Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program

• US 7,938,725 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okamura, Yuichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/600,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 5, 463 7- 9, 463 30- 34, 463 36- 39, 463 40- 43, 463 49- 57, 273/108.1, 273/127.R, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/309, 273/317.1, 273/340, 273/348, 273361-367, 273/461, 348/14.15, 348/39, 348/42, 348 47- 52, 348/115, 348/117, 348/121, 348135-137, 348/141, 348/211.14, 348/576, 348588-589, 348/719, 348/721, 348/E13.004, 348E13064-E13067, 717168-178, 345 11- 13, 345 21- 23, 345 31- 34, 345/24, 345/419, 345467-469, 345/473, 345/539, 345543-544, 345/625, 345/636, 345/638, 345653-656, 345664-666, 345682-683, 345/686, 345949-950, 345/FOR.139, 345/FOR.153, 434 37- 38, 434 43- 44, 434/69, 434/118, 434/240, 434256-257, 37524015-24016, 375/240.25
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/812 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
• 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 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

Operation data is obtained from an input device and is stored into a memory, and initial state data indicating an attitude or a position of an object in a virtual game world is calculated with predetermined start timing using acceleration data included in the obtained operation data. Depending on acceleration data included in operation data sequentially obtained on and after the start timing, change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time is calculated. Thereafter, the attitude or position of the object disposed in the virtual game world, depending on the initial state data, is changed, depending on the change amount data, to perform a game process of controlling a motion of the object.

Claims

1. A game apparatus configured to obtain operation data including acceleration data from an input device comprising an acceleration sensor for outputting the acceleration data, and based on the operation data, performing a game process, depending on an operation of swinging the input device, by moving the entire input device along a path, the apparatus comprising:

operation data obtaining programmed logic circuitry configured to obtain the operation data from the input device and storing the operation data into a storage memory;

initial state data calculating programmed logic circuitry configured to calculate initial state data indicating an attitude or a position of an object in a virtual game world using the acceleration data included in the operation data obtained at a start timing of the swinging of the entire input device along a path movement;

change amount data calculating programmed logic circuitry configured to calculate change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained on and after the start timing; and

game processing programmed logic circuitry configured to change the attitude or position of the object, depending on the change amount data, the object being provided in the virtual game world, depending on the initial state data, to control a motion of the object toward a target, wherein

said path movement is in a direction opposite to a target direction toward the target until the position of the input device reaches a back position, and wherein

in response to said input device reaching the back position, said swinging of the entire input device is being in the target direction toward the target until the position of the input device corresponds to a predetermined motion of the object in the virtual game world occurring subsequently to the swinging motion, the game apparatus further comprising;

timing detecting programmed logic circuitry configured to detect timing with which the operation data indicating a content of a predetermined operation is obtained, on and after the start timing, wherein

the game processing programmed logic circuitry sets at least a release direction of the object in the virtual game world toward the target, based on the change amount data calculated when the timing detecting programmed logic circuitry detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained, so as to perform the game process to simulate release of the object and motion of the object in the release direction, wherein

the input device comprises at least one operation key,

the operation data includes key data depending on pushing down of the operation key, and

the timing detecting programmed logic circuitry detects timing with which the operation key is pushed down or timing with which pushing down of the operation key is released, based on the key data.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage memory stores basic motion data indicating a series of motions of the object in the virtual game world,

the change amount data calculating programmed logic circuitry calculates the change amount data designating the attitude or position of the object during the series of motions indicated by the basic motion data, depending on magnitudes of accelerations indicated by the acceleration data sequentially obtained, and

the game processing programmed logic circuitry causes the object to move in accordance with the motions of the basic motion data based on the change amount data, starting from the attitude or position depending on the initial state data.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage memory stores basic motion data indicating a series of motions of the object in the virtual game world,

the change amount data calculating programmed logic circuitry calculates the change amount data designating a speed with which the series of motions indicated by the basic motion data are changed, depending on magnitudes of accelerations indicated by the acceleration data sequentially obtained, and

the game processing programmed logic circuitry reproduces the basic motion data, depending on the speed based on the change amount data, starting from the attitude or position depending on the initial state data.

