Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Player-actuated control structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-07
2003-07-08
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Player-actuated control structure
C463S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06589117
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fishing game system and an input device preferably used for the game, with which a player can enjoy a virtual experience of fishing through virtual game images.
In fishing (or angling) games of this kind, how a feeling of operating a fishing rod and a reel is reproduced is an essential factor which attracts player's interest. From this point of view, a conventional fishing game system is provided with an operation lever arranged at a front position on a console attached to a frame of the game system and an input unit with a handle arranged on the operation lever. The operation lever is formed into a fishing-rod-like shape and is operable forward and backward directions of the player. The handle imitates a fishing reel. Thus, a play mode is realized by moving the operation lever forward and backward as if to handle a fishing rod up and down, and by rotating the handle as if to reel up a fish toward the player.
There exists another type of conventional fishing game system in which an input unit imitating a reel on an axial member separated from a frame, but connected with the frame by a flexible wire and others. By this configuration, a player can freely operate the axial member in any three-dimensional direction as if the player handles an actual fishing rod. On the basis of tension applied to the wire and other factors, the movement of the axial member is detected.
However, the above conventional fishing game systems still have the following drawbacks. In the case of the former type, the operation of the operation lever is restricted to the forward-backward direction of a player. As a result, it is difficult to satisfactorily reproduce the action of moving the fishing rod rightward and/or leftward to resist the pulling forth of the fishing line caused by a running fish, and/or, to make a various tricky lure action which is considered important in lure fishing. On the other hand, in the latter system, the problems that the first system poses are removed. However, there is another problem that a special sophisticated mechanism is necessary for detecting the movement of the axial member, resulting in an increased manufacturing cost of game systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game system and an input device therefor, which are capable of sufficiently reproducing a feeling of actual fishing with a simple mechanism for inputting operational information.
According to one aspect of the invention, the forgoing object is realized by a fishing game system including: a display device for displaying an image; an input device for outputting a signal in response to an operation by a player; and a game control device for referring to the signal outputted from the input device to perform a fishing game on a screen of the display device in accordance with a predetermined procedure, wherein the input device includes a first input unit having an operation lever operable in a lateral direction and a forward-backward direction of the player and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the operation lever; and a second input unit having a handle arranged on the operation lever rotatably operable about an axial line in the lateral direction and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the handle.
By this invention, the operations of the operation lever in the forward-backward direction and in the lateral direction can express the operations of an actual fishing rod, and the rotational operation of the handle can express the reeling-up operation of an actual reel. These operations change the reactions of virtual fishes in the game or the actions of the lure, thus sufficiently reproducing a feeling of actual fishing.
The operation lever may have a housing imitating a fishing reel, and the handle may be rotatably supported by the housing. By this, since the handle is operated with holding the reel-like housing, a feeling of operating a fishing reel can be reproduced. Since it is easily understood, at a glance, that this system is a fishing game system from the appearance of the input device, it is possible to promptly attract people who are interested in this kind of game.
The fishing game system may further include a resistance adjusting unit for changing a rotation resistance of the handle. By this configuration, the rotational resistance of the handle can be added to the progressing factors of the game.
The game control device may change the rotation resistance of the handle adjusted by the resistance adjusting unit in accordance with progress of the game. Thus, by way of example, the rotational resistance of the handle can be changed in accordance with the size or struggling action of a hooked fish. Practicing this invention makes it possible to enhance the enjoyment of the game by increasing or decreasing the rotational resistance according to the progress of the game.
The fishing game system may further include a vibrating unit for applying vibration to the operation lever. Therefore, the vibration of the operation lever can be added to the progressing factors of the game.
The game control device may control a vibration applying state to the operation lever performed by the vibrating unit in accordance with progress of the game. Therefore, for example, when a fish bites a lure, the operation lever can be vibrated to reproduce a feeling like the actual bite of the fish.
The input device may further include a third input unit having an operation element attached on the operation lever independently of the handle and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the operation element, and wherein the game control device controls the progress of the fishing game by assigning the operation of the operation element of the third input unit to a loosening operation of a tension of a virtual fishing line used in the game for a period from casting until picking-up of a fishing-rig. This feature makes it possible to use handling techniques, such as a free run of a fish or preventing a fishing line from being cut, by the loosening operation of the tension of the fishing line. Performing such techniques provides the game with a feeling closer to actual fishing. The fishing-rig referred herein includes jigs for use in the fishing with both live bait and pseudo-bait such as lures.
The input device may further include a fourth input unit for outputting a signal in accordance with operation of the player, and wherein the game control device decides a casting position of a fishing-rig in a virtual fishing place realized in the game on the basis of both the operation of the fourth input unit and the operation in the lateral direction of the operation lever. In this configuration, the casting position is decided based on the combined operation of the operation lever and the fourth input unit, so that the casting position can be freely changed according to the operator's operation. By advancing the game such that there arise differences in fishing results according to the casting positions, the game can produce a feeling like actual fishing.
When the fishing-rig is cast in the game, the game control device may display a casting gauge on a screen of the display device, changes an amount shown by the gauge continuously, decides a casting distance of the fishing-rig based on a relationship between the amount shown by the gauge and an operational timing to the fourth input unit, and decides a casting direction of the fishing-rig based on an operated amount in the lateral direction of the operation lever. With this treatment, operating the fourth input unit at proper timing with watching the continuously changing gauge amount enables the fishing-rig to be cast at a desired distance. Additionally, operating the operation lever in the lateral direction permits the fishing-rig to be cast into a desired direction.
The game control device may control the progress of the fishing game by assigning an operation of the operation lever in the la
Kawashima Hajime
Moritome Yasuyuki
Yokoi Eiji
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Konami Co. Ltd.
O'Neill Michael
LandOfFree
Fishing game system and input device therefor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fishing game system and input device therefor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fishing game system and input device therefor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3035326