Amusement devices – Illusion or stage device – Person experiences illusion of being in motion
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-04
2001-05-01
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices
Illusion or stage device
Person experiences illusion of being in motion
C472S060000, C297S180100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224491
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a game system having a design wherein the player mounts a vehicle to play the game. In particular, it provides a novel game system which provides special stimuli to an individual player, causing the player to become excited.
2. Background Art
Two types of amusement facilities, termed “attractions” can be found at theme parks, amusement shows, and the like. One type is similar to the traditional haunted house; as the player walks along a course through a pre-established facility, the player is frightened by noises, projected images, and effigies. In the other type, the player rides through the facility in a vehicle, boat, or other conveyance; as the conveyance moves about in accordance with the game program, various projected images and sounds are provided to frighten the player. In the past, the attraction format used for a particular amusement facility was selected in accordance with the theme of the game offered by the facility.
In attractions in which the player rides in a conveyance, sound equipment, image projection equipment, and effigies are disposed along the course traveled by the conveyance. The purpose of the sound equipment and the like is to provide stimulation the player and arouse excitement.
However, attractions of the type in which the player rides in a conveyance merely provide visual or auditory stimuli, mainly through the use of projected images, sounds, and the like, and do not stimulate the player's other senses, such as the tactile sense. It would be more effective to provide a player with sensations besides auditory and visual ones. For example, in a game with a monster attack scenario, by realizing a scenario in which the player sitting next to one is attacked by a monster, and the stream of blood spurting from him or her splatters over the player's face, the realism of the game could be significantly enhanced.
If the plot development in this type of scenario was such that “players in the conveyance are attacked by a monster in serial fashion,” the sense of terror induced in the players could be maximized. Specifically, when a player hears the screams of horror of players riding in the conveyance traveling in front or sitting next to him or her, the player experiences an even more heightened feeling of tension towards the stimuli awaiting him or her. This feeling of tension enhances the effectiveness of subsequent stimuli on the player.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to excite the player by providing special stimuli which act upon the tactile sense of the player.
Specifically, the first object of the present invention is to provide a game machine for delivering special stimuli which act upon the tactile sense of the player by discharging a medium onto the player.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a game machine for delivering special stimuli which act upon the tactile sense of the player by blowing air onto the player.
The third object of the present invention is to provide a game machine for delivering special stimuli which act upon the tactile sense of the player by subjecting the player to vibration.
The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of delivering special stimuli individually to each of a plurality of players.
The fifth object of the present invention is to provide a game machine for delivering sounds individually to adjacent players without these sounds interfering with each other.
The game machine which pertains to the present invention is designed to be ridden by a player. The player riding the game machine is immobilized in a certain posture through a posture immobilization device. For example, where the game machine is designed such that the player rides while seated in a seat, the posture immobilization device is favorably one which applies pressure to the upper waist and abdomen of the player in seated posture, pushing the player into the seat. By pushing the abdomen into the seat, the player is prevented from freely moving his or her upper body and head. Specifically, the range of motion of the head, etc., is restricted. Immobilizing the player in a particular posture and preventing him or her from freely shifting position allows stimuli to be delivered individually to different players.
The game machine which achieves the first object of the present invention is provided with a medium-discharging device for discharging a prescribed medium onto a specific bodily region of a player whose posture has been immobilized.
Where such a posture immobilization device is used, a specific bodily region of the player (where the head is immobilized, as in the example described above, the player's cheek or the like) is immobilized, thereby reducing the size of the target range for the medium (water, for example) which is discharged by the medium-discharging device. The player is suddenly squirted with water during game play, and given quite a shock thereby. Besides water, the discharged medium directed into contact with the player can be mist, smoke, light, or a solid.
The game machine which achieves the second object of the present invention is provided with forced air devices capable of blowing air onto the player. The provision of forced air devices capable of blowing air onto a prescribed bodily region of the player allows air to be blown effectively onto a prescribed bodily region of the player (the nape of the neck, for example). The player can be given the impression of wind by the air.
The game machine which achieves the third object of the present invention is provided with a vibration delivery device for subjecting the player to vibration as the game proceeds. In addition, the posture immobilization device immobilizes a part of the player's body against a portion of the vibration delivery device. In one example, by pushing on the seated player's abdomen, the posture immobilization device pushes the player's back against a backrest which comprises the vibrating component of the vibration delivery device. Thus, the vibration delivered by the vibration delivery device is effectively transmitted to the player.
The game machine which achieves the fourth object of the present invention is provided with sound devices for delivering sound to the player in noncontact fashion, and the posture immobilization device immobilizes a part of the player's upper body. Thus, by limiting the possible range of motion of the player's head by means of the posture immobilization device, sound can be delivered to the player in noncontact fashion by means of sound devices disposed around the head of the player. Since the possible range of motion of the player's head is restricted, the localization of the sound delivered to the player does not change even though the sound devices and the player are not in contact. This eliminates the health problems and safety concerns associated with headphones and other sound equipment.
In the aforementioned game machine which achieves the fourth object of the present invention, the medium-discharging devices are disposed such that the discharge port, through which the medium is directed onto a prescribed bodily region of a player, is oriented such that the medium is discharged in a direction other than the direction in which other players are sitting. Accordingly, when the medium is discharged onto one player, it is not directed onto the other players.
In the game machine which achieves the fifth object of the present invention, the phase of the sound waves which constitute the sounds is adjusted such that the phase of the sound waves produced by the sound device which delivers sound to the one of the players at the location of the player's head is substantially the reverse of the phase of the sound waves coming from the sound devices which deliver sound to the other players. Specifically, where sound devices are provided for a plurality of players, some of the sounds coming from one player's sound devi
Hiromi Keisuke
Kono Tatsuya
Toyama Riichiro
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
Nguyen Kien T.
LandOfFree
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