Video game system and video game memory medium

• US 6,296,570 B1
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimizu, Takao, Miyamoto, Shigeru, Morita, Kazuaki, Imamura, Takaya, Kihara, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/065,724
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/2, 463/5, 463/7, 463/30, 463/31, 463/32, 463/33, 463/35
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• 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 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

A video game system includes a game machine and a memory medium. The game machine is connected with a controller to be operated by a player and a display device for displaying game images. The memory medium generates player object image data and influencing object image data, as well as generates message data. The message data is a message to teach the player how to operate the controller. A player object and an influencing object are displayed on the display device. Also, the display device displays a message of how to operate the controller.

Claims

1. In a video game system having a controller operated by a player, and video game apparatus for use in connection with a display device that displays image data and outputs sounds, said video game machine outputting image data for changing display images in accordance with a program, in response to operation of said controller and to generate a display portraying a three-dimensional world in a three-dimensional based video game,

said controller including a direction instructing member that instructs a moving direction of a player object that is varied in movement on a screen by operation of the player to control movement in the three-dimensional world including movement in a depth direction, and a plurality of control switches for controlling the player object in said three-dimensional world, said video game apparatus comprising:

a player object image data generator that generates data for displaying a player object;

an influencing object image data generator that generates image data for displaying a movable influencing object image that is displayed in the vicinity of an advancing direction of the player object, said influencing object being variably displayed to first appear and then to move in a predetermined manner with respect to said player object under program control when said player object is controlled to be located in the vicinity of a site in the three-dimensional world where the player object can advance in accordance with said program, said influencing object being operable to have an affect on the player object depending upon a player'"'"'s manipulation of said controller;

a message generator for associating text messages defining a way of manipulating said controller to respond to said influencing object with sites in the three-dimensional world to which a player object may be moved, said message generator outputting a text message indicative of which one of said plurality of control switches for a player to manipulate to respond to said influencing object so as to assist the player in successfully progressing in said three-dimensional based video game, said text message being output when the player object is in the vicinity of one of said sites where the player object can advance; and

an output control circuit that combines the player object image data and the influencing object image data to generate an output supplied to said display device whereby the player object and the influencing object are displayed on the screen of said display device and a text message indicative of a way to respond to said influencing object is output to said display device.

2. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said message data generator generates the text message of instructing a player as to which controller switch is to be operated and information indicative of the function of the switch.

3. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said message data generator generates a text message for instructing a player as to which controller switch is to be operated and the number of operations of the controller switch.

4. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said message data generator generates character data for displaying, in characters, the text message indicative of a way of operating said controller on the screen of said display device.

5. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display device includes a sound generating circuit for generating sounds,

said message data generator generates a sound signal for outputting, in sound, a message relating to the way of operating said controller.

6. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display device is a television type display and further comprising a stationary object image data generator that generates image data for displaying a stationary object that is displayed in the vicinity of an advancing direction of the player object that has no affect upon the player object,

said output control circuit combines the stationary object image data with the image data of the player object and the influencing object to generate an output.

7. For use with a video game system having a controller including a direction instructing member for instructing a moving direction of a player object varying in motion on a screen by operation of a player to control movement in a three-dimensional world including movement in a depth direction and a plurality of control switches for controlling the player object in said three-dimensional world, and a video game processing system for supplying, to a display device, image data for causing variation in a display image, based on a program, in response to operation of said controller and to generate a display portraying a three-dimensional world in a three-dimensional based video game, wherein a video game memory medium stores a program for a game image display processed by said video game processing system video game memory medium comprising:

a player object image data generating program encoded in said video game memory medium for generating image data including polygon data for displaying the player object;

an influencing object image data program encoded in said video game memory medium for generating image data including polygon data for displaying an influencing object image in the vicinity of an advancing direction of the player object such that the influencing object moves in a predetermined manner with respect to said player object when said player object is controlled to move the player object in the vicinity of a site in the three-dimensional world where the player object can advance, said influencing object being operable to have an affect upon the player object;

a message data generating program encoded in said video game memory medium for associating text messages defining a way of manipulating said controller to respond to said influencing object with sites in the three-dimensional world to which a player object may be moved, said message generating program outputting a text message indicative of which one of said plurality of control switches for a player to manipulate to respond to said influencing object so as to assist a player in successfully progressing in said three-dimensional based video game, said text message being output when the player object is in the vicinity of a position of one of said sites in the three-dimensional world where the player object can advance; and

an output program encoded in said video game memory medium for combining the player object image data with the influencing object image data to supply to said display device based on the player object image data generating program and the influencing object image data generating program, and outputting the text message on the way to respond to said influencing object to said display device based on the message data generating program.