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

timing detecting programmed logic circuitry configured to detect timing with which the operation data indicating a content of a predetermined operation is obtained, on and after the start timing,

wherein the change amount data calculating programmed logic circuitry calculates the change amount data until the timing detecting means detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input device comprises at least one operation key,

the operation data includes key data depending on pushing down of the operation key, and

the timing detecting programmed logic circuitry detects timing with which the operation key is pushed down or timing with which pushing down of the operation key is released, based on the key data.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, depending on a motion of the object, the game processing programmed logic circuitry performs a game process of moving another object in the virtual game world, and

the game processing programmed logic circuitry sets at least a direction in which the object moves the other object, based on the change amount data calculated when the timing detecting programmed logic circuitry detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained, so as to perform the game process.

7. The game apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

movement speed setting programmed logic circuitry configured to set a movement speed of the other object, depending on a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data obtained immediately before the timing detecting programmed logic circuitry detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

trajectory setting programmed logic circuitry configured to set a trajectory of the other object, depending on magnitudes of accelerations in a predetermined direction indicated by the acceleration data before and after the timing detecting programmed logic circuitry detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initial state data calculating programmed logic circuitry includes:

determination programmed logic circuitry configured to determine whether or not an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is stable;

acceleration direction calculating programmed logic circuitry configured to calculate a direction in which the acceleration acts on the input device when the determination means determines that the acceleration is stable; and

corresponding state calculating programmed logic circuitry configured to calculate the attitude or position of the object in the virtual game world corresponding to the direction in which the acceleration acts.

10. A game apparatus for obtaining operation data including acceleration data from an input device comprising an acceleration sensor for outputting the acceleration data, and based on the operation data, performing a game process, depending on an operation of swinging the input device, the apparatus comprising:

operation data obtaining programmed logic circuitry configured to obtain the operation data from the input device and storing the operation data into a storage memory;

initial state data calculating programmed logic circuitry configured to calculate initial state data indicating an attitude or a position of an object in a virtual game world using the acceleration data included in the operation data obtained at a start timing of the swinging of the entire input device;

change amount data calculating programmed logic circuitry configured to calculate change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained on and after the start timing; and

game processing programmed logic circuitry configured to change the attitude or position of the object, depending on the change amount data, the object being provided in the virtual game world, depending on the initial state data, to control a motion of the object, wherein

said path movement is in a direction opposite to a target direction until the position of the input device reaches a back position, and wherein

in response to said input device reaching the back position, said swinging of the entire input device is being in the target direction until the position of the input device corresponds to a predetermined motion of the object in the virtual game world occurring subsequently to the swinging motion, wherein the input device comprises at least one operation key,

the operation data includes key data depending on pushing down of the operation key, and

the game apparatus further comprises;

first timing detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting first timing with which the operation key is pushed down, based on the key data;

second timing detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting second timing with which a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data sequentially obtained satisfies a predetermined condition, on and after the first timing; and

third timing detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting third timing with which pushing down of the operation key is released, based on the key data, on and after the second timing,

wherein the initial state data calculating programmed logic circuitry calculates the initial state data using the acceleration data included in the operation data obtained with the first timing, and

the change amount data calculating means includes;

first change amount data calculating programmed logic circuitry for calculating first change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time so that the object performs a first motion, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained from the first timing to the second timing; and

second change amount data calculating programmed logic circuitry for calculating second change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time so that the object performs a second motion different from the first motion, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained on and after the second timing,

wherein the game processing programmed logic circuitry performs a game process of controlling a motion of the object, depending on the second change amount data calculated with the third timing.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium having tangibly recorded thereon a game program executed by a computer in a game apparatus configured to obtain operation data including acceleration data from an input device comprising an acceleration sensor for outputting the acceleration data, performing a game process, depending on an operation of swinging the input device, by moving the entire input device along a path, the game program causing the computer to execute:

operation data obtaining for obtaining the operation data from the input device and storing the operation data into a memory;

initial state data calculating for calculating initial state data indicating an attitude or a position of an object in a virtual game world using the acceleration data included in the operation data obtained at a start timing of the swinging of the entire input device along a path movement;

change amount data calculating for calculating change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained on and after the start timing;

game processing for changing the attitude or position of the object, depending on the change amount data, the object being provided in the virtual game world, depending on the initial state data, to control a motion of the object toward a target, wherein

said path movement is in a direction opposite to a target direction toward the target until the position of the input device reaches a back position, and wherein

in response to said input device reaching the back position, said swinging of the entire input device is being in the target direction toward the target until the position of the input device corresponds to a predetermined motion of the object in the virtual game world occurring subsequently to the swinging motion, and

timing detecting for detecting timing with which the operation data indicating a content of a predetermined operation is obtained, on and after the start timing,

wherein the game processing sets at least a release direction of the object in the virtual game toward the target, based on the change amount data calculated when the timing detecting step detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained, so as to perform the game process to simulate release of the object and motion of the object in the release direction, wherein

the input device comprises at least one operation key,

the operation data includes key data depending on pushing down of the operation key, and

the timing detecting detects timing with which the operation key is pushed down or timing with which pushing down of the operation key is released, based on the key data.

