IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,764,564
Granted Patent B2
US 8,764,564 · App. 13/355,889 · Granted Jul 1, 2014

Game system, game processing method, recording medium storing game program, and game device

Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata (Kyoto, JP); Kenta Sato (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: Ninendo Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,764,564
App. No.
13/355,889
Granted
Jul 1, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example game device arranges, in a game space, a plurality of first characters corresponding to a plurality of controllers and a second character corresponding to a portable display device. The second character is caused to move in the game space based on an input operation performed on an analog stick. An orientation of the second character is changed based on an input operation performed on the analog stick and an input operation performed on a change in an attitude of the portable display device. On the other hand, the first character is caused to normally automatically move along a predetermined path, and to move toward an enemy character when the enemy character is present within a predetermined range.

Claims (99)

1. A game system comprising:

at least one operation device configured to output first operation data;

a portable display device configured to output second operation data; and

a game device having a processing system, including at least one computer processor, the processing system configured to:

obtain the first operation data and the second operation data;

set, in a virtual world, at least one first operation target having an operable first degrees of freedom of movement, the first operation target being responsive to first operation data output by the at least one operation device, and to set a second operation target having an operable second degrees of freedom of movement, the second operation target being responsive to second operation data output by the portable display device, the second degrees of freedom of movement being greater in number than the first degrees of freedom;

control a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the first operation target based on the first operation data, and control a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the second operation target based on the second operation data;

set at least one first virtual camera corresponding to the at least one first operation target in the virtual world, one first virtual camera being provided for each first operation target;

generate a first game image containing at least one image obtained based on the at least one first virtual camera;

generate a second game image corresponding to a motion of the second operation target;

cause a display device separate from the portable display device to display the first game image; and

cause the portable display device to display the second game image.

2. The game system of claim 1 , wherein

the processing system is further configured to cause the first operation target to move based on a predetermined path set in the virtual world, and causes the second operation target to move on at least a two-dimensional plane in a direction based on the second operation data.

3. The game system of claim 2 , wherein

a predetermined object is provided in the virtual world, and

the processing system is further configured to cause the first operation target to move based on the predetermined path and a position of the predetermined object.

4. The game system of claim 3 , wherein the processing system is further configured to determine whether a distance between the first operation target and the predetermined object is smaller than or equal to a predetermined value,

and to cause the first operation target to move toward the predetermined object when the distance between the first operation target and the predetermined object is smaller than or equal to the predetermined value, and to cause the first operation target to move along the predetermined path when the distance is greater than the predetermined value.

5. The game system of claim 3 , wherein

there are a plurality of the predetermined objects in the virtual world,

and the processing system is further configured to select any of the plurality of predetermined objects based on the first operation data, and

to cause the first operation target to move toward a selected predetermined object.

6. The game system of claim 2 , wherein

the processing system is further configured to cause a guide object for controlling a movement of the first operation target to move along the predetermined path, and to cause the first operation target to move based on a movement of the guide object.

7. The game system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to set a second and a third virtual camera corresponding to the second operation target in the virtual world, and wherein

the first game image contains an image obtained based on the second virtual camera, and

the second game image contains an image obtained based on the third virtual camera.

8. The game system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first operation target to perform an attack motion based on the first operation data, and cause the second operation target to perform an attack motion based on the second operation data, wherein

the second operation target is allowed to attack within a range larger than that of the first operation target.

9. The game system of claim 1 , wherein

the portable display device includes at least a direction inputting apparatus and an inertial sensor, and

the second operation data contains direction data corresponding to an input operation performed via the direction inputting apparatus and position or orientation data detected by the inertial sensor.

10. The game system of claim 9 , wherein

the direction inputting apparatus is an analog stick, and

wherein the processing system is further configured to control a position and/or an orientation of the second operation target based on an input operation performed on the analog stick.

11. The game system of claim 9 , wherein the processing system is further configured to detect an attitude of the portable display device based on the detection data detected by the inertial sensor, and wherein the processing system is further configured to control an orientation of the second operation target based on the attitude of the portable display device.

12. The game system of claim 1 , wherein

the portable display device has a greater number of operation portions than the operation device.

13. A game processing method performed by a game system including at least one operation device configured to output first operation data, a portable display device configured to output second operation data, and a game device having at least one computer processor, the method comprising:

obtaining the first operation data and the second operation data;

setting, in a virtual world, using said at least one computer processor, at least one first operation target having operable first degrees of freedom of movement, the first operation target being responsive to first operation data output by the at least one operation device, and to set a second operation target having operable second degrees of freedom of movement, the second operation target being responsive to second operation data output by the portable display device, the second degrees of freedom of movement being greater in number than the first degrees of freedom;

controlling a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the first operation target based on the first operation data, and controlling a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the second operation target based on the second operation data;

setting at least one first virtual camera corresponding to the at least one first operation target in the virtual world, one first virtual camera being provided for each first operation target;

generating a first game image containing at least one image obtained based on the at least one first virtual camera;

generating a second game image corresponding to a motion of the second operation target;

causing a display device separate from the portable display device to display the first game image; and

causing the portable display device to display the second game image.

