Music game machine with selectable controller inputs

• US 6,425,822 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hayashida, Koichi, Kawasaki, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/447,895
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/7, 463/36-38, 463/43, 434/307.A, 434/308
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting 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 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/091 for performance evaluation, i.e. judging, grading or scoring the musical qualities or faithfulness of a performance, e.g. with respect to pitch, tempo or other timings of a reference performance
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/141 Games on or about music, i.e. based on musical knowledge, e.g. musical multimedia quizzes teaching of music per se G09B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/145 Multiplayer musical games, e.g. karaoke-like multiplayer videogames
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/151 Musical difficulty level setting or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/595 ADPCM [adaptive differential pulse code modulation]

Abstract

The invention provides a game system, comprising a display device for displaying a game picture, an input unit having a plurality of operation members to be operated by a player for outputting a signal corresponding to an operation state of the operation members, a storage device for storing operation timing data which specifies operation timing in a game relating to a predetermined number of operated sections allocated to at least some of said plurality of operation members, and a game control unit for checking the output signal from the input unit and the data recorded in the storage device, and simultaneously executing the game according to a predetermined procedure on a screen of the display device.

In the game system, the game control unit comprises operation instructing device for displaying an image for instructing each of the predetermined number of operated sections to be operated at timing defined by the operation timing data on the screen of the display device based on the operation timing data during the game, a mode selecting device for selecting a first mode for setting a number of said operated sections used in the game to said predetermined number, or a second mode for limiting the number of the operated sections to a limited number smaller than the predetermined number according to an instruction from the player, an operation instruction limiting device for changing the instruction image displayed through the operation instructing device so as to instruct the player to operate only said limited number of operated sections, during in the second mode, an evaluating device for evaluating the operation by the player on the input unit performed in response to the instruction from the operation instructing device based on the operation timing data, and an evaluation informing device for informing the player of information relating to the evaluated result by the evaluating device.

Claims

1. A game system, comprising:

a display device for displaying a game picture;

an input unit having a plurality of operation members to be operated by a player for outputting a signal corresponding to an operation state of the operation members;

a storage device for storing operation timing data which specifies operation timing in a game relating to a predetermined number of operated sections allocated to at least some of said plurality of operation members; and

a game control unit for checking the output signal from said input unit and the data recorded in said storage device, and simultaneously executing the game according to a predetermined procedure on a screen of said display device, wherein said game control unit comprises;

an operation instructing device for displaying on the screen of the displaying device during the game, an instruction image for instructing the player to operate each of the predetermined number of operated sections at timing defined by the operation timing data;

a mode selecting device for selecting a first mode for setting a number of said operated sections used in the game to said predetermined number, or a second mode for limiting the number of the operated sections to a limited number smaller than the predetermined number according to an instruction from the player;

an operation instruction limiting device for changing the instruction image displayed through the operation instructing device so as to instruct the player to operate only said limited number of operated sections, during in the second mode;

an evaluating device for evaluating the operation by the player on said input unit performed in response to the instruction from said operation instructing device based on the operation timing data; and

an evaluation informing device for informing the player of information relating to the evaluated result by said evaluating device.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein:

said operation instructing device displays a gauge which is dividable into parallel tracks corresponding to said predetermined number of operated sections and has indexes for showing the operation timing of the operated sections correspondingly to each of the tracks, and gradually changes display positions of the indexes along the tracks according to the proceeding of the game so that when the operation timing of the operated sections corresponding to the tracks comes, the indexes reach predetermined positions of the gauge; and

said operation instruction limiting device provides an image effect for making the player realize that the operations of the operated sections corresponding to some of the tracks of the parallel tracks are not required.

3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein said image effect is to lower lightness of a part of said tracks.

4. The game system according to claim 3, wherein a part of said tracks are positioned in ends of the gauge in a direction in which the tracks are arranged.

5. The game system according to claim 1, comprising a sound output device for outputting a predetermined sound, wherein said storage device stores music data and sound effect data for outputting predetermined music and sound effects corresponding to the operations of the operated sections from said sound output device, said game control unit comprises:

a music reproduction instructing device for outputting the music based on the music data from said sound output device during the game;

a sound effect output instructing device for outputting a predetermined sound effect based on the sound effect data from said sound output device in response to operations of operation members allocated as the operated sections; and

a sound effect automatic output instructing device for outputting a sound effect according to the operation from said sound output device based on the sound effect data when the game is executed in the second mode, where an indication is made by said operation indication device in the first mode and the operated sections of which operations are not indicated are regarded as being operated with a timing specified by said operation timing data in the second mode.

6. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said mode selecting device comprises a mode confirming device for after a predetermined initializing operation is performed on the game system, inquiring of the player as to which of the first or the second mode is selected before the game is first executed, and one of the modes is selected based on an instruction of the player in response to the inquiry via said mode confirming device.

7. The game system according to claim 6, wherein:

a plurality of said input units can be connected with said game control unit; and

said mode selecting device comprises a confirmation control device for judging as to whether or not said plurality of input units are connected, and when the judgment is made that one input unit is connected, allowing the inquiry about the mode selection by said mode confirming device, and when the judgment is made that a plurality of the input units are connected, forbidding the inquiry.

8. The game system according to claim 6, further comprising an auxiliary storage device in which information about a play history of the player can be recorded, said auxiliary storage device being capable of being connected with said game control unit, wherein said mode selecting device comprises a confirmation control device for after the initializing operation is performed, judging as to whether or not information representing the history of the playing in the first mode is recorded in said auxiliary storage device before the game is first executed, and when the judgment is made that the play history in the first mode does not exist, allowing the inquiry about the mode selection by said mode confirming device, and when the judgment is made that a plurality of the play histories exists, forbidding the inquiry.

