Strange typo shows up on all Wal-Mart "Capt America" posters

[MrSega]

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2011/0159958.html

It was filed on June 30. The funny thing about it is that its drawings look simluar to Wii, yet there's no description for the Wii anywhere in the patent, also notice how different the controller looks from the Wii mote.

Could this be the very early prototype design of Super System/NEPTUNE?That perhaps SEGA is opting for a design of a small console about the size of Wii.

This is one weird one. It does say "Home Game device".

[eduardo]

GAME DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GAME, GAME CONTROL PROGRAM AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent Application 20110159958
Kind Code:
A1

Abstract:
A game device capable of controlling a game without a special game operation is provided.

A controller 7 which is means for inputting game operation to a game device 3 comprises an acceleration sensor 73 detecting vibration applied to the input means. Control means for controlling the game in the game device 3 comprises means for determining an intensity level of a vibration value of vibration generated by a tap motion of a player when the controller 7 transmits a measured value of the vibration, and means for determining whether or not an array pattern of the determined intensity levels in time series order matches a previously-set command. The control means comprises means for, if it matches the previously-set command, executing special game control set corresponding to the matched command.

Inventors:
Miura, Masakazu (Tokyo, JP)
Kawarazuka, Shunsuke (Tokyo, JP)
Takeda, Junichi (Tokyo, JP)
Application Number:
13/055692
Publication Date:
06/30/2011
Filing Date:
07/23/2009

Assignee:
Sega Corporation
* 1 GAME SYSTEM
* 2 MONITOR
* 2a SPEAKER
* 3 GAME DEVICE
* 6 RECEIVER UNIT
* 7 CONTROLLER
* 30 CPU
* 31 MEMORY CONTROLLER
* 32 GPU
* 33 MAIN MEMORY (STORAGE MEANS)
* 51 MICROCOMPUTER
* 52 MEMORY
* 53 RADIO MODULE
* 73 ACCELERATION SENSOR
* 74 VIBRATOR
* P0 MAIN CONTROL PROGRAM
* P3 VIBRATION DETECTION PROGRAM
* P4 NATURAL-VIBRATION-VALUE CALCULATION PROGRAM
* P5 CORRECTION-VALUE CALCULATION PROGRAM
* P6 CORRECTION-VALUE OPERATION CONVERSION PROGRAM
* P8 VIBRATION PATTERN DETERMINATION PROGRAM
* P9 SPECIAL INPUT COMMAND DETERMINATION PROGRAM
* P10 PRESENTATION PROCESSING PROGRAM

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20110159958.pdf

[eduardo]

1. A game device, comprising: input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information, wherein the input means comprises vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means, the control means comprises vibration level determination means for determining a level of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, and the control means executes game control using determination information determined by the vibration level determination means as the operation input information received from the input means.

2. A game device, comprising: input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information, wherein the input means comprises: vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means; and vibration level determination means for determining a level of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, the control means executes game control using determination information determined by the vibration level determination means as the operation input information received from the input means.

3. A game device, comprising: input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information, wherein the input means comprises vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means, the control means comprises: vibration pattern determination means for determining one or more level patterns of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, and special input command determination means for determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination means matches a special predetermined input command, the control means executes game control using the special input command determined to be matching by the special input command determination means, as the operation input information received from the input means.

4. A game device, comprising: input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information, wherein the input means comprises: vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means; and vibration pattern determination means for determining one or more level patterns of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, the control means comprises special input command determination means for determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination means matches a special predetermined input command, and the control means executes game control using the special input command determined to be matching by the special input command determination means, as the operation input information received from the input means.

[eduardo]

5. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the input means comprises vibration generation means, the control means comprises: mounting determination means for determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration detection signal of a previously-set first predetermined value or less is received for a certain time-period from the vibration detection means; vibration generation means for allowing the vibration generation means mounted on the mounting site to generate a first vibration for a predetermined time on the basis of a determination result produced by the mounting determination means; natural-vibration value calculation means for calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from the vibration detection signal of the first vibration detected by the vibration detection means; and vibration correction value calculation means for correcting a vibration detection signal of a second vibration applied to the mounting site as the operation input information detected by the vibration detection means, on the basis of the natural vibration value, the vibration level determination means determines the level on the basis of the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means.

