JP2003236245A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of discriminating the swinging way of an input device to enable a game player to feel the actual game in the body. <P>SOLUTION: The game player 40 plays a game by swinging the input device 18 imitating an actual game tool with a character in a monitor screen of a display device 12 taken as an opponent. Three marks R, Y, B or marks O, G, P different in color are put on the surface or back of the input device 18. A photographing device 10 for catching the movement of the game player 40 is fixed to a game machine body 16, thereby transmitting an image 38 of the mark arrangement to the game machine body 16. According to the image 38 transmitted from the game machine body 16, the color, arrangement and position of the marks are detected to discriminate the vibrating way of the input device 18 depending on a change, and a game image corresponding to the discriminated vibrating way is displayed on the monitor screen. Thus, the game player 40 can feel the actual game in the body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine for experiencing an actual game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional game machine, there is known a game machine which uses an input device such as a baseball bat or a table tennis input device which directly mimics the shape of a game tool (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-104636). For example, JP 2001-1
The table tennis game machine shown by 04636 has a game player swing an input device having the same shape as an actual table tennis input device in the same manner as an actual table tennis input device so that the player can experience an actual table tennis game. In this table tennis game machine, the input device is an acceleration sensor (piezoelectric buzzer).
The timing of the swing and the speed of the swing are determined based on the movement acceleration of the swing detected by the acceleration sensor to determine whether the receive (return ball) of the game player is effective.

[0003]

However, in the conventional table tennis game machine, since the returning ball is determined only based on the swing timing and the swing speed, the forehand swing and the backhand swing performed by the game player cannot be determined. I could not do it, and it was considered to be an effective return ball if the timing and the speed of the swing were appropriate no matter which swing I took. Therefore, the conventional game machine lacks the interesting taste of the game. In addition, there are batting methods that give various changes to the ball, such as drive batting methods and cutting batting methods, which are considered to be basic swings in actual table tennis games, but in conventional table tennis game machines, these batting methods can be distinguished. Therefore, even if the game player swings with a different batting method, the ball displayed on the monitor is not changed and it is not possible to experience the actual game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine which determines how an input device is shaken so that a game player can experience an actual game. It is what

[0005]

A game machine according to the present invention is a game machine for playing a character on a monitor screen against an opponent, and an input device shaken by the game player with respect to the monitor screen and the input device. A subject to be attached, a photographing device that captures the subject, an image signal transmitted from the photographing device is received, the way the input device is shaken is determined based on the image signal, and the determined shake of the input device is detected. And a computer for displaying a game image corresponding to the one on the monitor screen.

[0006]

First Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a game machine of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a game input device of a game machine. In FIG. 1, a photographing device (camera) 10, a display device (monitor) 12, and an audio device 14 are connected to a game machine body 16. The display device 12 displays a game image on the monitor screen. The audio device 14 outputs a sound effect in accordance with the game image. The input device 18 is provided in a state where it is not connected to the game console body 16. Inside the game console body 16, the CPU 20,
Storage device (ROM) 22, game image processing unit 24, RA
In addition to the M (main memory) 26, each control unit (not shown) of the photographing device 10, the display device 12, and the audio device 14 is provided. The storage device 22 stores a game program 28,
Game image data 30, home position data 32,
It has an image processing program 34 and a position detection program 36.

The photographing device 10 is installed toward a game player who plays a game and photographs the game player and the input device 18. The image capturing device 10 is a camera that converts a captured image (optical signal) into an image signal (electrical signal), and transmits the captured image to the game console body 16. A CCD camera, an image pickup tube camera, or the like can be considered as the photographing device 10. The imaging device 10 includes a game console body 16 that can capture the movement of a game player.
Alternatively, it is attached and fixed at another predetermined place.
The game machine body 16 (or the CPU 20) is the photographing device 10.
The image signal transmitted from the input device 18 is received, the image processing program 34 and the position detection program 36 are used based on the image signal to detect the image of the input device 18 captured by the imaging device 10, and the color of the input device 18 is detected. And the position thereof are detected.

