# US 2018/0021679 A1 · Game system, game device, storage medium storing game program, and game process method

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- Number: US 2018/0021679 A1
- Document ID: US20180021679A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/720,137
- Filed: 2017-09-29
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-22
- Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jun ITO; Keizo OHTA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021679A1

## CPC

- A63F 13/5255: according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
- A63F 13/211: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
- A63F 13/213: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence)
- A63F 13/2145: the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
- 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
- A63F 13/837: Shooting of targets
- A63F 13/00: Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
- A63F 13/245: specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
- A63F 13/26: having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
- A63F 13/323: between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
- A63F 13/533: for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
- A63F 13/803: Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
- A63F 13/92: Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
- A63F 2300/301: using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
- A63F 2300/303: for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
- A63F 2300/6661: for changing the position of the virtual camera
- A63F 2300/8076: Shooting
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An example game system includes a controller device, and a game process section for performing a game process based on an operation on the controller device. The controller device includes a plurality of direction input sections, a sensor section for obtaining a physical quantity used for calculating an attitude of the controller device, and a display section for displaying a game image. The game process section first calculates the attitude of the controller device based on the physical quantity obtained by the sensor section. Then, the game process section controls an attitude of a virtual camera in a virtual space based on the attitude of the controller device, and controls a position of the virtual camera based on an input on the direction input section. A game image to be displayed on the display section is generated based on the position and the attitude of the virtual camera.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A game system comprising:
a controller device that includes:
(a1) a first input control manipulable by at least one finger of a user,
(a2) a second input control manipulable by at least one finger of the user, and
(a3) an inertia sensor for detecting at least one of the movement and the attitude of the controller device; and
at least one processor comprising hardware configured to:
(b1) control an aiming direction for shooting in a virtual game space based on a first signal outputted from the first input control and a second signal outputted from the inertia sensor,
(b2) in response to reception of a user input to the second input control, perform a shooting process in the virtual game space in accordance with the controlled aiming direction,
(b3) generate, based on a virtual camera positioned in the virtual game space, game images of the virtual game space, and
(b4) cause the generated game images to be outputted for display.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the first input control comprises a directional input control, and the first signal is outputted in response to a directional input provided to the directional input control.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The game system of claim 2, wherein the first input control is an analog stick.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal are simultaneously used to control the aiming direction for shooting in the virtual game space.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the second input control comprises a shoulder button.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the second input control is arranged on the controller device to be manipulatable by a non-thumb digit of the user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the controller device further includes a third input control, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
control a position of the virtual camera in the virtual game space based on manipulation of the third input control.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The game system of claim 7, wherein the first input control and the third input control are disposed on opposing sides of the controller device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The game system of claim 7, wherein the third input control comprises an analog stick.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
locate a virtual game object in the virtual game space.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The game system of claim 10, wherein the controller device further includes a third input control, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
control a position of the virtual game object within the virtual game space based on manipulation of the third input control.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The game system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
control a position of the virtual camera in accordance with the controlled position of the virtual game object.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control a position and/or orientation of the virtual camera in accordance with the controlled aiming direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The game system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to automatically control a position and/or orientation of the virtual camera in accordance with the controlled aiming direction.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set, based on the second signal, a reference attitude.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The game system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set the reference attitude in response detection of a predetermined user operation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The game system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate, using the second signal, a relative attitude in relation to the set reference attitude,
wherein the aiming direction is controlled by using the calculated relative attitude.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The game system of claim 15, wherein the reference attitude is initially set upon start of a computer game program that is run on the game system.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate, based on the second signal, an initial attitude of the controller device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The game system of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set the initial attitude of the controller device in response to detection of a predetermined user operation.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the virtual camera is controlled to present a first-person perspective view for the generated game images.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the virtual camera is controlled to present a third-person perspective view of a virtual game object is in the virtual game space for the generated game images.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to include a targeting marker in the generated game images that corresponds to the aiming direction.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The game system of claim 23, wherein the targeting marker is displayed substantially in a center of a display area where the generated game images are displayed on a display screen.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the controller device further includes a touch panel configured to receive touch input from the user, wherein the least one processor is further configured to perform a predetermined process in response to the received touch input.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The game system of claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor includes at least one of a gyro-sensor and an acceleration sensor.

### Claim 27

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for use with a game system that includes at least one processor comprising hardware and a controller device, the controller device including (1) first input control manipulable by at least one finger of a user, (2) a second input control manipulable by at least one finger of the user, and (3) an inertia sensor for detecting at least one of the movement and the attitude of the controller device, the stored instructions comprising instructions that cause the processing system to:
control an aiming direction for shooting in a virtual game space based on a first signal outputted from the first input control and a second signal outputted from the inertia sensor;
in response to reception of a user input to the second input control, perform a shooting process in the virtual game space in accordance with the controlled aiming direction;
generate, based on a virtual camera positioned in the virtual game space, game images of the virtual game space; and
cause the generated game images to be outputted for display.