6. The game device according to claim 3, wherein the input means comprises vibration generation means, the control means comprises: mounting determination means for determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration detection signal of a previously-set first predetermined value or less is received for a certain time-period from the vibration detection means; vibration generation means for allowing the vibration generation means mounted on the mounting site to generate a first vibration for a predetermined time, on the basis of a determination result produced by the mounting determination means; natural-vibration value calculation means for calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site, from the vibration detection signal of the first vibration detected by the vibration detection means; and vibration correction value calculation means for correcting a vibration detection signal of a second vibration applied to the mounting site as the operation input information detected by the vibration detection means, on the basis of the natural vibration value, the pattern determination means determines the level pattern on the basis of the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means.

7. The game device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration pattern determination means comprises input vibration classification means for classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration into one or more level patterns using intensity as determination criterion, based on a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

8. The game device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration pattern determination means comprises tap/rest setting means for making a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration corresponding to an elapsed time axis to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

9. The game device according to claim 7, further comprising storage means, wherein the control means comprises: vibration correction value storage means for sequentially storing the vibration detection signals of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means in time sequence order in the storage means as a third vibration detection signal; level pattern threshold calculation means for calculating a classification threshold for determining which level pattern the third vibration detection signal belongs to, on the basis of one or more pieces of information including newest information on the third vibration detection signals stored in time sequence by the vibration correction value storage means; and level pattern storage means for determining which level pattern the corrected newest third vibration detection signal belongs to, on the basis of the calculated threshold, and storing information relating to the determined level pattern in time sequence order in the storage means.

10. The game device according to claim 8, further comprising storage means, wherein the control means comprises: tap time-interval storage means which, with respect to the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration value calculation means, sequentially stores, in time sequence order, time intervals at which the vibration detection signals of the second vibration adjacent to each other in time sequence are input; rest determination time correction means for calculating a corrected rest determination time, on the basis of the time interval and/or a previously-set rest determination time stored in the tap time-interval storage means, when it is determined that the vibration detection signal is not input; and rest period determination means for determining, as the rest period, the elapsed time axis along which it is determined that the vibration detection signal is not input, when it is determined that a difference time value S between a current time value and a time value input by the vibration detection signal of the second vibration is larger than the corrected rest determination time

[eduardo]

11. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising: conversion value calculation means for calculating a conversion value on the basis of a predetermined equation, when the vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means is equal to or less than a second predetermined value.

12. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising: associated vibration setting means which measures vibration detection signals of predetermined times detected by the vibration detection means, and when the input means has detected one-time vibration, sets vibrations to be detected except the one-time vibration, as associated vibrations associated with the one-time vibration, on the basis of the vibration detection signals measured at predetermined times.

13. A method of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration detection means for detecting vibration, said method comprising: a vibration level determination step of determining a level pattern of a vibration value detected by the vibration detection means to obtain determination information; and a game control step based on vibration-level-determination, which controls execution of a game using the determination information obtained in the vibration level determination step as game control information.

14. A method of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration generation means and vibration detection means for detecting vibration, said method comprising: a mounting determination step which determines that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site, when a vibration value equal to or lower than a previously-set predetermined value is detected for a certain time-period by the vibration detection means; a vibration start step of starting a first vibration by the vibration generation means on the basis of a determination result in the mounting determination step; a vibration detection step of actuating the vibration detection means to detect the first vibration when the first vibration occurs in the vibration start step; a natural-vibration value calculation step of calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site, from a first vibration value based on the first vibration detected in the vibration detection step; a correction value calculation step of calculating a correction value in accordance with the natural vibration value and a second vibration value based on the second vibration, when the vibration detection means has detected a second vibration applied to the mounting site for operation input; and a correction value operation conversion step of converting operation input information based on the correction value into game control information.

