Video game apparatus outputting image and music and storage medium used therefor

• US 6,280,329 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Inagaki, Yoji, Shimizu, Hideaki, Kondo, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,619
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/31, 463/32, 463/33, 463/35, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A video game apparatus includes an external ROM. This external ROM has a sound memory area memorized with sound sequence data. The sound sequence data includes a plurality of block sequences for each of three status of “move”, “fight” and “stop” of a player object. A CPU detects a status of the player object according to a mode flag, and read to a RAM a block sequence in compliance with the status detected. It is possible to output a series of game melodies in a manner matched to the status of the player object by the repetition of using the plurality of block sequences.

Claims

1. A video game apparatus which displays on a display, according to a game program, game images including a player object and outputs a game melody in relation to the game images, comprising:

a memory medium for fixedly storing said game program, said memory medium storing a plurality of block sequences to constitute a game melody each of which consists of a plurality of measures, each of said plurality of block sequences having head and last measures that provide a musical continuation between two arbitrary block sequences put in continuation;

a RAM;

a selecting means for selecting at least one by one said plurality of block sequences;

a read means for reading one or more selected block sequences to said RAM; and

an output means for outputting a game melody based on the one or more block sequences read in said RAM, said read means selecting a block sequence before ending a block sequence being outputted by said outputting means.

2. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a state detecting means for detecting an action state of said player object, wherein

said plurality of block sequences includes two or more state-basis block sequences for each different action state of said player object, said selecting means selecting one of said state-basis block sequences belonging to an action state detected by said state detecting means.

3. A video game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said action state of said player object includes at least “

move” and

“

stop”

, said state detecting means detecting said “

move”

state when said “

stop”

state does not remain for a predetermined time period and longer.

4. A video game apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a state change detecting means for detecting a change in said action state of said player object, wherein each of said state-basis block sequences includes an introduction sequence, and when a state change is detected by said state change detecting means, said selecting means selects an introduction sequence for said state-basis sequence.

5. A video game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selecting means does not select an introduction sequence for said “

move”

state when said object is changed in action state from said “

stop”

state or a “

fight”

state to said “

move”

state.

6. A video game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said at least one of state-basis block sequences includes three or more block sequences while said introduction sequences are included for each action state,

said selecting means including a random selecting means to select at random two or more block sequences not including said introduction sequences.

7. A video game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said random selecting means includes a random number generating means to generate a random number.

8. A video game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said random selecting means further includes a means to process a random number when a random number produced by said random number generating means is the same as the random number previously generated the last time.

9. A video game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said random selecting means further includes a means to forcibly set a minimum value when a random number processed by said means to process has a numerical value corresponding to a maximum number of said block sequences.

10. A video game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said random selecting means further includes a means to forcibly set a minimum value and a random number produced by said random number generating means is a numerical value corresponding to a maximum number of said block sequences.

11. A video game apparatus which displays on a display, according to a game program, game images including a player object and outputs a game melody in relation to the game images, comprising:

a memory medium for fixedly storing said game program, said memory medium storing a plurality of block sequences to constitute a game melody each of which consists of a plurality of measures, each of said block sequences having head and last measures that provide a musical continuation for two arbitrary block sequences put in continuation; and

a game melody output means for outputting a series of game melodies by reading different ones of said block sequences out of said memory medium and connecting them depending upon a predetermined condition related to said player object.

12. A memory medium to be attached, upon use, to a video game apparatus which displays on a display, according to a game program, game images including a player object and outputs a game melody in relation to said game images, comprising:

a first memory area for storing a plurality of block sequences to constitute said game melody each of which consists of a plurality of measures, each of said block sequences having head and last measures that provide a musical continuation for two block sequences put in continuation;

a second memory area for storing a select program for selecting at least one of said block sequences;

a third memory area for storing a read program to read in a RAM one or more of said selected block sequences; and

a fourth memory area for storing an output program to output a game melody based on said block sequences read in said RAM, a block sequence being selected according to said select program before ending a block sequence being outputted by said output program.

13. A video game apparatus which displays on a display, according to a game program, game images including a player object and outputs a game melody in relation to the game images, comprising:

a memory medium for fixedly storing said game program, said memory medium storing a plurality of block sequences to constitute a game melody each of which includes a plurality of measures, each of said plurality of block sequences having head and last measures that provide a continuation of music between two arbitrary block sequences put in continuation;

a RAM;

a selector for selecting at least one by one said plurality of block sequences;

a reader for reading one or more selected block sequences to said RAM; and

an output for outputting a game melody based on the one or more block sequences read in said RAM, said reader selecting a block sequence before ending a block sequence being outputted by said output.

14. A video game apparatus accordingly to claim 13, further comprising a state detector for detecting an action state of said player object, wherein

said plurality of block sequences includes two or more state-basis block sequences for each different action state of said player object, said selector selecting one of said state-basis block sequences belonging to an action state detected by said state detector.

15. A video game apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said action state of said player object includes at least “

move” and

“

stop”

, said state detector detecting said “

move”

state when said “

stop”

state does not remain for a predetermined time period and longer.

16. A video game apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a state change detector for detecting a change in said action state of said player object, wherein each of said state-basis block sequences includes an introduction sequence, and when a state change is detected by said state change detector, said selector selects an introduction sequence for said state-basis sequence.

17. A video game apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said selector does not select an introduction sequence for said “

move”

state when said object is changed in action state from said “

stop”

state or a “

fight”

state to said “

move”

state.

18. A video game apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said state-basis block sequences includes three or more block sequences while said introduction sequences are included for each action state,

said selector including a random selector to select at random two or more block sequences not including said introduction sequences.

19. A video game apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said random selector includes a random number generator to generate a random number.

20. A video game apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said random selector further includes a processor to process a random number when a random number generated by said random number generator is the same as the random number previously generated the last time.

21. A video game apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said random selector further includes a minimum value setter that sets a minimum value when a random number processed by said processor has a numerical value corresponding to a maximum number of said block sequences.

22. A video game apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said random selector further includes a minimum value setter that sets a muimum value and a random number generated by said random number generator is a numerical value corresponding to a maximum number of said block sequences.

23. A video game apparatus which displays on a display, according to a game program, game images including a player object and outputs a game melody in relation to the game images, comprising:

a memory medium for fixedly storing said game program, said memory medium storing a plurality of block sequences to constitute a game melody each of which includes a plurality of measures, each of said block sequences having head and last measures that provide a musical continuation for two arbitrary block sequences put in continuation; and

a game melody output for outputting a series of game melodies by reading different ones of said block sequences out of said memory medium and connecting them depending upon a predetermined condition related to said player object.

24. A memory medium to be attached, upon use, to a video game apparatus which displays on a display, according to a game program, game images including a player object and outputs a game melody in relation to said game images, comprising:

a first memory area for storing a plurality of block sequences to constitute said game melody each of which includes a plurality of measures, each of said block sequences having head and last measures that provide a musical continuation for two block sequences put in continuation;

a second memory area for storing a select program for selecting at least one of said block sequences;

a third memory area for storing a read program to read in a RAM one or more of said selected block sequences; and

a fourth memory area for storing an output program to output a game melody based on said block sequences read in said RAM, a block sequence being selected according to said select program before ending a block sequence being outputted by said output program.