JP2002018127A - Game system and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system and an information storage medium capable of freely enlarging or reducing an image displayed on a screen corresponding to the operation data of an operation means by a player and the indicating position of a position indicator capable of indicating an optional position inside the screen of a display device. SOLUTION: A gun type controller 10 capable of indicating the optional position inside the screen at a position away from the screen of a display part 190 is provided with an operation data input part 21 composed of cross direction keys. For zoom control requiring degree adjustment, the image near the indicating position is arbitrarily zoom-controlled corresponding to the operation data by the respective direction keys (an upper direction key and a lower direction key, for instance) of the cross direction keys. Further, the other command selection is allocated to the other direction keys of the cross direction keys. Thus, the game of more complicated contents is provided and the operability of the player is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a game system using a position pointing device capable of pointing an arbitrary position on a screen of a display device, and an information storage medium used in the game system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a target displayed on a screen of a display device is located at a position distant from the screen of the display device using a position pointing device capable of pointing an arbitrary position on the screen. A game system for aiming and enjoying shooting is known. As a position pointing device in such a game system, for example, there is a light transmission type controller such as a gun type controller.

When the player (user) pulls the trigger of the gun-type controller, the position on the screen of the display device indicated by the gun-type controller is detected. If a target exists at this detection position, it is determined as a hit (hit), and if not, it is determined as a miss (miss). This allows the player to have a virtual experience of shooting a target without using a real gun.

[0004] In such a game system, a player uses a gun-type controller with one or both hands in order to perform a virtual shooting experience. However, when the player selects a command or an item during a shooting game as in other game fields such as role playing and an adventure game, the operability thereof is significantly deteriorated.

Accordingly, various proposals have been made for techniques for improving the operability of such a gun-type controller.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-319316 discloses a technique for incorporating a cross-directional key into a gun-type controller provided with an artificial retinal unit at the tip of a barrel portion. . The gun-type controller captures a game image displayed on a display device by an artificial retina unit provided at a tip of a barrel portion, and extracts a frame of the game image from the captured image. Further, for example, by detecting the relative coordinates of the edge frame with respect to the captured image with reference to the center position of the captured image which is the position specified by the gun-type controller, the position specified by the gun-type controller in the game image is detected.

In this gun type controller, for example, the trigger can be operated with the index finger and the cross key can be operated with the thumb, so that the movement of the character operated by the player and the change of the arrangement of the enemy character can be performed. This makes it easy to perform complicated operations such as selecting a weapon used by the character.

Further, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-17249
No. 5, "ray gun toy" discloses a technique relating to a gun-type controller that emits a laser beam and performs a hit determination by detecting return light reflected by a target. This gun-type controller emits laser light at the intersection of the X-axis and the Y-axis, which are orthogonal to each other. It is possible to aim by adjusting the X-axis and the Y-axis with the cross key. it can. Thereby, fine aim adjustment can be performed without releasing the hand from the controller.

However, in the above-described game system using the conventional gun-type controller, the player cannot freely enlarge or reduce the image near the target object. For this reason, in a game in which a player virtually experiences a sniper of a target object or the like, it is not possible to enhance the virtual reality of the player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object the ability to specify operation data of operation means by a player and an arbitrary position in a screen of a display device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game system and an information storage medium that can freely enlarge or reduce an image displayed on a screen according to a position indicated by a position pointing device.

[0011]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game system for generating a game image to be displayed on a screen of a display device. Means for receiving designated position specifying data from position indicating means capable of indicating an arbitrary position in the area, and zoom control data from operation means for inputting operation data, and displaying the screen on the basis of the zoom control data. It is characterized by including means for performing zoom control for enlarging or reducing the displayed game image, and means for performing a given game process based on the designated position specifying data. Further, an information storage medium according to the present invention is an information storage medium that can be used by a computer, and includes a program for executing the above means. Further, the program according to the present invention is a program usable by a computer (including a program embodied in a carrier wave), and includes a processing routine for executing the above means.

According to the present invention, a predetermined game process is performed based on the specified position data specified by the position specifying means from a position distant from the screen, and the game processing is performed based on the zoom control data input from the operating means. Zoom control for enlarging or reducing a game image to be processed is performed. Thus, in a game such as a shooting game in which the game is developed in accordance with the position designated by the position designating means, the player can arbitrarily enlarge or reduce the game image. According to this, a complicated game can be realized.

Here, the position indicating means is a position indicating device which can detect an arbitrary position in the screen pointed by each indicator at a position away from the screen, and is used for a conventional shooting game, for example. There is a gun type controller of the light transmission type controller. In addition, as the shape of the position indicating means, it is desirable to form various shapes corresponding to the game system to be applied, for example, a gun-shaped indicator or a wand-shaped indicator. It is not limited.

Further, in the game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention, the zoom control includes enlarging or reducing a game image near the designated position of the position designating means based on the designated position specifying data and zoom control data. Is performed. In this way, the player can quickly perform complicated operations such as searching for a target and aiming, such as enlarging or reducing an image in the vicinity of the specified position, while targeting the specified position on the screen. Therefore, it is possible to provide a game that develops a more complicated story, which greatly changes the game development according to the content of these operations.

In the game system, the information storage medium, and the program according to the present invention, in the zoom control, a frame of a given range centered on the designated position specified by the designated position specifying data is displayed on the screen. And enlarging or reducing the game image in the frame based on the designated position specifying data and zoom control data.

As described above, the frame displayed around the position specified by the designated position specifying means is displayed as a sight, and the image in the frame is enlarged or reduced. This makes it easier to aim and increases the fun of the game.

In the game system, the information storage medium, and the program according to the present invention, the zoom control performs a given game process on an object specified by the designated position. If you do this,
Furthermore, it is possible to improve the game characteristics such as competing for aiming technology.

Further, the game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention include means for calculating a game result so that the game result of the player changes according to the degree of enlargement or reduction of the game image. And In this way, when competing for a technique of searching for and developing a target deployed in the virtual space of the game, the difficulty level can be reflected as faithfully as possible in the game result.

In the game system, the information storage medium, and the program according to the present invention, the speed at which the game image is enlarged or reduced, or the size of the image finally enlarged or reduced, changes according to the degree of difficulty. It is characterized by the following.

Here, the fact that the speed of enlarging or reducing the game image changes according to the difficulty level means that, for example, when the difficulty level is set to "difficult" at the start of the game or during the game, the zoom speed is increased. This means that the image cannot be easily enlarged or reduced to a desired size. Thus, it is possible to provide a game in which search and aiming techniques can be competed under more complicated conditions according to the skill level of the player, and a game that does not get tired for players of various technical levels can be provided. Become like

Further, in the game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention, the operation means inputs different operation data in accordance with an operation direction, and the game image is enlarged or expanded in two directions. Operation data for performing reduction is input.

Here, the operation means to which different operation data is input in accordance with the operation direction means, for example, means for generating corresponding operation data by pressing each direction key such as a cross key. In addition, not only such cross direction keys, but also four or more direction keys or two-way direction keys,
An analog key capable of detecting all directions of 360 degrees may be used.

With such an operation means, the operation of zoom control requiring adjustment is facilitated, and the operability of the player can be greatly improved.

Further, the game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention provide at least one of an effect effect of the game image, a line-of-sight direction, a type of attack method, and an attack power according to a direction other than the two directions. Operation data for changing one of them is input.

Here, the effect effect of the game image refers to an effect that changes the appearance of the game image for the player who views the screen of the display device, such as the brightness and saturation of the image.

The line-of-sight direction refers to the direction of the virtual camera in the object space, the line-of-sight direction of the character (object) operated by the player, and the like.

The type of attack method and the power of the attack refer to, for example, the type of shot (bullet) and the type of weapon performed in a shooting game or other competitive games.
In addition, it is preferable that an operation other than the zoom control is required in real time according to the type of the game. In this way, not only the zoom control of the game image but also other operations such as item selection can be easily performed, so that a more complicated game content can be experienced.

[0028]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1. Overall Configuration of Game System FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a game system (image generation system) of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a processing unit 100 (main unit)
Is a gun-type controller 10 (position indicating device in a broad sense)
Various processing such as game processing, image generation processing, or sound generation processing is performed based on operation data or programs from the PC. The function of the processing unit 100 can be realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.) or ASIC (gate array, etc.), or a given program (game program).

Here, the game processing performed by the processing unit 100 includes coin (price) reception processing, various mode setting processing, game progress processing, selection screen setting processing, and objects (one or more primitive planes). Processing for determining the position and rotation angle (rotation angle about the X, Y or Z axis)
Processing to move objects (motion processing); processing to determine the viewpoint position (virtual camera position) and viewing angle (virtual camera rotation angle); processing to place objects such as map objects in object space; hit check processing; A process for calculating a game result (result, performance), a process for a plurality of players to play in a common game space, a game over process, and the like can be considered.

Further, the processing section 100 generates an image that can be viewed from a given viewpoint (virtual camera) in, for example, an object space based on the result of the game processing described above, and outputs the generated image to a display section 190 (such as a CRT).

Further, the processing section 100 performs various kinds of sound processing based on the results of the game processing, and performs BGM, sound effects,
Alternatively, a sound such as voice is generated and output to the sound output unit 192 (such as a speaker).

The functions of the processing section 100 may be entirely realized by hardware, or may be entirely realized by a program. Alternatively, it may be realized by both hardware and a program.

An information storage medium (storage medium usable by a computer) 180 stores information such as programs and data.
D, DVD), magneto-optical disk (MO), magnetic disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or memory (RO
M) and the like. Processing unit 10
0 performs various processes of the present invention (the present embodiment) based on the information stored in the information storage medium 180. That is, the information storage medium 180 stores information (program or data) for executing (realizing) the means of the present invention (the present embodiment).

A program or data for executing the means of the present invention (this embodiment) may be distributed from an information storage medium of a host device (server) to an information storage medium 180 via a network. . Use of the information storage medium of such a host device (server) is also included in the scope of the present invention.

The gun-type controller 10 includes an indicator 12 (casing) formed to imitate the shape of a gun, and an indicator 12
An optical circuit including a trigger 14 provided in the grip portion of the camera, a lens 16 and an optical sensor 18 built in near a muzzle 15 (light entrance) of the indicator 12, and control of the entire gun-type controller and calculation of the indicated position Controller processing unit 2 that performs
0, an operation data input unit 21 composed of a cross key for inputting different operation data depending on the operation direction, and a communication unit 30 functioning as an interface between the processing unit 100 and the operation data input unit 21.

Here, the gun-type controller 10 can be gripped, and the gun-type controller 10 is provided with a trigger 14 and an operation data input unit 21 which is a cross-directional key at a position where the player can operate with one hand. Is desirably arranged. Further, it is desirable that the cross direction key of the operation data input section 21 can be operated with one finger of one hand of the player. For example, the operability can be further improved by allowing the player to operate the trigger 14 with the index finger and to operate the cross key with the thumb of the same hand.

The processing section 100 includes a game information generation section 10
2, including a position determination unit 104, an operation data processing unit 106, and a zoom processing unit 108.

The game information generation unit 102 generates a game image (an image viewed from a given viewpoint in an object space in a three-dimensional game) according to the result of the game processing.
And game information such as game sounds (BGM, sound effects, or sounds), and a display unit (display device) 190, a sound output unit 1
92.

The position determining unit 104 determines whether or not the object displayed on the display unit in accordance with the game processing exists at the position indicated by the gun-type controller 10 (or the trajectory line (line passing through the indicated position in a broad sense)). Is determined, hit determination is performed.

When an object is represented in two dimensions,
The object can be specified based on whether or not the object exists at the designated position on the display unit.

When an object is represented in three dimensions, for example, a trajectory line specified by a designated position on the display unit (in a broad sense, a line passing through the designated position) is obtained, and the object exists on the trajectory line. An object can be specified depending on whether or not to do so. More specifically, it can be specified by checking the intersection between the trajectory line and the simple object including the object.

The operation data processing unit 106 determines the contents of the operation data from the gun-type controller appropriately input by the player during the game process, and assigns the object specified by the position indicated by the gun-type controller to the object in the game process. Reflect the determined content.

The zoom processing unit 108 enlarges or reduces the image displayed on the display unit 190 according to the position indicated by the gun-type controller 10 and the operation data from the player determined by the operation data processing unit 21. Do.

More specifically, when the player designates an arbitrary position on the display unit 190 by the gun-type controller 10, the zoom processing unit 108 outputs a command from the operation data input unit 21 when the object is represented in three dimensions. In accordance with the operation data, zoom control is performed to widen or narrow the angle of view on the game image specified by the designated position.

When the object is expressed in two dimensions, the scaling of the two-dimensional display data is changed according to the operation data from the operation data input unit 21 for the game image specified by the designated position. Zoom control is performed as follows.

As described above, by performing zoom control of the image near the designated position of the gun-type controller 10, it is possible to more realistically experience, for example, the real thrill of shooting at a target.

