/or motion information;

calculate a posture correction value based on the posture and/or motion of the input device detected by the sensor at a predetermined timing;

correct the calculated posture of the input device with the calculated posture correction value;

set a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that the computer sets based on the corrected posture of the input device;

calculate an angle made by the set virtual reference plane and a posture of the input device after the predetermined timing; and

display the object moving in the virtual space based on the calculated angle.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 26, wherein the detected posture and/or motion information comprises angular rate and acceleration, the posture is calculated based on one of said angular rate and acceleration, and the posture correction value is calculated based on the other one of said angular rage and acceleration.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium having the game program stored thereon according to claim 26, wherein the angle comprises a movement angle of the input device relative to the set virtual reference plane.

29. A game apparatus for moving an object in a virtual space based on posture and/or motion information of an input device operated by a user in an actual space, the input device being operationally coupled to a sensor configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device, the game apparatus comprising:

a sensor operationally coupled to the input device and configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device;

a computer processing system, including at least one processor, the computer processing system being operationally coupled to the input device and being configured to control the game apparatus to perform operations comprising;

obtaining input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

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

setting a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that the computer processing system sets based on the calculated posture of the input device at a predetermined timing;

obtaining additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

calculating a further posture of the input device in the actual space based on the additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor; and

displaying the object moving in the virtual space in accordance with the calculated further posture of the input device relative to the set virtual reference plane.

30. A game apparatus for moving an object in a virtual space based on posture and/or motion information of an input device operated by a user in an actual space, the input device being operationally coupled to a sensor configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device, the game apparatus comprising:

a computer processing system, including at least one processor, the computer processing system being operationally coupled to the input device and being configured to control the game apparatus to perform operations comprising;

obtaining input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

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

calculating a posture correction value based on the posture and/or motion of the input device detected by the sensor at a predetermined timing;

correcting the calculated posture of the input device with the calculated posture correction value;

setting a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that the computer processing system sets based on the corrected posture of the input device;

calculating an angle made by the set virtual reference plane and a posture of the input device after the predetermined timing; and

display the object moving in the virtual space based on the calculated angle.

31. A game processing method of a game system for moving an object in a virtual space based on posture and/or motion information of an input device operated by a user in an actual space, the input device being operationally coupled to a sensor configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device, the game processing method comprising:

obtaining input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

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

setting a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that is set based on the calculated posture of the input device at a predetermined timing;

obtaining additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

calculating a further posture of the input device in the actual space based on the additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor; and

display the object moving in the virtual space in accordance with the calculated further posture of the input device relative to the set virtual reference plane.

32. A game processing method of a game system for moving an object in a virtual space based on posture and/or motion information of an input device operated by a user in an actual space, the input device being operationally coupled to a sensor configured to detect posture and/or motion of the input device, the game processing method comprising:

obtaining input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

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

calculating a posture correction value based on the posture and/or motion of the input device detected by the sensor at a predetermined timing;

correcting the calculated posture of the input device with the calculated posture correction value;

setting a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that is set based on the corrected posture of the input device;

calculating an angle made by the set virtual reference plane and a posture of the input device after the predetermined timing; and

display the object moving in the virtual space based on the calculated angle.

33. A game system for moving an object in a virtual space, the game system comprising:

a display;

an input device including a sensor configured to detect a posture and/or a motion of the input device operated by a user in an actual space; and

a computer processing system, including at least one processor, the computer processing system being operationally coupled to the display and the input device, and being configured to control the game system to perform operations comprising;

obtaining input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

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

setting a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that the computer processing system sets based on the calculated posture of the input device at a predetermined timing;

obtaining additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

calculating a further posture of the input device in the actual space based on the additional input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor; and

displaying the object moving in the virtual space in accordance with the calculated further posture of the input device relative to the set virtual reference plane.

34. A game system for moving an object in a virtual space, the game system comprising:

a display;

an input device including a sensor configured to detect a posture and/or a motion of the input device operated by a user in an actual space; and

a computer processing system, including at least one processor, the computer processing system being operationally coupled to the display and the input device, and being configured to control the game system to perform operations comprising;

obtaining input device posture and/or motion information detected by the sensor;

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

calculating a posture correction value based on the posture and/or motion of the input device detected by the sensor at a predetermined timing;

correcting the calculated posture of the input device with the calculated posture correction value;

setting a virtual reference plane in the actual space, the virtual reference plane having an orientation that the computer processing system sets based on the corrected posture of the input device;

calculating an angle made by the set virtual reference plane and a posture of the input device after the predetermined timing; and

display the object moving in the virtual space based on the calculated angle.