15. The method of game control according to claim 14, comprising: a vibration pattern determination step of determining one or more level patterns of the correction value calculated in the correction value calculation step; a special input signal determination step of determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined in the vibration pattern determination step matches a previously-set special input command; and a command execution step of executing game control using the special input command determined to be matching in the special input signal determination step as the operation input information input from the input means.

16. The method of game control according to claim 14, wherein the vibration pattern determination step includes input vibration classification step of classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration into one or more level patterns using intensity as a criterion, in response to a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

17. The method of game control according to claim 14, wherein the vibration pattern determination step includes tap/rest setting step which makes a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration corresponding to an elapsed time axis to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

18. A computer readable recording medium storing a program executable by a game device which includes an input means having a vibration detection means for detecting vibration, said program controlling game progress in the game device and comprising: a vibration level determination program of determining a level pattern of a vibration value detected by the vibration detection means to obtain determination information; and game-control program based on a vibration-level-determination, for controlling execution of a game, using the determination information obtained by the vibration level determination program as game control information.

19. A computer readable recording medium storing a program executable by a game device which includes an input means having vibration generation means and vibration detecting means, said program controlling game progress in the game device and comprising: a mounting determination program having a step of determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site, when a vibration value equal to or lower than a previously-set predetermined value is detected for a certain time-period by the vibration detection means; a vibration start program having a step of starting a first vibration by the vibration generation means, in accordance with a determination result based on the mounting determination program; a vibration detection program having a step of actuating the vibration detection means to detect the first vibration when the first vibration occurs by virtue of the vibration start program; a natural-vibration value calculation program having a step of calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from a first vibration value based on the first vibration detected by the vibration detection program; a correction value calculation program having a step of calculating a correction value in accordance with the natural vibration value and a second vibration value based on the second vibration, when the vibration detection means has detected a second vibration applied to the mounting site for operation input; and a correction value operation conversion program having a step of converting operation input information based on the correction value into game control information.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said program further comprises: a vibration pattern determination program having a step of determining which level pattern of one or more level patterns the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation program corresponds to; a special input command determination program having a step of determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination program matches a previously-set special input command; and a command execution program having a step of executing game control, using the special input command determined to be matching by the special input command determination program, as the operation input information input from the input means.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the vibration pattern determination program includes input vibration classification program having a step of classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration into one or more level patterns taking intensity as a criterion, in response to a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

[eduardo]

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the vibration pattern determination program comprises tap/rest setting program having a step of making a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration corresponding to an elapsed time axis, to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

23. (canceled)

[eduardo]

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game device, a control method of controlling a game in the game device, a program controlling the game and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program, all of which detect a game operation of the player from an input signal or the like, and cause a computer of the game device to execute game processing on the basis of the detected input signal.
BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, for game devices such as home games, arcade games and the like, as a method of detecting an operation of the player to play a game (hereinafter referred to as “operation input”), there have been known detection methods with reference to a plurality of operation means such as a detection with reference to a button pressing operation, a detection with reference to the player stepping operation, a detection with reference to images of the player in motion taken by a camera, a detection of vibration resulting from a tap motion by the player, and the like.

In the detection methods with reference to the above-described player button pressing operation and the above-described player stepping operation, the player can carry out his desired game operation by appropriately operating a button or a specific site on a console platform for stepping operation (for example, a pedal or the like) necessary to provide operation input (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Also, as a method that releases the player from learning how to operate the button and the like required for input for game operation, a method of detecting a motion of the player with a camera, a method of detecting vibration produced in the device by a “tap motion” of the player tapping the operation input means, and the like are proposed. The employment of a method for detecting such special operation input enables accurate reflection of a game operation desired by the player (see Patent Document 3).
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT(S)
Patent Document(s)

* Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-232060
* Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-036167
* Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-287794

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, game devices employing the aforementioned detection methods proposed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 have the disadvantages that the player must hold a device required to provide operation input (controller) and learn the functions of the buttons required for operation input in order to carry out the operation. Game operation performed by the appropriate operation of a specific site of a platform involves the disadvantage that, unless the player learns the specific site on the platform, the player cannot carry out the game operation for an actual game. Therefore, the necessity for the player to hold a device required for operation input by hand or the necessity for the player to memorize various motions for providing operation input is a considerable burden on players who cannot hold a device necessary for operation input for some reason or who are beginners in game, which is one of the causes of losing interest in games.