9. A game system, comprising:

a display device for displaying a game picture;

an input unit having a plurality of operation members to be operated by a player for outputting a signal corresponding to an operation state of the operation members;

a storage device for storing allocation data which defines a corresponding relationship between said plurality of operation members and a predetermined number of operated sections used in a game, and operation timing data which specifies operation timing in the game relating to the operated sections; and

a game control unit for checking the output signal from said input unit and the data recorded in said storage device, and simultaneously executing the game according to a predetermined procedure on a screen of said display device, wherein said game control unit comprises;

an operation instructing device for displaying on the screen of the displaying device during the game, an instruction image for instructing the player to operate each of the predetermined number of operated sections at timing defined by the operation timing data;

an evaluating device for evaluating the operation of said input unit by the player performed in response to the instruction from the operation instructing device based on the data defining said operation timing data;

an evaluation informing device for informing the player of information relating to the evaluated result by said evaluating device; and

an allocation information presenting device for presenting information for specifying the relationship between said plurality of operation members and the operated sections to the player based on the allocation data, wherein;

said operation instructing device displays a gauge, which is dividable into parallel tracks corresponding to said predetermined number of operated sections and has indexes for showing the operation timing of the operated sections correspondingly to the tracks, as an image for instructing the operation of said predetermined number of operated sections, and gradually changes display positions of the indexes along the tracks according to the proceeding of the game so that when the operation timing of the operated sections corresponding to the tracks comes, the indexes reach predetermined positions of the gauge; and

said allocation information presenting device displays the information for specifying the relationship between said plurality of operation members and the operated sections in a vicinity of the predetermined position of the gauge.

10. The game system according to claim 9, wherein marks for distinguishing said plurality of operation members from each other are displayed on said display unit, and said allocation information presenting device displays an image imitating the marks as the information.

11. The game system according to claim 9, wherein said allocation information presenting device displays the information on the screen of said display device.

12. The game system according to claim 9, wherein a sub-display device which is different from said display device is provided on said input unit, and said allocation information presenting device displays the information on the screen of said display device.

13. The game system according to claim 9, wherein:

a plurality of input devices can be connected with said game control unit, and a sub-display device which is different from said display device is provided for each of said plural input units; and

said allocation information presenting device displays the information on the screen of said sub-display device.

14. The game system according to claim 9, wherein said game control unit comprises:

information display selecting device for making a selection according to an instruction from the player as to whether or not the information for specifying the relationship between said operation members is to be displayed; and

an allocation information display control device for when display of the information is selected by said information display selecting device, allowing the display of the information by said allocation information presenting device, and when a pause of information display is selected, forbidding the display of the information by said allocation information presenting device.

15. The game system according to claim 9, wherein said game control unit comprises:

allocation changing device for changing the corresponding relationship between said plurality of operation members and a predetermined number of operated sections used in the game according to an instruction from the player; and

data updating means for updating the allocation data recorded in said storage device according to the change in the allocation by means of said allocation changing means.

16. A storage medium readable by a computer, into which operation timing data which specify operation timing during a game relating to a predetermined number of operated sections allocated at least some of a plurality of operation members provided on an input unit of a game system, and a program for operating the computer provided in said game system as a game control unit f or executing the game according to a predetermined procedure while checking an output signal from said input unit and the operation timing data were recorded, said program operating said computer as:

an operation instructing device for displaying on the screen of the displaying device during the game, an instruction image for instructing the player to operate each of the predetermined number of operated sections at timing defined by the operation timing data;

a mode selecting device for selecting a first mode for setting a number of the operated sections used in the game to the predetermined number or a second mode for limiting the number to a limited number smaller than the predetermined number according to an instruction from a player;

an operation instruction limiting device f or changing the instruction image displayed through the operation instructing device so as to instruct the player to operate only said limited number of operated sections, during in the second mode;

an evaluating device for evaluating the operation of said input unit by the player in response to the instruction from said operation instructing device based on the operation timing data; and

an evaluation informing device for informing the player of information relating to the evaluated result by said evaluating device.

17. A storage medium readable by a computer, into which allocation data which define a corresponding relationship between a plurality of operation members on an input unit provided in a game system and a predetermined number of operated sections used in a game, operation timing data which specify operation timing during the game relating to the operated sections, and a program for operating the computer provided in said game system as a game control unit for executing the game according to a predetermined procedure while checking an output signal from said input unit and the operation timing data were recorded, said program operating said computer as:

an operation instructing device for displaying on the screen of the displaying device during the game, an instruction image for instructing the player to operate each of the predetermined number of operated sections at timing defined by the operation timing data;

an evaluating means for evaluating the operation of said input unit by the player in response to the instruction from said operation instructing means based on the operation timing data;

an evaluation informing device for informing the player of information relating to the evaluated result by said evaluating device; and

an allocation information presenting device for presenting information which specifies the relationship between the plural operation members and the operated sections to the player based on the allocation data, wherein;

said operation instructing device displays a gauge, which is dividable into parallel tracks corresponding to said predetermined number of operated sections and has indexes for showing the operation timing of the operated sections correspondingly to the tracks, as an image for instructing the operation of said predetermined number of operated sections, and gradually changes display positions of the indexes along the tracks according to the proceeding of the game so that when the operation timing of the operated sections corresponding to the tracks comes, the indexes reach predetermined positions of the gauge; and

said allocation information presenting device displays the information for specifying the relationship between said plurality of operation members and the operated sections in a vicinity of the predetermined position of the gauge.