# US 11,305,189 B2 · Program, game control method, and information processing apparatus

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- Number: US 11,305,189 B2
- Document ID: US11305189B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/014,226
- Filed: 2020-09-08
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-27
- Assignees: GREE, Inc.
- Applicants: GREE, Inc.
- Inventors: Daisuke Taka; Motoshi Abe; Masaru Ida; Kiyoto Suzuki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305189B2

## CPC

- 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
- A63F 13/2145: the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
- A63F 13/56: Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
- G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
- G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A program, a game control method, and an information processing apparatus, which are capable of improving operability of a game. A program causing an information processing apparatus to execute a step of causing an object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set, a step of detecting first and second positions on the screen while the first user operation is being detected, and a moving step of moving the object according to a first user operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program code which, when executed, causes an information processing apparatus that executes a game to carry out steps comprising:
a step of causing a first object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a world coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a screen coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set;
a step of detecting a first user operation;
a step of detecting first and second positions on the screen according to the first user operation while the first user operation is being detected;
a first moving step of moving the first object relatively to the field object in the virtual space according to the detected first user operation, wherein a speed and a direction of moving the object in the first moving step are determined based on a distance between the first position and the second position;
a second moving step of moving the first object while changing at least one of a first speed component and a second speed component of the first object when an end of the first user operation is detected; and
an interacting step of determining, based on a mapping interaction function configured to relate a pair of objects including the first object and a second object and to execute particularized processing including both the first object and the second object, comprising:
updating an area of the field object in which the first object is arranged, and determining that the second object is present in the area;
determining an area type of the area of the field object in which the first object is arranged;
determining, based on the area type, a valid gameplay interaction type corresponding to the area type; and
pairing the first object and the second object and initiating a first gameplay interaction specific to the first object and the second object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise:
determining, based on the mapping interaction function, when the first object has been subsequently arranged in a second area of the field object proximate to a third object, and, when the first object has been arranged in the second area, initiating a second gameplay interaction between the first object and the third object, wherein the second gameplay interaction is different from the first gameplay interaction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the gameplay interaction specific to the first object and the second object is at least one of a conversation between the first object and the second object or a battle between the first object and the second object.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein in the first moving step, a first speed component serving as a first axis direction component of a moving speed of the first object is set according to a third axis direction component of a distance between the first position and the second position, and a second speed component serving as a second axis direction component of the moving speed of the first object is set according to a fourth axis direction component of a distance between the first position and the second position; and
wherein the steps further comprise causing the first object to perform a predetermined action when the screen coordinates of the second position are changed according to the first user operation, and the change speed of the second position is a predetermined threshold value or more.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined action does not end the first moving step.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the field object comprises:
a plurality of object elements, the plurality of object elements forming a planar shape in a plane formed by the first axis and the second axis, wherein the planar shape has a substantially curved surface in a plane formed by the second axis and a fifth axis in the virtual space and sloping downward in a fifth axis direction; and
a plurality of paths, the plurality of paths disposed on the surface of the planar shape and comprising a plurality of first direction paths oriented in a direction parallel to the plane formed by the second axis and the fifth axis, and a plurality of second direction paths oriented in a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the second axis and the fifth axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the step of causing the first object arranged on the field object to be displayed comprises:
arranging the first object on the gameplay field on at least one of the plurality of paths;
arranging a background object on the gameplay field on a last element in the plurality of object elements; and
projecting a background image onto the background object in virtual space.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the area of the field object in which the first object is arranged comprises at least a portion of one of the plurality of paths.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the step of causing the first object arranged on the field object to be displayed comprises:
arranging the first object on the gameplay field on at least one of a plurality of paths;
arranging a background object on the gameplay field on an object element; and
projecting a background image onto the background object in virtual space.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the area of the field object in which the first object is arranged comprises at least a portion of one of the plurality of paths.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, further comprising:
a step of generating a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space; and
a step of positioning the virtual camera in a positive position on a fifth axis such that the field object is provided between the virtual camera and a portion of a background object.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising:
a step of projecting a background image onto the background object and preserving continuity of the background image during the first moving step and the second moving step.

### Claim 13

A game control method performed by an information processing apparatus, comprising:
causing a first object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a world coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a screen coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set;
detecting a first user operation;
detecting first and second positions on the screen according to the first user operation while the first user operation is being detected;
moving the first object relatively to the field object in the virtual space according to the detected first user operation, wherein a speed and a direction of moving the object are determined based on a distance between the first position and the second position;
moving the first object while changing at least one of a first speed component and a second speed component of the first object when an end of the first user operation is detected; and
relating, based on a mapping interaction function, a pair of objects including the first object and a second object, and executing particularized processing including both the first object and the second object, wherein relating the pair of objects and executing particularized processing comprises:
updating an area of the field object in which the first object is arranged, and determining that the second object is present in the area;
determining, an area type of the area of the field object in which the first object is arranged;
determining, based on the area type, a valid gameplay interaction type corresponding to the area type; and
pairing the first object and the second object and initiating a first gameplay interaction specific to the first object and the second object.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The game control method according to claim 13, wherein causing the first object arranged on the field object to be displayed comprises:
arranging the first object on the gameplay field on at least one of a plurality of paths;
arranging a background object on the gameplay field on an object element; and
projecting a background image onto the background object in virtual space.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The game control method according to claim 14, wherein the area of the field object in which the first object is arranged comprises at least a portion of one of the plurality of paths.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The game control method according to claim 13, further comprising:
generating a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space;
positioning the virtual camera in a positive position on a fifth axis such that the field object is provided between the virtual camera and a portion of a background object; and
projecting a background image onto the background object and preserving continuity of the background image during the first moving step and the second moving step.

### Claim 17

An information processing apparatus that executes a game, comprising:
a display unit that displays a screen; and
a control unit,
wherein the control unit:
causes a first object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a world coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a screen coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set;
detects a first user operation;
detects first and second positions on the screen according to the first user operation while the first user operation is being detected;
moves the first object relatively to the field object in the virtual space according to the detected first user operation, wherein a speed and a direction of moving the first object are determined based on a distance between the first position and the second position;
moves the first object while changing at least one of a first speed component and a second speed component of the first object when an end of the first user operation is detected; and
relates, based on a mapping interaction function, a pair of objects including the first object and a second object, and executes particularized processing including both the first object and the second object, wherein relating the pair of objects and executing particularized processing comprises:
updating an area of the field object in which the first object is arranged, and determining that the second object is present in the area;
determining, an area type of the area of the field object in which the first object is arranged;
determining, based on the area type, a valid gameplay interaction type corresponding to the area type; and
pairing the first object and the second object and initiating a first gameplay interaction specific to the first object and the second object.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control unit causes the first object arranged on the field object to be displayed by steps comprising:
arranging the first object on the gameplay field on at least one of a plurality of paths;
arranging a background object on the gameplay field on an object element; and
projecting a background image onto the background object in virtual space.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the area of the field object in which the first object is arranged comprises at least a portion of one of the plurality of paths.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control unit is further configured to perform steps of:
generating a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space;
positioning the virtual camera in a positive position on a fifth axis such that the field object is provided between the virtual camera and a portion of a background object; and
projecting a background image onto the background object and preserving continuity of the background image during the first moving step and the second moving step.