12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the memory stores basic motion data indicating a series of motions of the object in the virtual game world,

the change amount data calculating calculates the change amount data designating the attitude or position of the object during the series of motions indicated by the basic motion data, depending on a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data sequentially obtained, and

the game processing causes the object to move in accordance with the motions of the basic motion data based on the change amount data, starting from the attitude or position depending on the initial state data.

13. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the memory stores basic motion data indicating a series of motions of the object in the virtual game world,

the change amount data calculating calculates the change amount data designating a speed with which the series of motions indicated by the basic motion data are changed, depending on a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data sequentially obtained, and

the game processing reproduces the basic motion data, depending on the speed based on the change amount data, starting from the attitude or position depending on the initial state data.

14. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the game program causes the computer to further execute:

timing detecting for detecting timing with which the operation data indicating a content of a predetermined operation is obtained, on and after the start timing,

wherein the change amount data calculating calculates the change amount data until the timing detecting detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained.

15. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the input device comprises at least one operation key,

the operation data includes key data depending on pushing down of the operation key, and

the timing detecting detects timing with which the operation key is pushed down or timing with which pushing down of the operation key is released, based on the key data.

16. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein, depending on a motion of the object, the game processing performs a game process of moving another object in the virtual game world, and

the game processing sets at least a direction in which the object moves the other object, based on the change amount data calculated when the timing detecting detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained, so as to perform the game process.

17. The game apparatus of claim 16, wherein the game program causes the computer to further execute:

movement speed setting for setting a movement speed of the other object, depending on a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data obtained immediately before the timing detecting detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained.

18. The storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the game program causes the computer to further execute:

trajectory setting for setting a trajectory of the other object, depending on magnitudes of accelerations in a predetermined direction indicated by the acceleration data before and after the timing detecting detects the timing with which the operation data indicating the content of the predetermined operation is obtained.

19. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the initial state data calculating step includes:

determination for determining whether or not an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is stable;

acceleration direction calculating for calculating a direction in which the acceleration acts on the input device when the determination step determines that the acceleration is stable; and

corresponding state calculating for calculating the attitude or position of the object in the virtual game world corresponding to the direction in which the acceleration acts.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium having tangibly recorded thereon a game program executed by a computer in a game apparatus for obtaining operation data including acceleration data from an input device comprising an acceleration sensor for outputting the acceleration data, performing a game process, depending on an operation of swinging the input device, the game program causing the computer to execute:

operation data obtaining for obtaining the operation data from the input device and storing the operation data into a memory;

initial state data calculating for calculating initial state data indicating an attitude or a position of an object in a virtual game world using the acceleration data included in the operation data obtained at a start timing of the swinging of the entire input device;

change amount data calculating for calculating change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained on and after the start timing; and

game processing for changing the attitude or position of the object, depending on the change amount data, the object being provided in the virtual game world, depending on the initial state data, to control a motion of the object, wherein

said path movement is in a direction opposite to a target direction until the position of the input device reaches a back position, and wherein

in response to said input device reaching the back position, said swinging of the entire input device is being in the target direction until the position of the input device corresponds to a predetermined motion of the object in the virtual game world occurring subsequently to the swinging motion,

wherein the input device comprises at least one operation key,

the operation data includes key data depending on pushing down of the operation key, and

the game program causes the computer to further execute;

first timing detecting for detecting first timing with which the operation key is pushed down, based on the key data;

second timing detecting for detecting second timing with which a magnitude of an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data sequentially obtained satisfies a predetermined condition, on and after the first timing; and

third timing detecting for detecting third timing with which pushing down of the operation key is released, based on the key data, on and after the second timing,

wherein the initial state data calculating calculates the initial state data using the acceleration data included in the operation data obtained with the first timing, and

the change amount data calculating step includes;

first change amount data calculating for calculating first change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time so that the object performs a first motion, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained from the first timing to the second timing; and

second change amount data calculating for calculating second change amount data for sequentially changing the attitude or position of the object over time so that the object performs a second motion different from the first motion, depending on the acceleration data included in the operation data sequentially obtained on and after the second timing,

wherein the game processing step performs a game process of controlling a motion of the object, depending on the second change amount data calculated with the third timing.