Virtual image generation method and its apparatus

• US 6,154,197 A
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Watari, Juro, Sonoda, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/817,243
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/121, 348/139, 348/157, 348/158, 348/161, 348/156, 463/2, 463/6-8, 463/30-33, 463/36-38, 463/50, 434/69, 273/438, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 13/422 automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6054 by generating automatically game commands to assist the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
• 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 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04725 with coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 : Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

The virtual image generation apparatus (1000) is a virtual image generation apparatus for a game unit or the like, and comprises a plurality of (for example, two) input means (11: control levers, joysticks, or the like) for generating codes associated with operating direction, decoding means (101: a CPU, controller, or the like) for inputting codes generated through operation of the plurality of input means and assigning a control profile for a movable object associated with a combination of a plurality of input codes, and image generation means (101, 108-117: a CPU, geometalyzer, graphic controller, or the like) for generating virtual images whereby the movable object control profiles assigned by the decoding means are reflected in relative motion of the movable objects within virtual space. The input device control attitude is detected digitally and corresponding movements are assigned, thereby eliminating unintended input and allowing movable objects to be freely controlled in three dimensions in a virtual space.

Claims

1. A virtual image generation method for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude,

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior;

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out; and

generating virtual images that reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors of said movable objects in the horizontal plane in said virtual space which have been associated with combinations of the signals that can be output by said plurality of input devices, as well as behaviors of said movable objects in the perpendicular direction.

2. A virtual image generation method for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude,

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior;

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out; and

generating virtual images that reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying movement of said movable objects in the vertical direction in said virtual space when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

3. A virtual image generation method for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude,

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior;

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out; and

generating virtual images that reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects,

wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying breaking said movable objects when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

4. A virtual image generation method for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude,

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior;

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out; and

generating virtual images that reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects,

wherein the step of reading out behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices is performed when the same signal combination from the input devices is input a plurality of times.

5. A virtual image generation apparatus for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means, which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior;

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out; and

image generation means for generating virtual images which reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors of said movable objects in the horizontal plane in said virtual space which have been associated with combinations of the signals that can be output by said plurality of input devices, as well as behaviors of said movable objects in the perpendicular direction.

6. A virtual image generation apparatus for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means, which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior,

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out; and

image generation means for generating virtual images which reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying movement of said movable objects in the vertical direction in said virtual space when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

7. A virtual image generation apparatus for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means, which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior;

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out; and

image generation means for generating virtual images which reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying breaking said movable objects when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

8. A virtual image generation apparatus for generating virtual images of movable objects that move in virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means, which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational direction signals of the input devices that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior;

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out; and

image generation means for generating virtual images which reflect the result of control of the behaviors of said movable objects, wherein said control means reads out behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices when the same signal combination from the input devices is input a plurality of times.

9. A movable object behavior control method for controlling the behavior of movable objects which move through virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out wherein said memory means stores behaviors of said movable objects in the horizontal plane in said virtual space which have been associated with combinations of the signals that can be output by said plurality of input devices, as well as behaviors of said movable objects in the perpendicular direction.

10. A movable object behavior control method for controlling the behavior of movable objects which move through virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying movement of said movable objects in the vertical direction in said virtual space when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

11. A movable object behavior control method for controlling the behavior of movable objects which move through virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying breaking said movable objects when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

12. A movable object behavior control method for controlling the behavior of movable objects which move through virtual space, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been so read out, wherein the step of reading out behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices is performed when the same signal combination from the input devices is input a plurality of times.

13. A behavior control device for controlling the behavior of movable objects through virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means, which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior; and

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out, wherein said memory means stores behaviors of said movable objects in the horizontal plane in said virtual space which have been associated with combinations of the signals that can be output by said plurality of input devices, as well as behaviors of said movable objects in the perpendicular direction.

14. A behavior control device for controlling the behavior of movable objects through virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means, which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior; and

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying movement of said movable objects in the vertical direction in said virtual space when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

15. A behavior control device for controlling the behavior of movable objects through virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operators instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior; and

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying breaking said movable objects when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

16. A behavior control device for controlling the behavior of movable objects through virtual space, comprising:

a plurality of input means, which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense;

memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combination, is stored as said various behavior; and

control means for reading out from said memory means behaviors of said movable objects that have been correlated with combinations of signals simultaneously output from said plurality of input devices in accordance with control attitude, and controlling the behaviors of said movable objects on the basis of said behaviors so read out, wherein said control means reads out behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, when the same signal combination from the input devices is input a plurality of times.

17. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a virtual image generation program for generating virtual images of moveable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior;

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out; and

memory module for generating a virtual image resulting from control of the behavior of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors of said movable objects in the horizontal plane in said virtual space which have been associated with combinations of the signals that can be output by said plurality of input devices, as well as behaviors of said movable objects in the perpendicular direction.

18. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a movable objects behavior control program for controlling the behavior of movable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out, wherein said memory means stores behaviors of said movable objects in the horizontal plane in said virtual space which have been associated with combinations of the signals that can be output by said plurality of input devices, as well as behaviors of said movable objects in the perpendicular direction.

19. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a virtual image generation program for generating virtual images of moveable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior;

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out; and

memory module for generating a virtual image resulting from control of the behavior of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying movement of said movable objects in the vertical direction in said virtual space when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

20. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a virtual image generation program for generating virtual images of moveable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior;

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out; and

memory module for generating a virtual image resulting from control of the behavior of said movable objects, wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying breaking said movable objects when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

21. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a virtual image generation program for generating virtual images of moveable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior;

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out; and

memory module for generating a virtual image resulting from control of the behavior of said movable objects, wherein the memory module for reading out reads out behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices when the same signal combination from the input devices is input a plurality of times.

22. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a movable objects behavior control program for controlling the behavior of movable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out,

wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying movement of said movable objects in the vertical direction in said virtual space when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

23. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a movable objects behavior control program for controlling the behavior of movable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out,

wherein said memory means stores behaviors specifying breaking said movable objects when said plurality of input devices are in a prescribed control attitude.

24. A machine-readable memory medium that stores a movable objects behavior control program for controlling the behavior of movable objects that move through a virtual space, comprising:

memory module for acquiring, from each of a plurality of input devices which are movable in a plurality of predetermined directions that coincide with an operator'"'"'s instinctive sense, operational direction signals from the respective input devices which correspond to control attitude;

memory module for reading out, from memory means for storing predetermined various behaviors of said movable objects which have been coincided with combinations of operational directions of the input device that can be simultaneously output by said plurality of input devices, behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices, wherein at least one behavior which moves in a different direction than that of the synthesis of the operational directions, included in the assigned combinations, is stored as said various behavior; and

memory module for controlling the behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the behaviors of said movable objects which have been read out,

wherein the memory module for reading out reads out behaviors of said movable objects in accordance with the signal combinations that have been acquired from said plurality of input devices when the same signal combination from the input devices is input a plurality of times.