The zoom processing unit 108 may linearly widen or narrow the angle of view of the image to be controlled in the zoom control, but in a stepwise manner according to the input of the operation data. The angle of view (the distance between the viewpoint and the screen) of the image to be controlled may be increased or decreased.

Here, the image enlarged or reduced by the zoom processing unit 108 is displayed on the display unit 190.
Another screen (such as a window screen) displayed on the display unit 190, another display unit provided separately from the display unit 190, or the gun-type controller 10 operated by the player
May be displayed on a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided in the computer.

The controller processing section 20 and the communication section 3
The function 0 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC, for example, or by a combination of various processors and software.

Next, an outline of the operation of the game system of FIG. 1 will be described.

First, the processing section 100 generates a video signal,
The picture tube of the display unit 190 emits light according to the generated video signal. Thus, an object such as a target object (enemy character) is projected on the screen of the display unit 190.

Next, when the player aims the target object on the screen, turns the muzzle 15 of the gun-type controller 10 toward the display unit 190, and pulls the trigger 14, the screen flashes. Then, the detection area 191 set near the designated position of the gun-type controller 10 is displayed on the display unit 19.
When the raster scanning of 0 passes, the scanning light at that time is converged on the optical sensor 18 by the lens 16. Thereby, the optical sensor 18 outputs a light detection signal.

Then, the position calculation unit 22 of the controller processing unit 20 receiving the light detection signal calculates the designated position (X, Y coordinates) of the gun-type controller 10. At this time, the position calculation unit 22 calculates the designated position of the gun-type controller 10 using the synchronization signal included in the video signal from the processing unit 100.

Then, the calculated information on the designated position is transferred to the processing unit 100. The processing unit 100 performs a hit check with the target object displayed on the screen based on the designated position information. That is, when the designated position and the position of the target object match, it is determined that the virtual shot from the gun-type controller 10 has hit the target object, and when they do not match, it is determined that the target object has deviated.

In the game system according to the present embodiment, the operation data input from the operation data input unit 21 of the gun-type controller 10 is also transferred to the processing unit 100 via the communication unit 30 in the same manner as the above-described designated position information. .

Operation data processing unit 106 of processing unit 100
Determines the content of the transferred operation data, and reflects this in the game processing. For example, when the game realized by the present embodiment is a shooting game, it is assumed that the transferred operation data instructs zoom-in, which means enlargement of an image. At this time, the angle of view of the image near the designated position on the display unit 190 of the gun-type controller 10 operated by the player is reduced by a given control amount only while the operation data for instructing zoom-in is being input. The enlarged image is displayed on the display unit 190.

When the trigger 14 of the gun-type controller 10 is pulled by the player, a shot (bullet) is shot on the object specified by the aiming position which is the designated position.
Is fired. The game processing is performed so that the character of the object hit by the shot receives given damage.

Note that the game system according to the present embodiment
The system may be a system dedicated to the single player mode in which only one player can play, or a system having not only such a single player mode but also a multi-player mode in which a plurality of players can play.

When a plurality of players play,
The game image and the game sound to be provided to the plurality of players may be generated using one terminal, or may be generated using a plurality of terminals connected by a network (transmission line, communication line) or the like. Is also good.

[0062] 2. Features of the present embodiment Next, a shooting game realized by the present embodiment will be described.

In this shooting game, in a virtual space in which various objects are represented in a three-dimensional manner, a character operated by a player successively defeats an enemy character (target object) standing in a building while shooting. Things.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a game image for explaining the game system realized by the present embodiment.

In the game system realized by the present embodiment, the appearance of the building where the enemy character
Will be displayed. The player can enlarge (zoom in) or reduce (zoom out) an image near an arbitrary position indication of the displayed building by inputting operation data through the operation data input unit 21 of the gun-type controller 10. I can do it. Here, in a state where the image has been enlarged to some extent by the player,
At 0, an enemy character 206 lurking in the window 204 on the top floor of the building 202 is displayed.

Regardless of the zoom control via the operation data input unit 21, the player pulls the trigger 14 at any time when the aim is set at the target, thereby causing the bullet (in a broad sense) to the designated position 208. , Shots) can be fired. Here, the bullet refers to a shot including a missile, a laser, a bazooka, and the like.

When a bullet fired by the player pulling the trigger 14 hits an enemy character,
Causes damage corresponding to the power of the bullet. On the contrary,
When a character operated by a player hits a bullet fired by an enemy character, the character corresponding to the hit is also damaged.

Further, the operation data input section 21 provided on the gun-type controller 10 of the game system according to the present embodiment comprises a cross-directional key. The arrow keys are
Different operation data can be input according to the operation direction.

In this embodiment, the cross direction key as the operation data input section 21 inputs zoom control data for instructing enlargement and reduction of the image near the designated position of the gun type controller 10 in two directions. Is assigned as an input means for performing the operation.

Further, to the remaining direction keys, a switching command for switching between an infrared camera for determining an enemy character lurking in the dark and a thermography that can be displayed stepwise according to heat is assigned. Through these special cameras, the player can recognize and shoot enemy characters that cannot be distinguished with a normal scope.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the gun-type controller 10 is provided with the operation data input unit 2 composed of the cross key.
By providing 1, the image near the designated position of the gun-type controller 10 can be arbitrarily enlarged or reduced in accordance with the operation data from the operation data input unit 21. Furthermore, by assigning other command inputs to the other direction keys of the cross direction key and allowing the player to quickly perform complicated operations, it is possible to develop more complicated game contents than before. .

[0072] Such a game system can realize various types of games, but has the following features.

(1) Zoom Control In the game system realized by the present embodiment, the operation data based on the position indicated on the screen by the gun type controller 10 (position indicating device) capable of indicating an arbitrary position on the screen. It is characterized in that zoom control according to the operation content of the input unit 21 can be performed.

Here, performing the zoom control based on the designated position in the screen by the gun-type controller 10 means that the image near the designated position by the gun-type controller 10 detected as shown in FIG. This refers to controlling the angle (controlling the distance between the viewpoint and the screen). When the object is represented in two dimensions, it means that scaling control is performed on an image near the designated position.

To perform zoom control in accordance with the operation content of the operation data input unit 21 means that the player uses the display unit 190 based on the operation data input via the operation data input unit 21.
Means to enlarge or reduce the image displayed in.

More specifically, an image near the position designated by the gun-type controller 10 at a position distant from the screen as in a shooting game is set as the point of gaze (center),
The image is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the operation data input from the player via the operation data input unit 21. When the object is represented in three dimensions, the image is zoomed out or zoomed in by widening or narrowing the angle of view.

