Game system and program

• US 20020055383A1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Namco Bandai Games Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Endo, Kyoko, Onda, Akio
• Application Number:
  US09/983,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055383A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

To provide a game system and program which can easily detect an action of a player and which can properly evaluate the operation of the player, the game system includes a detection section which detects the operation of the player relating to an image of operational instruction displayed according to a music through the inclinations of operation sections, a judgment section which judges the conformance of the player'"'"'s operation, based on operational instruction data which indicates the player'"'"'s operational information, operational instruction image and operating timing, a sound generating section and sound output section which generates and outputs effect sounds respectively, and an image generating section and display section which generates and displays the operational instruction image respectively based on the operational instruction data.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

sound generation means which generates a sound for game music;

operational instruction means which gives a player an operational instruction associated with a sound for game music;

a plurality of input means which detect a motion of the player and inputs operational information of the player; and

evaluation means which evaluates an operation of the player according to the operational instruction, based on a content of the operational instruction and the operational information,

wherein each of the input means includes;

an operation section which moves along with the player; and

a detection section which detects at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of the operation section.

2. The game system according to claim 1,

wherein the operation section includes a detachable section which is detachable to each body part of the player, and

wherein the detection section detects at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of each body part of the player on which the operation section is attached with the detachable section.

3. The game system according to claim 1

wherein the operation section includes a step pedestal having an input indication mark corresponding to the operational instruction, and

wherein the detection section includes means which detects a contact or pressure of the player against the step pedestal.

4. The game system according to claim 1,

wherein the operational instruction means provides one or more operational instructions corresponding to a plurality of the operation sections.

5. The game system according to claim 1,

wherein the operational instruction means displays at least one of a schematic display including a color, pattern or input action, and number of input as the operational instruction.

6. The game system according to claim 1,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a sample operational instruction imitating an action of the player as the operational instruction before an input of the player has been received.

7. The game system according to claim 1,

wherein the operational instruction means performs an instruction using one or more instruction marks which instructs an input operation and one or more input marks which indicates an input timing, and

wherein the evaluating means includes judgment means which judges a conformance of an operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

8. The game system according to claim 7,

wherein the input mark schematically shows a duration of input or an area in which timing is judged.

9. The game system according to claim 7,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a mark for an input judgement and which indicates at least one of input timing, input period, number of inputs, direction of input and magnitude of input as the instruction mark, and

wherein the judgment means judges the conformance of the operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

10. The game system according to claim 1,

wherein the operational instruction means performs at least one of an instruction of moving a hand in a rightward-leftward direction or an upward-downward direction, an instruction of rotating a hand clockwise or counterclockwise and an instruction of moving a hand in a zigzag manner, as the operational instruction.

11. The game system according to claim 2,

wherein the detection section includes a sensor which outputs digital information including at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of each body part of the player on which the operation section is attached with the detachable section.

12. The game system according to claim 2,

wherein the detection section includes a sensor which outputs analog information including at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of each body part of the player on which the operation section is attached with the detachable section.

16. The game system according to claim 15,

wherein the detection section includes a plurality of infrared sensors or a plurality of proximity sensors.

17. The game system according to claim 15,

wherein the input means includes imaging means, and

wherein the detection section detects an action of the player, based on imaging information from the imaging means.

18. The game system according to claim 15,

wherein the operational instruction means provides one or more operational instructions to a plurality of operation sections.

19. The game system according to claim 15,

wherein the operational instruction means displays at least one of a schematic display including a color, pattern or input action, and number of input as the operational instruction.

20. The game system according to claim 15,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a sample operational instruction imitating an action of the player as the operational instruction before an input of the player has been received.

21. The game system according to claim 15,

wherein the operational instruction means performs an instruction using one or more instruction marks which instructs an input operation and one or more input marks which indicates an input timing, and

wherein the evaluating means includes judgment means which judges a conformance of an operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

22. The game system according to claim 21,

wherein the input mark schematically shows a duration of input or an area in which timing is judged.

23. The game system according to claim 21,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a mark for an input judgement and which indicates at least one of input timing, input period, number of inputs, direction of input and magnitude of input as the instruction mark, and

wherein the judgment means judges the conformance of the operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

24. The game system according to claim 15,

wherein the operational instruction means performs at least one of an instruction of moving a hand in a rightward-leftward direction or an upward-downward direction, an instruction of rotating a hand clockwise or counter-clockwise and an instruction of moving a hand in a zigzag manner, as the operational instruction.

