Touch-sensitive gaming system with dual displays

• US 7,785,199 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Tomizawa, Toshikazu, Nakata, Masayasu, Niwa, Noriyuki, Hatayama, Yosuke, Ohta, Keizo, Nishimura, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo; Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US10/931,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20050176502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,190 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 6, 463 30- 33
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• 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 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

A first game image to be controlled by using an operation switch section 14 is displayed on a first LCD 11. In addition, a second game image to be controlled by using a touch panel 13 is displayed on a second LCD 12. The first game image and the second game image are expressions, taken from different perspectives, of the same game space generated by executing a game program.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for displaying a game image representing an operable object in a game space, the operable object being controllable in response to an operation performed by a player, comprising:

a first display section;

an input section which does not comprise a touch panel;

a first action controller for controlling an action of a first operable object in accordance with an operation performed on the input section;

a first display controller for displaying on the first display section a first game image representing at least a portion of the game space;

a second display section different from the first display section;

a touch panel provided on a surface of the second display section;

a second action controller for controlling an action of a second operable object in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel; and

a second display controller for displaying on the second display section a second game image representing at least a portion of the game space, the second game image being different from the first game image, wherein the first operable object is different than the second operable object, wherein,

the game space comprises a plurality of operable objects,

the game apparatus further comprises;

a first operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a first operable object, the selection being made automatically or by the player; and

a second operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a second operable object, the selection being made in accordance with coordinates obtained from the touch operation, wherein

the second action controller comprises continuous action control programmed logic circuitry for, after the touch operation is performed on the touch panel, controlling the second operable object to continuously perform an action which is in accordance with the touch operation, the game apparatus further comprising

a control selector for, when the second operable object which is acting under the control of the continuous action controller becomes controllable under the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section when a predetermined action in the game occurs, switching said second operable object between being controlled to act by the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry while no operation is performed on the input section and said second operable object being controlled to act by the first action controller if an operation is performed on the input section.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus further comprises:

game parameter storage locations for storing a game parameter pertaining to the game space;

first changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the game parameter stored in the game parameter storage locations in accordance with the action of the operable object controlled by the first action controller; and

second changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the game parameter stored in the game parameter storage locations in accordance with the action of the operable object controlled by the second action controller,

the first display controller displays on the first display section the first game image representing at least a portion of the game space and being generated based on the game parameter, and

the second display controller displays on the second display section the second game image representing at least a portion of the game space and being generated based on the game parameter.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second game image displayed on the second display section is an image selected from the group consisting of:

a game image which is a 2D expression of the game space as plan-viewed from above;

an image representing a portion of the game space broader than and encompassing the first game image displayed on the first display section; and

an image representing the entire game space.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the first game image displayed on the first display section is an image at least containing an image representing the operable object whose action is controlled by the first action controller, and

the second game image displayed on the second display section is an image at least containing an image representing the operable object whose action is controlled by the second action controller.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus further comprises:

corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry for, in response to an input trajectory obtained from the touch operation performed on the touch panel, calculating a corresponding trajectory in the game space so as to correspond to the input trajectory; and

moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry for determining a moving direction for the second operable object in the game space in accordance with the corresponding trajectory calculated by the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry, and

the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry controls the second operable object to continuously perform an action of moving in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second display controller comprises trajectory display control programmed logic circuitry for displaying, in the second game image, the corresponding trajectory calculated by the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein,

the game apparatus further comprises movable trajectory setting programmed logic circuitry for, when a touch operation is performed on the touch panel so as to touch on the corresponding trajectory displayed in the second game image, setting the corresponding trajectory as a movable trajectory,

the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry comprises corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry for calculating a new corresponding trajectory by moving the movable trajectory set by the movable trajectory selection programmed logic circuitry within the game space in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel, and

the moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry extemporaneously determines a moving direction for the second operable object in the game space in accordance with the new corresponding trajectory calculated by the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry controls a plurality of second operable objects to continuously perform an action of simultaneously moving in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus further comprises corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry for, in response to input coordinates obtained from the touch operation performed on the touch panel, calculating corresponding coordinates in the game space so as to correspond to the input coordinates, and

the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry controls the second operable object to move toward the corresponding coordinates calculated by the corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the second operable object selector selects at least one of the plurality of operable objects, excluding the first operable object, as a second operable object.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first operable object is controlled to act by the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section, and is not controlled to act by the second action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the touch panel.

