Storage medium storing traveling time calculation program and game apparatus

#The illustrative embodiments relate to a traveling time calculation program for calculating the traveling time required by a movable object to arrive at one point in a game space. More particularly, the illustrative embodiments relate to a traveling time calculation program for calculating the traveling time of the movable object to an accuracy of less than a unit time during which a game screen is updated.

#There are many television games that allow a player(s) to compete in car racing by displaying both the racing cars operated by the player(s) and a racecourse on a screen. An objective of a racing game is to arrive at a goal as fast as possible. Thus, in a typical racing game, a time (goal time), at which a racing car has arrived at the goal, is measured when the racing car crosses a goal line and is displayed on the screen. Typically, the goal time is calculated using a unit time (frame time), by which the game screen is updated, as a unit. In general, this frame time is 1/60 sec. Thus, it is impossible to measure the goal time to an accuracy of less than 1/60 sec in a general racing game.

#The illustrative embodiments present a method for measuring a goal time to an accuracy of less than a frame time. FIG. 16 is an illustration for describing a conventional method for measuring a goal time. In Japanese Patent No. 3403506, a time T1 at which a racing car arrives at a goal G′, which is used for calculation, is calculated by calculating a ratio between a distance L′ and a distance L, as shown in FIG. 16. The distance L′ indicates a distance between a timekeeping point P and the calculation goal G′, and the distance L indicates a distance between an actual goal G and the calculation goal G′. Specifically, the time T1 at which a racing car arrives at the calculation goal G′ is calculated using the following two equations (1) and (2): T1=n/60+t  (1) L:( 1/60)=(L−L′):t  (2) In the equations (1) and (2), a time (n/60) indicates a time at which a racing car arrives at a measurement point P (timekeeping point) in a game course 91. Also, a time t indicates the traveling time from the timekeeping point P to the calculation goal G′. Note that it is possible to calculate a time T2 at which a racing car arrives at the actual goal G in a manner similar to the above-described method.

#FIG. 1 is an external view of a game system;

#FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a game apparatus;

#FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations showing an exemplary game screen of a racing game executed in the game apparatus by a game program;

#Hereinafter, a game program including a traveling time calculation program according to one aspect of the illustrative embodiments and a game system executing the game program will be described. FIG. 1 is an external view of a game system 1. Note that, in the following descriptions, a stationary game apparatus will be taken as one example of a game system executing the game program according to the illustrative embodiments, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the illustrative embodiments can be applied to an apparatus in which a computer executing a game program is installed, such as a portable game apparatus, an arcade game apparatus, a portable terminal, a mobile phone, a personal computer, or any other similar device.

#In FIG. 1, the game system 1 includes a stationary game apparatus 3 (herein after, referred to as a game apparatus) and a television receiver 2 (herein after, referred to as a television) which is one example of a display device connected to the game apparatus 3 via a connection cable. A controller 6 having a plurality of operation switches operable by a player is connected to the game apparatus 3. Also, an optical disk 4, which is one example of an information storage medium storing the game program according to the illustrative embodiments, is removably mounted on the game apparatus 3. Further, a memory card 5 having a flash memory, etc., storing save data of a game, for example, is removably inserted into the game apparatus 3, if needed. The game apparatus 3 displays a game image, which is obtained as a result of execution of the game program stored in the optical disk 4, on the television 2. Further, the game apparatus 3 is able to use the save data stored in the memory card 5, thereby allowing the player to start off where he/she left off in the game at some previous time, or displaying a game image on the television 2 by re-creating a game scene of the game played by the player at some previous time. As a result, the player of the game apparatus 3 can enjoy the game by operating the controller 6 while watching the game image displayed on the television 2.

#As described above, the controller 6 is removably connected to the game apparatus 3 via the connection cord. The controller 6 is mainly used for operating a player character (typically, a racing car operated by the player) appearing in a game space displayed on the television 2, and is provided with input sections such as operation buttons, keys, and sticks, etc., as a plurality of operation switches. Specifically, the controller 6 has a grip section held by the player. Also, the controller 6 includes, for example, a main stick 61 and a cross key 62, which are operable by a player's left thumb, and a C stick 63 and an A button 64, which are operable by a player's right thumb. Note that, other than the above-described buttons, the controller 6 includes a B button, an X button, a Y button, a start-pause button, a R button operable by a player's right index finger, etc., and an L button operable by a player's left index finger, etc. For example, in the case where a racing game, which will be described below, is played by operating the controller 6, the main stick 61 is used for instructing a handle operation of the racing car operated by the player. Also, the A button 64 is used for instructing an acceleration operation of the racing car. Other operation switches may be used during the progress of the game, which will be described below. However, those switches are not directly related to the description of the illustrative embodiments, and therefore the detailed description thereof is herein after omitted. Also, the game system 1 allows a plurality of players to play the game at the same time by connecting a plurality of controllers 6 to the game apparatus 3.