Fighting video game machine

• US 20020022508A1
• Filed: 08/07/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Ikariko, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,918,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/5
• 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 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• 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 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

Loudspeakers 12 are arranged at left and right sides at an upper part of a game machine casing 10 provided with a monitor 11, and a loudspeaker 21 is arranged in the center of the front surface of the casing 10. A hitting sound made in a distant position is outputted as a sound effect from the loudspeakers 12, whereas a sound of a bullet hurtling through the air when the bullet passes in a near position is outputted as a sound effect from the loudspeaker 21. Accordingly, an acoustic presence in response to an attacking result from a game machine side can be given.

Claims

1. A fighting video game machine for causing an enemy character appearing in a game image from a viewing point of a simulated camera which image is displayed on a monitor to launch an attack at the viewing point of the simulated camera while letting a game player standing in a play area prepared before the monitor fight back, comprising:

a sound control unit for controlling a sound output corresponding to an attacking result from the enemy character,

a first and a second sound generators provided in different positions for the sound output corresponding to the attacking result, and

attacking result judging means for judging whether the attacking result from the enemy character displayed on the monitor is less or greater than a threshold value from the viewing point of the simulated camera,

wherein the sound control unit causes a sound effect to be outputted from the first sound generator when the attacking result is greater than the threshold value while causing it to be outputted from the second sound generator when the attacking result is less than the threshold value.

2. A fighting video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first sound generator is provided in a position distant from the play area and the second sound generator is provided in a position proximate to the play area.

3. A fighting video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the attack is shooting, the sound control unit causes a hitting sound to be outputted from the first sound generator when the attacking result judging means judges that a fired bullet has hit an obstacle displayed before the viewing point of the simulated camera while causing a sound hurtling through the air to be outputted from the second sound generator when the attacking result judging means judges that it has passed beside the viewing point of the simulated camera.

4. A fighting video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the attack is shooting, the sound control unit causes a hitting sound to be outputted from the first sound generator when the attacking result judging means judges that a fired bullet has hit an obstacle displayed at a distance before the viewing point of the simulated camera while causing a hitting sound to be outputted from the second sound generator when the attacking result judging means judges that it has hit an obstacle displayed right before the viewing point of the simulated camera.

5. A fighting video game machine according to claim 3, wherein the attacking result judging means is adapted to judge that the bullet has hit the viewing point of the simulated camera, and the sound control unit causes a target-hitting sound to be outputted from the second sound generator when the attacking result judging means makes such a judgment.

6. A fighting video game machine according to claim 1, further comprising head detecting unit for detecting a position of the head of a game player in the play area along a left-right direction of said fighting video game machine.

7. A fighting video game machine according to claim 6, wherein the second sound generator including two loudspeakers provided at different positions along the left-right direction of the fighting video game machine.

8. A fighting video game machine according to claim 7, wherein the sound control unit controls the outputted sound volumes of the loudspeakers depending upon the detected result of the head of the player along the left-right direction.

9. A fighting video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first sound generator is arranged at a position higher than the monitor while the second sound generator is arranged at a position lower than the monitor.

10. A fighting video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first sound generator includes a single loudspeaker provided substantially a central position along a left-right direction of said fighting video game machine and the second sound generator includes a pair of loudspeakers, provided above the monitor and left and right sides of the monitor.