8. A video game memory medium according to claim 7, wherein said message data generating program is operable to generate character data for displaying, in characters, the text message for operating the controller on the screen of said display device.

9. A video game memory medium according to claim 7, wherein said message data generating program generates a sound signal for outputting, in sound, a message relating to the way of operating said controller.

10. In a video game system having a controller operated by a player, and video game apparatus for use in connection with a display device that displays image data and outputs sounds and generates a display portraying a three-dimensional world in a three-dimensional based video game, said video game apparatus outputting image data for changing display images in accordance with a program, in response to operation of said controller

said controller including a direction instructing member that instructs a moving direction of a player object that is varied in movement on a screen by the player to control movement in the three-dimensional world including movement in a depth direction, and a plurality of control switches for controlling the player object in said three-dimensional world, said video game apparatus comprising:

a player object image data generator that generates image data including polygon data for displaying a player object;

an influencing object image data generator that generates image data including polygon data for displaying a movable influencing object image that is displayed in the vicinity of an advancing direction of the player object, said influencing object being variably displayed to first appear at a display position related the position of said player object when said player object is controlled to move in the vicinity of a site in the three-dimensional world where the player object can advance in accordance with said program and being operable to have an affect on the player object depending upon a player'"'"'s manipulation of said controller;

a player assisting data generator that generates assisting data for helping the player object when the player object is displayed in the vicinity of a site in the three-dimensional world having a predetermined relationship to a display position of the influencing object, said player assisting data generator for associating text messages defining which one of said plurality of control switches to manipulate with sites in the three-dimensional world to respond to said influencing object so as to assist a player in successfully progressing in said three-dimensional based video game, said text message being output when the player object is in the vicinity of one of said sites where the player object can advance; and

an output control circuit that combines the player object image data generated by said player object image data generator and the influencing object image data to provide an output to be supplied to said display device whereby the player object and the influencing object are displayed on the screen of said display device and assisting data is displayed on the display device screen.

11. A video game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said assisting data is a message, that is effective to assist the player object in combating the influencing object, in one of the communication forms of characters or sounds.

12. A video game according to claim 10, wherein said player assisting data generator displays an assisting item helpful for advancing a game to allow the assisting item to be acquired by a player.

13. A video game system according to claim 10, wherein said assisting data generating means allows a best required kind of an assisting item to be acquired based on a state of the player object when said predetermined switch is operated.

14. A video game apparatus comprising:

a controller including a direction instructing member for instructing a moving direction of a player object to vary in motion on a screen by operation of a player and a plurality of control switches for controlling the player object so as to be operated by the player, said video game apparatus being operable to supply to a display device, image data for causing variation in a display image, based on a program, in response to operation of said controller,

a player object image data generator for generating image data for displaying the player object;

an influencing object image data generator for generating image data for displaying an influencing object image that is displayed in the vicinity of an advancing direction of the player object to have an effect upon the player object as determined by a program;

an assisting data generator for generating assisting data for helping the player object successfully progress in the game when the player object is displayed at a position having a predetermined relationship to a display position of the influencing object, said assisting data generator generating a text message which

     1) is indicative of one of said plurality of switches for a player to manipulate and

     2) is indicative of an operational function the player is being prompted to perform; and

an output control circuit that combines the player object image data generated from said player object image data generator and the influencing object image data to provide an output to be supplied to said display device whereby the player object and the influencing object are displayed on the screen of said display device and assisting data is displayed on the display device screen.

15. A video game apparatus according to claim 14, further including a graphics processor for displaying said player object and said influencing object in an apparent three-dimensional world.

16. A video game according to claim 14, wherein said player object image generator includes a player object image generating program and said influencing object generator includes an influencing object generating program, which are encoded to respectively display said player object and said influencing object in an apparent three-dimensional world.