As a result, in contrast to the conventional case where a predetermined image is enlarged or reduced at a predetermined place or an image specified by a position designated by a player is merely enlarged at a predetermined magnification. Thus, the degree of freedom to greatly change the progress of the game in accordance with the instruction status of the player can be provided, and the fun of the game is increased.

Further, by providing a cross-directional key as the operation data input unit 21 provided in the gun-type controller 10, it is possible to specify an arbitrary position on the screen and to perform zoom control with only one hand having the controller. Because
The above-described complicated operation can be performed quickly.

Here, the zoom control of the image near the designated position of the gun-type controller 10 is performed.
Zoom control of an image near a predetermined position may be performed. For example, in a “mission selection screen” in which a plurality of missions before a game can be selected, a mission arbitrarily selected by a player as a start trigger,
It is possible to elaborate a preference such as using zoom-in control of a predetermined image in the mission.

In the shooting game realized by the present embodiment, in the image enlarged or reduced by the cross key as the operation data input unit 21 in this manner,
The player fires a shot (bullet) at an object specified by the position indicated by the gun-type controller 10.

(2) Command Input In addition, the game system realized by the present embodiment uses the operation data input unit 2 provided in the gun-type controller 10.
A feature is that a more complicated operation is facilitated by assigning another command other than the above-described zoom control to the cross direction key as 1.

Here, another command other than the zoom control is a command provided to increase the variation of the story development of the game, and is, for example, a player who looks at the screen of the display device such as the brightness and saturation of the image. The effect of the game image that changes the appearance of the game image, the direction of the virtual camera and the direction of the line of sight of the character (object) operated by the player, such as the type of shot (bullet), the type of weapon, etc. It refers to the type of attack method that requires an operation other than zoom control in real time according to the type of game, the power of the attack, or a command for switching items.

In the shooting game of the present embodiment,
These commands are assigned as commands for switching the aiming method of the enemy character between the infrared camera and the thermography.

FIG. 3 shows an example of assigning special weapons to each direction key of the operation data input unit 21 in this embodiment.

The cross key of the operation data input section 21 is
By pressing each direction, different types of operation data are generated. Here, the up key 210 and the down key 21
2, four directions of a left direction key 214 and a right direction key 216 can be pressed, and four types of operation data are generated.

In the shooting game of this embodiment,
The up key 210 is assigned to zoom in, the down key 212 is zoomed out, the left key 214 is assigned to an aim switching command by thermography, and the right key 216 is assigned to an aim switching command by an infrared camera.

The player, for example, operates the operation data input unit 21
By pressing the up direction key 210 to zoom in on the image near the designated position, pressing the right direction key 216 to determine the enemy character lurking in the dark by the infrared camera, and then pulling the trigger 14 to move to the aiming position A shot can be fired. If an object exists on the trajectory line specified by the designated position at the time of launch, it is determined that a hit has occurred, and the object receives a given amount of damage.

FIGS. 4 (A), 4 (B) and 5 (A)-
(C) shows an example of a game image when performing zoom control in the present embodiment.

In the game system realized by the present embodiment, timekeeping starts at the start of the game in order to compete with the target searching technology and the aiming technology, and the higher the score, the faster the target hits the target as soon as possible. As a result, the game result is reflected.

When the game is started, for example, the initial value “9”
The TIME of "0" is decremented by "1" at predetermined time intervals. The game screen 220 includes a time display screen 2
22 and a zoom rate display screen 224 indicating the degree of enlargement or reduction of the image at that time. As an initial state, TIME is “90” and zoom ratio is “× 10”
It is assumed that

At the start of the game, the player starts the position (position 22) of the part where the target enemy character seems to hide.
6), and the up key of the operation data input unit 21 of the gun type controller 10 is pressed as shown in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image is enlarged around the designated position. here,
Despite the remaining time being reduced to "88",
By setting the zoom ratio to “× 40”, the target character 2
It is determined that 28 is in window 230.

[0093] The player can more reliably make the enemy character 2
If you want to hit the 28, further gun type controller 1
The up key of the operation data input unit 21 of 0 is pressed. Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, the remaining time is “8”.
5 ", the zoom ratio can be set to" x80 "to further enlarge the portion of the target character 228.

Further, when the player keeps pressing the up key of the operation data input section 21 of the gun-type controller 10, the remaining time becomes "8" as shown in FIG.
0 ", the zoom rate is" x120 ", and the portion of the target character 228 can be enlarged.

The player sets the aiming position at the enemy character 228 and pulls the trigger 14, thereby
When the enemy character 228 exists on the trajectory line specified by the aiming position, it is determined that a hit has occurred, and given damage can be given to the object of the enemy character.

In this embodiment, when the enemy character 228 is damaged, an image indicating that the bullet hits the enemy character is displayed as shown in FIG. 5C.

In this embodiment, as described above, the aiming assigned to each direction key can be switched at any time by pressing the right direction key or the left direction key of the operation data input section 21. It has become.

FIGS. 6A to 6C show an example of a game image for explaining aim switching in the present embodiment.

When the player enlarges the image, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the player presses the rightward key 240 of the operation data input section 21 by using the infrared camera as shown in FIG. 6B. You can switch to aiming.

More specifically, by switching to a display object for an infrared camera corresponding to the image of FIG. 6A, an enemy character (target object) 244 lurking in the window 242 is displayed. .

Further, the player operates the operation data input section 21.
By pressing the left arrow keys 246 and 248 of FIG.
It can be switched to the aiming by the thermography as shown in FIG.

More specifically, FIG. 6A or FIG.
By switching to the thermographic display object corresponding to the image of (C), an enemy character (target object) 252 lurking in the window 250 is displayed.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a flowchart of the above-described zoom control processing in the present embodiment.

First, the player operates the gun type controller 1
Each time the user operates “0” to indicate an arbitrary position in the game screen of the display unit 190, first, the position calculation unit 22 of the gun-type controller 10 uses the synchronization signal included in the video signal from the processing unit 100. , The designated position is detected, and the designated position is selected as the gazing point (step S10).

Subsequently, the operation data processing unit 106
The content of the operation data from the player is determined via the operation data input unit 21 of the gun-type controller 10 (step S11).

When the operation data processing unit 106 determines that a direction key other than the up direction key among the cross direction keys of the operation data input unit 21 has been pressed (step S1).
1: N), the process returns to step S10, and the gazing point is selected again by the gun-type controller 10.

At step S11, the operation data processing unit 10
6, the operation data corresponding to the up direction key among the cross direction keys of the operation data input unit 21 is determined, and it is determined that the up direction key is pressed (step S11:
Y), the processing unit 100 starts timing (step S1)
2) Decrement (count down) at regular time intervals from the initial value "90".

