Video game system and method with enhanced three-dimensional character and background control
First Claim
1. A video game system comprising:
- an external memory for storing a video game program;
a game program executing processing system having a gamine microprocessor and a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program to generate a three-dimensional world display;
at least one player controller operable by a player including a plurality of camera perspective control keys for generating video game control signals for modifying the displayed three-dimensional world point of view;
said external memory including instructions for causing said game program executing processing system to respond to the actuation of each of said plurality of camera perspective control keys by modifying the displayed three-dimensional world point of view.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The video game methodology involves game level organization features, camera perspective or point of view control features, and a wide array of animation and character control features. The system changes the "camera" angle (i.e., the displayed point of view in the three-dimensional world) automatically based upon various conditions and in response to actuation of a plurality of distinct controller keys/buttons/switches, e.g., four "C" buttons in the exemplary embodiment. The control keys allow the user at any time to move in for a close up or pull back for a wide view or pan the camera to the right and left to change the apparent camera angle. Such user initiated camera manipulation permits a player to better judge jumps or determine mole precisely where an object is located in relation to the player controlled character. The video game system and methodology features a unique player controller, which permits control over a character'"'"'s exploration of the three-dimensional world to an unprecedented extent. A player controlled character may be controlled in a multitude of different ways utilizing the combination of the joystick and/or cross-switch and/or control keys and a wide range of animation effects are generated.
232 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A video game system comprising:
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an external memory for storing a video game program; a game program executing processing system having a gamine microprocessor and a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program to generate a three-dimensional world display; at least one player controller operable by a player including a plurality of camera perspective control keys for generating video game control signals for modifying the displayed three-dimensional world point of view;
said external memory including instructions for causing said game program executing processing system to respond to the actuation of each of said plurality of camera perspective control keys by modifying the displayed three-dimensional world point of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. For use in a video game system having an external memory for storing a video game program, a game program executing processing system having a game microprocessor and a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program, at least one player controller operable by a player for generating player controller related data, said player controller having a plurality of point of view control switches, a method of operating of said video game system comprising the steps of:
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generating a first three-dimensional word display from a first point of view using said game microprocessor and said coprocessor in which a player-controlled character is depicted in the three-dimensional world; detecting if any one of a plurality of point of view control witches oil said player controller have been depressed by a player, and generating a second three-dimensional world display from a second point of view in response to the detection of the depression of one of said point of view control switches, said second point of view being different depending upon which point of view control switch was depressed by the player. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. For use with a video game system console having a game program executing processing system including a game microprocessor and a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program to create a display simulating a three-dimensional world, and at least one player controller having a plurality of control keys and operable by a player to generate video game control signals, a portable storage device for controlling the operation of said video game system console comprising:
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a memory media for storing video game instructions and graphics and sound data; interface circuitry for coupling said video game instructions and said graphics and sound data retrieved from said memory media to said video game system console; said video game instructions including instructions for causing said game program executing processing system to respond to the actuation of any one of a plurality of control keys of said player controller to execute instructions for changing the displayed point of view perspective in a displayed three-dimensional world in a manner depending upon which of said plurality of control keys was actuation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. For use in a video game system having an external memory for storing a video game program, a game program executing processing system having a game microprocessor and a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program, at least one player controller operable by a player for generating player controller related data, said player controller having an operation control member and a plurality of point of view control switches, a method of operating said video game system comprising the steps of:
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generating a first three-dimensional world display from a first point of view using said game microprocessor and said coprocessor in which a player-controlled character is depicted in the three dimensional world; generating a second three-dimensional world display from a second point of view in response to the detection of a predetermined condition; and generating a third point of view display in response to the player actuating said operation control member when said display is depicting said second point of view. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. For use with a video game system console having a game program executing processing system including a game microprocessor and a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program to create a display simulating a three-dimensional world, and at least one player controller operable by a player to generate video game control signals, a portable storage device for controlling the operation of said video game system console comprising:
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a memory media for storing video game instructions and graphics and sound data; interface circuitry for coupling said video game instructions and said graphics and sound data retrieved from said memory media to said video game system console; said video game instructions including instructions for causing said game program executing processing system to respond to the detection of a player controlled character being in a predetermined state and for changing the displayed point of view perspective in a displayed three-dimensional world. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification