Video game that interpolates between animated segments to create new segments

• US 6,976,918 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Hosokawa, Hirotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): COBURN, CORBETT B
• Application Number:
  US09/767,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/71, 463/6, 345/473
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics

Abstract

A video game device is provided with a recording medium 122 storing a first image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a running action and a second image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a goal finishing action which successively follows the running action; a character display control unit 201e for reading the first and second image data group from the recording medium 122 and displaying motions of a play character based on the read image data, and a switch control unit 201h for switching the first image data group to the second image data group such that the running action and the goal finishing action are successively displayed without any discontinuity when the play character reaches a predetermined position by repeatedly displaying the running action. With such a video game device, an increase in production costs can be effectively suppressed, and a game player is prevented from having a feeling of incongruity while viewing displayed images.

Claims

1. A video game device for displaying a play character on a game screen displayed on a monitor, comprising:

an operation member for moving the play character from a reference position to a predetermined position in a game space,

a storage unit arranged to store a first image data group including a plurality of frames of image data which provide a display of a first action relating to the moving action of the play character and a second image data group including a plurality of frames of image data which provide a display of a second action of the play character different from the first action,

a display control unit for reading the first and second image data groups from the storage unit and displaying the action of the play character based on the read frames of image data, the display control unit being arranged to consecutively display the frames of image data at a constant time interval, and

a switch control unit for switching the first image data group to the second image data group such that the first action and the second action are smoothly successively displayed without any discontinuity when the play character reaches the predetermined position by repeatedly displaying the first action,

the display control unit being coupled to the operation member and being arranged to sequentially display an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action repeatedly sequenced at a base rate corresponding to the constant time interval and related to the moving action of the play character stored in the storage unit when the operation member is not operated and during the movement of the play character from the reference position to the predetermined position such that the same moving action of the play character is repeatedly displayed when the operation member is not operated,

when the operation member is being operated, the display control unit being arranged to generate new image data for a new frame to be created between successive frames stored in the storage unit by interpolation between the successive frames repeatedly sequenced at a rate differing from said base rate based on a repetition rate of the operation of the operation member and then to display the newly generated image data to present the first action at said rate differing from said base rate.

2. A video game device according to claim 1, wherein a specified frame of image data of the first image data group is switched to a frame of image data of the second image data related to the specified frame when the play character reaches the predetermined position.

3. A video game device according to claim 1, wherein the specified frame is the last frame of the first image data group or a frame relating to the last frame, and the frame of the second image data group relating to the specified frame is the first frame thereof.

4. A video game device according to claim 1, wherein the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action varies according to the repetition rate of the operation of the operation member, the unit moved amount of the play character by the first action being defined as a distance of the movement of the play character in said plurality of frames of image data for the first action and being set at a constant value regardless of the moving speed of the play character, and the distance of the predetermined position from the reference position is a multiple of the unit moved amount.

5. A video game device according to claim 1, wherein when the operation member is being operated, the display control unit is arranged to display the newly generated image data such that the number of frames displayed in a predetermined time is reduced when the operation member is operating in comparison to when the operation member is not operated.

6. A video game device according to claim 1, wherein the play character is human, the first action is a running action of the human and the second action is an action performed by a human after reaching a finish line of an athletic competition.

7. The video game device according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the operating member includes alternate operation of at least two operating members.

8. A video game device according to claim 1, wherein the repetition rate of the operation of the operation member is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient set for the game to obtain a delta animation value, the display control unit being arranged to generate the new image data for the new frame to be created between successive frames stored in the storage unit by interpolation between the successive frames based on the delta animation value.

9. A character action setting method in a video game in which a play character is displayed on a game screen on a monitor and moved from a reference position to a predetermined position in a game space by operating an operation member, the method comprising the steps of:

preparing a first image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a first action relating to the moving action of the play character and a second image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a second action different from the first action;

consecutively displaying a frame of image data at a constant time interval, said step of displaying a frame of image data comprising the steps of

sequentially displaying an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action repeatedly sequenced at a base rate corresponding in to the constant time interval and related to the moving action of the play character when the operation member is not operated and during the movement of the play character from the reference position to the predetermined position such that the same moving action of the play character is repeatedly displayed when the operation member is not operated, and

upon operation of the operation member,

generating new image data for a new frame to be created between successive frames by interpolation between the successive frames repeatedly sequenced at a rate differing from said base rate based on a repetition rate of the operation of the operation member, and

displaying the newly generated image data to present the first action at said rate differing from said base rate; and

switching the first image data group to the second image data group such that the first action and the second action are smoothly successively displayed without any discontinuity when the play character reaches the predetermined position by repeatedly displaying the first action.