Subsequently, the operation data processing section 106 determines the contents of the operation data from the operation data input section 21 of the gun-type controller 10 (step S13).

At step S13, the operation data processing unit 10
6, when it is determined that the up key of the operation data input unit 21 is input (step S13: Y), the angle of view is narrowed around the gazing point selected in step S10, and the vicinity of the gazing point is reduced. Zoom control is performed so that the image is zoomed in (step S14).

In step S13, the operation data operation unit 10
6, when it is determined that the down key is input instead of the up key of the operation data input section 21 (step S
13: N, step S15: Y), zoom control is performed so that the angle of view is widened around the gazing point selected in step S10, and an image near the gazing point is zoomed out (step S16).

In step S15, the operation data operation unit 10
6, when it is determined that the right key is input instead of the down key of the operation data input unit 21 (step S
15: N, step S17: Y), as shown in FIG. 6B, the display object is switched to a display object for the infrared camera screen instead of the display object up to then (step S18).

In step S17, the operation data operation unit 10
6, when it is determined that the left direction key is input instead of the right direction key of the operation data input unit 21 (step S5).
17: N, step S19: Y), as shown in FIG. 6C, the display object is switched to the display object for the thermography screen instead of the display object up to then (step S20).

The display object to be switched in step S18 or step S20 is obtained by a given conversion process with respect to the normal display object shown in FIG.

In step S19, the operation data operation unit 10
6, when it is determined that the key is not the left direction key of the operation data input unit 21 (step S19: N), or after a given screen control is performed in step S14, step S16, step S18, or step S20. , Processing unit 1
At 00, the input of the trigger 14 of the gun-type controller 10 is checked (step S21).

In step S21, when the processing unit 100 detects that the trigger 14 has been pulled by the player (step S21: Y), a hit check is performed next (step S22).

That is, it is determined whether or not an enemy character object exists on the trajectory line specified by the position indicated by the gun-type controller 10 detected in step S10. If it is determined that an object of the enemy character exists when the trigger 14 is pulled, it is determined that the object is a hit (hit) (step S22: Y), and the processing unit 1
00 is based on the time measured in step S12.
A score is calculated (step S23).

In this score calculation, for example, the more the remaining time is, the higher the score is, and the less the time is, the lower the score is. For example, the enemy character search technology and the aiming technology are improved. Can compete.

When it is not detected in step S21 that the trigger 14 has been pulled by the player (step S21: N), or in step S22, a hit (hit) occurs.
When it is determined that the operation has not been performed (step S22: N),
Returning to step S13, the input check of the cross direction key of the operation data input unit 21 is performed again.

As described above, the zoom control processing according to the present embodiment ends.

As described above, the gun-type controller 10 capable of indicating an arbitrary position in the screen at a position distant from the screen of the display unit 190 is provided with the operation data input unit 21 composed of the cross-directional keys, and adjustment is required. Zoom control,
An image near the designated position can be arbitrarily zoom-controlled in accordance with operation data of each direction key (for example, an up direction key and a down direction key) of the cross direction key. As a result, the player can enlarge or reduce the target position with a quick operation, and can greatly change the game development depending on the player's designated position, thereby providing a game that performs a more complicated story development. Will be able to Furthermore, since other command inputs are assigned to the other direction keys of the cross direction key, the player can experience more complicated game contents with easy operation.

(3) Others In the shooting game realized by the present embodiment, it has been described that the difficulty in changing the degree of progress of the game is not considered, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the zoom control speed operated by the player can be changed in consideration of the difficulty.

More specifically, when the difficulty level is set to “difficult” at the start of the game or during the game, the image is easily enlarged or reduced to a desired size by increasing the zoom speed. Not be able to do.

Alternatively, it is also possible to change the size of an image that can be zoom-controlled by the player, for example, in consideration of the difficulty level. More specifically, if the difficulty level is set to "difficult" at the start of the game or during the game, the size of the zoom ratio at which the player can zoom in is limited, and the enemy character is enlarged to aim easily. At the same time, make it impossible to hit.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a flowchart of a zoom control process in which the zoom ratio is limited in consideration of the above-described difficulty level.

However, the same steps as those in the zoom control processing according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different steps will be described.

Here, a given first limited angle of view that limits the angle of view that can be zoomed in and a given second limited angle of view that limits the angle of view that can be zoomed out are defined.

That is, when the difficulty level is set to "difficult", when the operation data processing unit 106 determines that the up key of the operation data input unit 21 has been input in step S13 (step S13: Y ), The zoom processing unit determines whether or not the angle of view is reduced by a given amount to be equal to or smaller than a given first limited angle of view (step S30).

When it is determined that the angle of view is equal to or smaller than the first limited angle of view (step S30: Y), the trigger input check of step S21 is directly performed without performing zoom-in control (step S21).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S30 that the angle of view does not fall below the given first limited angle of view (step S3
0: N), zoom control is performed so as to narrow the angle of view around the gazing point detected in step S10 and zoom in on an image near the gazing point (step S1).
4) Then, a trigger input check in step S21 is performed (step S21).

By doing so, it is assumed that the player can enlarge the image only up to the zoom ratio specified by the first limited angle of view, so that it is more difficult to hit the target object. You.

In step S13, the operation data operation unit 10
6, when it is determined that the down key is input instead of the up key of the operation data input section 21 (step S
13: N, step S15: Y), the zoom processing unit determines whether or not increasing the angle of view by a given amount will be equal to or larger than a given second limited angle of view (step S31).

When it is determined that the angle of view becomes equal to or larger than the second limited angle of view (step S31: Y), the trigger input check of step S21 is performed without performing the zoom-out control (step S21).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S31 that the angle of view does not exceed the given second limited angle of view (step S3
1: N), zoom control is performed such that the angle of view is widened around the gazing point detected in step S10 and an image near the gazing point is zoomed out (step S1).
6) Then, a trigger input check in step S21 is performed (step S21).

By doing so, the player can reduce the image only up to the zoom ratio specified by the second limited angle of view, so that the player can search for a target object lurking in a large virtual space. It is assumed that it will be difficult.

In addition, in the game system according to the present embodiment, as described in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is described that the game score changes depending on the time counted, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the game result may be reflected according to the size of the image on which the player has performed zoom control by the gun-type controller 10.

More specifically, when the player hits the target object with the gun-type controller 10,
The smaller the zoom ratio at that time, the more difficult it is to hit, so the higher the score can be.

Regarding the magnitude of the zoom ratio, by changing the game score in combination with the time measurement as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is possible to generate a game result in which the difficulty level is more faithfully reflected. it can.

