Game for moving an object on a screen in response to movement of an operation article

Abstract

Since a cursor displayed on a screen of a television monitor moves in conjunction with a motion of an operation article operated by a player, intuitive operation can be possible so that the player can play a game easily. A mermaid displayed on the screen follows the cursor when the player moves the cursor by operating the operation article. In this way, the player operates the mermaid indirectly and avoids obstacle objects and obstacle images.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A game apparatus comprising:
 an imaging device operable to image an operation article and generate an image signal;   a state information calculating unit operable to calculate state information of said operation article on the basis of said image signal;   a cursor control unit operable to control display of a cursor indicating location of said operation article on a screen in accordance with said state information of said operation article; and   a following object control unit operable to control display of a following object which follows said cursor on the basis of a coordinate information of said cursor.   
   
   
       21 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising a restrictive image control unit operable to control a restrictive image which limits movement of the following object. 
   
   
       22 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said restrictive image control unit comprises:
 a background image control unit operable to control background scroll;   wherein a background includes said restrictive image.   
   
   
       23 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said restrictive image is an image constructing a maze. 
   
   
       24 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein, when said following object touches or enters an area where said restrictive image is displayed, a game is over. 
   
   
       25 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said operation article comprises: a reflecting portion which reflects light. 
   
   
       26 . A game program embodied in a computer readable medium which enables a computer to perform a process, said process comprising:
 a step of imaging an operation article and generating an image signal;   a step of calculating state information of said operation article on the basis of said image signal;   a step of controlling display of a cursor which indicates location of said operation article on a screen on the basis of said state information; and   a step of controlling display of a following object which follows said cursor on the basis of coordinate information of said cursor.   
   
   
       27 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a light emitting unit operable to direct light onto said operation article. 
   
   
       28 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein:
 said light emitting unit directs light onto said operation article at a predetermined interval;   said imaging device is operable to image said operation article with and without light emitted from said light emitting unit, and generate the lighted image signal and a non-lighted image signal;   said game apparatus further comprises a differential signal generating unit operable to generate a differential signal between said lighted image signal and said non-lighted image signal; and   said state information calculating unit calculates the state information of said operation article on the basis of said differential signal.   
   
   
       29 . A game apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said reflecting portion retroreflects light. 
   
   
       30 . A game program as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said process further comprises a step of directing light onto said operation article. 
   
   
       31 . A game program as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein:
 said step of directing light directs light onto said operation article at predetermined intervals;   said step of imaging images said operation article with and without light emitted, and generates a lighted and a non-lighted image signal;   said process further comprises a step of generating a differential signal between said lighted image signal and said non-lighted image signal; and   said step of calculating calculates said state information on the basis of the differential signal.   
   
   
       32 . A game method comprising:
 a step of imaging an operation article and generating an image signal;   a step of calculating state information of said operation article on the basis of said image signal;   a step of controlling display of a cursor which indicates location of said operation article on a screen on the basis of said state information; and   a step of controlling display of a following object which follows said cursor on the basis of coordinate information of said cursor.   
   
   
       33 . A game method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising a step of directing light onto said operation article. 
   
   
       34 . A game method as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein:
 said step of directing light directs light onto said operation article at predetermined intervals;   said step of imaging images said operation article with and without light emitted, and generates a lighted and a non-lighted image signal;   said game method further comprises a step of generating a differential signal between said lighted image signal and said non-lighted image signal; and   said step of calculating calculates said state information on the basis of the differential signal.