Storage medium having game program stored thereon, game apparatus and input device

• US 9,492,746 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohta, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, Damon
• Application Number:
  US11/159,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,163 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/43, 345/173, 345/169, 345/73, 345/179
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• 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 13/42 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 13/426 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller

Abstract

Reference coordinates are set for controlling a game based on coordinate information which is outputted when a state that no coordinate information is outputted from a pointing device is shifted to a state that coordinate information is outputted, and designated coordinates are set based on the coordinate information and the game is controlled based on at least one of an input direction which is a direction from the reference coordinates to the designated coordinates and an input distance which is a distance between the reference coordinates and the designated coordinates.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a memory; and

processing circuitry in communication with the touchscreen display and the memory, the processing circuitry being configured to generate images for a video game for display on the touchscreen display and, while the images for the video game are displayed on the touchscreen display, to at least;

(A) set reference coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, and store the reference coordinates in the memory, and

(B) during a continuous user touch operation from a touch-on at the initial touch point on the touchscreen display to a touch-off at another touch point on the touchscreen display

(i) set respective designated coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a current touch point on the touchscreen display;

(ii) determine at least one of a distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and a direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates;

(iii) generate an input for the video game based on the determining; and

(iv) repeat (i) through (iii), wherein

the processing circuitry is configured to display, on the touchscreen display, indicia based on the reference coordinates.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining determines at least the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined direction.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining determines at least the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined distance.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining determines both the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on both the determined distance and the determined direction.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a memory; and

processing circuitry in communication with the touchscreen display and the memory, the processing circuitry being configured to generate images for a video game for display on the touchscreen display and, while the images for the video game are displayed on the touchscreen display, to at least;

(A) set reference coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, and store the reference coordinates in the memory, and

(B) during a continuous user touch operation from a touch-on at the initial touch point on the touchscreen display to a touch-off at another touch point on the touchscreen display

(i) set respective designated coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a current touch point on the touchscreen display;

(ii) determine both a distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates and a direction from the reference coordinates to the respective designated coordinates;

(iii) generate an input for the video game based on the determining; and

(iv) repeat (i) through (iii),

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to, if the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates during the continuous user touch operation exceeds a predetermined distance, use the predetermined distance as the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a memory; and

processing circuitry in communication with the touchscreen display and the memory, the processing circuitry being configured to generate images for a video game for display on the touchscreen display and, while the images for the video game are displayed on the touchscreen display, to at least;

(A) set reference coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, and store the reference coordinates in the memory, and

(B) during a continuous user touch operation from a touch-on at the initial touch point on the touchscreen display to a touch-off at another touch point on the touchscreen display

(i) set respective designated coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a current touch point on the touchscreen display;

(ii) determine at least one of a distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and a direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates;

(iii) generate an input for the video game based on the determining; and

(iv) repeat (i) through (iii) until the continuous user touch operation ends; and

(C) repeat (A) and (B), after the continuous user touch operation ends, in response to a new initial touch point on the touchscreen display for a new continuous user touch operation in which new reference coordinates are set in accordance with touch point coordinates of a new user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the determining determines at least the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined direction.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the determining determines at least the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined distance.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the determining determines both the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on both the determined distance and the determined direction.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for use in an information processing apparatus comprising a touchscreen display, a memory and processing circuitry in communication with the touchscreen display and the memory, the program, when executed by the processing circuitry, controlling the information processing apparatus to at least:

generate images for a video game for display on the touchscreen display; and

while the images for the video game are displayed on the touchscreen display

(A) set reference coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, and store the reference coordinates in the memory, and

(B) during a continuous user touch operation from a touch-on at the initial touch point on the touchscreen display to a touch-off at another touch point on the touchscreen display

(i) set respective designated coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a current touch point on the touchscreen display;

(ii) determine at least one of a distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and a direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates;

(iii) generate an input for the video game based on the determining; and

(iv) repeat (i) through (iii), wherein

the program controls the information processing apparatus to display, on the touchscreen display, indicia based on the reference coordinates.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the determining determines at least the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined direction.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the determining determines at least the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined distance.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the determining determines both the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on both the determined distance and the determined direction.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein designated coordinates are set within a circle centered on the reference coordinates.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the determined distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates corresponds to a tilt amount of an emulated joystick and the determined direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates corresponds to a tilt direction of the emulated joystick.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the input for the video game maintains a same value when the designated coordinates remain unchanged during the continuous user touch operation.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the indicia indicates a position of the reference coordinates.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the indicia indicates a range centered on the reference coordinates.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to, after the continuous user touch operation ends and in response to a new continuous user touch operation in which new reference coordinates are set in accordance with touch point coordinates of a new user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, repeat (A) and (B).