Further, in the game system according to the present embodiment, a frame in a given range centered on the position designated by the gun-type controller 10 is displayed on the game screen as aiming for aiming. Is also good. In this case, by enlarging or reducing the game image in the frame displayed around the position specified by the gun-type controller 10 by the player, the player can easily aim at the enemy character, and the game is interesting. Increase. Further, the position indicated by the gun-type controller 10 is displayed on the game screen as the aiming position, and it is determined whether or not an enemy character is present on the trajectory line specified by the position so that shooting is performed. Thus, it is possible to further improve the game characteristics such as competing for aiming technology.

FIGS. 9A to 9C show an example of a game image when performing the zoom control in the present embodiment when the aim is displayed centering on the position indicated by the gun-type controller 10.

However, the same portions as those in FIGS. 5A to 5C are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

That is, when the player designates an arbitrary position in the game screen 220, the designated position 300 is displayed, and a frame 310 of a given range is displayed around the designated position 300.

Therefore, the player can determine the position of the part where the target enemy character is supposed to hide (indicated position 30).
0), and the up key of the operation data input unit 21 of the gun type controller 10 is pressed as shown in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (B), the game image within a given range of frame around the designated position 300 is enlarged. The player is more sure that the enemy character 228
Is pressed, the up key of the operation data input unit 21 of the gun type controller 10 is further pressed. As a result, as shown in FIG.
As "0", the portion of the target character 228 can be further enlarged.

[0144] Therefore, when the enemy character 228 is present on the trajectory line specified by the designated position 300 by pulling the trigger 14, the player is determined to be hit, and the player is given a given object to the enemy character object. Can deal damage.

Therefore, as described above, by making it easier for the player to aim at the enemy character and performing shooting, it is possible to improve the game characteristics such as competing for aiming techniques. Further, the player enlarges the game image in the frame 310 centered on the designated position 300 to a certain magnification, and then moves the designated position of the gun-type controller 10 to a position other than the enlarged game image before shooting. Competition for advanced search technology and aiming technology such as performing.

In this case, the aiming position has been described as being displayed as a circle within a given range centered on the designated position 300. However, the aiming position may be a rectangular frame, and is limited to the shape of the frame. is not. Further, the shape of the frame and the range of the frame may be appropriately changed using a cross key or the like. As a result, finer search and aiming can be performed, and a more complicated shooting game can be provided.

[0147] 3. Configuration of Another Game System By the way, the game system (image generation system) of the present embodiment is not limited to the system having the configuration shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited to the gun-type controller 10 that detects the scanning light of the display unit 190 and detects the indicated position.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a game system (image generation system) according to another embodiment.

[0149] The video camera 850 is infrared imaging means for capturing a game image displayed on the display section 820. Its function is to capture a game image via an infrared transmission filter. Only the infrared spotlight displayed on the image is imaged.

The gun-type controller 810 includes an indicator 812 (casing) formed in a shape of a gun, a trigger 814 provided on a grip of the indicator 812, and an indicator 8
12, a muzzle 816 (light entrance), a built-in infrared light emitting unit 818, a controller processing unit 820 for controlling the entire gun-type controller, and a cross direction for inputting different operation data according to the operation direction. An operation data input unit 822 including keys and a communication unit 824 functioning as an interface between the processing unit 800 are included.

Here, the gun-type controller 810 can be gripped, and the gun-type controller 810 has a trigger 814 and an operation data input unit 822 as a cross key at a position where the player can operate with one hand. It is desirable that they are arranged. For example, the operability can be further improved by allowing the player to perform a trigger operation on the trigger 814 with the index finger and operate the cross key with the thumb of the same hand.

The processing section 800 includes a position detection area specifying section 8
02, a position detection unit 804, a game information generation unit 806, a position determination unit 807, an operation data processing unit 808, and a zoom processing unit 809.

The position detection area specifying unit 802 expands the image picked up by the video camera 850 in the work memory area, for example, to determine the coordinate positions of the image pickup area of the video camera 850 and the game image area of the display unit 820 in advance. The light emitting unit 8 of the gun type controller 810
The position of the spot is determined by determining in which area the spot light from 18 exists in each area obtained by dividing the game image area into given areas.

The position detecting section 804 detects the position of the spot light of the gun type controller 810 in the area specified by the position detecting area specifying section 802. As described above, the position detection area specifying unit 802 specifies a roughly divided area in advance, and then performs a two-stage process of determining a position in the area where the spot light exists, thereby performing complicated position detection. , And highly accurate position detection is enabled.

The game information generation unit 806, like the game information generation unit 102 shown in FIG. 1, outputs a game image (an image viewed from a given viewpoint in an object space in a three-dimensional game) according to the result of the game processing. It generates game information such as a game sound (BGM, sound effect, or voice) and outputs it to the display unit 820 and the sound output unit 830.

As in the position determination unit 104 shown in FIG. 1, the position determination unit 807 determines whether the object displayed on the display unit in accordance with the game processing is the position indicated by the gun-type controller 810 (or the trajectory line (in a broad sense, the instruction A hit determination is made by determining whether or not the line exists on the line passing through the position)).

If the object is represented in two dimensions,
The object can be specified based on whether or not the object exists at the designated position on the display unit.

When the object is represented in three dimensions, for example, a trajectory line specified by the designated position on the display unit (in a broad sense, a line passing through the designated position) is obtained, and the object exists on the trajectory line. An object can be specified depending on whether or not to do so. More specifically, it can be specified by checking the intersection between the trajectory line and the simple object including the object.

The operation data processing section 808 determines the contents of operation data from the gun-type controller which is appropriately input by the player during the game processing, similarly to the operation data processing section 106 shown in FIG. The determined content is reflected on the object specified by the pointing position of the gun-type controller.

[0160] The zoom processing unit 809, like the zoom processing unit 108 shown in FIG. 1, displays a display according to the position indicated by the gun-type controller 810 and the operation data from the player determined by the operation data processing unit 808. The image displayed on the unit 820 is enlarged or reduced.

More specifically, when the player designates an arbitrary position on the display unit 820 by using the gun-type controller 810, the zoom processing unit 809 determines whether or not the object is represented in three dimensions by the operation data input unit 822. In accordance with the operation data, zoom control is performed to widen or narrow the angle of view on the game image specified by the designated position.

When the object is expressed in two dimensions, the scaling of the two-dimensional display data is changed in accordance with the operation data from the operation data input unit 822 for the game image specified by the designated position. Zoom control is performed as follows.

The zoom processing unit 809 may linearly widen or narrow the angle of view of the image to be controlled in the zoom control. The angle of view of the image to be controlled may be widened or narrowed.

