Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Yukimi Shimura

Yoonjoon Lee

Steven Petofalvi

Rory A Johnston

Stephen Lee

Yoshihito Ikebata

Brian McNeely

Stephen Mortimer

Dean Russell

Wing S Cho

Akiya Sakamoto

Vivek Melwani

Robert Champagne

Shigeki Yamashiro

Jonathan Johnson

Nathan Hunley

Philip Brodsky

User interface approaches to providing help to players by playing back previously recorded inputs. Certain exemplary embodiments involve displaying, with the recorded playback, an input device icon to show where the inputs are occurring and/or where the inputs should occur if the player were to make them. Modifications are made to the previously recorded input to improve the user's ability to see what is happening, as well as making the playback seem more consistent, mechanical, and automatic. The help makes the computer application seem like the user interface is operating itself in a way that is easy to follow, rather than giving the impression that a previously recorded user input stream simply is being played back in accordance with the more organic and potentially idiosyncratic behaviors of the recorded person. The modifications may in certain exemplary embodiments include, for example, path smoothing/correction, automatic snapping, delay periods, speed normalization, etc.

Techniques for improved user interface helping super guides

In an editor a plurality of valid start points are determined. Based on this plurality of start points a user may select one of the points. When a user selects one of the points, the editor determines at least one valid end point. The user may then draw a line between the selected point and a valid end point. As a result of the connection between the two points a new environment is created in the editor.

Methods and/or systems for designing virtual environments

Methods and apparatus for controlling movement of a digital object displayed on a screen provide a virtual dynamic direction control pad based on zone detection and touch stroke direction to control customized animated character motion. A player wishing to move the digital object can use a stylus or other touch to indicate a first point on the screen. When the player first touches the stylus to the screen, the system analyzes the touch and divides the screen into multiple zones around the first point indicated by the player. To move the object, the player moves the stylus to a second point on the screen. Movement of the stylus to a second point within one of these zones causes the digital object to perform a predetermined action. Each zone has a predetermined associated action. Direct control of character motion by the game player is enhanced.

Touch-controlled game character motion providing dynamically-positioned virtual control pad

A touch-based computer graphics user interface enhances a stylus pen with virtual suction to create a virtual vacuum or suction tool. The virtual tool may simulate a physical world suction tool and/or provide capabilities not available in the real world. The virtual suction tool allows the user to feel as if he or she has transcended the boundary between the virtual world and the real world by physically holding in his or her hand an object that is able to interact with and virtually attract and contain items (e.g., objects with characteristics and behaviors) removed from or expellable into the virtual world. The resulting highly intuitive user interface provides fun and exciting video game play and has other applications as well.

Enhanced virtual suction tool

In an editor a plurality of valid start points are determined. Based on the plurality of start points a user may select one of the points. When a user selects one of the points, the editor determines at least one valid end point. The user may then draw a line between the selected point and a valid end point. As a result of the connection between the two points a new environment is created in the editor.

A method and apparatus that utilizes techniques for modifying the game space of a video game displayed on a display screen by inserting structural elements which become part of the game space and can interact with various game characters.

Rivet mechanisms

A game involves establishing a Wi-Fi connection for retrieving a template used to create a level for the game. A play test is conducted to determine if the created level of the game can be played. The created game level can be shared with other players and/or submitted as a contest for play and competition judging by other players.

Systems, methods and techniques for safely and effectively coordinating video game play contests both on and off line

A new user-friendly game editor allows game players with little or no experience to create new games or game levels. Game element structures can be 'drawn' using an 'auto completion' feature that automatically functionally connects and/or arranges chosen game elements to provide a visually pleasing environment that is easily navigated by game characters. Such technology can allow an end user game player with little or no technical background to easily develop game levels that are fun to play and do not suffer from any significant defects or other problems that would decrease ease of navigation, functionality or amount of fun. The user may share the authored game with other users via a network so other users can retrieve the game and play it on their own game playing devices. Users can provide feedback concerning the fun and functionality of the game. Good feedback can entitle the game author to recognition including for example bonus points. Bonus points can be redeemed for items listed in an online catalog, which in turn can be used to author ever more interesting game play levels.

Intelligent game editing system and method with autocomplete and other functions that facilitate game authoring by non-expert end users

A touch-based computer graphics user interface enhances a stylus pen with virtual suction to create a virtual vacuum or suction tool. The virtual tool may simulate a physical world suction tool and/or provide capabilities not available in the real world. The virtual suction tool allows the user to feel as if he or she has transcended the boundary between the virtual world and the real world by physically holding in his or her hand an object that is able to interact with and virtually attract and contain items removed from or expellable into the virtual world. The resulting highly intuitive user interface provides fun and exciting video game play and has other applications as well.

Virtual suction tool

Methods and apparatus for controlling movement of multiple independent animated objects such as characters displayed on a display use zone detection and touch stroke direction. A player wishing to move the digital objects can use a stylus or other touch to draw strokes or gestures on the screen. Different strokes can correspond to different types of control inputs. For example, based on where a stroke begins and ends on the screen relative to character position, different animated characters can be selected and controlled. Some strokes control only one animated character to move in a particular direction, whereas other strokes can control multiple objects to move in a coordinated manner.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Yukimi Shimura