Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a game requiring an element of a participants physical...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-21
2004-12-21
Harrison, Jessica (Department: 3714)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a game requiring an element of a participants physical...
C463S037000, C463S036000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06832954
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photographing game machine for playing games using camera-type input devices, a photographing game processing method and an information storage medium.
For current game machines installed in game arcades or the like, dedicated input devices having different structures depending on types of game machines and so on are often used. For car race games, for example, a handle, an accelerator, a brake or the like are provided, and an input device imitating a real car is used. Also, for shooting games, a barrel, a trigger or the like are provided, and an input device imitating a real gun is used. In this way, by using dedicated input devices with game contents taken into considerations, true-to-life game machines can be achieved.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For conventional game machines using various kinds of input devices as described above, the more unique the shape and use of the input device, the more strongly a player is impressed by the feature of the input device itself. Therefore, if considering a new type of game machine, some changes made to game contents without changing input devices will result in a lack of freshness as an impression given to the player. In other words, if same input devices are always used, it may be difficult to give a fresh impression to the player.
Against this backdrop, a new game machine using a camera as a new input device is being considered. For example, a “photographing game machine” using a camera controller is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-70548. This camera controller has a structure almost same as that of a digital camera, and by using this camera controller to photograph a game screen on a projector, a predetermined photographing game is played. This photographing game machine is provided with a photographing judgment section that makes a negative judgment against the result of photographing with a focus deviation, an angle deviation, unsteadiness or the like as subjects for demerit marks.
By the way, the photographing game machine disclosed in the above described specification has a disadvantage that processing is complicated because the camera controller having a structure almost same as that of the digital camera is used to actually take a photograph of a part of the game screen displayed by the projector, and a judgment is made as to the result of the photographing to carry out scoring processing and processing for continuation of the game. Particularly, with respect to judgment of the result of the photographing, it is described that a negative judgment is made with a focus deviation, an angle deviation, unsteadiness or the like as subjects for demerit marks, and a positive judgment is made when a photograph of specified scene can be taken and, for example, a photograph can be taken at the moment when the best smile is flashed in addition to factors such as composition in the case of a woman model, but when such a judgment is made by using actually photographed images, methods such as high-level pattern matching or the like should be used, resulting in compilation of processing. Furthermore, considering that the above described judgment processing is carried out each time the contents of the game screen are renewed (for example, every one sixtieth of a second), a CPU capable of performing extremely quick operation should be used, thus causing an increase in cost.
Also, the photographing game machine disclosed in the above described specification has a disadvantage that the image quality of photographed images is poor because the camera controller having a structure almost same as that of the digital camera is used to actually take a photograph of a part of the game screen displayed by the projector. Generally, if the game screen displayed by the projector or the like is photographed by using a camera, resolution reduced at the time of display is further reduced, thus making it impossible to obtain a clear photographed image. Furthermore, since it can also be considered that foreign light is let in a part of the game screen in some locations where photographing game machines are installed and under some illuminator placement conditions, the image quality of photographed images may further be reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Object of the Invention
The present invention has been created in the light of these points, and its object is to provide a photographing game machine in which a processing load can be relieved, a photographing game processing method and an information storage medium.
Also, another object of the present invention is to provide a photographing game machine in which the image quality of images obtained as a result of photographing can be improved, a photographing game processing method and an information storage medium.
Summary of the Invention
The photographing game machine of the present invention comprises a camera-type input device, a display device and a game operation section. A player can see a subject for photography included in a photo shooting range through the window of the camera-type input device. The display device displays a predetermined game screen including a target to be photographed. The game operation section performs predetermined game operations based on the position on the game screen, at which the camera-type input device is pointed. In this way, if the camera-type input device is used to perform an action to take a photograph of the game screen, the game progresses with detection of a position on the game screen corresponding to the photo shooting position, thus making it possible to relieve a processing load significantly, compared to the case where a judgment is made as to the contents of actually photographed images. Also, it is not necessary to provide the camera-type input device with an image pickup device such as a CCD (charge coupled device memory), thus making it possible to reduce costs.
Also, it is desirable that the above described game operation section comprises a photographed image extraction section extracting as an imitational photographed image an image on the game screen included in a predetermined range centering around the position on the game screen, at which the camera-type input device is pointed. Since a part of an image generated for displaying the game screen is extracted as a photographed image by the photographed image extraction section, there is no reduction in image quality compared to the photographed image obtained by actually taking a photograph, and the image quality when this photographed image is displayed and printed can be improved. Also, since a part of the image generated for displaying the game screen is used, it is not necessary to perform complicated processing for extracting the photographed image.
Also, it is desirable that the above described camera-type input device has a shutter switch through which the player provides instructions to take a photograph, and comprises a photo shooting position detection mechanism detecting as a photo shooting position an optional position on the game screen, at which the camera-type input device is pointed, when this shutter switch is operated. The optional position on the game screen is detected as a photo shooting position when the shutter switch is operated, thus making it possible to ensure operability similar to that of an actual camera.
Also, it is desirable that the above described game operation section comprises image generating unit for generating image data of the game screen that is displayed on the display device, photographing judgment unit for making a judgment of whether or not a predetermined task assigned to the player could be achieved, by comparing the display position of the target included in the game screen with the photo shooting position detected by the photo shooting position detection mechanism. By providing these configurations, a judgment can be made as to success or failure in achievement of the task based on the photo shooting position, instead of conduct to make a judg
Kaneko Yoshihiko
Odake Shinichi
Wakatsuki Yasuhiro
Coburn Corbett B
Dellett & Walters
Harrison Jessica
NAMCO Ltd.
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