Patents by Inventor Motomi Katayama

Motomi Katayama has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8167692
    Abstract: A moving character and a background image are displayed on a display screen with a touch panel thereon. When the player operates the touch panel to draw a line in an intended path extending between a start point and an end point along which the player wishes to guide the moving character, an operation trace image having the shape of the line drawn is displayed on the display screen. Then, the moving character moves along or in parallel to the operation trace image. The operation trace image is gradually erased after a predetermined amount of time elapses. Thus, it is possible to provide a video game device and a video game program in which the player can influence the moving path or the moving direction of the player (moving) character based on the shape and/or the direction of the line drawn by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., HAL Laboratory Inc.
    Inventors: Motomi Katayama, Teruyuki Gunji, Kouji Mori, Masaaki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20100022304
    Abstract: A moving character and a background image are displayed on a display screen with a touch panel thereon. When the player operates the touch panel to draw a line in an intended path extending between a start point and an end point along which the player wishes to guide the moving character, an operation trace image having the shape of the line drawn is displayed on the display screen. Then, the moving character moves along or in parallel to the operation trace image. The operation trace image is gradually erased after a predetermined amount of time elapses. Thus, it is possible to provide a video game device and a video game program in which the player can influence the moving path or the moving direction of the player (moving) character based on the shape and/or the direction of the line drawn by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Motomi KATAYAMA, Teruyuki Gunji, Kouji Mori, Masaaki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7637813
    Abstract: A moving character and a background image are displayed on a display screen with a touch panel thereon. When the player operates the touch panel to draw a line in an intended path extending between a start point and an end point along which the player wishes to guide the moving character, an operation trace image having the shape of the line drawn is displayed on the display screen. Then, the moving character moves along or in parallel to the operation trace image. The operation trace image is gradually erased after a predetermined amount of time elapses. Thus, it is possible to provide a video game device and a video game program in which the player can influence the moving path or the moving direction of the player (moving) character based on the shape and/or the direction of the line drawn by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., HAL Laboratory Inc.
    Inventors: Motomi Katayama, Teruyuki Gunji, Kouji Mori, Masaaki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060094502
    Abstract: A moving character and a background image are displayed on a display screen with a touch panel thereon. When the player operates the touch panel to draw a line in an intended path extending between a start point and an end point along which the player wishes to guide the moving character, an operation trace image having the shape of the line drawn is displayed on the display screen. Then, the moving character moves along or in parallel to the operation trace image. The operation trace image is gradually erased after a predetermined amount of time elapses. Thus, it is possible to provide a video game device and a video game program in which the player can influence the moving path or the moving direction of the player (moving) character based on the shape and/or the direction of the line drawn by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicants: Nintendo Co., Ltd., HAL Laboratory Inc.
    Inventors: Motomi Katayama, Teruyuki Gunji, Kouji Mori, Masaaki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 6045447
    Abstract: An objective of this invention is to increase the variety of game stages and thus provide a player with a personally-designed game stage. This invention relates to a competitive game in which the player can select one of a plurality of game stages, such as a tennis court. Thus an image is created for enabling selection of a game stage on which the player is to play, from a plurality of game stages, and an image is created for enabling the player to compete against another player on the thus selected game stage. An image is also created for placing an item acquired during competition on the game stage. This enables the player to place items within a game stage and thus create a personally-designed game stage, and also makes play on that game stage more enjoyable. Note that it is preferable that an item possessed by another player can be acquired by transferring it by means of an IC card or communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Namco Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshizawa, Motomi Katayama
  • Patent number: D435542
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Namco Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Onoda, Motomi Katayama, Masahiro Shimamoto