Simulation game machine

• US 6,471,584 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagatomo, Yasuyuki, Wada, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/594,390
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 463/4, 463/7, 463/8, 463/31, 463/32, 463/36, 434/253, 482/71, 472/90, 273/440, 273/441, 273/440.1, 273/459
• US Class Current: 463/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/807 Gliding or sliding on surfaces, e.g. using skis, skates or boards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board

Abstract

A simulation game machine relatively moves a virtual character displayed on a monitor in a game space in accordance with control by a player using an operation unit. The simulation game machine includes a pair of dummy skis, jump switches for instructing the character to initiate jumping, and a jump controller for controlling the character to jump in accordance with an instruction from the jump switches.

Claims

1. A game machine for moving a virtual character displayed on a monitor by a player comprising a deck with a pair of dummy skis on which the player is positioned, jump control means on at least one of said dummy skis for controlling the virtual character to initiate jumping of the virtual character, said jump control means controlling a flying distance for the virtual character in accordance with the timing for operating the jump control means.

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

a foot piece on said at least one dummy ski for receiving a player'"'"'s foot and wherein said jump control means includes a switch on said foot piece.

3. A game machine according claim 1, wherein said at least one dummy ski is formed with a foot piece for receiving the player'"'"'s foot and said jump control means includes a switch actuated by player'"'"'s foot.

4. A game according claim 3, wherein said foot piece is formed with a concave portion in an area close to the rear end of the foot piece and said switch is provided in the concave portion.

5. A game machine according to claim 4, wherein said switch is projected upward from a surface of the foot piece so that the player'"'"'s foot can press a projected portion of the switch when the foot is received in the foot piece.

6. A game machine according to claim 5, wherein said switch is in an ON state when the projected portion is depressed and said switch is in an OFF state when the projected is portion is free from depression and said jump control means instructs said virtual to initiative jumping when said switch is turned from the ON state to the OFF state.

7. A game machine according to claim 1 wherein said jump control means includes a switch actuatable by the player for instructing the virtual character to initiate jumping.

8. A game machine according to claim 7, wherein said switch has a moveable projected portion having a depressed state when the projected portion is depressed and a non-depressed state when the projected portion is displaced from said depressed state, said jump control means instructing said virtual character to initiate jumping when said projected portion is moved between said two states.

9. A gain according to claim 8, wherein said switch is in an ON state when the projected portion is in said depressed state and said switch is in an OFF state when the project portion is in said non-depress state, said jump control means instructing said virtual character to initiate jumping when said switch is turned from the ON state to the OFF state.

10. A game machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said dummy skis is formed with a foot piece for receiving the player'"'"'s foot and said jump control means includes switches respectively provided in each of the foot pieces.

11. A game machine according to claim 10, wherein each of said foot pieces is formed with a concave portion and said switches are respectively provided in each of the concave portions.

12. A gain machine according to claim 10, wherein each of said switches is projected upward from a surface of the respective foot piece so that the player'"'"'s respective foot can press on the projected portion of the switch when the player'"'"'s foot is received in the foot piece.

13. A game according to claim 1, wherein said foot piece is formed with a concave portion and said switch is provided in the concave portion.

14. A game according to claim 1, wherein said switch has a projected portion which is enabled to be projected upward from a surface of the foot piece so that the player'"'"'s foot can press on the projected portion of the switch when the foot is received in the foot piece.