Amusement devices – Rockable animal simulation having rider seat means – With power or externally operated rocking means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-04-03
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices
Rockable animal simulation having rider seat means
With power or externally operated rocking means
C472S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210286
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a riding game system for enjoying a game by operating a playing ride.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a game for operating and moving a virtual animal within a virtual space shown in a display by actually operating a device imitated as any animal. For example, in a game for riding an animal such as a horse riding may include a ride shaped like a horse on which a player rides to operate a virtual horse on a display.
However, it was difficult for the conventional riding game system of the above type to give a feeling to a player riding on the ride as if the player is handling a real animal.
Further, a conventionally known game is one in which a player can move within a virtual space on a display by operating a game device shaped like various rides such as a vehicle, car, motorcycle, bicycle or animal.
As an example of a game system for operating a motorcycle and the like, Japanese Patent Application No. 61-130591 discloses a motorcycle driving game system in which a player operates a motorcycle by shifting his/her own weight on the ride to rock an operating seat.
Such a conventional game system can cause the player to feel a back-and-forth rocking movement as in the actual motorcycle. The system can provide a game correspondingly improved in reality.
However, this prior art system comprises a support post having its bottom end mounted on a base being capable of rocking and a main body formed as an operator seat of an actual vehicle, which is fixedly mounted on the top end of the support post. A player rocks the main body back and forth against a given biasing force. Therefore, the back-and-forth rocking movement of the main body is transmitted directly to the base through the support post and biasing means. Consequently, the base itself will shake backward and forward. In the worst case, a problem may be raised in that the base moves back and force relative to a proper position of the base.
A plurality of such game machines are often installed adjacent to one another within a limited installation space. If each of the game machines moves within the limited space due to its back-and-forth oscillating movement, the adjacent game machines may impact against each other and damage them. A further problem may be raised in that additional work is required to fix the game machines to the floor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first object of the present invention is to provide a riding game system which can provide a feeling resembling the handling of a real animal.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a riding game system which can provide a optimal rocking movement in an given direction and yet which can greatly reduce the transmission of a oscillation to the rocking direction to the base.
The other object of the present invention is to provide a riding game system which can provide a optimal rocking movement when a player rides on and rocks backward and forward a main body having a form of an animal to operate a player character having a shape of the animal in a display and yet in which the transmission of an oscillation of the rocking direction to the base can greatly be reduced.
To accomplish the first object mentioned above, the present invention provides a riding game system including
a mimetic animal device having a configuration resembling an animal with a head and a body, the mimetic animal device being operable by a player when the player rides on the body, grips a rein portion provided at the head and puts feet on a pair of steps provided at the body, in a manner as a virtual animal is controlled within a virtual space; and
means for displaying the virtual space; and
wherein the body is capable of backward and forward rocking movement; and
wherein the backward and forward rocking movement of the body is detected to be information being used to control the virtual animal within the virtual space.
The player can obtain such a feeling as controlling a real animal by rocking the body of the mimetic animal device.
The present invention also provides a riding game system including:
a mimetic animal device having a configuration resembling an animal with a head and a body, the mimetic animal device being operable by a player when the player rides on the body, grips a rein portion provided at the head and puts feet on a pair of steps provided at the body, in a manner as a virtual animal is controlled within a virtual space; and
means for displaying the virtual space; and
wherein the head is capable of upward and downward inclining movement, and rotational movement from side to side;
wherein the body is capable of backward and forward rocking movement;
wherein the steps are capable of backward and forward rocking movement; and
wherein the rotational movement of the head and the rocking movement of the body are detected to be information being used to control the virtual animal within the virtual space.
The player can obtain such a feeling as control a real animal by moving the head, body and steps of the mimetic animal device.
With the riding game system, it is preferred that the rotational movement of the head and the rocking movement of the body are detected, the rotational movement of the head determining the running direction of the virtual animal, the rocking movement of the body determining the running speed of the virtual animal.
Thus, the virtual animal cannot be controlled in the virtual space merely by inclining the head backward and forward or rocking the steps backward and forward. The positive rocking action of the body backward and forward is actually required to control the virtual animal in the virtual space. Therefore, the action of the player more resembles the handling of a real animal.
With the riding game system, it is also preferred that the body rocks backward and forward by moving the rein portion upward and downward, and the steps rock forward and backward depending on the player's posture.
In such an arrangement, the rein portion can be moved to rock the body of the mimetic animal device. Particularly, if the running speed of the virtual animal is determined by rocking the body, the rein portion can be used to adjust the running speed of the virtual animal. This can provide a feeling which resembles the handling of a real animal.
To accomplish the second object of the present invention, the present invention provides a riding game system including:
a slide platform mounted on a base slidably in a first direction;
a main body supported on the slide platform, being capable of rocking movement in the first direction, the main body being rocked by a player;
biasing means for returning the main body to neutral position thereof; and
link means disposed between the main body and the base; and
wherein the main body is rocked in the first direction while sliding the slide platform in the first direction.
It is preferred that the link means is formed as a link arm.
It is also preferred that the link means connects between the main body and the base. By doing this the link means controls the sliding of the slide platform so that the slide platform moves backward when the main body inclines forward in the first direction, and the slide platform moves forward when the main body inclines backward. In such a connection, the link means may connect between the main body and the base along the first direction.
It is further preferred that the main body is formed as a game ride body which is rocked and controlled by a player riding thereon.
The main body is rocked by the player in the first direction against the biasing force of the biasing means. At this time, the oscillation transmitted from the main body to the base is absorbed by the slide movement of the slide platform in the first direction.
Thus, the player can feel an operational sense by rocking the body in the first direction. In addition, the oscillation created by the rocking movement may be absorbed by the slide movement of the slide platform in the first direction without
Oda Sumito
Ohara Toshiya
Ohwaki Takashi
Yamamoto Hideaki
Namco Ltd.
Nguyen Kien T.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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