27. The game system according to claim 25,

wherein the detection section includes a plurality of infrared sensors or a plurality of proximity sensors, and detects at least one of movement volume and inclination of each body part of the player based on the plurality of infrared sensors or the plurality of proximity sensors.

29. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the operation section includes a detachable section which is detachable to each body part of the player, and

wherein the detection section detects at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of each body part of the player on which the operation section is attached with the detachable section.

30. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the operation section includes a step pedestal having an input indication mark corresponding to the operational instruction, and

wherein the detection section includes means which detects a contact or pressure of the player against the step pedestal.

31. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the operational instruction means provides one or more operational instructions corresponding to a plurality of the operation sections.

32. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the operational instruction means displays at least one of a schematic display including a color, pattern or input action, and number of input as the operational instruction.

33. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a sample operational instruction imitating an action of the player as the operational instruction before an input of the player has been received.

34. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the operational instruction means performs an instruction using one or more instruction marks which instructs an input operation and one or more input marks which indicates an input timing, and

wherein the evaluating means includes judgment means which judges a conformance of an operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

35. The program according to claim 34,

wherein the input mark schematically shows a duration of input or an area in which timing is judged.

36. The program according to claim 34,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a mark for an input judgement and which indicates at least one of input timing, input period, number of inputs, direction of input and magnitude of input as the instruction mark, and

wherein the judgment means judges the conformance of the operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

37. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the operational instruction means performs at least one of an instruction of moving a hand in a rightward-leftward direction or an upward-downward direction, an instruction of rotating a hand clockwise or counterclockwise and an instruction of moving a hand in a zigzag manner, as the operational instruction.

38. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the detection section includes a sensor which outputs digital information including at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of each body part of the player on which the operation section is attached with the detachable section.

39. The program according to claim 28,

wherein the detection section includes a sensor which outputs analog information including at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of each body part of the player on which the operation section is attached with the detachable section.

13. A game system comprising:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music;

a plurality of input sections which detect a motion of the player and inputs motion information of the player; and

an evaluation section which evaluates a motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information,

wherein each of the input sections includes;

an operation section which moves along with the player; and

a detection section which detects an inclination in a rightward-leftward direction and an upward-downward direction of the operation section.

14. A game system comprising:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music;

a plurality of input sections which detect a motion of the player and inputs motion information of the player; and

an evaluation section which evaluates a motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information,

wherein each of the input sections includes;

an operation section which moves along with the player; and

a detection section which detects an inclination in a rightward-leftward direction and an upward-downward direction of the operation section,

wherein the motion instruction section performs at least one of an instruction of moving a hand in a rightward-leftward direction or an upward-downward direction, an instruction of rotating a hand clockwise or counter-clockwise and an instruction of moving a hand in a zigzag manner, as the motion instruction,

wherein the operation section which moves along with the player'"'"'s arm, and

wherein the input section detects a change of an inclination of the arm based on information from the detection section.

15. A game system comprising:

sound generation means which generates a sound for game music;

operational instruction means which gives a player an operational instruction associated with a sound for game music;

input means which detects a motion of the player and inputs operational information of the player; and

evaluation means which evaluates an operation of the player according to the operational instruction, based on a content of the operational instruction and the operational information,

wherein the input means includes a detection section which detects at least one of movement volume, inclination and position of each body part of the player, without contacting with the player.

25. A game system comprising:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music;

a detection section which detects a motion of the player and inputs motion information of the player; and

an evaluation section which evaluates a motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information,

wherein the detection section detects at least one of movement volume, inclination and position of each body part of the player, without contacting with the player,

wherein the motion instruction section performs an instruction using one or more instruction marks which instructs a motion of each body part of the player and one or more input marks which indicates a motion timing, and

wherein the evaluation section includes a judgment section which judges a conformance of a motion by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

26. A game system comprising:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music;

a detection section which detects a motion of the player and inputs motion information of the player; and

an evaluation section which evaluates a motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information,

wherein the motion instruction section instructs a motion of each body part of the player, and

wherein the detection section detects at least one of movement volume, inclination and position of each body part of the player, without contacting with the player.

28. A computer-usable program embodied in a carrier wave or on an information storage medium, the program being for an evaluation of a player'"'"'s operation relating to an operational instruction associated with a sound for game music, and for a computer to realize:

sound generation means which generates a sound for game music;

operational instruction means which gives a player an operational instruction associated with a sound for game music; and

evaluation means which evaluates an operation of the player according to the operational instruction, based on a content of the operational instruction and operational information of the player from a given input means,

wherein the input means includes;

an operation section which moves along with the player; and

a detection section which detects at least one of movement volume, inclination, position and vibration of the operation section.