### Claim 28

A computer game method that operates on a game system that includes at least one processor comprising hardware and a controller device, the controller device including (1) first input control manipulable by at least one finger of a user, (2) a second input control manipulable by at least one finger of the user, and (3) an inertia sensor for detecting at least one of the movement and the attitude of the controller device, the computer game method comprising:
controlling an aiming direction for shooting in a virtual game space based on a first signal outputted from the first input control and a second signal outputted from the inertia sensor;
in response to reception of a user input to the second input control, performing a shooting process in the virtual game space in accordance with the controlled aiming direction;
generating, based on a virtual camera positioned in the virtual game space, game images of the virtual game space; and
causing the generated game images to be outputted for display.

### Claim 29

A game system comprising:
a controller device that includes:
(a1) a first input control manipulable by at least one finger of a user,
(a2) a second input control manipulable by at least one finger of the user, and
(a3) an inertia sensor for detecting at least one of the movement and the attitude of the controller device; and
at least one processor comprising hardware configured to:
(a1) control a position of a virtual camera in a virtual game space based on a first signal outputted from the first input control,
(b2) control an aiming direction for shooting in the virtual game space based on a second signal outputted from the inertia sensor,
(b3) in response to reception of a user input to the second input control, perform a shooting process in the virtual space in accordance with the controlled aiming direction,
(b4) generate, based on the controlled position of the virtual camera, game images of the virtual game space, and
(b5) cause the generated game images to be outputted for display.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the first input control comprises a directional input control, and the first signal is outputted in response to a directional input provided to the directional input control.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The game system of claim 30, wherein the first input control is an analog stick.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the second input control comprises a shoulder button.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the second input control is arranged on the controller device to be manipulatable by a non-thumb digit of the user.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
locate a virtual game object in the virtual game space.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The game system of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
control a position of the virtual camera in accordance with a position of the virtual game object.

### Claim 36 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control a position and/or orientation of the virtual camera in accordance with the controlled aiming direction

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The game system of claim 36, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to automatically control a position and/or orientation of the virtual camera in accordance with the controlled aiming direction.

### Claim 38 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set, based on the second signal, a reference attitude.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The game system of claim 38, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set the reference attitude in response detection of a predetermined user operation.

### Claim 40 (depends on 38)

The game system of claim 38, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate, using the second signal, a relative attitude in relation to the set reference attitude,
wherein the aiming direction is controlled by using the calculated relative attitude.

### Claim 41 (depends on 38)

The game system of claim 38, wherein the reference attitude is initially set upon start of a computer game program that is run on the game system.

### Claim 42 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate, based on the second signal, an initial attitude of the controller device.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The game system of claim 42, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set the initial attitude of the controller device in response to detection of a predetermined user operation.

### Claim 44 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the virtual camera is controlled to present a first-person perspective view for the generated game images.

### Claim 45 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the virtual camera is controlled to present a third-person perspective view of a virtual game object is in the virtual game space for the generated game images.

### Claim 46 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to include a targeting marker in the generated game images that corresponds to the aiming direction.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The game system of claim 46, wherein the targeting marker is displayed substantially in a center of a display area where the generated game images are displayed on a display screen.

### Claim 48 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the controller device further includes a touch panel configured to receive touch input from the user, wherein the least one processor is further configured to perform a predetermined process in response to the received touch input.

### Claim 49 (depends on 29)

The game system of claim 29, wherein the inertial sensor includes at least one of a gyro-sensor and an acceleration sensor.

### Claim 50

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for use with a game system that includes at least one processor comprising hardware and a controller device, the controller device comprising (a1) a first input control manipulable by at least one finger of a user, (a2) a second input control manipulable by at least one finger of the user, and (a3) an inertia sensor for detecting at least one of the movement and the attitude of the controller device, the stored instructions further comprising instructions that cause the processing system to:
control a position of a virtual camera in a virtual game space based on a first signal outputted from the first input control;
control an aiming direction for shooting in the virtual game space based on a second signal outputted from the inertia sensor;
in response to reception of a user input to the second input control, perform a shooting process in the virtual space in accordance with the controlled aiming direction;
generate, based on the controlled position of the virtual camera, game images of the virtual game space; and
cause the generated game images to be outputted for display.

### Claim 51

A computer game method that operates on a game system that includes at least one processor comprising hardware and a controller device, the controller device comprising (a1) a first input control manipulable by at least one finger of a user, (a2) a second input control manipulable by at least one finger of the user, and (a3) an inertia sensor for detecting at least one of the movement and the attitude of the controller device, the computer game method comprising:
controlling a position of a virtual camera in a virtual game space based on a first signal outputted from the first input control;
controlling an aiming direction for shooting in the virtual game space based on a second signal outputted from the inertia sensor;
in response to reception of a user input to the second input control, performing a shooting process in the virtual space in accordance with the controlled aiming direction;
generating, based on the controlled position of the virtual camera, game images of the virtual game space; and
causing the generated game images to be outputted for display.