10. A character action setting method according to claim 9, wherein a specified frame of image data of the first image data group is switched to a frame of image data of the second image data related to the specified frame when the play character reaches the predetermined position.

11. A character action setting method according to claim 9, wherein the specified frame is the last frame of the first image data group or a frame relating to the last frame, and the frame of the second image data group relating to the specified frame is the first frame thereof.

12. A character action setting method according to claim 9, wherein the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action varies according to the repetition rate of the operation of the operation member, further comprising the steps of defining a unit moved amount as a distance of the movement of the play character in the plurality of frames of image data for the first action and setting the unit moved amount of the play character by the first action at a constant value regardless of the moving speed of the play character, and the distance of the predetermined position from the reference position is a multiple of the unit moved amount.

13. A character action setting method according to claim 9, wherein the newly generated image data is displayed such that the number of frames displayed in a predetermined time is reduced when the operation member is operating in comparison to when the operation member is not operated.

14. A character action setting method according to claim 9, wherein the play character is human, the first action is a running action of the human and the second action is an action performed by a human after reaching a finish line of an athletic competition.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the operation of the operating member includes alternate operation of at least two operating members.

16. A computer-readable recording medium storing a character action setting program in a video game in which a play character is displayed on a game screen on a monitor and moved from a reference position to a predetermined position within a game space by operating an operation member, the character action setting program comprising the steps of:

preparing a first image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a first action relating to the moving action of the play character and a second image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a second action different from the first action;

consecutively displaying a frame of image data at a constant time interval, said step of displaying a frame of image data comprising the steps of

sequentially displaying an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action repeatedly sequenced at a base rate corresponding to the constant time interval and related to the moving action of the play character when the operation member is not operated and during the movement of the play character from the reference position to the predetermined position such that the same moving action of the play character is repeatedly displayed when the operation member is not operated, and

upon operation of the operation member,

generating new image data for a new frame to be created between successive frames by interpolation between the successive frames repeatedly sequenced at a rate differing from said base rate based on a repetition rate of the detected operation of the operation member, and

displaying the newly generated image data to present the first action at said rate differing from said base rate; and

switching the first image data group to the second image data group such that the first action, and the second action are smoothly successively displayed without any discontinuity when the play character reaches the predetermined position by repeatedly displaying the first action.

17. A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 16, wherein a specified frame of image data of the first image data group is switched to a frame of image data of the second image data related to the specified frame when the play character reaches the predetermined position.

18. A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the specified frame is the last frame of the first image data group or a frame relating to the last frame, and the frame of the second image data group relating to the specified frame is the first frame thereof.

19. A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action varies according to the repetition rate of the operation of the operation member, further comprising the steps or defining a unit moved amount as a distance of the movement of the play character in the plurality of frames of image data for the first action and setting the unit moved amount of the play character by the first action at a constant value regardless of the moving speed of the play character, and the distance of the predetermined position from the reference position is a multiple of the unit moved amount.

20. A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the newly generated image data is displayed such that the number of frames displayed in a predetermined time is reduced when the operation member is operating in comparison to when the operation member is not operated.

21. A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the play character is human, the first action is a running action of the human and the second action is an action performed by a human after reaching a finish line of an athletic competition.

22. The recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the operation of the operating member includes alternate operation of at least two operating members.

23. A video game device for displaying a human play character on a game screen displayed on a monitor, comprising:

an operation member for moving the human play character from a reference position to a predetermined position in a game space,

a storage unit for storing a first image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a first action relating to the moving action of the play character and a second image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a second action,

a display control unit for reading the first and second image data groups from the storage unit and displaying the action of the play character based on the read frames of image data, the display control unit being arranged to consecutively display the frames of image data at a constant time interval, said display control unit being arranged such that the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action varies according to the operated amount of the operation member, the unit moved amount (l) being defined as a distance of the movement of the play character in said plurality of frames of image data for the first action and being set at a constant value regardless of the moving speed of the play character, and the distance (L) of the predetermined position from the reference position is a multiple of the unit moved amount (l) and

a switch control unit for switching the first image data group to the second image data group such that the first action and the second action are smoothly successively displayed without any discontinuity when the play character reaches the predetermined position by repeatedly displaying the first action,

the display control unit being coupled to the operation member and being arranged to sequentially display an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action stored in the storage unit when the operation member is not operated,

when the operation member is being operated, the display control unit being arranged to generate new image data for a new frame to be created between successive frames stored in the storage unit by interpolation between the successive frames based on the operation of the operation member and then to display the newly generated image data.