40. A computer-usable program embodied in a carrier wave or on an information storage medium, the program being for an evaluation of a player'"'"'s operation relating to a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music, and for a computer to realize:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music; and

an evaluation section which evaluates motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information from a given input section,

wherein the input section includes;

an operation section which moves along with the player; and

a detection section which detects an inclination in a rightward-leftward direction and an upward-downward direction of the operation section.

41. A computer-usable program embodied in a carrier wave or on an information storage medium, the program being for an evaluation of a player'"'"'s motion relating to a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music, and for a computer to realize:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music; and

an evaluation section which evaluates motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information from a given input sections,

wherein the input sections includes;

an operation section which moves along with the player; and

a detection section which detects an inclination in a rightward-leftward direction and an upward-downward direction of the operation section,

wherein the motion instruction section performs at least one of an instruction of moving a hand in a rightward-leftward direction or an upward-downward direction, an instruction of rotating a hand clockwise or counter-clockwise and an instruction of moving a hand in a zigzag manner, as the motion instruction,

wherein the operation section moves along with the player'"'"'s arm, and

wherein the input section detects a change of an inclination of an arm based on information from the detection section.

42. A computer-usable program embodied in a carrier wave or on an information storage medium, the program being for an evaluation of a player'"'"'s operation relating to an operational instruction associated with a sound for game music, and for a computer to realize:

sound generation means which generates a sound for game music;

operational instruction means which gives a player an operational instruction associated with a sound for game music; and

evaluation means which evaluates an operation of the player according to the operational instruction, based on a content of the operational instruction and operational information of the player from a given input means,

wherein the input means includes a detection section which detects at least one of movement volume, inclination and position of each body part of the player, without contacting with the player.

43. The program according to claim 42,

wherein the detection section includes a plurality of infrared sensors or a plurality of proximity sensors.

44. The program according to claim 42,

wherein the input means includes imaging means, and

wherein the detection section detects an action of the player, based on imaging information from the imaging means.

45. The program according to claim 42,

wherein the operational instruction means provides one or more operational instructions to a plurality of operation sections.

46. The program according to claim 42,

wherein the operational instruction means displays at least one of a schematic display including a color, pattern or input action, and number of input as the operational instruction.

47. The program according to claim 42,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a sample operational instruction imitating an action of the player as the operational instruction before an input of the player has been received.

48. The program according to claim 42,

wherein the operational instruction means performs an instruction using one or more instruction marks which instructs an input operation and one or more input marks which indicates an input timing, and

wherein the evaluating means includes judgment means which judges a conformance of an operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

49. The program according to claim 48,

wherein the input mark schematically shows a duration of input or an area in which timing is judged.

50. The program according to claim 48,

wherein the operational instruction means displays a mark for an input judgement and which indicates at least one of input timing, input period, number of inputs, direction of input and magnitude of input as the instruction mark, and

wherein the judgment means judges the conformance of the operation by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

51. The program according to claim 42,

wherein the operational instruction means performs at least one of an instruction of moving a hand in a rightward-leftward direction or an upward-downward direction, an instruction of rotating a hand clockwise or counterclockwise and an instruction of moving a hand in a zigzag manner, as the operational instruction.

52. A computer usable program embodied in a carrier wave or on an information storage medium, the program being for an evaluation of a player'"'"'s motion relating to an motion instruction associated with a sound for game music, and for a computer to realize:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music;

a detection section which detects a motion of the player and inputs motion information of the player; and

an evaluation section which evaluates a motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information,

wherein the detection section detects at least one of movement volume, inclination and position of each body part of the player, without contacting with the player,

wherein the motion instruction section performs an instruction using one or more instruction marks which instructs a motion of each body part of the player and one or more input marks which indicates a motion timing, and

wherein the evaluation section includes a judgment section which judges a conformance of a motion by the player to a given condition when there is a given positional relationship between the instruction mark and the input mark.

53. A computer usable program embodied in a carrier wave or on an information storage medium, the program being for an evaluation of a player'"'"'s motion relating to an motion instruction associated with a sound for game music, and for a computer to realize:

a sound generation section which generates a sound for game music;

a motion instruction section which gives a player a motion instruction associated with a sound for game music;

a detection section which detects a motion of the player and inputs motion information of the player; and

an evaluation section which evaluates a motion of the player according to the motion instruction, based on a content of the motion instruction and the motion information,

wherein the motion instruction section instructs a motion of each body part of the player, and

wherein the detection section detects at least one of movement volume, inclination and position of each body part of the player, without contacting with the player.