17. For use with a video game system having a controller including a direction instructing member for instructing a moving direction of a player object to control movement in a three-dimensional world including movement in a depth direction and a plurality of control switches for controlling the player object in said three-dimensional world, and a video game processing system for supplying, to a display device, image data for causing variation in a display image, based on a program, in response to operation of said controller and for generating a display portraying a three-dimensional world in a three-dimensional based video game, a method of operating said video game system comprising the steps:

displaying, using polygon data, the player object in a three-dimensional world, said player object being controllable by the direction instructing member for instructing a moving direction in the three-dimensional world;

determining whether a player object has reached a predetermined site in the three-dimensional world portrayed in a display;

displaying, using polygon data, a movable influencing object image when said player object is determined to be in the vicinity of said predetermined site;

said influencing object being movable under program control and being operable to have an affect upon the player object under program control;

accessing a memory and associating text messages defining a way of manipulating of said plurality of control switches to respond to said influencing object with sites in the three-dimensional world;

retrieving from said memory a text message corresponding to said predetermined site detected, said text message being retrieved when the player object is in the vicinity of a said predetermined site where the player object can advance, said text message being indicative of which one of said plurality of control switches for a player to manipulate to respond to said influencing object so as to assist a player in successfully progressing in said three-dimensional based video game, said text message being output when the player object is in the vicinity of said predetermined; and

outputting the text message to said display device.

18. A method according to claim 17, further including the step of generating character data on the screen of said display device for displaying, in characters, a text message instructing a player as to which controller switch is to be operated and information indicative of a function the player is being prompted to perform.

19. A method according to claim 17, further including the step of generating a sound signal for outputting, in sound, a message relating to the way of operating said controller.

20. For use with a video game system having a controller including a direction instructing member for instructing a moving direction of a player object to control movement in a three-dimensional world including movement in a depth direction and a plurality of control switches for controlling the player in said three-dimensional world, and a video game processing system for supplying, to a display device, image data for causing variation in a display image, based on a program, in response to operation of said controller and for generating a display portraying a three-dimensional world, a method of operating said video game system comprising the steps:

displaying a player object in a three-dimensional world, said player object being controllable by the direction instructing member for instructing a moving direction in the three-dimensional world;

determining whether a player object has reached a predetermined site in the three-dimensional world portrayed in a display;

displaying a movable influencing object image when said player object is determined to be in the vicinity of said predetermined site;

said movable influencing object being movable under program control and being operable to have an affect upon the player object under program control;

accessing a memory and associating text messages defining a way of manipulating said plurality of control switches to respond to said influencing object with sites in the three-dimensional world;

retrieving from said memory a first message corresponding to said predetermined site detected, said message being retrieved when the player object is in the vicinity of said predetermined site where the player object can advance;

indicating a way of manipulating a first one of said plurality of control switches to respond to said influencing object;

displaying said first message;

determining whether said player object is displayed in a second predetermined site in said three-dimensional world;

accessing said memory to generate a second message indicating a way of manipulating a second one of said plurality of control switches to respond to said influencing object when the player object is in the vicinity of a second predetermined site in the three-dimensional world where the player object can advance; and

displaying said second message.

21. A method according to claim 20, further including the steps of

combining the player object image data with the influencing object image data to supply to said display device, and

outputting at least one of said first message and said second message and the combined player object image data and the influencing object image data to said display device.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein said step of generating a first message includes the step of generating character data on the screen of said display device for displaying, in characters, the message for operating the controller.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein said step of generating a first message includes the step of generating a sound signal for outputting, in sound, the message on the way of operating said controller.

24. A method according to claim 20, further including the step of generating a display which portrays said player object and said influencing object in an apparent three-dimensional world.

25. For use with a video game system having a controller including a direction instructing member for instructing a moving direction of a player object and a plurality of control switches for controlling a player object based upon the operation by a player, and a video game processing system for supplying, to a display device, image data for causing variation in a display image, based on a program, in response to operation of said controller, a method of operating said video game system comprising the steps:

displaying a player object on said display device;

detecting whether the player object is displayed in the vicinity of a first predetermined display position on said display device;

displaying an influencing object which is movable under program control and is displayed in the vicinity of said first predetermined position and is operable to have an affect upon the player object under program control;

accessing a text message associated with said player object which

     1) is indicative of one of said plurality of switches for a player to manipulate and

     2) is indicative of a function the player is being prompted perform; and

outputting the text message, for display with the player object and the influencing object.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said message includes character data which is displayed on the screen of said display device for operating the controller.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein said message includes a sound signal for indicating a way to operate said controller.

28. A method according to claim 25, further including the step of generating a display which portrays said player object and said influencing object in an apparent three-dimensional world.