Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Perceptible output or display
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-28
2001-02-06
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Perceptible output or display
C463S001000, C463S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183363
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game device, and more particularly relates to the improvement, etc. of the screen display method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the so-called video game devices, by watching the screen and operating the pad to control the movement of the objects, the game is advanced. In the recent 3D (three-dimensional) game devices, there are types in which the display with a plurality of viewpoints within the virtual space is possible.
However, if the screen is switched due to changes in the viewpoint, there are situations in which the player may not be able to immediately react to the game in the new screen because the game is advancing in real-time within the virtual space. Such case is not desirable in that the player's reaction is delayed and the game becomes too difficult.
Furthermore, as the game screen is able to react quickly pursuant to the CPU becoming highly efficient, it will become difficult to hit fast pitches in baseball games, etc.
Moreover, as game devices generally only possess input devices with basic structures, the direct input of commands, etc. is difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present invention aims at providing a game device that is easy for the player to use and the screen display method thereof. Specifically, the aim is to give the player sufficient time to react by advancing the game from a position slightly returned from the time axis of the game when the screen is switched.
In order to achieve this aim, the game device of the present invention comprises game proceeding means for arranging an object in the virtual space formed within the computer system and proceeding the game by controlling the movement of the object according to input operations and rules set forth, displaying means for displaying a screen of the situation seen from a certain viewpoint within the virtual space, distinguishing means for distinguishing the occurrence of a certain event in the game, data storing means for storing the data of objects into the memory in correspondence with the occurrence of the event, condition distinguishing means for continuing the game until a fixed condition is fulfilled from the occurrence of the event, reforming means for reforming the virtual space with data of the stored object when the fixed condition is fulfilled, and viewpoint position changing means for changing the position of the viewpoint after the reformation.
It is preferable if this condition distinguishing means is a timer that generates output when time no. 1 is elapsed from the occurrence of the event. In addition, it is preferable for data storing means to store data of the object into the memory when time no. 2, which is shorter than time no. 1, is elapsed after the occurrence of the event. Furthermore, it is preferable if this time no. 2 is set forth in correspondence with the object bearing the character of the game.
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is the baseball game device. This baseball game device includes at least a showdown situation between the pitcher and batter, and comprises pitch distinguishing means for distinguishing the pitch thrown by the pitcher, timing means which starts timing in response to the pitch, and means for displaying the elapsed time on the screen until the pitch has been caught.
The screen display method of the game device of the present invention is a screen display method when the viewpoint is switched in the game device which is able to display from a different viewpoint in the situation of the game proceeded by the arrangement of objects within the virtual space, and advances the game for a short time with the present viewpoint when a specific event occurs in which the viewpoint should be changed, returns the time axis in the virtual space to for a certain time when the above short time has elapsed, and advances the game again by switching the above viewpoint to another viewpoint. It is desirable that this certain time is set forth in correspondence with the object bearing the character of the game.
As a preferred screen display method of the present invention, there is a screen display method of a baseball game device. This screen display method of a baseball game device is an display method of a screen in a baseball game device including a pitching screen in which the subject is the pitcher and batter, and displays the elapsed time, which is the time from when the pitcher throws the ball until such pitch has been caught, on the pitching screen.
The information processing device (game device) of the present invention comprises rhythm input means for inputting rhythm, rhythm storing means for storing in advance a specific rhythm and information in correspondence, distinguishing means for distinguishing whether or not the input rhythm and the stored rhythm coincide, and information outputting means for outputting the corresponding information in the event the input rhythm and the rhythm stored in advance coincide.
The information storage medium of the present invention stores the program to function a computer system as a game device etc.
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Abe Teruhito
Ishihara Manabu
Mukaida Kazuyuki
Cheng Joe H.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
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