In game devices employing the aforementioned detection methods proposed by Patent Document 3, the use of a special device designed specially for implementing the special detection methods is required. The special-designed device is incapable of being used for any game except for a special game using the specially-designed device. Even if the special-designed device can be used for a game other than the special game, an error or noise may possibly be included in an input signal in the input method based on the operation of the specially-designed device. Moreover, a game device employing the input method based on the specially-designed device is limited in installation site, resulting in lack of versatility and also lack of reality.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game device, a method for controlling a game of the game device, a program controlling the game and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program, which use a widely available, versatile operation device, in particular, vibration detecting means for detecting vibration, to detect a vibration signal without use of a special game device as described above, in particular, of a special game operation device, and determine it as an operation signal for controlling a game in order to enable players to operate the game without learning the use of various buttons or a specific site on a console platform which are necessary to input the operation signal.

[eduardo]

Means for Solving the Problem(s)

To address the problems, an invention according to claim 1 provides a game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein the input means comprises vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means,

the control means comprises vibration level determination means for determining a level of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, and

the control means executes game control using determination information determined by the vibration level determination means as the operation input information received from the input means.

An invention according to claim 2 provides a game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein the input means comprises,

vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means, and

vibration level determination means for determining a level of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, and

the control means executes game control using determination information determined by the vibration level determination means as the operation input information received from the input means.

An invention according to claim 3 provides a game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein the input means comprises vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means,

the control means comprises

vibration pattern determination means for determining one or more level pattern of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means, and

special input command determination means for determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination means matches a special input command previously set, and

the control means executes game control using the special input command matching determined by the special input command determination means as the operation input means received from the input means.

An invention according to claim 4 provides a game device, comprising:

input means capable of acquiring operation input in a game as operation input information; and

control means for controlling game progress on the basis of the operation input information,

wherein the input means comprises

vibration detection means for detecting vibration applied to the input means, and

vibration pattern determination means for determining one or more level patterns of a vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means,

the control means comprises special input command determination means for determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination means matches a special input command previously set, and

the control means executes game control using the special input command matching determined by the special input command determination means as the operation input means received from the input means.

An invention according to claim 5 relates to the game device according to any of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein

the input means comprises vibration generation means,

the control means comprises

mounting determination means for determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration detection signal of a previously-set first predetermined value or less is received for a certain time-period from the vibration detection means,

vibration generation means for allowing the vibration generation means mounted on the mounting site to generate a first vibration for a predetermined time on the basis of a determination result by the mounting determination means,

natural-vibration value calculation means for calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from the vibration detection signal of the first vibration detected by the vibration detection means, and

vibration correction value calculation means for correcting a vibration detection signal of a second vibration applied to the mounting site as the operation input information detected by the vibration detection means, on the basis of the natural vibration value, and

the vibration level determination means determines the level on the basis of the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means.

An invention according to claim 6 relates to the game device according to any of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein

the input means comprises vibration generation means,

the control means comprises

mounting determination means for determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration detection signal of a previously-set first predetermined value or less is input for a certain time-period from the vibration detection means,

vibration generation means for allowing the vibration generation means mounted on the mounting site to generate a first vibration for a predetermined time on the basis of a determination result by the mounting determination means,

natural-vibration value calculation means for calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from the vibration detection signal of the first vibration detected by the vibration detection means, and

vibration correction value calculation means for correcting a vibration detection signal of a second vibration applied to the mounting site as the operation input information detected by the vibration detection means, on the basis of the natural vibration value, and

the vibration pattern determination means determines the level pattern on the basis of the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means.

