Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Player-actuated control structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-02
2001-04-17
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Player-actuated control structure
C463S007000, C463S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217449
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image generating device and information storage medium, which generates an image seen from a given viewpoint in an object space.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, image generating devices have been developed and put into practice, which dispose a number of objects in an object space which is a virtual three-dimensional space, and generate the image within the object space seen from a given viewpoint; these have become popular as a means of experiencing so-called virtual reality. To take an image generating device providing a rafting game as an example, a player rows with his own hands an oar provided as an operating means to propel a moving body such as a boat within object space, to enjoy an “experience” game. This is to say, a force corresponding to the kinetic energy of the movement of the player's legs and arms moves a moving body, and thereby the moving body is propelled through object space.
However, in this type of bodily sensing game, there is the problem that a player of low strength, or a player whose movements are slow, when compared with a player of high strength, or a player whose movements are fast, has difficulty in smoothly propelling the moving body. Further, to make the game more interesting, the course is preferably provided with vertical relief, but when such vertical relief is provided, a player of low strength or a player whose movements are slow finds it even more difficult to propel the moving body smoothly along the course.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made as a result of considering the above described problems, and has as its object the provision of an image generating device and information storage medium such that even a player of low strength or of slow movements can smoothly move a moving body in an object space.
In order to achieve this object, the present invention is an image generating device generating an image seen from a given viewpoint in an object space, comprising:
means for performing calculation to move at least one moving body along a course in object space based on at least a first force being a force corresponding to kinetic energy of movements of a player input by an operating means and a second force being a force pulling along a progressing direction of the course in object space; and
means for generating an image seen from a given viewpoint in object space.
In addition to the first force which is a force corresponding to the kinetic energy which is input by using the operating means, a second force, pulling the moving body along the progressing direction of the course, also acts on the moving body. Moreover, since this second force acts on the moving body to move it in the progressing direction along the course, a player of low strength, a player whose movements are slow, or the like is able to smoothly move the moving body along the course, with the assistance of this second force.
It should be noted that the first force may be a force corresponding to kinetic energy which is input by using an operating means, and for example, may be a force which increases when the kinetic energy is high, and decreases when the kinetic energy is low. Therefore, when determining the magnitude and direction of this first force, it is not necessary to directly detect the kinetic energy, and the decision may be based on the movement velocity, rotation velocity or the like, of a member making up the operating means.
As an aspect of the present invention, the kinetic energy is obtained by moving operating means using a player's limb. In a bodily sensing game of the type where a player moves a hand or foot to propel a moving body forward, a player with a weak hand or foot, or a player unable to move a hand or foot rapidly is not able to propel the moving body smoothly, and is not able to enjoy the game. However, since the second force acts on the moving body to assist the player, the present invention enables even such a player to enjoy this type of bodily sensing game.
As another aspect of the present invention, the course has vertical relief, and the moving body is moved along the course based on the first and second forces, and a gravity acting in the vertical direction. By this means, a player feels a sensation of gravity on a complicated course with vertical relief (ups and downs), while being able to move the moving body. Thus the player can be given an enhanced sense of virtual reality. Moreover, when a course is given vertical relief in this way and at the same time gravity acts on the moving body, climbing an uphill slope becomes difficult. However, with the present invention, since the second force assists on the moving body, even a player of low strength or the like is able to enjoy the game.
As yet another aspect of the present invention, the second force acting on the moving body is cancelled when the moving body is in a given state. In this way, the occurrence of a situation such that the moving body which should be stationary is moved by the second force and would impart to the player an unnatural sensation, is effectively prevented.
As still another aspect of the present invention, when there is a plurality of moving bodies, the magnitude of the second force is varied according to at least one of a distance between moving bodies and rank order of moving bodies. In this way, since a large second force acts on a moving body which has become a long distance from other moving bodies or fallen behind in the rank order, thus allowing a game of red-hot competition to realize a dead heat.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the further the distance from moving body in the lead on the course, the second force is made larger. As yet further aspect of the present invention, the lower the rank order of a moving body, the second force is made larger. In this case, there are various possibilities which may be considered as the distance, among them, for example, the traveling distance between the moving bodies or the straight line distance.
As a still further aspect of the present invention, the movement of one of a bicycle, a boat, and an animal is simulated. In this way, a game of red-hot competition using a bicycle, a boat, an animal, or the like, may be enjoyed by a player.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4630817 (1986-12-01), Buckley
patent: 5591104 (1997-01-01), Andrus et al.
patent: 5860861 (1999-01-01), Lipps et al.
patent: 5947824 (1999-09-01), Minami et al.
patent: 6024675 (2000-02-01), Kashiwaguchi
Namco Ltd.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Paradiso John
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
Image generating device and information storage medium does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image generating device and information storage medium, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image generating device and information storage medium will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2532914