Game program for touch control hand-held game device

• US 7,708,641 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Tawara, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US11/038,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 345172-173, 715/810, 715/851
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

When a selected character 50 in possession of a ball 51 enters a centering area, a button switch image 61 for “centering” is displayed on a second LCD 12 provided with a touch panel. If the player touches the button switch image 61, the selected character 50 makes a “centering” pass. The target point for the centering pass varies depending on which portion of the button switch image 61 the player touches. Each point in the button switch image 61 corresponds to a point within the centering area in the game field. This adds variety to the action of a player object by a simple operation, thereby making the game more fun.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for executing a game in which an action of a player object is controlled by a player, the game apparatus comprising:

a touch panel display provided with a touch panel;

first button image display control programmed logic circuitry which displays a first button switch image on the touch panel display;

second button image display control programmed logic circuitry which displays, at least, a second button switch image within the first button switch image on the touch panel display;

first association programmed logic circuitry which associates a first predetermined action of the player object with the first button switch image;

second association programmed logic circuitry which associates, with the second button switch image, a second predetermined action which is a same type of action as the first predetermined action and which is more effective than the first predetermined action; and

action control programmed logic circuitry which, if the touch panel detects a contact with the first button switch image displayed on the touch panel display, causes the player object to execute the predetermined first action associated with the first button switch image, and if the touch panel detects a contact with the second button switch image, causes the player object to execute the predetermined section action associated with the second button switch image.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

third button image display control programmed logic circuitry which displays a third button switch image within the first button switch image; and

third association programmed logic circuitry which associates a third predetermined action of the player object with the third button switch image,

wherein if the touch panel detects a contact with the third button switch image, the action control programmed logic circuitry further causes the player object to execute the third predetermined action associated with the third button switch image.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the third predetermined action is the same type of action as the first and second predetermined actions.

4. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a game program which causes a computer of a game apparatus to execute a game in which an action of a player object is controlled by a player, the game apparatus comprising a touch panel display provided with a touch panel,

wherein the game program causes the computer to act as:

first button image display control programmed logic circuitry which displays a first button switch image on the touch panel display;

second button image display control programmed logic circuitry which displays, at least, a second button switch image within the first button switch image on the touch panel display;

first association programmed logic circuitry which associates a first predetermined action of the player object with the first button switch image;

second association programmed logic circuitry which associates, with the second button switch image, a second predetermined action which is a same type of action as the first predetermined action and which is more effective than the first predetermined action; and

action control programmed logic circuitry which, if the touch panel detects a contact with the first button switch image displayed on the touch panel display, causes the player object to execute the predetermined first action associated with the first button switch image, and if the touch panel detects a contact with the second button switch image, causes the player object to execute the predetermined second action associated with the second button switch image.

5. The game program according to claim 4, further causing the computer to act as:

third button image display control programmed logic circuitry which displays a third button switch image within the first button switch image; and

third association programmed logic circuitry which associates a third predetermined action of the player object with the third button switch image,

wherein if the touch panel detects a contact with the third button switch image, the action control programmed logic circuitry further causes the player object to execute the third predetermined action associated with the third button switch image.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the third predetermined action is the same type of action as the first and second predetermined actions.