The image enlarged or reduced by the zoom processing unit 809 is displayed on the display unit 820.
A separate screen (such as a child screen) displayed on the display unit 820, another display unit provided separately from the display unit 820, or a display unit such as an LCD provided on a gun-type controller 810 operated by the player. You may make it display.

Next, an outline of the operation of the game system of FIG. 10 will be described.

First, the processing section 800 generates a video signal,
The picture tube of the display unit 820 emits light by the generated video signal. Thus, an object such as a target object (enemy character) is projected on the screen of the display unit 820. The projected screen is imaged by the video camera 850, and the coordinate position of the screen of the display unit 820 by the processing unit 800 is associated with the coordinate position of the imaging screen imaged by the imaging unit 852 of the video camera 850.

Next, the player aims at the target object on the screen and shoots the muzzle 816 of the gun-type controller 810.
Is pointed toward the display unit 820 and the trigger 814 is pulled, at which point the landing position of the spot light projected by the light emitting unit 818 is detected.

In detecting the impact position, the position detection area specifying unit 802 refers to the image captured by the video camera 850 to specify the area where the spot light exists from the area where the game screen of the display unit 820 is divided in advance. I do. Next, the position detection unit 804 detects at which position of the specified area the spot light exists.

Then, in the processing section 800, based on the information of the detected designated position, the position determination section 808 performs a hit check with the target object displayed on the screen. That is, when the target object exists at the designated position, it is determined that the virtual shot from the gun-type controller 810 has hit the target object, and when they do not match, it is determined that the target object has deviated.

In this game system, the operation data input from the operation data input unit 822 of the gun type controller 810 is transferred to the processing unit 800 via the communication unit 824. The operation data processing unit 808 of the processing unit 800 determines a command corresponding to the transferred operation data, and reflects this in the game processing.

The present invention is not limited to the principle of detecting an arbitrary designated position on the screen of the display unit by the light transmission type controller, but quickly performs a complicated operation such as designation on the screen and selection of a command corresponding thereto. Can be.

[0172] 4. Hardware Configuration Next, an example of a hardware configuration that can implement the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The main processor 900 is a CD982
(Information storage medium), a program transferred via the communication interface 990, or a program stored in the ROM 950 (one of the information storage media).
Various processes such as sound processing are executed.

The coprocessor 902 assists the processing of the main processor 900, has a multiply-accumulate unit and a divider capable of high-speed parallel operation, and executes a matrix operation (vector operation) at high speed. For example, when a physical simulation for moving or moving an object requires processing such as matrix operation, a program operating on the main processor 900 instructs the coprocessor 902 to perform the processing (request ).

The geometry processor 904 performs geometry processing such as coordinate transformation, perspective transformation, light source calculation, and curved surface generation. The geometry processor 904 includes a multiply-accumulate unit and a divider capable of high-speed parallel operation, and performs a matrix operation (vector operation). Calculation) at high speed. For example, when performing processing such as coordinate transformation, perspective transformation, and light source calculation, a program operating on the main processor 900 instructs the geometry processor 904 to perform the processing.

The data decompression processor 906 performs a decoding process for decompressing the compressed image data and sound data, and performs a process for accelerating the decoding process of the main processor 900. As a result, a moving image compressed by the MPEG method or the like can be displayed on an opening screen, an intermission screen, an ending screen, a game screen, or the like. The image data and sound data to be decoded are stored in the ROM 95.
0, stored in the CD 982, or transferred from the outside via the communication interface 990.

The drawing processor 910 executes a high-speed drawing (rendering) process of an object composed of primitive surfaces such as polygons and curved surfaces. When drawing an object, the main processor 900
Uses the function of the DMA controller 970 to pass object data to the drawing processor 910,
If necessary, the texture is transferred to the texture storage unit 924. Then, the drawing processor 910 draws the object in the frame buffer 922 at high speed while performing hidden surface removal using a Z buffer or the like based on the object data and the texture. The drawing processor 910 can also perform α blending (translucent processing), depth queuing, mip mapping, fog processing, bilinear filtering, trilinear filtering, anti-aliasing, shading processing, and the like. Then, when an image for one frame is written to the frame buffer 922, the image is displayed on the display 912.

The sound processor 930 incorporates a multi-channel ADPCM sound source and the like, and generates high-quality game sounds such as BGM, sound effects, and sounds. The generated game sound is output from the speaker 932.

Operation data from the gun-type controller 942, save data and personal data from the memory card 944 are transferred via the serial interface 940.

The ROM 950 stores a system program and the like. In the case of the arcade game system, the ROM 950 functions as an information storage medium,
Various programs are stored in 950. Note that a hard disk may be used instead of the ROM 950.

The RAM 960 is used as a work area for various processors.

The DMA controller 970 has a function of transferring data between a processor and a memory (RAM, VRAM, ROM, etc.).
It controls MA transfer.

The CD drive 980 stores a CD 982 in which programs, image data, sound data, and the like are stored.
(Information storage medium) to enable access to these programs and data.

The communication interface 990 is an interface for transferring data to and from the outside via a network. In this case, a network connected to the communication interface 990 may be a communication line (analog telephone line, ISDN), a high-speed serial bus, or the like. Then, data can be transferred via the Internet by using a communication line. Further, by using the high-speed serial bus, data transfer with another game system becomes possible.

It is to be noted that each means of the present invention may be entirely executed by hardware only, or may be executed only by a program stored in an information storage medium or a program distributed via a communication interface. Is also good. Alternatively, it may be executed by both hardware and a program.

When each means of the present invention is executed by both hardware and a program, a program for executing each means of the present invention using hardware is stored in the information storage medium. Will be. More specifically, the program instructs the processors 902, 904, 906, 910, 930, etc., which are hardware, to perform processing, and passes data if necessary.
Then, each processor 902, 904, 906, 91
0, 930, and the like execute each means of the present invention based on the instruction and the passed data.

FIG. 12A shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to an arcade game system. The player enjoys the game by operating the gun-type controller 1102 while watching the game image projected on the display 1100. Various processors, various memories, and the like are mounted on a built-in system board (circuit board) 1106. The information (program or data) for executing each means of the present invention is stored in the system board 1.
It is stored in a memory 1108 which is an information storage medium on 106. Hereinafter, this information is referred to as storage information.

FIG. 12B shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to a home game system. The player enjoys the game by operating the gun-type controllers 1202 and 1204 while watching the game image displayed on the display 1200. In this case, the storage information is stored in a CD 1206 or a memory card 1208, 1209, which is an information storage medium detachable from the main system.

