Image generating device and information storage medium

• US 6,217,449 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaku, Ryoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/203,336
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/23, 463/31, 463/36, 434/255
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• 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: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence

Abstract

The object is the provision of an image generating device and information storage medium such that even a player of low strength or the like can smoothly move a moving body in an object space. Based on a pedaling force PF corresponding to kinetic energy input using pedals, and a course attractive force AF pulling in the direction of progress along a course in object space, a moving body is moved along the course in the object space. The kinetic energy is obtained, for example, by a player moving an operating means with a hand or foot. The course is given vertical relief, and moving body is moved based on PF, AF, and gravity. When the moving body is on a level ground, or when the pedals are not being turned the course attractive force AF is disabled. In the case of a multi-player game in which a plurality of moving bodies are moving, the magnitude of the course attractive force AF is varied according to the distance from the moving body in first position or the rank order of the moving bodies. The present invention can be applied to a bodily sensing game such as a bicycle, boat, or animal racing game.

Claims

1. An image generating device generating an image seen from a given viewpoint in an object space, comprising:

an operating means for inputting movements of a player;

means for performing calculation to move at least one moving body along a course in object space based on at least a first force being a force corresponding to kinetic energy of the movements of the player input by the operating means and a second force being a force pulling along a travel direction of the course in object space; and

means for generating an image seen from a given viewpoint in object space.

2. The image generating device as defined in claim 1, wherein said kinetic energy is obtained by moving operating means using a player'"'"'s limb.

3. The image generating device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said course has vertical relief; and

said moving body is moved along said course based on said first and second forces, and a gravity force acting in the vertical direction.

4. The image generating device as defined in claim 2, wherein:

said course has vertical relief; and

said moving body is moved along said course based on said first and second forces, and a gravity acting in the vertical direction.

5. The image generating device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second force acting on said moving body is cancelled when said moving body is in a given state.

6. The image generating device as defined in claim 2, wherein said second force acting on said moving body is cancelled when said moving body is in a given state.

7. The image generating device as defined in claim 3, wherein said second force acting on said moving body is cancelled when said moving body is in a given state.

8. The image generating device as defined in claim 1, wherein, when there is a plurality of moving bodies, the magnitude of said second force is varied according to at least one of a distance between moving bodies and rank order of moving bodies.

9. The image generating device as defined in claim 2, wherein, when there is a plurality of moving bodies, the magnitude of said second force is varied according to at least one of a distance between moving bodies and rank order of moving bodies.

10. The image generating device as defined in claim 3, wherein, when there is a plurality of moving bodies, the magnitude of said second force is varied according to at least one of a distance between moving bodies and rank order of the moving bodies.

11. The image generating device as defined in claim 5, wherein, when there is a plurality of moving bodies, the magnitude of said second force is varied according to at least one of a distance between moving bodies and rank order of moving bodies.

12. The image generating device as defined in claim 8, wherein the further the distance between a following moving body and a moving body in the lead on the course, said second force, which acts on the following moving body, is made larger.

13. The image generating device as defined in claim 8, wherein the lower the rank order of a moving body from the leading moving body the larger said second force is made.

14. The image generating device as defined in claim 1, wherein the movement of one of a bicycle, a boat, and an animal is simulated.

15. An information storage medium used for an image generating device generating an image seen from a given viewpoint in an object space, comprising:

a program for processing input movements of a player;

a program for performing calculation to move at least one moving body along a course in object space based on at least a first force being a force read as corresponding to kinetic energy of the input movements of the player and a second force being a force pulling along a travel direction of the course in object space; and

a program for generating an image seen from a given viewpoint in object space.

16. The information storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein said kinetic energy is obtained by moving operating means using a player'"'"'s limb.

17. The information storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein:

said course has vertical relief; and

said moving body is moved along said course based on said first and second forces, and a gravity force acting in the vertical direction.

18. The information storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein said second force acting on said moving body is cancelled when said moving body is in a given state.

19. The information storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein, when there is a plurality of moving bodies, the magnitude of said second force is varied according to at least one of a distance between moving bodies and rank order of moving bodies.

20. The information storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the movement of one of a bicycle, a boat, and an animal is simulated.