14. The game processing method of claim 13 , wherein

the first operation target is caused to move based on a predetermined path set in the virtual world, and the second operation target is caused to move on at least a two-dimensional plane in a direction based on the second operation data.

15. The game processing method of claim 14 , wherein

a predetermined object is provided in the virtual world, and

the first operation target is caused to move based on the predetermined path and a position of the predetermined object.

16. The game processing method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining whether or not a distance between the first operation target and the predetermined object is smaller than or equal to a predetermined value, wherein

the first operation target is caused to move toward the predetermined object when the distance between the first operation target and the predetermined object is smaller than or equal to the predetermined value, and to move along the predetermined path when the distance is greater than the predetermined value.

17. The game processing method of claim 15 , wherein

there are a plurality of the predetermined objects in the virtual world,

the game processing method further comprises selecting any of the plurality of predetermined objects based on the first operation data, and

the first operation target is caused to move toward the selected predetermined object.

18. The game processing method of claim 14 , wherein

a guide object for controlling a movement of the first operation target is caused to move along the predetermined path, and the first operation target is caused to move based on a movement of the guide object.

19. The game processing method of claim 13 , further comprising:

setting a second and a third virtual camera corresponding to the second operation target in the virtual world, wherein

the first game image containing an image obtained based on the second virtual camera is generated, and

the second game image containing an image obtained based on the third virtual camera is generated.

20. The game processing method of claim 13 , further comprising:

causing the first operation target to perform an attack motion based on the first operation data, and causing the second operation target to perform an attack motion based on the second operation data, wherein

the second operation target is allowed to attack within a range larger than that of the first operation target.

21. The game processing method of claim 13 , wherein

the portable display device includes at least a direction input section and an inertial sensor, and

the second operation data contains direction data corresponding to an input operation performed on the direction input section and position or orientation data detected by the inertial sensor.

22. The game processing method of claim 21 , wherein

the direction input section is an analog stick, and

a position and/or an orientation of the second operation target are controlled based on an input operation performed on the analog stick.

23. The game processing method of claim 21 , further comprising:

determining, by said at least one processor, an attitude of the portable display device based on the detection data detected by the inertial sensor, wherein

an orientation of the second operation target is controlled based on the attitude of the portable display device.

24. The game processing method of claim 13 , wherein

the portable display device has a larger number of operation portions than the operation device.

25. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a game program which is executable by a computer of a game device, the game program causing the computer to perform operations comprising:

obtaining first operation data from at least one operation device and second operation data from a portable display device;

setting, in a virtual world, at least one first operation target having an operable first degrees of freedom of movement, the first operation target being responsive to first operation data output by the at least one operation device, and to set a second operation target having an operable second degrees of freedom of movement, the second operation target being responsive to second operation data output by the portable display device, the second degrees of freedom of movement being greater in number than the first degrees of freedom;

controlling a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the first operation target based on the first operation data, and controlling a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the second operation target based on the second operation data;

setting at least one first virtual camera corresponding to the at least one first operation target in the virtual world, one first virtual camera being provided for each first operation target;

generating a first game image containing at least one image obtained based on the at least one first virtual camera;

generating a second game image corresponding to a motion of the second operation target;

outputting the first game image to a display device separate from the portable display device; and

transmitting the second game image to the portable display device.

26. A game device comprising:

a processing system, including at least one computer processor, the processing system being configured to:

obtain first operation data from at least one operation device and second operation data from a portable display device;

set, in a virtual world, using said at least one computer processor, at least one first operation target having an operable first degrees of freedom of movement, the first operation target being responsive to first operation data output by the at least one operation device, and to set a second operation target having an operable second degrees of freedom of movement, the second operation target being responsive to second operation data output by the portable display device, the second degrees of freedom of movement being greater in number than the first degrees of freedom;

control a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the first operation target based on the first operation data, and control a position and/or an orientation in the virtual world of the second operation target based on the second operation data;

set at least one first virtual camera corresponding to the at least one first operation target in the virtual world, one first virtual camera being provided for each first operation target;

generate a first game image containing at least one image obtained based on the at least one first virtual camera;

generate a second game image corresponding to a motion of the second operation target;

output the first game image to a display device separate from the portable display device; and

output the second game image to the portable display device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2012
From: SHIKATA, HIROMASA; SATO, KENTA
To: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027575/0979 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-223596 · Oct 11, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130090165A1 · Apr 11, 2013