Game device for displaying game input operations on the display

• US 6,001,017 A
• Filed: 01/03/1997
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• 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): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/778,349
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 463/8, 463/30, 463/31, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 463/43, 463/44, 273/148 B, 345/156
• US Class Current: 463/43
• 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 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• 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 storage device having stored thereon a game program for operating a programmable game device to play a game, the game device being operable under control of an input means having a plurality of switch elements and said game program, said game program stored on said storage device causing the game device to perform the steps of:

displaying a game character on a monitor screen; and

additionally displaying a region on the monitor screen which contains a display element corresponding to a switch element of the input means, and emphatically displaying the display element in concert with a movement of the game character so that a game player can see the emphatically displayed display element while the player is playing the game.

2. A storage device having stored thereon a game program for operating a programmable game device to play a game, the game device being operable under control of an input means having a plurality of switch elements and said game program, said game program stored on said storage device causing the game device to perform the steps of:

displaying a pair of game characters on a monitor screen; and

displaying on the monitor screen a display element corresponding to a switch element of said input means, and emphatically displaying the display element in concert with a movement of one of the game characters so that a player can see the emphatically displayed display element while the player is playing the game.

3. A storage device of claim 2, wherein said steps further comprise:

producing movement of one of the game characters in response to signals from the input means operated by the player.

4. A storage device of claim 3, wherein said steps further comprise:

displaying a set of display elements so that the display elements are disposed in a layout simulating a plurality of switch elements of an input means; and

displaying emphatically selected ones of the display elements corresponding to those of the switch elements which are manipulated by a player.

5. A storage device of claim 2, wherein the movement of one of the game characters is caused by manipulation of the switch elements.

6. A storage device of claim 5, wherein said steps further comprise:

producing movement of one of the game characters in response to signals from the input means operated by a player.

7. A storage device of claim 6, wherein said steps further comprise:

displaying a set of display elements so that the display elements are displayed in a layout simulating a plurality of switch elements of an input means; and

displaying emphatically selected ones of the display elements corresponding to those of the switch elements which are manipulated by a player.