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to detect the touch-off when no touch point is designated on the touchscreen display for a predetermined period of time.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to, if the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates during the continuous user touch operation exceeds a predetermined distance, use the predetermined distance as the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to, if the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates during the continuous user touch operation exceeds a predetermined distance, use the predetermined distance as the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to control display on the touchscreen display, during the continuous user touch operation, of indicia corresponding to an emulated joystick represented by the determined distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and the determined direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for use in an information processing apparatus comprising a touchscreen display;

a memory; and

processing circuitry in communication with the touchscreen display and the memory, the program, when executed by the processing circuitry, controlling the information processing apparatus to at least;

generate images for a video game for display on the touchscreen display; and

while the images for the video game are displayed on the touchscreen display

(A) set reference coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, and store the reference coordinates in the memory, and

(B) during a continuous user touch operation from a touch-on at the initial touch point on the touchscreen display to a touch-off at another touch point on the touchscreen display

(i) set respective designated coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a current touch point on the touchscreen display;

(ii) determine both a distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and a direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates;

(iii) generate an input for the video game based on the determining; and

(iv) repeat (i) through (iii), wherein

wherein, if the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates during the continuous user touch operation exceeds a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance is used as the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein designated coordinates are set within a circle centered on the reference coordinates.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the determined distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates corresponds to a tilt amount of an emulated joystick and the determined direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates corresponds to a tilt direction of the emulated joystick.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the input for the video game maintains a same value when the designated coordinates remain unchanged during the continuous user touch operation.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to control display on the touchscreen display of indicia corresponding to the reference coordinates.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to control display on the touchscreen display of a range around the reference coordinates.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to control display on the touchscreen display, during the continuous user touch operation, of indicia corresponding to an emulated joystick represented by the determined distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and the determined direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the reference coordinates are not reset until after the continuous user touch operation ends.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to, after the continuous user touch operation ends and in response to a new continuous user touch operation in which new reference coordinates are set in accordance with touch point coordinates of a new user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, repeat (A) and (B).

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to detect the touch-off when no touch point is designated on the touchscreen display for a predetermined period of time.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for use in an information processing apparatus comprising a touchscreen display;

a memory; and

processing circuitry in communication with the touchscreen display and the memory, the program, when executed by the processing circuitry, controlling the information processing apparatus to at least;

generate images for a video game for display on the touchscreen display; and

while the images for the video game are displayed on the touchscreen display

(A) set reference coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, and store the reference coordinates in the memory, and

(B) during a continuous user touch operation from a touch-on at the initial touch point on the touchscreen display to a touch-off at another touch point on the touchscreen display

(i) set respective designated coordinates in accordance with touch point coordinates of a current touch point on the touchscreen display;

(ii) determine at least one of a distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and a direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates;

(iii) generate an input for the video game based on the determining; and

(iv) repeat (i) through (iii) until the continuous user touch operation ends; and

after the continuous user touch operation ends, in response to a new continuous user touch operation in which new reference coordinates are set in accordance with touch point coordinates of a new user-selected initial touch point on the touchscreen display, repeat (A) and (B).

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the determining determines at least the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined direction.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the determining determines at least the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on at least the determined distance.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the determining determines both the distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and the direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates, and the input for the video game is generated based on both the determined distance and the determined direction.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein designated coordinates are set within a circle centered on the reference coordinates.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the determined distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates corresponds to a tilt amount of an emulated joystick and the determined direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates corresponds to a tilt direction of the emulated joystick.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the input for the video game maintains a same value when the designated coordinates remain unchanged during the continuous user touch operation.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to control display of indicia indicating a position of the reference coordinates.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to control display of indicia indicating a range centered on the reference coordinates.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to detect the touch-off when no touch point is designated on the touchscreen display for a predetermined period of time.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 43, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to, if the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates during the continuous user touch operation exceeds a predetermined distance, use the predetermined distance as the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to, if the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates during the continuous user touch operation exceeds a predetermined distance, use the predetermined distance as the distance between the reference coordinates and the respective designated coordinates.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the program controls the information processing apparatus to control display on the touchscreen display, during the continuous user touch operation, of indicia corresponding to an emulated joystick represented by the determined distance between the reference coordinates stored in the memory and the respective designated coordinates and the determined direction from the reference coordinates stored in the memory to the respective designated coordinates.