An invention according to claim 7 relates to the game device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration pattern determination means comprises input vibration classification means for classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration in one or more level patterns with use of intensity as a criterion by a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

An invention according to claim 8 relates to the game device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration pattern determination means comprises tap/rest setting means for making a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration correspond to an elapsed time axis to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

An invention according to claim 9 relates to the game device according to claim 7, further comprising storage means,

wherein the control means

the vibration pattern determination means comprises

vibration correction value storage means for sequentially storing the vibration detection signals of the second vibration corrected by the vibration correction value calculation means in time sequence order in the storage means as a third vibration detection signal,

level pattern threshold calculation means for calculating a threshold used for classification for determining which level pattern the third vibration detection signal belongs to, on the basis of one or more piece of information including newest information on the third vibration detection signals stored in time sequence by the vibration correction value storage means, and

level pattern storage means for determining which level pattern the newest third vibration detection signal after correction belongs to, on the basis of the calculated threshold, and storing information relating to the determined level pattern in the storage means.

An invention according to claim 10 relates to the game device according to claim 8, further comprising storage means,

wherein the control means comprises

tap time-interval storage means for, regarding the vibration detection signal of the second vibration corrected by the vibration value calculation means, sequentially storing, in time sequence order, time intervals at which the vibration detection signals of the second vibration adjacent to each other in time sequence are input in the storing means,

rest determination time correction means for calculating a corrected rest determination time corrected, on the basis of the time interval and/or a previously-set rest determination time stored in the tap time-interval storage means, when it is determined that the vibration detection signal is not input, and

rest period determination means for determining, as the rest period, the elapsed time axis along which it is determined that the vibration detection signal is not input, when it is determined that a difference time value S between a current time value and a time value input by the vibration detection signal of the second vibration is larger than the corrected rest determination time.

An invention according to claim 11 relates to the game device according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising

conversion value calculation means for calculating a conversion value on the basis of a predetermined equation when the vibration detection signal detected by the vibration detection means is equal to or less than a second predetermined value.

An invention according to claim 12 relates to the game device according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising

associated vibration setting means for measuring vibration detection signals predetermined times detected by the vibration detection means, and when the input means detects one-time vibration, for setting vibration detected except for the one-time vibration as associated vibration generated with the one-time vibration, on the basis of the vibration detection signals measured predetermined times.

Further, an invention according to claim 13 provides a method of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration detection means for detecting vibration, comprising

a vibration level determination step of determining a level pattern of a vibration value detected by the vibration detection means to obtain determination information; and

a vibration-level-determination-based game-control step of controlling execution of a game by use of the determination information obtained by the vibration level determination step as game control information.

An invention according to claim 14 provides a method of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration generation means and vibration detection means for detecting vibration, comprising

a mounting determination step of determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration value of a previously-set predetermined value or less is detected for a certain time-period by the vibration detection means;

a vibration start step of starting a first vibration by the vibration generation means on the basis of a determination result in the mounting determination step;

a vibration detection step of actuating the vibration detection means to detect the first vibration when the first vibration occurs by the vibration start step;

a natural-vibration value calculation step of calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from a first vibration value based on the first vibration detected by the vibration detection step;

when the vibration detection means detects a second vibration applied to the mounting site and used for operation input, a correction value calculation step of calculating a correction value on the basis of a second vibration value based on the second vibration and the natural vibration value; and

a correction value operation conversion step of converting operation input information based on the correction value into game control information.

An invention according to claim 15 relates to the method of game control according to claim 14, comprising:

a vibration pattern determination step of determining one or more level patterns of the correction value calculated in the correction value calculation step;

a special input commend determination step of determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined in the vibration pattern determination step matches a previously-set special input command; and

a command execution step of executing game control by use of the special input command determined to match in the special input signal determination step as the operation input information input from the input means.

An invention according to claim 16 relates to the method of game control according to claim 14, wherein the vibration pattern determination step comprises input vibration classification step of classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration in one or more level patterns with use of intensity as a criterion by a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

An invention according to claim 17 relates to the method of game control according to claim 14, wherein the vibration pattern determination step comprises tap/rest setting step of making a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration correspond to an elapsed time axis to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

An invention according to claim 18 provides a program of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration detection means for detecting vibration, comprising

a vibration level determination program of determining a level pattern of a vibration value detected by the vibration detection means to obtain determination information; and

a vibration-level-determination-based game-control program of controlling execution of a game by use of the determination information obtained by the vibration level determination program as game control information.

