Video dance game apparatus and program storage device readable by the apparatus

• US 6,001,013 A
• Filed: 08/05/1997
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Ota, Izumi
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US08/906,312
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/4, 463/7, 463/8, 463/9, 434/247, 434/250, 273/454
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/026 for games, e.g. videogames

Abstract

A video dance game apparatus for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, is provided with: an image displaying device for displaying the image of the dancers; a dance music output device for outputting a music signal indicating a dance music; a beat information generating device for generating beat information on the basis of the music signal; a dance performance data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in a dance performance data memory device; an image control device for controlling the image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece; an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, for operating the dance performance data selecting and reading out device in accordance with the external operation to select and read out the one of the dance performance data pieces; and a score calculating device for calculating a game score on the basis of a time lag between a read-out timing of the dance performance data piece and a generation timing of the beat information.

Claims

1. A video dance game apparatus for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said video dance game apparatus comprising:

an image displaying device having the screen, for displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

a dance music output device for outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

a beat information generating device for generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

a dance performance data memory device for storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances;

a dance performance data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said dance performance data memory device;

an image control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece;

an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, for operating said dance performance data selecting and reading out device in accordance with the external operation to select and read out said one of the dance performance data pieces, so as to change the dance performance of the dancers on the screen; and

a score calculating device for calculating a game score on the basis of a time lag between a read-out timing, which is a timing at which the dance performance data piece is read out by said dance performance data selecting and reading out device in accordance with the external operation, and a generation timing of the beat information, which is a timing at which the beat information is generated by said beat information generating device.

2. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a time measuring device for measuring time and restricting a time period, during which the external operation is inputted by said operation device, to a predetermined time period; and

a time adjusting device for adjusting the predetermined time period on the basis of the game score calculated by said score calculating device.

3. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said score calculating device calculates the game score on the basis of at least one of a selection order of the dance performance data pieces in correspondence with the external operation, a mutual relation between the successively read dance performance data pieces, and a continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces, in addition to the time lag.

4. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a basic movement data memory device for storing a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement level setting device for setting a basic movement level on the basis of at least one of the read-out timing, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces;

a basic movement data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting device; and

a basic movement control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

5. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a dance music control device for controlling said dance music output device to change the music signal outputted therefrom in accordance with at least one of the read-out timing, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces.

6. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dance music control device for controlling said dance music output device to change the music signal outputted therefrom in accordance with the read-out timing and the generation timing.

7. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a basic movement data memory device for storing a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement level setting device for setting a basic movement level on the basis of the time lag between the read-out timing and the generation timing;

a basic movement data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting device; and

a basic movement control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

8. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said dance performance data memory device stores a plurality of dance performance data pieces indicating dance performances which movements are different from each other with respect to one kind of dance performance; and

said dance performance data selecting and reading out device selects and reads out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said dance performance data memory device in accordance with the basic movement level.

9. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a dance music control device for controlling said dance music output device to change the music signal outputted therefrom in accordance with the basic movement level.

10. A video dance game apparatus for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said video dance game apparatus comprising:

an image displaying device having the screen, for displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

a dance music output device for outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

a beat information generating device for generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

a dance performance data memory device for storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances;

a dance performance data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said dance performance data memory device;

an image control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece;

an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, for operating said dance performance data selecting and reading out device in accordance with the external operation to select and read out said one of the dance performance data pieces for at least one of the dancers, so as to change the dance performance of said at least one of the dancers on the screen;

a read-out control device for controlling said dance performance data selecting and reading out device to select and read out another of the dance performance data pieces for another of the dancers in a predetermined order and at a predetermined timing which are set in advance for said another of the dancers; and

a score calculating device for calculating a game score on the basis of a time lag between a read-out timing, which is a timing at which the dance performance data piece is read out by said dance performance data selecting and reading out device in accordance with the external operation, and a generation timing of the beat information, which is a timing at which the beat information is generated by said beat information generating device.

11. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a basic movement data memory device for storing a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement level setting device for setting a basic movement level on the basis of the time lag between the read-out timing and the generation timing;

a basic movement data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting device; and

a basic movement control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

12. A video dance game apparatus for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said video dance game apparatus comprising:

an image displaying device having the screen, for displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

a dance music output device for outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

a beat information generating device for generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

a dance performance data memory device for storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances;

a dance performance data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said dance performance data memory device;

an image control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece;

an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, for operating said dance performance data selecting and reading out device in accordance with the external operation to select and read out said one of the dance performance data pieces, so as to change the dance performance of the dancers on the screen;

a judging device for judging a mutual relation between the dancers in the displayed image;

a dance performance data selection permitting device for permitting said dance performance data selecting and reading out device to select said one of the dance performance data pieces only from among the dance performance data pieces each indicating such a dance performance that movements of the dancers are interlocked with each other, in case that the judged mutual relation is a predetermined relation; and

a score calculating device for calculating a game score on the basis of the read out dance performance data piece in correspondence with the external operation.

13. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

said judging device judges a mutual positional relation between the dancers in the displayed image, as the mutual relation; and

said score calculating device calculates the game score on the basis of at least one of a read-out timing, which is a timing at which the dance performance data piece is read out by said dance performance data selecting and reading out device, the mutual positional relation, a selection order of the dance performance data pieces, a mutual relation between the successively read dance performance data pieces, and a continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces, in correspondence with the external operation.

14. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a basic movement data memory device for storing a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement level setting device for setting a basic movement level on the basis of at least one of the read-out timing, the mutual positional relation, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces;

a basic movement data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting device; and

a basic movement control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

15. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a dance music control device for controlling said dance music output device to change the music signal outputted therefrom in accordance with at least one of the read-out timing, the mutual positional relation, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces.

16. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a dance music control device for controlling said dance music output device to change the music signal outputted therefrom in accordance with the read dance performance data piece.

17. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a basic movement data memory device for storing a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement level setting device for setting a basic movement level on the basis of the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting device; and

a basic movement control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

18. A video dance game apparatus for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said video dance game apparatus comprising:

an image displaying device having the screen, for displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

a dance music output device for outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

a beat information generating device for generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

a dance performance data memory device for storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances;

a dance performance data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said dance performance data memory device;

an image control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece;

an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, for operating said dance performance data selecting and reading out device in accordance with the external operation to select and read out said one of the dance performance data pieces for at least one of the dancers, so as to change the dance performance of said at least one of the dancers on the screen;

a read-out control device for controlling said dance performance data selecting and reading out device to select and read out another of the dance performance data pieces for another of the dancers in a predetermined order and at a predetermined timing which are set in advance for said another of the dancers;

a judging device for judging a mutual relation between the dancers in the displayed image;

a dance performance data selection permitting device for permitting said dance performance data selecting and reading out device to select said one of the dance performance data pieces only from among the dance performance data pieces each indicating such a dance performance that movements of the dancers are interlocked with each other, in case that the judged mutual relation is a predetermined relation; and

a score calculating device for calculating a game score on the basis of the read out dance performance data piece in correspondence with the external operation.

19. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a dance music control device for controlling said dance music output device to change the music signal outputted therefrom in accordance with the read dance performance data piece.

20. A video dance game apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a basic movement data memory device for storing a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement level setting device for setting a basic movement level on the basis of the read dance performance data piece;

a basic movement data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting device; and

a basic movement control device for controlling said image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

21. A program storage device readable by a computer for a video dance game, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method processes for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said program storage device storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances, said computer comprising an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, said method processes comprising:

displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said program storage device, in accordance with the external operation when the external operation is inputted by said operation device so as to change the dance performance of the dancers on the screen;

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece; and

calculating a game score on the basis of a time lag between a read-out timing, which is a timing at which the dance performance data piece is read out in accordance with the external operation, and a generation timing of the beat information, which is a timing at which the beat information is generated.

22. A program storage device according to claim 21, wherein said method processes further comprise:

measuring time and restricting a time period, during which the external operation is inputted by said operation device, to a predetermined time period; and

adjusting the predetermined time period on the basis of the game score calculated by said score calculating process.

23. A program storage device according to claim 21, wherein said score calculating process calculates the game score on the basis of at least one of a selection order of the dance performance data pieces in correspondence with the external operation, a mutual relation between the successively read dance performance data pieces, and a continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces, in addition to the time lag.

24. A program storage device according to claim 23, wherein

said program storage device further stores a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece,

said method processes further comprise:

setting a basic movement level on the basis of at least one of the read-out timing, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces;

selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting process; and

changing the image of the dancers on the display such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

25. A program storage device according to claim 23, wherein said method processes further comprise changing the music signal outputted from said computer in accordance with at least one of the read-out timing, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces.

26. A program storage device according to claim 21, wherein said method processes further comprise changing the music signal outputted from said computer in accordance with the read-out timing and the generation timing.

27. A program storage device according to claim 21, wherein

said program storage device further stores a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece,

said method processes further comprise:

setting a basic movement level on the basis of the time lag between the read-out timing and the generation timing;

selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting process; and

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

28. A program storage device according to claim 27, wherein:

said program storage device stores a plurality of dance performance data pieces indicating dance performances which movements are different from each other with respect to one kind of dance performance; and

said selecting and reading out process selects and reads out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said program storage device in accordance with the basic movement level.

