Game device including a subset for displaying image information

• US 6,540,614 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Hara, Makoto, Ishida, Jun, Tsukamoto, Masanobu, Shirahata, Kunihiro, Goto, Katsuhito, Terada, Takaharu, Nishino, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/398,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148.B, 463/1, 463/30, 463/31, 463/34, 463/35, 463/37, 463/38, 463/40
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device

Abstract

Provided is a game device capable of notifying a player of the timing for observing individual display units without ruining the game-world view. A game device comprising a first display unit (113) for displaying a, first image in conformity with the game progress and a second display unit (39) for displaying a second image corresponding to the first image further comprises perceptive stimulation elements (34-37) for stimulating the perception of the player operating the game device. In consideration of the game progress, when it is desired for the player to observe the second display unit (39), the perspective stimulation elements (34-37) are individually activated in order to stimulate the perception of the player operating the game device. The player learns the display of individual information by sound or vibration.

Claims

1. A game device capable of generating image information in conformity with a game progress and a plurality of sub image information corresponding thereto, comprising:

a main unit for connecting to a main monitor for displaying images based on the image information;

a sub unit for connecting to a sub monitor for displaying images based on the sub image information;

perceptive stimulation means for non-visually stimulating a perception of a player operating said game device wherein perceptive stimulation means is located in the sub unit; and

activation means for, when it is necessary to make a player mainly observing the image information in conformity with the game progress recognize any sub image information, activating the perceptive stimulation means corresponding to said sub image information and making the player recognize that he/she should observe said sub image information.

4. A game device according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein said perceptive stimulation means is sound generation means for generating prescribed sounds.

5. A game device according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein said perceptive stimulation means is vibration generation means for generating prescribed vibrations.

2. A game device capable of generating first image information in conformity with a game progress and second image information corresponding to said first image information, comprising:

a main unit for connecting to a main monitor for displaying images based on the first image information;

a sub unit comprising a sub monitor for displaying images based on the second image information;

perceptive stimulation means for non-visually stimulating a perception of a player operating said game device wherein perceptive stimulation means is located in the sub unit; and

activation means for, when it is necessary to make a player mainly observing the first image information recognize the second image information in consideration of the game progress, activating the perceptive stimulation means to stimulate the perception of the player operating said game device.

3. A game device comprising:

a game machine main body for generating first image information in conformity with a game progress; and

a subset for generating second image information corresponding to said first image information wherein the subset includes perceptive stimulation means for non-visually stimulating a perception of a player operating said game device in correspondence with commands from said game machine main body,

wherein said game machine main body transmits prescribed commands to said subset when it is necessary to make a player recognize the second image information in consideration of the game progress, and said subset is capable of non-visually stimulating the perception of the player with said perceptive stimulation means when said commands are transmitted from said game machine main body.

6. A game processing method of generating image information in conformity with a game progress and a plurality of sub image information corresponding thereto, the method comprising:

displaying images on a main monitor based on the image information;

displaying images on a sub monitor connected to a sub unit based on the sub image information; and

activating a perceptive stimulation means located in the sub unit to non-visually stimulate a perception of a player of the game progress when it is necessary to make the player recognize the images on the sub monitor.

7. A game processing method of generating first image information in conformity with a game progress and second image information corresponding to said first image information, the method comprising:

displaying images on a main monitor based on the first image information;

displaying images on a sub monitor connected to a sub unit based on the second image information; and

activating a perceptive stimulation means located in the sub unit to non-visually stimulate a perception of a player of the game progress when it is necessary to make the player recognize the images on the sub monitor.

8. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform at least one of the set of steps comprising:

displaying images on a main monitor based on image information in conformity with a game progress, displaying images on a sub monitor connected to a sub unit based on a plurality of sub image information corresponding to the image information, and activating a perceptive stimulation means located in the sub unit to non-visually stimulate a perception of a player of the game progress when it is necessary to make the player recognize the images on the sub monitor; and

displaying images on a main monitor based on first image information in conformity with a game progress, displaying on a sub monitor connected to a sub unit based on second image information corresponding to the first image information, and activating a perceptive stimulation means located in the sub unit to non-visually stimulate a perception of a player of the game progress when it is necessary to make the player recognize the images on the sub monitor.

9. A game processing system comprising:

a game machine for generating first image information; and

a subset for displaying second image information for a first player to select a characteristic value of said first image information at any time during a game progress without revealing to a second player that the first player has selected the characteristic value,

wherein, said game machine comprises means for restricting processing of said first image information until a setting of said characteristic value is complete.

10. A game processing system comprising:

a game machine main body set and subset thereof,

wherein said subset includes;

means for executing an image processing program of a prescribed display object resulting in a processed display object;

means for transferring data corresponding to the processed display object to the game machine main body; and

means for displaying an image for a first player to select a characteristic value of the prescribed display object at any time during a game progress without revealing to a second player that the first player has selected the characteristic value;

wherein said game machine main body set includes;

means for executing prescribed image processing of the display object based on operational data received from a controller at an arbitrary time during the game process resulting in an changed display object; and

means for restricting the prescribed image processing of the display object until setting of the characteristic value of the display object is complete; and

wherein said game processing system is structured to display the changed display object on a display means.

11. A game processing system according to claim 10, wherein the image processing of the prescribed display object performed by said subset is processing for executing a program which nurtures this display object.

12. A recording medium storing a program for making the game processing system according to any one of claims 9 through 11 execute said game processing.

13. A game device comprising:

A game machine main body for generating first image information in conformity with a game progress and transmitting prescribed commands to a peripheral when it is necessary to make a player recognize second image information in consideration of a battle game progress for two or more players; and

peripherals for generating second image information corresponding to said first image information, wherein the peripherals include perceptive stimulation means for stimulating a perception of a player operating said game device in correspondence with the commands from said game machine main body.

14. A game device according to claim 13, wherein said perceptive stimulation means is a display screen provided to said peripheral, and said command is a strategy list for battle.

15. A game device according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein said peripheral is an operational terminal for transmitting various instructions to said game machine main body.

16. A game device according to claim 15, wherein said peripheral is an auxiliary peripheral attachable to and detachable from said operational terminal.

17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method comprising:

generating first image information in a game machine main body set;

displaying second image information in a subset for a first player to select a characteristic value of said first image information at any time during a game progress without revealing to a second player that the first player has selected the characteristic value; and

restricting the processing of said first image information until the setting of said characteristic value is complete.

18. A game device comprising:

a first display unit for displaying pictures showing a progressive state of a game;

a plurality of input units for respectively incorporating operational information from a plurality of players simultaneously;

a plurality of second display units for respectively displaying to each of the players an image for inputting said operational information; and

a game controller for controlling a game progress by incorporating from said input units the operational information including the settings of characteristic values of image information, and preparing pictures showing the progressive state of said game and displaying such pictures on said first display unit.

19. A game device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said second display units is formed on said input unit.

20. A game device according to claim 19, wherein said game device further comprises perceptive stimulation means for stimulating the perception of the respective players operating said game device,

wherein, when the image for inputting said operational information is displayed on said second image displaying unit, said perceptive stimulation means stimulates the perception of the player of said second display unit to which said image was displayed.

21. A game device according to claim 20, wherein said perceptive stimulation means is respectively provided to each of the players.

22. A game device according to claim 21, wherein said game controller controls, in accordance with a player'"'"'s operation, whether to display the image for inputting said operational information on said second display unit or said first display unit.

23. A game device according to claim 19, wherein said second display units show pictures of items which players'"'"' characters are using.