FIG. 12C shows a host device 1300,
The host device 1300 and the network 1302 (LA
N or a wide area network such as the Internet).
An example in which the present embodiment is applied to a system including 4-1 to 1304-n will be described. In this case, the stored information is stored in the information storage medium 130 such as a magnetic disk device, a magnetic tape device, or a memory that can be controlled by the host device 1300.
6 is stored. Terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n
However, when a game image and a game sound can be generated stand-alone, a game program for generating a game image and a game sound is delivered from the host device 1300 to the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n. You. On the other hand, if it cannot be generated stand-alone, the host device 1300 generates a game image and a game sound, transmits them to the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n, and outputs them at the terminals.

In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 12C, each means of the present invention may be executed by distributing between a host device (server) and a terminal. Further, the storage information for executing each means of the present invention may be stored separately in an information storage medium of a host device (server) and an information storage medium of a terminal.

The terminal connected to the network may be a home game system or an arcade game system. When the arcade game system is connected to a network, a save information storage device capable of exchanging information with the arcade game system and exchanging information with the home game system. (Memory card, portable game device) is desirable.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a shooting game has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An object is displayed on a screen, and the displayed object is designated to advance the game. The present invention can be applied to games in various fields. For example, not only conventional games in various fields such as role playing games, adventure games, shooting games, fighting games, racing games, but also conventional operability such as aiming for a photo opportunity in a game as a photographer It is possible to provide a game that was difficult.

In the above-described embodiment, the gun-type controller has been described as an example of the position pointing device capable of pointing to an arbitrary position in the screen of the display unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a shape like a magic wand can be applied to, for example, a role playing game.
Furthermore, it is also possible to apply it to a fishing game in a shape like a fishing rod, for example.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a cross-directional key operable in only four directions has been described as an example of the operation data input unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the input unit may be operated in eight directions, or may be operated in any direction.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the commands other than the zoom control are assigned to the other directional keys not assigned for the zoom control among the cross direction keys, but the present invention is not limited to this. The zoom control is assigned to the up and down keys of the cross key so that adjustment is easy.However, unlike zoom control, these commands do not always need to be adjusted. A press button such as an A button or a B button may be provided on the type controller, and a command input may be performed using these buttons.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a game system (image generation system) of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a game image for explaining a game system realized by the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of assigning special weapons to each direction key of the operation data input unit in the embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a first half of an example of a game image when performing zoom control according to the present embodiment.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams for explaining a latter half of an example of a game image when performing zoom control according to the embodiment;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are explanatory diagrams for explaining aim switching according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a zoom control process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a zoom control process in which a zoom rate is limited in consideration of a difficulty level in the present embodiment.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating an example of a game image when performing zoom control according to the present embodiment in a case where an aim is displayed centered on a position indicated by a gun-type controller. is there.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a game system (image generation system) according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing each embodiment.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are diagrams illustrating examples of various types of systems to which the embodiments are applied;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Gun type controller 12 Indicator 14 Trigger 15 Muzzle 16 Lens 18 Optical sensor 20 Controller processing unit 21 Operation data input unit 22 Position calculation unit 30 Communication unit 100 Processing unit 102 Game information generation unit 104 Position determination unit 106 Operation data processing unit 108 Zoom processing section 180 Information storage medium 190 Display section 192 Sound output section

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Higashiyama Asahi 2-8-5 Tamagawa, Ota-ku, Tokyo Namco Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C001 AA00 AA07 BA00 BA01 BA02 BA05 BA06 BB00 BB03 BB05 BB06 BC00 BC05 BC10 BD05 CA00 CA01 CA06 CA08 CA09 CB01 CC02 CC08

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A game system for generating a game image to be displayed on a screen of a display device, comprising: a pointing position from a position pointing device capable of pointing an arbitrary position in the screen at a position distant from the screen. Means for receiving specific data and zoom control data from operation means for inputting operation data; and means for performing zoom control for enlarging or reducing a game image displayed on the screen based on the zoom control data. A means for performing a given game process based on the designated position specifying data. 2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the zoom control enlarges or reduces a game image near a designated position of the position designating unit based on the designated position specifying data and zoom control data. system. 3. The zoom control according to claim 1, wherein, in the zoom control, a frame of a given range centered on the designated position specified by the designated position specifying data is displayed on the screen, and the designated position specifying data and the zoom are displayed. A game system, which enlarges or reduces a game image in the frame based on control data. 4. The game system according to claim 3, wherein a predetermined game process is performed on an object specified by the designated position. 5. The game according to claim 1, further comprising: means for calculating a game result so that a game result of a player changes according to a degree of enlargement or reduction of the game image. system. 6. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a speed at which the game image is enlarged or reduced, or a size of an image finally enlarged or reduced, changes according to the difficulty level. And a game system. 7. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the operation means receives different operation data according to an operation direction, and enlarges or reduces the game image in two directions. Game data for inputting operation data for the game. 8. The operation data according to claim 7, wherein at least one of an effect effect, a line-of-sight direction, an attack method type, and an attack power of the game image is changed in a direction other than the two directions. Is input to the game system. 9. An information storage medium usable by a computer, comprising: pointing position specifying data from position pointing means capable of pointing an arbitrary position in the screen at a position distant from the screen of the display device; Means for receiving zoom control data from an operation means for inputting a command, means for performing zoom control for enlarging or reducing a game image displayed on the screen based on the zoom control data, and the designated position specifying data. An information storage medium comprising: means for performing a given game process based on: and a program for executing: 10. The information according to claim 9, wherein the zoom control enlarges or reduces a game image near a designated position of the position designating means based on the designated position specifying data and zoom control data. Storage medium. 11. The zoom control according to claim 9, wherein, in the zoom control, a frame of a given range centered on the designated position specified by the designated position specifying data is displayed on the screen, and the designated position specifying data and the zoom are displayed. An information storage medium for enlarging or reducing a game image in the frame based on control data. 12. The information storage medium according to claim 11, wherein a given game process is performed on an object specified by the designated position. 13. The program according to claim 9, further comprising a program for executing means for calculating a game result such that a game result of a player changes according to a degree of enlargement or reduction of the game image. An information storage medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 14. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a speed at which the game image is enlarged or reduced, or a size of an image finally enlarged or reduced, changes according to the degree of difficulty. Information storage medium. 15. The game device according to claim 9, wherein the operation means inputs different operation data according to an operation direction, and enlarges or reduces the game image in two directions. An information storage medium to which operation data for inputting is input. 16. The operation data according to claim 15, wherein at least one of an effect effect, a line-of-sight direction, an attack method type, and an attack power of the game image is changed in a direction other than the two directions. An information storage medium characterized in that an information is input.