Video game using dual motion sensing controllers

• US 9,733,702 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Koizumi, Yoshiaki, Aoyagi, Norihiro, Ishihara, Seiki, Hayakawa, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US15/010,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20160147295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 13/20 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• 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 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• 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 2300/6045 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 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 : with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 : Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 : Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

An inclination of a first unit is detected based on an output from a first acceleration sensor provided in a first unit of a controller, and an inclination of a second unit is detected based on an output from a second acceleration sensor provided in a second unit separate from the first unit. A difference between the inclinations of the first unit and the second unit is detected, and game control is performed using the detected difference. Thus, with a game apparatus using a plurality of acceleration sensors or a plurality of sensors capable of detecting a motion or a posture, a dynamic play is made possible with a high degree of freedom of motion and an intuitive motion input is realized.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program for executing game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing, held by a first hand of a user, and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing, held by a second hand of the same user, separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game program causing a computer of a game apparatus to perform processing comprising:

(a) detecting a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detecting a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determining whether or not the first and second housings are simultaneously moved based on the detected motion states in (a) and (b); and

(d) executing a first game processing based on a determination that the first and second housings are simultaneously moved.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second housings are determined to be simultaneously moved when the motion state of the second housing is detected within a predetermined time period which is counted from a timing relative to the detection of the motion state of the first housing.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein

when the processing in (b) does not detect a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state, the computer of the game apparatus performs a second game processing which is different from the first game processing.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein

when the first and second housings are determined to be simultaneously moved, the computer of the game apparatus executes the first game processing based on a strength of the detected motion of the first housing and a strength of the detected motion of the second housing.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program for executing game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game program causing a computer of a game apparatus to perform processing comprising:

(a) detecting a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detecting a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determining whether or not the first and second housings are simultaneously moved based on the detected motion states in (a) and (b); and

(d) executing a first game processing based on a determination that the first and second housings are simultaneously moved, wherein

detecting the motion state of the first housing in (a) includes detecting a first motion direction representing a direction related to at least two axial directions in which the first housing was moved based on an output from the first sensor;

wherein

detecting the motion state of the second housing in (b) includes detecting a second motion direction representing a direction related to at least two axial directions in which the second housing was moved based on an output from the second sensor;

wherein the computer further performs;

(e) determining a synthesized direction by synthesizing the first motion direction and the second motion direction; and

(f) executing a second game processing based on the determination in (e) of the synthesized direction.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program for executing game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game program causing a computer of a game apparatus to perform processing comprising:

(a) detecting a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detecting a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determining whether or not the first and second housings are simultaneously moved based on the detected motion states in (a) and (b); and

(d) executing a first game processing based on a determination that the first and second housings are simultaneously moved, the processing further comprising;

(e) determining whether or not the second housing was moved within a predetermined time period before the first housing based on (a), (b);

(f) executing the first game processing based on a determination that the second housing was moved within a predetermined time period before the first housing was moved; and

(g) executing a second game processing different than the first game processing based on a determination that the second housing was not moved within a predetermined time period before the first housing was moved.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program for executing game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game program causing a computer of a game apparatus to perform processing comprising:

(a) detecting a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detecting a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determining whether or not the first and second housings are simultaneously moved based on the detected motion states in (a) and (b); and

(d) executing a first game processing based on a determination that the first and second housings are simultaneously moved, wherein

detecting the motion state of the first housing in (a) includes detecting a first motion direction representing a direction related to at least two axial directions in which the first housing was moved based on an output from the first sensor;

wherein

detecting the motion state of the second housing in (b) includes detecting a second motion direction representing a direction related to at least two axial directions in which the second housing was moved based on an output from the second sensor;

wherein the computer performs processing further comprising;

(e) determining whether or not the first motion direction and the second motion direction fulfill a predetermined relationship; and

(f) executing a second game processing, based on the motion direction and/or a motion strength of at least one of the first housing and the second housing, when the first motion direction and the second motion direction fulfill the predetermined relationship.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein

the second game processing is based on the motion direction and the motion strength of both of the first housing and the second housing.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a game program for executing game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game program causing a computer of a game apparatus to perform processing comprising:

(a) detecting a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detecting a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determining whether or not the first and second housings are simultaneously moved based on the detected motion states in (a) and (b); and

(d) executing a first game processing based on a determination that the first and second housings are simultaneously moved, wherein

detecting the motion state of the first housing in (a) includes detecting a first motion direction representing a direction related to at least two axial directions in which the first housing was moved based on an output from the first sensor;

wherein

detecting the motion state of the second housing in (b) includes detecting a second motion direction representing a direction related to at least two axial directions in which the second housing was moved based on an output from the second sensor;

wherein the computer performs processing further comprising;

(e) determining whether or not the first motion direction and the second motion direction fulfill a predetermined relationship; and

(f) causing a game object to perform a specific motion if the determination in (e) is affirmative.

10. A game apparatus configured to execute game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing, held by a first hand of a user, and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing, held by a second hand of the same user, separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game apparatus comprising:

a processing system, including a computer processor, the processing system configured to;

(a) detect a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detect a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determine, based on (a) and (b), whether or not a timing at which the motion of the first housing is detected and a timing at which the motion of the second housing is detected fulfill a predetermined relationship; and

(d) execute game processing, if the determination in (c) is affirmative, based on a motion direction and/or a motion strength of at least one of the first housing and the second housing.

11. A game apparatus configured to execute game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing, held by a first hand of a user, and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing, held by a second hand of the same user, separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game apparatus comprising:

a processing system, including a computer processor, the processing system configured to;

(a) detect a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detect a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determine, based on (a) and (b), whether or not a timing at which the motion of the first housing is detected and a timing at which the motion of the second housing is detected fulfill a predetermined relationship; and

(d) execute game processing, if the determination in (c) is affirmative, based on a motion direction and a motion strength of both of the first housing and the second housing.

12. A method for executing game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing, held by a first hand of a user, and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing, held by a second hand of the same user, separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the method comprising:

(a) detecting a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detecting a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determining whether or not the first and second housings are simultaneously moved based on the detected motion states in (a) and (b); and

(d) executing a game processing based on a determination that the first and second housings are simultaneously moved.

13. A game apparatus configured to execute game processing using an output from a first sensor provided in a first housing, held by a first hand of a user, and capable of detecting a motion of the first housing and an output from a second sensor provided in a second housing, held by a second hand of the same user, separate from the first housing and capable of detecting a motion of the second housing, the game apparatus comprising:

a processing system, including a computer processor, the processing system configured to;

(a) detect a motion state of the first housing based on an output from the first sensor, wherein the motion state is in a first state when the output from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value;

(b) detect a motion state of the second housing in response to the motion state of the first housing detected in (a) being in the first state;

(c) determine whether or not the first and second housings are simultaneously moved based on the detected motion states in (a) and (b); and

(d) execute a game processing based on a determination that the first and second housings are simultaneously moved.