Video game apparatus, prediction guide displaying method in video game, and computer readable recording medium recording therein a prediction guide display program

• US 6,066,046 A
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/201,438
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 463/2, 463/3, 463/4, 463/5, 463/7, 463/31, 273/317.1, 273/317.2, 434/28
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• 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 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/807 Gliding or sliding on surfaces, e.g. using skis, skates or boards
• 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 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board

Abstract

Disclosed is a video game apparatus which enhances a realism of a ski-jumping competition by displaying a changing wind direction as a prediction guide. In the video game apparatus, a wind data operating unit obtains a wind direction and a wind speed. The amount of change in the wind direction changes in the form of a sine curve, and the wind speed also changes in the form of a sine curve. A wind data display control unit displays a wind direction guide and a wind speed guide on a screen. The wind direction guide uses an arrow, and the wind speed guide is displayed by the thickness of the arrow. A run-up control unit allows a competitor of the game to start the run-up when a first left button is operated. An attitude control unit controls the flight distance of ski-jumping by controlling the height of the competitor with the influence of wind direction and wind speed, and the flight direction of the competitor obtained from corrected conditions by the leftward and rightward keys. Also disclosed are a prediction guide displaying method in the video game, and a computer readable recording medium storing therein a prediction guide display program.

Claims

1. A video game apparatus in which a simulated ski-jumping field is displayed on a game picture, a character of a game is allowed to start a run-up from a start point, to perform a takeoff action at a takeoff position, and to jump so as to compete for a flight distance, said apparatus comprising:

wind direction setting means for setting a wind direction that changes according to preset change contents;

wind direction guide display control means for displaying a wind direction guide indicating said set wind direction on a part of the game picture;

run-up instruction means for instructing said character to start the run-up action; and

flight distance control means for changing the flight distance in response to the wind direction at the point of time of the takeoff action.

2. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wind direction setting means rotates the wind direction.

3. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising wind speed setting means for setting a wind speed that changes according to preset change contents, wherein said wind direction guide display control means further displays a wind speed guide indicating said set wind speed on a part of the game picture;

and wherein said flight distance control means further changes the flight distance in response to a wind speed at the point of time of the takeoff action.

4. A video game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said wind speed setting means sets change contents thereof so as to be in a fixed relationship with the change contents of the wind direction.

5. A video game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said wind direction guide display control means displays an arrow mark as said wind direction guide, and changes the shape of the arrow mark in response to said wind speed.

6. A video game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wind direction setting means reduces an amount of change in the wind direction at the point of time of the takeoff action.

7. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising takeoff instruction means for instructing said character to perform the takeoff action.

8. A prediction guide displaying method for use in a video game in which a simulated jumping field is displayed on a game picture, a character is allowed to start a run-up from a start point, to perform a takeoff action at a takeoff position, and to jump so as to compete for a flight distance, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a wind direction guide indicating a wind direction which changes according to preset change contents on a part of a game picture;

instructing said character to start a run-up action; and

changing the flight distance in response to the wind direction at the point of time of the takeoff action.

9. A recording medium recording therein a prediction guide display program, said prediction guide display program being used in a video game in which a simulated jumping field is displayed on a game picture, a character of the game is allowed to start a run-up from a start point, to perform a takeoff action at a takeoff position, and to jump so as to compete for a flight distance, and said program comprising the steps of:

setting a wind direction which changes according to preset change contents;

displaying a wind direction guide indicating said set wind direction on a part of a game picture;

instructing said character to start a run-up action; and

changing the flight distance in response to the wind direction at the point of time of the takeoff action.