Fishing game system and input device therefor

• US 6,589,117 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yokoi, Eiji, Kawashima, Hajime, Moritome, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/206,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/818 Fishing
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 Virtual fishing

Abstract

A fishing game system is designed to sufficiently reproduce a feeling of actual fishing with a simple mechanism. A fishing game system includes a display device for displaying an image, an input device from which a signal is outputted in response to operation by a player, and a game control device for referring to the signal outputted from the input device to perform a fishing game on a screen of the display device in accordance with a predetermined procedure. The input device includes an operation lever operable in a lateral direction as well as a forward-backward direction to the player, and a handle arranged on the operation lever rotatably operable about an axial line in the lateral direction. The operation of the operation lever in the forward-backward direction corresponds to the up and down operation of an actual fishing rod, while the operation of the operation lever in the lateral direction corresponds to the lateral-directional operation of the fishing rod. In addition, the rotational operation of the handle in a predetermined direction corresponds to a reeling-up operation of an actual fishing line. Through these operations, an operation of a lure and a landing of fish may be evaluated.

Claims

1. A fishing game system comprising:

a display device for displaying an image;

an input device for outputting a signal in response to an operation by a player; and

a game control device for referring to the signal outputted from the input device to perform a fishing game on a screen of the display device in accordance with a predetermined procedure,

wherein the input device comprises;

a first input unit having an operation lever operable in a lateral direction and a forward-backward direction to the player and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the operation lever by the player, said first input unit having a terminal end which is movable free of attachment thereof to a remainder of the fishing game system; and

a second input unit having a handle arranged on the operation lever rotatably operable about an axial line in the lateral direction and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the handle, the operation lever comprising a lever axis and a grip arranged at an upper portion of the lever axis, the lever axis comprising, at a lower end portion thereof, a supporting and detecting mechanism for supporting the lever axis in a manner operable in the lateral direction and the forward-backward direction and for outputting an operation signal in accordance with the operation of the lever axis, the grip comprising a hollow housing, the handle of the second input unit being rotatably supported by the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic brake disposed in the housing for applying rotational resistance to the handle.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising resistance adjusting means for changing a rotation resistance of the handle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the game control device changes the rotation resistance of the handle adjusted by the resistance adjusting means in accordance with progress of the game.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising vibrating means for applying vibration to the operation lever.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the game control device controls a vibration applying state to the operation lever performed by the vibrating means in accordance with progress of the game.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the input device further comprises a third input unit having an operation element attached on the operation lever independently of the handle and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the operation element, and

the game control device controls the progress of the fishing game by assigning the operation of the operation element of the third input unit to a loosening operation of a tension of a virtual fishing line used in the game for a period from casting until picking-up of a fishing rig.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the input device further comprises a fourth input unit for outputting a signal in accordance with operation of the player; and

the game control device decides a casting position of a fishing rig in a virtual fishing place realized in the game on the basis of both the operation of the fourth input unit and the operation in the lateral direction of the operation lever.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein, when the fishing rig is cast in the game, the game control device displays a casting gauge on the screen of the display device, changes an amount shown by the gauge continuously, decides a casting distance of the fishing rig based on a relationship between the amount shown by the gauge and an operational timing of the fourth input unit, and decides a casting direction of the fishing rig based on an operated amount in the lateral direction of the operation lever.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the game control device controls the progress of the fishing game by assigning an operation of the operation lever in the lateral direction to a movement in the lateral direction of a virtual fishing rod used in the game and assigning a rotational operation of the handle in a given direction to a reeling-up operation of a virtual fishing line used in the game for a period from casting until picking-up the fishing rig.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the game control device displays, on the screen, an image of a fish which was caught in the game and controls a displayed state of the image of the fish to change a viewing position of the fish according to an operation of the operation lever.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device is arranged in a given frame and has a control panel detachably attached to the frame at a position under the display device, the operation lever being attached to the control panel in a manner vertically extending through the control panel.

13. An input device for a game system, comprising:

a first input unit having an operation lever operable in a lateral direction and a forward-backward direction to a player and for outputting a signal in accordance with an operation of the operation lever, said first input unit having a terminal end which is movable free of attachment thereof to the game system; and

a second input unit having a handle arranged on the operation lever rotatably operable about an axial line in the lateral direction and for outputting a signal in accordance with an operation of the handle, the operation lever comprising a lever axis and a grip arranged at an upper portion of the lever axis, the lever axis comprising, at a lower end portion thereof, a supporting and detecting mechanism for supporting the lever axis in a manner operable in the lateral direction and the forward-backward direction and for outputting an operation signal in accordance with the operation of the lever axis, the grip comprising a hollow housing, the handle of the second input unit being rotatably supported by the housing.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the grip is fixed to the lever axis by bolts.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising vibrating means disposed in the housing for applying vibration to the operation lever.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising resistance adjusting means for changing a rotation resistance of the handle according to an input signal.

17. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

an electromagnetic brake disposed in the housing for applying rotational resistance to the handle; and

a brake drive circuit for changing a braking force of the electromagnetic brake according to an input signal.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the brake drive circuit changes an exciting current supplied to a coil disposed in the electromagnetic brake based on a pulse width modulation control by which a pulse width of the exciting current is controlled according to the input signal.

19. The device of claim 15, further comprising a vibrator including a motor and a weight disposed at an eccentric position from a rotational axis of the motor and rotatable thereby to generate vibration when said weight is rotated by said motor.

20. A fishing game system comprising:

a display device attached on a frame and for displaying an image;

an input device for outputting a signal in response to an operation by a player; and

a game control device for referring to the signal outputted from the input device to perform a fishing game on a screen of the display device in accordance with a predetermined procedure,

wherein the input device comprises;

a first input unit having an operation lever operable in a lateral direction and a forward-backward direction to the player and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the operation lever by the player, said first input unit having a terminal end which is movable free of attachment thereof to a remainder of the fishing game system; and

a second input unit having a handle arranged on the operation lever rotatably operable about an axial line in the lateral direction and for outputting a signal in accordance with the operation of the handle, the operation lever comprising a lever axis vertically passing through a control panel detachably provided on the frame at a position lower than the display device and a grip arranged at an upper portion of the lever axis, the lever axis comprising, at a lower end portion thereof, a supporting and detecting mechanism for supporting the lever axis in a manner operable in the lateral direction and the forward-backward direction and for outputting an operation signal in accordance with the operation of the lever axis, the supporting and detecting mechanism being provided at a position under the control panel, the grip comprising a hollow housing, the handle of the second input unit being rotatably supported by the housing.

21. An input device for a game system comprising a frame, a display device attached to the frame and a control panel detachably provided on the frame at a position lower than the display device, the input device comprising:

a first input unit having an operation lever operable in a lateral direction and a forward-backward direction to a player and for outputting a signal in accordance with an operation of the operation lever, said first input unit having a terminal end which is movable free of attachment thereof to the game system; and

a second input unit having a handle arranged on the operation lever rotatably operable about an axial line in the lateral direction and for outputting a signal in accordance with an operation of the handle, the operation lever comprising a lever axis vertically passing through a control panel detachably provided on the frame at a position lower than the display device and a grip arranged at an upper portion of the lever axis, the lever axis comprising, at a lower end portion thereof, a supporting and detecting mechanism for supporting the lever axis in a manner operable in the lateral direction and the forward-backward direction and for outputting an operation signal in accordance with the operation of the lever axis, the supporting and detecting mechanism being provided at a position under the control panel, the grip comprising a hollow housing, the handle of the second input unit being rotatably supported by the housing.