Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Perceptible output or display
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2004-07-06
Harrison, Jessica (Department: 3714)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Perceptible output or display
C345S213000, C345S545000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06758752
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 11-327550, filed on Nov. 17, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium having programs for generating and displaying game images stored therein, a game display method and a game apparatus.
2. Description of Background Information
Recently, video games have been developed, utilizing advanced technologies. In the video games, objects to be displayed, such as people, machines, tools, buildings, backgrounds, etc., (hereinafter, referred to as “objects”) are arrayed or disposed in line with the progress of a game in a three-dimensional virtual reality space. Images expressing the respective arrayed objects are generated and displayed on the display screen.
In a video game, image generating processes are repeated multiple times a second, wherein still images consisting of multiple frames are generated in a second (hereinafter, called “frame image”). It is ideal that the generated frame images are displayed one after another on the display screen in a frame image display cycle (hereinafter, called a “frame cycle”) which is the shortest cycle of frame-by-frame display changes.
In order to execute display in a frame cycle, it is necessary that the respective frame images are generated in one frame cycle. However, in a case where there are a number of objects to be displayed, the processing load in the frame image generation will be increased. As a result, there arises a case where a frame image cannot be generated in one frame cycle, depending upon the contents of the frame image. If the frame image cannot be generated within one frame cycle, object blinking may occur.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a game display method, a game apparatus, and recording medium which are suitable for displaying clear images even though the generation processing load is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the abovementioned problems, a game display method according to the invention comprises a game displaying method for executing frame-by-frame display in synchronization with reference signals generated at a fixed cycle, which includes the steps of judging a processing load in response to an operating input; adjusting a synchronization timing between the reference signals generated at said fixed cycle and the frame-by-frame display in response to a processing load judged by said judging step; and executing frame-by-frame display at said synchronization timing adjusted in said adjusting step.
According the game display method of the invention, it is possible to adjust the changeover cycle of frame images in compliance with a processing load.
In detail, the executing step generates images to be frame-displayed, at a synchronized timing adjusted by the adjusting step, and the executing step omits generation of images to be frame-displayed on the basis of the corresponding reference signal for which no synchronization timing is secured by the adjusting step.
Another preferred embodiment of a game display method according to the invention is a game display method which includes generating a plurality of frame images constituting a video game one after another; displaying a plurality of frame images generated by said generating step by changing over said plurality of frame images; predicting the time of generation of the corresponding frame image when said plurality of frame images are, respectively, generated by said generating step; and determining the game progressing degree to be advanced by the corresponding frame image, depending on the time of generation of the corresponding frame image predicted by said predicting step.
According to the game display method of the invention, when the game progressing degree of the respective frame images can be determined based on the predicted values of the varying generation times, a highly recommended game progression rate is possible.
Still another preferred embodiment of the game display method of the invention is a game display method which includes sequentially generating a plurality of frame images constituting a video game; displaying a plurality of frame images generated by said generating step by changing over said plurality of frame images; measuring the time of generation of the corresponding immediately preceding frame image when the respective immediately preceding frame images of said plurality of frame images are generated by said generating step; and determining the game progressing degree to be advanced by the corresponding frame image, depending on the time of generation of the immediately preceding frame image of the corresponding frame images, which is measured by said measuring step when the respective plurality of frame images are generated by said generating step.
Further, another preferred embodiment of the game display method of the invention is a game display method which includes sequentially generating a plurality of frame images, which constitute a video game in synchronization with the completion of generation of frame images preceding the respective frame images; displaying a plurality of frame images generated by said generating step so that said plurality of generated frame images are changed over and displayed in synchronization with appointed clock signals having a frame image display cycle being the minimum duration of display changeover of said plurality of frame images after the completion of generation of said plurality of frame images; predicting the time of generation of the corresponding frame image when said plurality of respective frame images are generated; and determining the game progressing degree to be advanced by the corresponding frame image, depending on the time of generation of the corresponding predicted frame image.
A recording medium according to the invention is a recording medium readable by a computer, in which programs execute frame-by-frame display in synchronization with reference signals generated in a fixed cycle. The programs cause said computer to judge a processing load in response to an operation input; to adjust a synchronization timing between the reference signals generate at a fixed cycle and frame-by-frame display in response to said judged processing load; and to execute frame-by-frame display at said adjusted synchronization timing.
According to the recording medium of the invention, it is possible to obtain a recording medium which is provided with stored programs capable of adjusting a changeover cycle of frame images in compliance with a processing load.
In further detail, the frame-by-frame display execution generates an image to be frame-displayed at said adjusted synchronization timing, and omits generation of an image to be frame-displayed by said corresponding reference signal if any reference signal for which no synchronization timing is secured exists.
Another preferred embodiment of the recording medium according to the invention is a recording medium readable by a computer, in which programs for a video game executed by said computer are stored, wherein said programs cause said computer to generate a plurality of frame images one after another, which constitute a video game; to display said generated plurality of frame images by changing the same; to predict the time of generation of the corresponding frame images when said plurality of frame images are, respectively, generated; and to determine the degree of progress to be advanced by said corresponding frame images, depending on the time of generation of the predicted corresponding frame images.
In further detail, for prediction of the generation time, the generation time of the corresponding frame images expressed by using a frame image display cycle being the minimum duration of changeover of display of said frame images, which are displayed, as the unit is predicted as the generation time of said
Coburn Corbett B.
Harrison Jessica
Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
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