An invention according to claim 19 provides a program of controlling game progress in a game device including input means having vibration generation means and vibration detection means for detecting vibration, comprising

a mounting determination program having a step of determining that the input means is mounted on an installable mounting site when a vibration value of a previously-set predetermined value or less is detected for a certain time-period by the vibration detection means;

a vibration start program having a step of starting a first vibration by the vibration generation means on the basis of a determination result in the mounting determination program;

a vibration detection program having a step of actuating the vibration detection means to detect the first vibration when the first vibration occurs by the vibration start program;

a natural-vibration value calculation program having a step of calculating a natural vibration value in the mounting site from a first vibration value based on the first vibration detected by the vibration detection program;

a correction value calculation program that has, when the vibration detection means detects a second vibration applied to the mounting site and used for operation input, a step of calculating a correction value on the basis of a second vibration value based on the second vibration and the natural vibration value; and

a correction value operation conversion program having a step of converting operation input information based on the correction value into game control information.

An invention according to claim 20 relates to the program of game control according to claim 19, which comprises:

a vibration pattern determination program having a step of determining which level pattern of one or more level patterns the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation program corresponds to;

a special input signal determination program having a step of determining whether or not an array corresponding to time sequence of information relating to the level pattern determined by the vibration pattern determination program matches a previously-set special input command; and

a command execution program having a step of executing game control by use of the special input command determined to match by the special input signal determination program as the operation input information input from the input means.

An invention according to claim 21 relates to the program of game control according to claim 19, wherein the vibration pattern determination program comprises input vibration classification program having a step of classifying the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration in one or more level pattern with use of intensity as a criterion by a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration.

An invention according to claim 22 relates to the program of game control according to claim 19, wherein the vibration pattern determination program comprises tap/rest setting program having a step of making a level of the corrected vibration detection signal of the second vibration correspond to an elapsed time axis to set a level pattern including a tap input period in which it is determined that the vibration detection signal has been input, and a rest period in which the vibration detection signal has not been input.

An invention according to claim 23 provides a computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to any of claim 18 to claim 22.

The computer-readable recording medium includes a recording medium capable of recording data of a program such as an optical disc including a CD-ROM, a DVD and the like, a flash memory, a RAM, a ROM, a magnetic disc drive and the like.

The aforementioned input means is an input device capable of accepting various input operations of a player, for example, an input device including a remote controller, a controller and the like.

The first predetermined value means a threshold for detecting primitive (natural occurrence) vibration without application of vibration generated by vibration start means to a mounting site, and also irrespective of operation of the player. The second predetermined value means a value serving as a reference for input as an operation signal, which is greater than the vibration in the mounting site (first predetermined value) out of the vibrations detected by the vibration detection means. In a process in the present invention, a detected vibration value equal to or less than the first predetermined value is assumed as a naturally generated vibration value and is not employed as operation input signal. Then, when the detected vibration value is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value and equal to or less than the second predetermined value, a conversion process is performed by predetermined procedure in order to use the vibration value as a game control signal, so that the converted information is used as the operation input signal to execute game control.

Moreover, the aforementioned game control program based on the vibration level determination refers to a program for controlling a previously set game for each piece of determination information determined in the aforementioned vibration level determination step (or by vibration level program). The game control program based on the vibration level determination refers to, for each piece of determination information, for example, a program for displaying a presentation of moving image of a small-scaled firework on the monitor, a program for displaying a presentation of moving image of continuous launching of large-scaled fireworks on the monitor, or the like.

[Egregore]

Interesting, though if this actually materializes I hope it doesn't turn out to be a wii rip off. though I would buy it no matter what it was as long as its made by Sega

[STB]

It's only the patent for Yuji Naka's Let's Tap.