GAME DEVICE, GAME PROGRAM AND GAME OBJECT OPERATION METHOD

• US 20100203969A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Camelot Schools LLC
• Original Assignee: Camelot Schools LLC
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki, Sugimoto, Yusuke, Takahashi, Shugo, Kodera, Haruki
• Application Number:
  US12/670,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20100203969A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• 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 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• 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

Abstract

[Problems to be Solved] In a game where a user'"'"'s operation is input to an object such as a player or a ball in a golf game or the like by using a controller with a built-in acceleration sensor to proceed the game, it is possible to input such a value at timing as the user intends without losing a realistic operation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A game device, where an operation signal to operate a character displayed on a screen is input to proceed a game, is provided with a controller 1c that has an acceleration sensor to detect acceleration in a predetermined direction, a GUI control unit 24 that controls a graphic user interface 344 for the display and operation of the game, and an object control unit 252 that makes the coordinate position of a ball change in accordance with input data calculated on the basis of the operation signal input from the controller 1c.

Claims

1. A game device for proceeding with a game by inputting an operating signal to operate an object displayed in a screen, comprising:

a controller provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and configured to output the operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;

a user interface control unit configured to control a graphic user interface which is arranged in the screen and used to the display and operation of the game; and

an object control unit configured to change the object in accordance with input data which is calculated on the basis of the operating signal input through the controller;

wherein the input data is generated from a first operating signal indicative of an input value which varies in accordance with the motion of an operator of the controller and a second operating signal for modifying the input value,

the graphic user interface comprising;

a first graphic representation indicative of the input value by changing an image in response to the first operating signal as input;

a second graphic representation indicative of determination of the input value indicated by the first operating signal and the start of accepting the second operating signal by changing an image;

a third graphic representation indicative of the accepting of the second operating signal and the timing of modifying the input value determined by the second graphical representation.

2. The game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a character moves in the screen as the object,

wherein the character starts a motion following the motion of the operator of the controller on the basis of the first operating signal, and

wherein the second graphic representation indicates the determination of the input value and the start of accepting the second operating signal by difference or synchronization between the motion of the operator and the motion of the character.

3. The game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second graphic representation is provided to display the time elapsed after the first operating signal is input, and indicate the determination of the input value and the start of accepting the second operating signal when the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time.

4. The game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the graphic user interface includes a fourth graphic representation provided to display change in the input value on the basis of the acceleration contained in the second operating signal.

5. The game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first graphic representation is provided to display a limit on the input value in accordance the state of the object.

6. The game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the game is played in a virtual three-dimensional space in which a virtual camera is located to take an image which is displayed in the screen,

wherein the controller is provided with a camera control function for controlling the imaging direction of the virtual camera in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and

wherein the object control unit is provided with an operation analysis unit for switching, through analysis of user operation, between the camera control function and a signal acquisition function for acquiring the first operating signal.

7. The game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a ball changes its position as the object in accordance with input data indicative of the magnitude and direction of impact, the graphic user interface comprising:

a target point operating function used to point to an estimated arrival point of the ball at which the operator aims in the three-dimensional space;

a target point displaying function used to display an image to indicate the magnitude of impact on the ball as a target power required in accordance with the distance to the target point on the first graphic representation; and

an estimated flight path displaying function used to display an estimated flight path of the ball in association with the target power indicated on the first graphic representation.

8. The game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a ball changes its position as the object in accordance with input data indicative of the magnitude and direction of impact,

wherein the controller detects the inclination of the controller itself in relation to the direction of gravity by the acceleration sensor,

wherein the user interface control unit displays the estimated flight path of the ball in the screen such that the estimated flight path is modified in accordance with the inclination of the controller itself in relation to the direction of gravity, and

wherein the object control unit changes the input data on the basis of the estimated flight path which is changed by the user interface control unit.