24. A video game device according to claim 23, wherein the first action is a running action of the human and the second action is an action performed by a human after reaching a finish line of an athletic competition.

25. The video game device according to claim 23, wherein:

the display control unit consecutively displays the frames of image data at the constant time interval so as to display the play character moving at a base rate speed; and

said display control unit is arranged such that the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action varies from the base rate according to a repetition rate of the operated amount of the operation member.

26. The video game device according to claim 25, wherein the operation of the operating member includes alternate operation of at least two operating members.

27. A character action setting method in a video game in which a human play character is displayed on a game screen on a monitor and moved from a reference position to a predetermined position in a game space by operating an operation member, the method comprising the steps of:

preparing a first image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a first action relating to the moving action of the play character and a second image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a second action;

consecutively displaying a frame of image data at a constant time interval, said step of displaying a frame of image data comprising the steps of

sequentially displaying an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action when the operation member is not operated, and

upon operation of the operation member,

varying the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action according to the operated amount of the operation member,

defining a unit moved amount(l) as a distance of the movement of the play character in the plurality of frames of image data for the first action;

setting the unit moved amount (l) of the play character by the first action at a constant value regardless of the moving speed of the play character,

setting the distance (L) of the predetermined position from the reference position as a multiple of the unit moved amount (l),

generating new image data for a new frame to be created between successive frames by interpolation between the successive frames based on the operation of the operation member, and

displaying the newly generated image data such that the number of frames for the first action displayed in a predetermined time is reduced when the operation state of the operation member is changed; and

switching the first image data group to the second image data group such that the first action and the second action are smoothly successively displayed without any discontinuity when the play character reaches the predetermined position by repeatedly displaying the first action.

28. A character action setting method according to claim 27, wherein the first action is a running action of the human and the second action is an action performed by a human after reaching a finish line of an athletic competition.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein:

said sequentially displaying an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action when the operation member is not operated displays the play character moving at a base rate speed; and

said varying the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action according to the operated amount of the operation member varies the moving speed from the base rate according to a repetition rate of the operated amount of the operation member.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the operation of the operating member includes alternate operation of at least two operating members.

31. A computer-readable recording medium storing a character action setting program in a video game in which a human play character is displayed on a game screen on a monitor and moved from a reference position to a predetermined position within a game space by operating an operation member, the character action setting program comprising the steps of:

preparing a first image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a first action relating to the moving action of the play character and a second image data group including a plurality of frames of image data for displaying a second action;

consecutively displaying a frame of image data at a constant time interval, said step of displaying a frame of image data comprising the steps of

sequentially displaying an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action when the operation member is not operated, and

upon operation of the operation member,

varying the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action according to the operated amount of the operation member,

defining a unit moved amount(l) as a distance of the movement of the play character in the plurality of frames of image data for the first action;

setting the unit moved amount (l) of the play character by the first action at a constant value regardless of the moving speed of the play character,

setting the distance (L) of the predetermined position from the reference position as a multiple of the unit moved amount (l),

generating new image data for a new frame to be created between successive frames by interpolation between the successive frames based on the detected operation of the operation member, and

displaying the newly generated image data such that the number of frames for the first action displayed in a predetermined time is reduced when the operation state of the operation member is changed; and

switching the first image data group to the second image data group such that the first action, and the second action are smoothly successively displayed without any discontinuity when the play character reaches the predetermined position by repeatedly displaying the first action.

32. A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 31, wherein the first action is a running action of the human and the second action is an action performed by a human after reaching a finish line of an athletic competition.

33. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 31, wherein:

said sequentially displaying an image corresponding to each of the plurality of frames of the image data for the first action when the operation member is not operated displays the play character moving at a base rate speed; and

said varying the moving speed of the play character displayed on the monitor by the first action according to the operated amount of the operation member varies the moving speed from the base rate according to a repetition rate of the operated amount of the operation member.

34. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 33, wherein the operation of the operating member includes alternate operation of at least two operating members.