10. A game apparatus for displaying a game image representing an operable object in a game space, the operable object being controllable in response to an operation performed by a player, comprising:

a first display section;

an input section which does not comprise a touch panel;

a first action controller for controlling an action of a first operable object in accordance with an operation performed on the input section;

a first display controller for displaying on the first display section a first game image representing at least a portion of the game space;

a second display section different from the first display section;

a touch panel provided on a surface of the second display section;

a second action controller for controlling an action of a second operable object in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel; and

a second display controller for displaying on the second display section a second game image representing at least a portion of the game space, the second game image being different from the first game image, wherein the first operable object is different than the second operable object, wherein,

the game space comprises a plurality of operable objects,

the game apparatus further comprising;

a first operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a first operable object, the selection being made automatically or by the player;

a second operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a second operable object, the selection being made in accordance with coordinates obtained from the touch operation;

automatic action control programmed logic circuitry for automatically controlling the action of the second operable object according to predetermined rules;

a control selector for, when the second operable object which is acting under the control of the automatic action controller becomes controllable under the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section when a predetermined action in the game occurs, switching said second operable object between being controlled to act by the automatic action control programmed logic circuitry while no operation is performed on the input section and said second operable object being controlled to act by the first action controller if an operation is performed on the input section, and

control selection programmed logic circuitry for switching the second operable object between being controlled to act by the automatic action control programmed logic circuitry while no touch operation is performed on the touch panel and said second operable object being controlled to act by the second action controller if a touch operation is performed on the touch panel.

13. A game apparatus for displaying a game image representing an operable object in a game space, the operable object being controllable in response to an operation performed by a player, comprising:

a first display section;

an input section which does not comprise a touch panel;

a first action controller for controlling an action of a first operable object in accordance with an operation performed on the input section;

a first display controller for displaying on the first display section a first game image representing at least a portion of the game space;

a second display section different from the first display section;

a touch panel provided on a surface of the second display section;

a second action controller for controlling an action of a second operable object in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel; and

a second display controller for displaying on the second display section a second game image representing at least a portion of the game space, the second game image being different from the first game image, wherein the first operable object is different than the second operable object,

the second action controller comprises continuous action control programmed logic circuitry for, after the touch operation is performed on the touch panel, controlling the second operable object to continuously perform an action which is in accordance with the touch operation, the game apparatus further comprising

a control selector for, when the second operable object which is acting under the control of the continuous action controller becomes controllable under the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section when a predetermined action in the game occurs, switching said second operable object between being controlled to act by the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry while no operation is performed on the input section and said second operable object being controlled to act by the first action controller if an operation is performed on the input section, wherein,

the game apparatus further comprises corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry for, in response to input coordinates obtained from the touch operation performed on the touch panel, calculating corresponding coordinates in the game space so as to correspond to the input coordinates, and

the second display controller displays an enlarged version of the second game image on the second display section, the enlarged version being enlarged around a central point represented by the corresponding coordinates calculated by the corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry.

14. A non-transitory storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a computer in a game apparatus including:

a first display section and a second display section for each displaying a game image representing an operable object in a game space, the operable object being controllable in response to an operation performed by a player;

a touch panel provided on a surface of the second display section;

an input section which does not comprise a touch panel; and

a storage section,

the game program causing the computer to function as;

a first action controller for controlling an action of a first operable object in accordance with an operation performed on the input section;

a first display controller for displaying on the first display section a first game image representing at least a portion of the game space;

a second action controller for controlling an action of a second operable object in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel; and

a second display controller for displaying on the second display section a second game image representing at least a portion of the game space, the second game image being different from the first game image, wherein the first operable object is different than the second operable object, wherein,

the game space comprises a plurality of operable objects,

the game program causes the computer to function further as;

a first operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a first operable object, the selection being made automatically or by the player; and

a second operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a second operable object, the selection being made in accordance with coordinates obtained from the touch operation, wherein

the second action controller comprises continuous action controller for, after the touch operation is performed on the touch panel, controlling the second operable object to continuously perform an action which is in accordance with the touch operation, wherein

the game program causes the computer to function further as a control selector for, when the second operable object which is acting under the control of the continuous action controller becomes controllable under the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section when a predetermined action in the game occurs, switching said second operable object between being controlled to act by the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry while no operation is performed on the input section and said operable object being controlled to act by the first action controller if an operation is performed on the input section.

15. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein,

the game program causes the computer to function further as:

game parameter storage locations for storing a game parameter pertaining to the game space to the storage section;

first changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the game parameter stored in the storage section in accordance with the action of the operable object controlled by the first action controller; and

second changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the game parameter stored in the storage section in accordance with the action of the operable object controlled by the second action controller,

the first display controller displays on the first display section the first game image representing at least a portion of the game space and being generated based on the game parameter, and

the second display controller displays on the second display section the second game image representing at least a portion of the game space and being generated based on the game parameter.

16. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein the second game image displayed on the second display section is an image selected from the group consisting of:

a game image which is a 2D expression of the game space as plan-viewed from above;

an image representing a portion of the game space broader than and encompassing the first game image displayed on the first display section; and

an image representing the entire game space.

17. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein,

the first game image displayed on the first display section is an image at least containing an image representing the operable object whose action is controlled by the first action controller, and

the second game image displayed on the second display section is an image at least containing an image representing the operable object whose action is controlled by the second action controller.

18. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein,

the game program causes the computer to function further as:

corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry for, in response to an input trajectory obtained from the touch operation performed on the touch panel, calculating a corresponding trajectory in the game space so as to correspond to the input trajectory; and

moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry for determining a moving direction for the second operable object in the game space in accordance with the corresponding trajectory calculated by the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry, and

the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry controls the second operable object to continuously perform an action of moving in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry.

19. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 18, wherein the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry controls a plurality of second operable objects to continuously perform an action of simultaneously moving in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry.

20. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 18, wherein the second display controller comprises trajectory display control programmed logic circuitry for displaying, in the second game image, the corresponding trajectory calculated by the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry.

21. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 20, wherein,

the game program causes the computer to function further as movable trajectory setting programmed logic circuitry for, when a touch operation is performed on the touch panel so as to touch on the corresponding trajectory displayed in the second game image, setting the corresponding trajectory as a movable trajectory,

the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry comprises corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry for calculating a new corresponding trajectory by moving the movable trajectory set by the movable trajectory selection programmed logic circuitry within the game space in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel, and

the moving direction determination programmed logic circuitry determines a moving direction for the second operable object in the game space in accordance with the new corresponding trajectory calculated by the corresponding trajectory calculation programmed logic circuitry.

22. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein,

the game program causes the computer to function further as corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry for, in response to input coordinates obtained from the touch operation performed on the touch panel, calculating corresponding coordinates in the game space so as to correspond to the input coordinates, and

the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry controls the second operable object to move toward the corresponding coordinates calculated by the corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry.

23. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 14, wherein,

the second operable object selector selects at least one of the plurality of operable objects, excluding the first operable object, as a second operable object.

24. The storage medium storing the game program according to claim 23, wherein the first operable object is controlled to act by the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section, and is not controlled to act by the second action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the touch panel.

25. A non-transitory storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a computer in a game apparatus including:

a first display section and a second display section for each displaying a game image representing an operable object in a game space, the operable object being controllable in response to an operation performed by a player;

a touch panel provided on a surface of the second display section;

an input section which does not comprise a touch panel; and

a storage section,

the game program causing the computer to function as;

a first action controller for controlling an action of a first operable object in accordance with an operation performed on the input section;

a first display controller for displaying on the first display section a first game image representing at least a portion of the game space;

a second action controller for controlling an action of a second operable object in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel; and

a second display controller for displaying on the second display section a second game image representing at least a portion of the game space, the second game image being different from the first game image, wherein the first operable object is different than the second operable object, wherein,

the game space comprises a plurality of operable objects,

the game program causes the computer to function further as;

a first operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a first operable object, the selection being made automatically or by the player; and

a second operable object selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of operable objects as a second operable object, the selection being made in accordance with coordinates obtained from the touch operation;

an automatic action controller for automatically controlling the action of the second operable object according to predetermined rules;

a control selector for, when the second operable object which is acting under the control of the continuous action controller becomes controllable under the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section when a predetermined action in the game occurs, switching said second operable object between being controlled to act by the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry while no operation is performed on the input section and said second operable object being controlled to act by the first action controller if an operation is performed on the input section; and

a control selector for ensuring that the second operable object is controlled to act by the automatic action controller while no touch operation is performed on the touch panel and that the second operable object is controlled to act by the second action controller if a touch operation is performed on the touch panel.

26. A non-transitory storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a computer in a game apparatus including:

a first display section and a second display section for each displaying a game image representing an operable object in a game space, the operable object being controllable in response to an operation performed by a player;

a touch panel provided on a surface of the second display section;

an input section which does not comprise a touch panel; and

a storage section,

the game program causing the computer to function as;

a first action controller for controlling an action of a first operable object in accordance with an operation performed on the input section;

a first display controller for displaying on the first display section a first game image representing at least a portion of the game space;

a second action controller for controlling an action of a second operable object in accordance with a touch operation performed on the touch panel;

a second display controller for displaying on the second display section a second game image representing at least a portion of the game space, the second game image being different from the first game image, wherein the first operable object is different than the second operable object,

the second action controller comprises continuous action control programmed logic circuitry for, after the touch operation is performed on the touch panel, controlling the second operable object to continuously perform an action which is in accordance with the touch operation;

the game apparatus further comprising

a control selector for, when the second operable object which is acting under the control of the continuous action controller becomes controllable under the first action controller in accordance with an operation performed on the input section when a predetermined action in the game occurs, switching said second operable object between being controlled to act by the continuous action control programmed logic circuitry while no operation is performed on the input section and said second operable object being controlled to act by the first action controller if an operation is performed on the input section, wherein,

the game program causes the computer to function further as corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry for, in response to input coordinates obtained from the touch operation performed on the touch panel, calculating corresponding coordinates in the game space so as to correspond to the input coordinates, and

the second display controller displays an enlarged version of the second game image on the second display section, the enlarged version being enlarged around a central point represented by the corresponding coordinates calculated by the corresponding coordinates calculation programmed logic circuitry.