Video game machine with rotational mechanism

• US 7,413,514 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises, Mark S. Walker
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Sugimori, Yuji, Kobayashi, Hirotsugu, Ogasawara, Shinichi, Shinyu, Tetsuo, Saikawa, Mitsuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/232,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46, 434/16, 434/18
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5258 by dynamically adapting the position of the virtual camera to keep a game object or game character in its viewing frustum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5372 for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• 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 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 : for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6684 : by dynamically adapting its position to keep a game object in its viewing frustrum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 : Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 : Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 : Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 : Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

The invention provides an image processing unit for a shooting game in which suitable images can be displayed according to a given situation, and in which more exciting and easy-to-manipulate images are displayed. Coordinate values for objects in three-dimensional virtual space are established on the basis of prerecorded object shape data, view point positions are established on the basis of distances x1 and x2 from predetermined objects defined in three-dimensional virtual space (for example, the positions are lower when the distance is shorter, and higher when the distance is longer), the coordinate values established as described above are received, and the coordinate values are converted to a visual field coordinate system as seen from the view points established in the manner described above.

Claims

1. A game machine, comprising:

a booth;

a display component disposed in said booth;

an image generating device configured to generate images to be displayed on said display component;

a game gun configured to be aimed and fired at selected ones of the images generated by the image generating device;

a reaction generating mechanism configured to provide a recoil action to a player when said game gun is fired, wherein said reaction generating mechanism comprises;

a cylinder having first and second end portions;

a movable member disposed in said cylinder;

first and second valve units connected to the first and second end portions of said cylinder via first and second air supply tubes, respectively; and

an air supply connected to said first and second valve units via the first and second air supply tubes, said first air supply tube being connected to said first end portion of said cylinder and said second air supply tube being connected to said second end portion of said cylinder;

wherein

said movable member reciprocates in said cylinder by air pressure controlled by opening and closing movement of the first and second valve units in accordance with the firing of the gun; and

various levels of recoil are created by adjusting an opening position of the first and second valve units;

a rotating platform disposed in said booth and configured to seat a player, wherein said rotating platform is configured to rotate about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a radial direction of the rotating platform; and

a rotation controller configured to rotate said rotating platform;

wherein

said image generating device changes images as the game unfolds; and

said rotation controller rotates said rotating platform on the axis according to the change of the images.

2. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a special effects generator configured to provide special effects to heighten the player'"'"'s sense of being in a scene as the game unfolds.

3. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein said special effects generator discharges air at said player.