29. A program storage device according to claim 27, wherein said method processes further comprise changing the music signal outputted from said computer in accordance with the basic movement level.

30. A program storage device readable by a computer for a video dance game, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method processes for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said program storage device storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances, said computer comprising an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, said method processes comprising:

displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces for at least one of the dancers stored in said program storage device, in accordance with the external operation when the external operation is inputted by said operation device so as to change the dance performance of said at least one of the dancers on the screen;

selecting and reading out another of the dance performance data pieces for another of the dancers in a predetermined order and at a predetermined timing which are set in advance for said another of the dancers;

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece; and

calculating a game score on the basis of a time lag between a read-out timing, which is a timing at which the dance performance data piece is read out in accordance with the external operation, and a generation timing of the beat information, which is a timing at which the beat information is generated.

31. A program storage device according to claim 30, wherein

said program storage device further stores a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece,

said method processes further comprise:

setting a basic movement level on the basis of the time lag between the read-out timing and the generation timing;

selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting process; and

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

32. A program storage device readable by a computer for a video dance game, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method processes for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said program storage device storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances, said computer comprising an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, said method processes comprising:

displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in said program storage device, in accordance with the external operation when the external operation is inputted by said operation device so as to change the dance performance of the dancers on the screen;

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece;

judging a mutual relation between the dancers in the displayed image;

permitting said selecting and reading out process to select said one of the dance performance data pieces only from among the dance performance data pieces each indicating such a dance performance that movements of the dancers are interlocked with each other, in case that the judged mutual relation is a predetermined relation; and

calculating a game score on the basis of the read out dance performance data piece in correspondence with the external operation.

33. A program storage device according to claim 32, wherein:

said judging process judges a mutual positional relation between the dancers in the displayed image, as the mutual relation; and

said score calculating process calculates the game score on the basis of at least one of a read-out timing, which is a timing at which the dance performance data piece is read out by said selecting and reading out process, the mutual positional relation, a selection order of the dance performance data pieces, a mutual relation between the successively read dance performance data pieces, and a continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces, in correspondence with the external operation.

34. A program storage device according to claim 33, wherein

said program storage device further stores a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece,

said method processes further comprise:

setting a basic movement level on the basis of at least one of the read-out timing, the mutual positional relation, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces;

selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting process; and

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

35. A program storage device according to claim 33, wherein said method processes further comprise changing the music signal outputted from said computer in accordance with at least one of the read-out timing, the mutual positional relation, the selection order, the mutual relation and the continuity between the successively read dance performance data pieces.

36. A program storage device according to claim 32, wherein said method processes further comprise changing the music signal outputted from said computer in accordance with the read dance performance data piece.

37. A program storage device according to claim 32, wherein

said program storage device further stores a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece,

said method processes further comprise:

setting a basic movement level on the basis of the read dance performance data piece;

selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting process; and

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.

38. A program storage device readable by a computer for a video dance game, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method processes for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers in the displayed image to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, said program storage device storing a plurality of dance performance data pieces each indicating respective one of the various dance performances, said computer comprising an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, said method processes comprising:

displaying the image of the dancers on the screen;

outputting a music signal indicating a dance music;

generating beat information on the basis of the music signal;

selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces for at least one of the dancers stored in said program storage device, in accordance with the external operation when the external operation is inputted by said operation device so as to change the dance performance of said at least one of the dancers on the screen;

selecting and reading out another of the dance performance data pieces for another of the dancers in a predetermined order and at a predetermined timing which are set in advance for said another of the dancers;

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece;

judging a mutual relation between the dancers in the displayed image;

permitting said selecting and reading out process to select said one of the dance performance data pieces only from among the dance performance data pieces each indicating such a dance performance that movements of the dancers are interlocked with each other, in case that the judged mutual relation is a predetermined relation; and

calculating a game score on the basis of the read out dance performance data piece in correspondence with the external operation.

39. A program storage device according to claim 38, wherein said method processes further comprise changing the music signal outputted from said computer in accordance with the read dance performance data piece.

40. A program storage device according to claim 38, wherein

said program storage device further stores a plurality of basic movement data pieces to change the image in various manners respectively such that the dancers perform a predetermined movement in accordance with the outputted dance music when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece,

said method processes further comprise:

setting a basic movement level on the basis of the read dance performance data piece;

selecting and reading out one of the basic movement data pieces in accordance with the basic movement level set by said basic movement level setting process; and

changing the image of the dancers on the screen such that the dancers perform the predetermined movement corresponding to the read out basic movement data piece, when the image of the dancers is not changed in correspondence with the read dance performance data piece.