Image synthesis method, games machine and information storage medium with sequence checking

• US 6,149,523 A
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Kimoto, Masahiro, Yamada, Masanori, Ito, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US08/930,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30-39, 463/9, 273/148 B, 434/258, 434/236, 434/307, 434/308, 434/309
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5372 for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• 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 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• 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 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

The objective of this invention is to provide an image synthesis method, sound synthesis method, games machine and information storage medium for making it easy to learn a complicated operating sequence from a game controller. This system determines whether an input sequence by which operating buttons are pressed in sequence matches a standard sequence that is specified by standard operations (41) to (51). If the input sequence matches, a matching identification symbol lights up. When an operating button is pressed, an identification sound that identifies the press operating button is output. The player can perceive the operations to be input and the operations that the player has input from these identification symbols and sounds. This makes it easy to acquire special techniques used in a fighting game. Outputting identification symbols and sounds in this manner is particularly effective in a training mode.

Claims

1. An image synthesis method for synthesizing a game image, the method comprising:

determining whether an input operation sequence matches a given standard operation sequence, said input operation sequence being specified by N input operations that are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

providing at least one of a display that indicates matched input operations and a display that indicates non-matched input operations, said display being provided by using identification symbols for visually identifying details of each input operation.

2. The image synthesis method of claim 1, wherein:

details of the N standard operations that specify said standard sequence are displayed beforehand by using identification symbols; and

when first to Mth input operations match the first to Mth standard operations, M being at most equal to N, a display state of identification symbols of matching first to Mth standard operations is caused to changed.

3. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

when said game controller has a plurality of operating buttons, at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol that identifies which of said plurality of operating buttons has been operated.

4. The image synthsis method as defined in claim 3, wherein:

at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol with different colors to represent operating buttons having different dispositions on said game controller.

5. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

when said game controller has a direction input means for inputting a plurality of directions,

at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol for identification one direction of said plurality of directions.

6. The image synthesis method of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol indicating an insertion of a given time interval between a (K-1)th input operation and a Kth input operation, K being at most equal to N.

7. The image synthesis method of claim 1, further comprising:

sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying the details of each operation, synchronizing an output of said identification sounds with at least one of input timing of said N input operations and reference timing of said standard sequence.

8. The sound synthesis method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said identification symbols are displayed in a training mode for enabling a player to practice operations.

9. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 8, wherein:

display of said identification symbols in accordance with said standard sequence is performed in training mode by a computer as selected by a player.

10. An image synthesis method for synthesizing a game image, the method comprising:

displaying identification symbols for visually identifying details of each input operation when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

determining whether or not an input sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard sequence.

11. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

when said game controller has a plurality of operating buttons, at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol that identifies which of said plurality of operating buttons has been operated.

12. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 11, wherein:

at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol with different colors to represent operating buttons having different dispositions on said game controller.

13. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

when said game controller has a direction input means for inputting a plurality of directions,

at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol for identifying one direction of said plurality of directions.

14. The image synthesis method of claim 10, wherein:

at least one of said identification symbols is a symbol indicating an insertion of a given time interval between a (K-1)th input operation and a Kth input operation, K being at most equal to N.

15. The image synthesis method of claim 10, further comprising:

sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying the details of each operation, synchronizing an output of said identification sounds with at least one of input timing of said N input operations and reference timing of said standard sequence.

16. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said identification symbols are displayed in a training mode for enabling a player to practice operations.

17. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 16, wherein:

display of said identification symbols in accordance with said standard sequence is performed in training mode by a computer as selected by a player.

18. A sound synthesis method for synthesizing game sounds, the method comprising:

sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying details of each input operation, synchronizing an output of said identification sounds with input timing of each input operation, when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

determining whether or not an input sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard sequence.

19. The sound synthesis method as defined in claim 18:

sequentially outputting said identification sounds corresponding to said standard sequence, synchronizing the output of said identification sounds with the reference timing of said standard sequence.

20. The sound synthesis method as difined in claim 18, wherein:

said identification sounds are output in a training mode for enabling a player to practice operations.

21. The sound synthesis mehtod as defined in claim 20, wherein:

output of said identification sounds in accordance with said standard sequence is performed in training mode by a computer as selected by a player.

22. A games machine for synthesizing game images and game sounds, comprising:

means for determining whether an input operation sequence matches a given standard operation sequence, said input operation sequence being specified by N input operations that are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

means for providing at least one of a display that indicates matched input operations and a display that indicates non-matched input operations, said display being provided by using identification symbols for visually identifying details of each input operation.

23. A games machine for synthesizing game images and games sounds, comprising:

means for displaying identification symbols for visually identifying details of each input operation when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

means for determining whether or not an input sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard sequence.

24. A games machine for synthesizing game images and game sounds, comprising:

means for sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying details of each input operation, synchronizing an output of said identification sounds with input timing of each input operation, when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

means for determining whether or not an input sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard sequence.

25. An information storage medium for synthesizing a game image, comprising:

information for determining whether an input operation sequence matches a given standard operation sequence, said input operation sequence being specified by N input operations that are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

information for providing at least one of a display that indicates matched input operations and a display that indicates non-matched input operations, said display being provided by using identification symbols for visually identifying details of each input operation.

26. An information storage medium for synthesizing a game image, comprising:

information for displaying identification symbols for visually identifying details of each input operation when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

information for determining whether or not an input sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard sequence.

27. An information storage medium for synthesizing a game sound, comprising:

information for sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying details of each input operation, synchronizing an output of said identification sounds with input timing of each input opeeration, when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two; and

information for determining whether or not an input sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard sequence.

28. An image and sound synthesis method for synthesizing a game image and game sounds, the method comprising:

displaying identification symbols for visually identifying details of input operations, sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying the details of each input operation, synchronizing the output of said identification sounds with input timing of each input operation, when a N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller, N being at least equal to two;

determining whether an input operation sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard operation sequence; and

providing at least one of a display that indicates matched input operations and a display that indicates non-matched input operations, said display being provided by using identification symbols for visually identifying the details of each input operation.

29. A games machine for synthesizing game images and game sounds, comprising:

means for displaying identification symbols for visually identifying details of input operations, when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller N being at least equal to two;

means for sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying the details of each input operation, synchronizing the output of said identification sounds with input timing of each input operation, when the N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller;

means for determining whether an input operation sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard operation sequence; and

means for providing at least one of a display that indicates matched input operations and a display that indicates non-matched input operations, said display being provided by using identification symbols for visually identifying the details of each input operation.

30. An information storage medium for synthesizing a game image and game sounds, comprising:

information for displaying identification symbols for visually identifying details of input operations when N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller N being at least equal to two;

information for sequentially outputting identification sounds for aurally identifying the details of each input operation, synchronizing the output of said identification sounds with input timing of each input operation, when the N input operations are sequentially input by a game controller;

information for determining whether an input operation sequence specified by said N input operations matches a given standard operation sequence; and

information for providing at least one of a display that indicates matched input operations and a display that indicates non-matched input operations, said display being provided by using identification symbols for visually identifying the details of each input operation.