9. A game program method for proceeding with a gam;

comprising;

using a controller provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and configured to output the operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;

operating an object displayed in a screen through a graphic user interface which is arranged in the screen and used to the display and operation of the game; and

changing the object in accordance with input data which is calculated on the basis of the operating signal input through the controller, the game program method causing a computer to perform;

an input start step of inputting a first operating signal indicative of an input value which varies in accordance with the motion of an operator of the controller and indicating the input value with a first graphic representation by changing an image in response to the first operating signal as input;

an input value determination step of changing an image as a second graphic representation to determine the input value indicated by the first operating signal and indicate the start of accepting the second operating signal;

an input value modification step of changing an image as a third graphic representation to accept the second operating signal and indicate the timing of modifying the input value determined by the second graphical representation; and

an input data calculation step of generating the input data from the input value which is indicated by the first operating signal and varies in accordance with the motion of the operator of the controller, by modifying the input value in accordance with the second operating signal.

10. The game program method as claimed in claim 9 wherein a character moves in the screen as the object,

wherein the character starts a motion following the motion of the operator of the controller on the basis of the first operating signal, and

wherein the second graphic representation indicates the determination of the input value and the start of accepting the second operating signal by difference or synchronization between the motion of the operator and the motion of the character.

11. The game program method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second graphic representation is provided to display the time elapsed after the first operating signal is input, and indicate the determination of the input value and the start of accepting the second operating signal when the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time.

12. The game program method as claimed in claim 9 wherein a fourth graphic representation is provided in the input value modification step to further display change in the input value on the basis of the acceleration contained in the second operating signal.

13. The game program method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first graphic representation is provided to display a limit on the input value in accordance the state of the object.

14. The game program method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the game is played in a virtual three-dimensional space,

wherein a virtual camera is located in the virtual three-dimensional space to take an image played in the screen,

wherein the controller is provided with a camera control function for controlling the imaging direction of the virtual camera in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and

wherein an operation analysis step is performed in advance of the input start step to switch, through analysis of user operation, between the camera control function and a signal acquisition function for acquiring the first operating signal.

15. The game program method as claimed in claim 9 wherein a ball changes its position as the object in accordance with input data indicative of the magnitude and direction of impact,

the game program method further comprising, in advance of the input start step,

a target point operating step of pointing to an estimated arrival point of the ball at which the operator aims in the three-dimensional space;

a target point displaying step of displaying an image to indicate the magnitude of impact on the ball required as a target power in accordance with the distance to the target point on the first graphic representation; and

an estimated flight path displaying step of displaying an estimated flight path of the ball in association with the target power indicated on the first graphic representation.

16. The game program method as claimed in claim 9 wherein a ball changes its position as the object in accordance with input data indicative of the magnitude and direction of impact,

wherein the controller detects the inclination of the controller itself in relation to the direction of gravity by the acceleration sensor,

wherein, in advance of the input start step, the estimated flight path of the ball is displayed in the screen such that the estimated flight path is modified in accordance with the inclination of the controller itself in relation to the direction of gravity, and

wherein, in the input data calculation step, the input data is changed on the basis of the estimated flight path which is changed by the user interface control unit.

17. An object control method for proceeding with a game by:

using a controller provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a predetermined direction and configured to output the operating signal in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;

operating an object displayed in a screen through a graphic user interface which is arranged in the screen and used to the display and operation of the game; and

changing the object in accordance with input data which is calculated on the basis of the operating signal input through the controller, the method comprising;

an input start step of inputting a first operating signal indicative of an input value which varies in accordance with the motion of an operator of the controller and indicating the input value with a first graphic representation by changing an image in response to the first operating signal as input;

an input value determination step of changing an image as a second graphic representation to determine the input value indicated by the first operating signal and indicate the start of accepting the second operating signal;

an input value modification step of changing an image as a third graphic representation to accept the second operating signal and indicate the timing of modifying the input value determined by the second graphical representation; and

an input data calculation step of generating the input data from the input value which is indicated by the first operating signal and varies in accordance with the motion of the operator of the controller, by modifying the input value in accordance with the second operating signal.