Game object control using pointing inputs to rotate a displayed virtual object control device

A system for controlling a virtual object in a video game comprising:

• at least one processor configured to receive user pointing inputs;
• the at least one processor further configured to convert the received user pointing inputs into rotation amount data and rotation direction data;
• and
• the at least one processor further configured to control a movement of a displayed object in said video game based on the rotation amount data and the rotation direction data.

A method of controlling a virtual object in a video game comprising:

• using at least one processor, displaying an image of at least a portion of a virtual hand-manipulable control device on a display;
• using the at least one processor, receiving user pointing inputs around the displayed virtual hand-manipulable control device;
• using the at least one processor, converting the received user pointing inputs into rotation amount data and rotation direction data;
• and
• using the at least one processor, controlling a movement of a displayed object in said video game based on the rotation amount data and the rotation direction data.

A system for controlling a virtual object in a video game comprising:

• at least one processor configured to display an image of at least a portion of a virtual hand-manipulable control device on a display;
• the at least one processor further configured to receive user pointing inputs around the displayed virtual hand-manipulable control device;
• the at least one processor further configured to convert the received user pointing inputs into rotation amount data and rotation direction data;
• and
• the at least one processor further configured to control a movement of a displayed object in said video game based on the rotation amount data and the rotation direction data.

Apparatus comprising:

• a handheld housing having a touch screen thereon;
• and
• a processor coupled to the touch screen, the processor receiving touch inputs from the touch screen and converting the touch inputs into rotational amount and rotational direction;
• and
• the processor controlling the touch screen to also display a video game object and to control movement of the displayed video game object in response to the rotational amount and rotational direction.

A method of controlling a virtual object in a video game, comprising:

• displaying an image of at least a portion of a virtual control device on a display;
• receiving user pointing inputs;
• using at least one processor, converting the received user pointing inputs into rotation of the displayed virtual control device thereby enabling a video game player to virtually manipulate said displayed virtual control device using said pointing inputs, including rotating the displayed virtual control device image by an amount and in a direction determined at least in part based on the detected pointing inputs;
• and
• using the at least one processor, controlling a movement path of a displayed object in said video game in response to displayed virtual control device image rotation.

A display device comprising:

• a handheld housing having a touch screen including a display thereon;
• and
• having a touch screen including a display thereon, the display displaying a virtual control device;
• at least one processor receiving touch inputs inputted to the touch screen and causing the displayed virtual control device to rotate by a rotational amount and in a rotational direction determined at least in part based on the received touch screen inputs;
• the at least one processor altering a virtual movement path in response to the rotational amount and rotational direction of the displayed virtual control device.