Game device for displaying game input operations on the display

• US 5,649,861 A
• Filed: 08/25/1994
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Kagawa, Tadashi, Okano, Tetsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/294,811
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 273/438, 273/148 B, 273/433, 273/434, 273/85 G, 273/DIG. 28, 364/410, 345/158, 345/157, 463/30, 463/36
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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 2300/303 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 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A game device comprises operational input means 30, 40 for inputting operational signals supplied by operation of game players, game control means 10 for controlling a game, based on the operational signals of the operational input means 30, 40, and game display means 20 for displaying the game controlled by the game control means 10, the operational signals of the operational input means 40 being displayed by the game display means 20. The game player can confirm game operations they made. As a result, the game player can relatively readily see their game operations they made without stress given to them.

Claims

1. A game device comprising:

an operational input device for inputting operational signals produced in response to actions taken by a player of a game;

a display device;

a game controller, functionally connected to said operational input device and said display device, for controlling the progress of the game in response to the operational signals received from the operational input device, the game controller generating video signals for displaying the progress of the game on said display device, the game controller further generating signals for displaying an image simulating said operational input device on the display device so that the simulated image indicates the operational states of the operational input device in response to the actions taken by the player.

2. A game device according to claim 1, wherein

said operational input device comprises a plurality of control elements operable by the player,

said simulated image of the operational input device includes a plurality of display elements which simulates said plurality of control elements of the operational input device,

said game controller displays a turned-on state on said display device with respect to one of said plurality of simulated display elements which corresponds to one of the control elements of said plurality of control elements turned on by the player.

3. A game device according to claim 2, wherein

the operational input device includes a first operational input device to be operated by the first player of the game, and a second operational input device to be operated by a second player of the game, each of the first and second operational input devices including a plurality of control elements operable by the player;

and

said game controller displays a pair of simulated images simulating said first and second operational input devices, the simulated image simulating said first operational input device including a plurality of first display elements which simulates the plurality of control elements of the first operational input device, and the simulated image simulating said second operational input device including a plurality of second display elements which simulates the plurality of control elements of the second operational input device.

4. A game device according to claim 2, wherein

the operational input device includes a plurality of operational buttons to be operated by the player;

and

said game controller displays said plurality of display elements on said display device so as to simulate and be arranged, correspondingly to a layout of the operational buttons of the operational input device.

5. A game device according to claim 2, wherein

the operational input device includes an operational mat for the player to stand on, and a plurality of sensors arranged around the operational mat for detecting the arms and legs of the player extended thereabove to input operational signals in accordance with motions of the arms and legs of the player;

and

said game controller displays said plurality of display elements on said display device so as to simulate, and be arranged, correspondingly to an arrangement of said plurality of sensors of the operational input device.

6. A game device according to claim 2, wherein

said game controller displays said plurality of display elements at a predetermined position on a display screen of the display device.

7. A game device according to claim 5, wherein

said game controller displays said plurality of display elements at a predetermined position on a display screen of the display device.

8. A game device according to claim 3, wherein said game controller:

displays said plurality of first display elements at a first predetermined position on the side of a display screen of the display device where the first operational input device is positioned; and

displays said plurality, of second display elements at a second predetermined position on the side of a display screen of the display device where the second operational input device is positioned.

9. A game device according to claim 8, wherein

said plurality of display elements are displayed on a barrel part of the character.

10. A game device according to claim 8, wherein

said first display elements are displayed on a barrel part of the first character;

and

said second display elements are displayed on a barrel part of the second character.

11. A game device according to claim 2, wherein said game controller:

displays a character on the display device; and

displays said simulated image with said plurality of display elements superposed on the character so that the simulated image moves on the display device together with the movement of the character in response to operation of said operational input device.

12. A game device according to claim 3, wherein said game controller:

displays a first and a second character on the display device;

displays a first simulated image with a plurality of display elements superposed on the first character so that the first simulated image moves on the display device together with the movement of the first character in response to operation of said first operational input device; and

displays a second simulated image with a plurality of display elements superposed on the second character so that the second simulated image moves on the display device together with the movement of the second character in response to operation of said second operational input device.

13. A game apparatus comprising:

a switching controller to be operated by a player;

a display device; and

a game controller functionally connected to said controller and said display device for controlling the progress of the game in response to signals received from the switching controller, for generating video signals for displaying the progress of the game on said display device, and for displaying an image simulating said switching controller on the display device so that the simulated image indicates the operational states of the switching controller in response to the operation actions of the player.

14. The game apparatus of claim 13, wherein said switching controller includes a joystick and switching buttons,

said game controller displaying on the display device simulated image elements indicative of switches of the joystick and the buttons, and indicating an activated state with respect to one of the simulated image elements which corresponds to one of the switches selectively activated by the player.

15. The game apparatus of claim 14, wherein said game controller changes the color of the selected image element corresponding to the selectively activated switch.

16. The game apparatus of claim 14, wherein said game controller flashes the selected image element corresponding to the selectively activated switch.

17. The game apparatus of claim 13, wherein said switching controller includes an operational mat for the player to stand on and a plurality of light sensors arranged around the operational mat for detecting the arms and legs of the player extended thereabove to supply said game controller with operational signals in accordance with motions of the arms and legs of the player.

said game controller displaying on the display device simulated image elements indicative of said operational mat and said plurality of light sensors and an activated state with respect to one of the simulated image elements which corresponds to one of the sensors selectively activated by the player.