Motion Controller Mapping for Consistent Basketball Shot Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

In ball sport games where a controller is used for swinging operations, variations in how users hold the controller can affect the intended operation results due to differences in orientation, leading to inconsistent gameplay experiences.

Innovation Solution

A game program that utilizes acceleration and angular velocity data from sensors to establish a correspondence between the controller's orientation and game actions, allowing for consistent gameplay regardless of how the controller is held, with features like button states and threshold-based conditions for actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If control is based on the direction in which the controller is swung and the orientation of the controller, then operation responsiveness is improved, but holding variations cause inconsistent operation results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation responsivenessVSAvoidoperation result consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for orientation determination from the controller's absolute orientation to the change amount (angular velocity) of orientation. By using angular velocity data from the angular velocity sensor to calculate the change amount of the swing direction, the system becomes insensitive to the initial holding orientation, thereby resolving the contradiction between responsiveness and consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical orientation-based control system with a sensor-based inertial measurement system. By using acceleration sensors and angular velocity sensors to detect motion changes rather than relying on the physical orientation of the controller, the system achieves both responsiveness and consistency regardless of how the controller is held.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the controller orientation is used for determining swing direction, then shot direction accuracy is improved, but different holding ways lead to incorrect shot directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshot direction accuracyVSAvoidholding flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a static orientation-based measurement to a dynamic change-amount measurement. By measuring the angular velocity and calculating the change amount of the swing direction rather than relying on the absolute orientation, the system accurately determines shot direction regardless of the player's holding posture, thereby maintaining both precision and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If acceleration data alone is used for movement detection, then operation simplicity is maintained, but pitch direction accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidpitch direction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the data from the acceleration sensor and angular velocity sensor to create a more precise pitch direction detection system. By combining acceleration data (for movement detection) with angular velocity data (for orientation change), the system achieves both operational simplicity and pitch direction accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances gameplay operability by minimizing the influence of holding variations, enabling intuitive and responsive player character movements and shots, particularly in basketball games.

Implementation Method 1

operation data including at least acceleration data and angular velocity data and transmitted from an operation device including an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

operation data including at least acceleration data and angular velocity data and transmitted from an operation device including an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAngular velocity: Gyroscope

Data Source

PatentUS20250352904A1Computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having game program stored therein, game processing method, game system, and game apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

In a ball sport game, based on operation data including at least acceleration data and angular velocity data, the following is executed: setting and updating a correspondence relationship between a direction in a space and a direction with respect to an operation device, in accordance with an orientation around a predetermined axis of the operation device; identifying an orientation of the operation device regarding a pitch in the space; in a case where a first condition for at least one of the acceleration data and the angular velocity data in an up-down direction in the space is satisfied, moving a player character having a ball; and in a case where a second condition for an orientation regarding the pitch in the space and at least one of the acceleration data and the angular velocity data is satisfied, causing the player character to do a shot action of shooting the ball.