Education and demonstration – Vehicle operator instruction or testing – Bicycle or motorcycle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-30
2001-03-13
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Vehicle operator instruction or testing
Bicycle or motorcycle
C434S30700R, C434S069000, C434S029000, C273S14800B, C273S442000, C463S031000, C463S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200138
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game display method for displaying a game in which a movable object is moved in a virtual space, a direction display method for displaying a moving direction in which the movable object is moved to a destination in a virtual space, a game apparatus for displaying the game and the moving direction, and a drive simulating apparatus for operators simulating the drive.
The conventional race game apparatuses installed in amusement facilities, etc. are largely sorted in two kinds. In the race game apparatuses of one kind, one main road extended from a point A to a point B is set, and game players compete in times they take to arrive at the point B from the point A. In the race game apparatuses of the other kind, a circuit course is set, and game players drive along the circuit course at preset times to compete in their required periods of time. Some of such game apparatuses include drive simulation apparatuses for simulating drives of motor bikes, automobiles, etc. Such game apparatuses can make game players feel as if they actually ride and drive the motor bikes, automobiles, etc., and can give actual feeling and are very popular.
Although the conventional race game apparatuses are elaborate in the course setting and the drive simulation apparatuses, principles of the race games are not known, and innovational race games are keenly expected. In response to this expectation are proposed new race game apparatuses in which, in place of the courses set in the conventional race game apparatuses, a town of a large city is produced in a virtual space, and game players can drive freely in places other than streets, which are in the town.
In a case that the free drive in the town is enabled, the game players might collide with people in the virtual space, but images of hitting people must be avoided, because recently it is strongly required to avoid cruel game images. To avoid such images it is considered that no person is present in the virtual space, but it is unnatural that no person is present in a town, which might make it unrealistic. It is possible to make images in which when the game players collide with people, they pass through the people, but undeniably such images are unnatural.
In the case that the free drive in the town is enabled, the game players might be lost, and it is necessary to indicate to the game players directions to destinations. In this case easily understandable direction indications are necessary.
Furthermore, race game apparatuses do not provide game players with life like driving sensations. Accordingly, there is a need for race game apparatuses which provides game players with a more realistic environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a game display method and an apparatus which permits people to be present in virtual space, such as a city or others, while not permitting cruel images, as of colliding with the people to be avoided.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a moving direction indication method which can make direction indications which are easy to be understood by operators freely moved in the virtual space, such as a city or others, and a game apparatus.
Further another object of the present invention is to provide a game display method and a game apparatus which can make displays which are easily understandable for an operator who gets, in a virtual space, such as a city or others, a specific object and carries the object to a destination.
Further another object of the present invention is to provide a drive simulation method which can provide real driving feeling.
The above-described object can be achieved by a game display method for displaying a game in which a movable object is moved in a virtual space, comprising the steps of: setting a dangerous area around the movable object; and when a character enters the dangerous area, moving the character in a direction in which the character is moved away from the movable object. Cruel images of collisions of the movable object with the character can be prevented.
In the above-described game display method it is possible that a caution area is set around the dangerous area, and when a character enters the caution area, the character is caused to pause. In a case that after the pause the character moves away from the approaching movable object, his moving-away motion can appear smooth, and at the same time the character can be prevented from unintentionally moving into a dangerous area.
In the above-described game display method it is possible that the dangerous area is set to cover an area in a direction of movement of the movable object, based on a moving direction of the movable object and/or a moving speed thereof. A dangerous area can be set in accordance with drive of the movable object.
The above-described object can be achieved by a game display method for displaying an object in a virtual space, comprising the steps of: setting an area around a first object; and when a second object enters the area, moving the second object outside the area, based on positional information of the first object and positional information of the second object. Collision of the first object with the second object can be prevented.
In the above-described game display method it is possible that when the second object enters the area, the second object is moved in a direction intersecting at a prescribed angle to a direction interconnecting a reference position of the first object and a reference position of the second object. Collision of the first object with the second object can be prevented without awkward movement.
The above-described object can be achieved by a game display method for moving to a destination in a virtual space a movable object which is moved in the virtual space, comprising the step of: displaying at a prescribed position in the virtual space a virtual object which indicates a direction from the prescribed position to the destination. Direction indications can be simply made.
The above-described object can be achieved by a moving direction display method for displaying a moving direction of a movable object which is moved in a virtual space to a destination therein, comprising the steps of: setting in the virtual space a plurality of moving direction indicating positions for indicating moving directions; and displaying arrows which are directed from the direction indicating positions to the destination being displayed and are not dependent on positional relationships between the direction indicating positions and the movable object when the movable object comes near to the direction indicating positions, whereby a moving direction for the movable object to move on is indicated. Moving direction indications can be readily understandable to operators freely driving in a city can be made.
In the above-described moving direction display method it is possible that the direction indicating positions are set at intersections of movement ways in the virtual space. Moving direction indications can be more understandable.
The above-described object can be achieved by a game apparatus for executing a game in which a movable object is moved in a virtual space, comprising: setting means for setting a dangerous area around the movable object; and display means which, when a character enters the dangerous area, the character is displayed to move in a direction in which the person moves away from the movable object.
In the above-described game apparatus it is possible that the setting means sets a caution area around the dangerous area; and the display means which, when a character enters the caution area, displays the character to pause.
In the above-described game apparatus it is possible that the setting means sets the dangerous area to cover an area in a moving direction of the movable object, based on a moving direction of the movable object and/or a moving speed thereof.
The above-described object can be achieved by a game apparatus for executing a game in which a movable objec
Ando Takeshi
Goi Toshikazu
Ito Masaaki
Takasugi Tomoya
Tsukamoto Kazunari
Dickstein , Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, LLP
Harris Chanda
O'Neill Michael
Sega Enterprises Ltd.
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