Summary:

The ‘322 patent describes a game with a controller with an operation surface that produces an audible percussive sound when subjected to a physical impact. The controller generates audible sounds in response to an elastic deformation of the striking surface. The sounds are generated whenever a player beats on the controller and the game process is changed depending on the volume (determined by how hard the strike is) value of the operation sound.

Abstract:

A game system includes a game apparatus, and the game apparatus is connected with a monitor and a percussion-type controller. When a game player beats a first beating operation surface or a second beating operation surface, first operation data is input from the controller to the game apparatus. Furthermore, when a microphone detects an operation sound generated at a time that a beating operation is performed, second operation data including volume data is input from the controller to the game apparatus. In the game apparatus, when a magnitude of the volume data is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, an ability value as to an action of the player object to be executed according to a command indicated by the first operation data is changed to execute the action.

Illustrative Claim:

1. A game system for displaying a game image including a player object operable by a player on a display apparatus, comprising: a controller device having an operation surface that produces an audible percussive sound when subjected to a physical impact, said controller also generating an operation data input signal in response to an elastic deformation of said surface by a physical impact; operation data detector programmed logic circuitry configured to detect one or more operation data input signals generated by said controller device in response to a beating of said operation surface of said controller device by said player; an audible sound detector that detects one or more audible percussive sounds produced by said beating upon the operation surface of the controller or by other audible percutient player actions; volume value determining programmed logic circuitry configured to determine a volume level value for an audible percussive sound detected by said sound detector; and game processing programmed logic circuitry configured to change a game process in response to an operation data input signal when both an operation data input signal and an audible percussive sound are detected as occurring together within a predetermined time period.