In the game machine of the present invention, the game player faces the monitor screen of the display device 12 with the input device 18.
Is to actually swing and compete with the character on the monitor screen. In this embodiment, a table tennis game machine will be described. In addition, as a game machine that shakes the input device, a tennis game machine that shakes a racket, a baseball game machine that shakes a bat, a kendo game machine that shakes a bamboo sword, or a cooking game machine that shakes a frying pan can be considered.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an input device of a table tennis game machine. On the front and back surfaces of the input device 18,
Three marks with different colors as the subject are attached. On the surface of the input device 18, above the "red"
The mark R having the color of is attached. A mark Y of "yellow" color is attached to the lower right side, and a mark B of "blue" color is attached to the lower left side.
On the back surface of the input device 18, a mark O having an "orange" color is provided above it, a mark G having a "green" color is provided on the lower right side, and a mark P having a "purple" color is provided on the lower left side. ing. The marks R, Y, B, O,
The colors of G and P and the colors of the front surface and the back surface of the input device 18 are different. Further, in this game machine, the game player is right-handed, and when performing a forehand swing, it is assumed that the surface of the input device 18 swings toward the display device 12.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by the photographing device. The image 38 captured by the image capturing device 10 is composed of the game player 40, the input device 18, and the space 42 in which the game player 40 can move. Also,
In the image 38, a mark R, which is attached to the input device 18,
An image of Y, B or an image of marks O, G, P appears. Next, the image of the mark will be described. In an actual table tennis game, there are basic swings including a forehand and a backhand, and there are three different striking methods of straight, drive, and cut. Here, the state of the input device when shaken by each hitting method will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state diagram of the input device for each batting method when the input device is swung by the forehand. In addition, (a) of FIG.
It is a figure showing the state figure of the input device at the time of swing start. When the game player swings straight, the input device 18
Moves horizontally toward the photographing apparatus 10 (see FIG. 4).
(B)). Further, at this time, the image of the input device 18 of FIG. 4B captured by the imaging device 10 has a larger area ratio than the image of the input device 18 of FIG. 4A at the time of swing start. When the game player swings by the drive batting method When the game player swings by the driving batting method, the input device 18 approaches the photographing device 10 while moving upward while tilting at an acute angle with the horizontal plane 44 (see FIG. 4). (C)). As described above, since the input device is tilted and swung in the drive striking method, the image of the input device 18 shown in FIG. 4C captured by the imaging device 10 is the image in the case of the straight striking method (FIG. 4B). The area ratio becomes smaller. When the game player swings in the cut batting method When the game player swings in the cut batting method, the input device 18 approaches the photographing device 10 while moving downward while being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane 44 at an obtuse angle. Therefore, the image of the input device 18 in FIG. 4D when swung by the cut striking method is similar to the image by the drive striking method in FIG. Will be small. As described above, when the input device 18 is shaken, the size (area ratio) of the image of the input device 18 captured by the imaging device 10 changes, and the area ratio of the image also changes depending on the hitting method. . Therefore, the arrangement of the marks attached to the input device 18 also changes depending on how the input device 18 is shaken.

Next, the arrangement of the marks corresponding to the way the input device is shaken will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image of the input device captured by the image capturing device. In addition, FIG.
It is a figure which shows how the marks which the imaging device caught are arranged. Here, the arrangement of the images in FIG. 5A or the marks in FIG. 6A is determined by the input device 1 at the time of swing start in FIG. 4A.
8 shows how images or marks of 8 are arranged. next,
The cases where various different swings are performed are shown below and. When the game player swings by the straight hit method At this time, the imaging device 10 captures the image of the input device 18 shown in FIG. 5B. On the surface of the input device 18, marks of “red (R)” are arranged on the left, “yellow (Y)” on the upper right, and “blue (B)” on the lower right. In this arrangement, the marks R, Y, and B are arranged apart from each other as compared with the image (a) at the time of swing start. Further, in this case, the triangles a and b having the mark as the apex are similar to each other, and the area ratio thereof has a relation of a <b. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the arrangement of the marks by the straight striking method is mapped on the image 38 captured by the photographing device 10 in the same arrangement as the triangle B of FIG. 5B. When the game player swings by the drive striking method At this time, the imaging device 10 captures the image of the input device 18 shown in (c) of FIG. Marks of "red (R)" on the left, "yellow (Y)" on the upper right, and "blue (B)" on the lower right are arranged on the surface of the input device 18, respectively. ), The “blue (B)” mark and the “yellow (Y)” mark are closer to each other, and the “blue (B)” mark is slightly leftward. Therefore, the triangle c having the three marks as vertices and the triangle b of the image (c) are dissimilar, and the area ratio thereof has a relationship of c <b. Also,
As shown in FIG. 6, the arrangement of the marks by the drive striking method is mapped on the image 38 captured by the image capturing apparatus 10 in the same arrangement as the triangle C in FIG. 5C. When the game player swings by the cut batting method At this time, the imaging device 10 captures the image of the input device 18 shown in FIG. 5D. Unlike the case of the image (c), the marks arranged on the surface of the input device 18 are closer to the “blue (B)” mark and the “yellow (Y)” mark, and the “yellow (Y)” mark is slightly left. Line up in a close position. Therefore, the triangle D having the three marks as vertices has a different shape from the triangle B of the image (c). In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the arrangement of the marks by the cut striking method is mapped on the image 38 captured by the image capturing apparatus 10 in the same arrangement as the triangle D in FIG. 5D.

As described above, when the input device 18 is shaken differently, the arrangement of the marks is also different. Therefore, the game machine body 16 (or the CPU 20) can determine how the input device 18 is shaken by detecting the arrangement of the marks. If the game player 40 swings in the backhand, “Orange (O)”, “Green (G)”,
Since the back surface (FIG. 2) of the input device 18 to which the three marks having the color “purple (P)” are attached is swung, the image 38 captured by the imaging device 10 has the marks O,
The arrangement of marks composed of a combination of G and P is mapped.
The game machine main body 16 (or the CPU 20) can determine that the swing is due to the backhand by detecting the arrangement of the marks. Further, the arrangement of the marks for each batting method is displayed in a manner symmetrical with the arrangement in the case of the swing with the forehand. For example, in the case of a swing by the backhand straight hitting method, the images are projected on the screen 38 of the photographing apparatus 10 in the arrangement of the marks O, G, P forming the triangle E symmetrical to the arrangement of the marks of triangle B in FIG. become. In the game machine of the present invention, how the marks are arranged according to the basic swing is stored in the storage device 22 as the home position data 32.

A plurality of photographing devices 10 may be installed. FIG. 7 shows an image of the input device captured from another imaging device installed at another position. The image shown in (a) of FIG.
This is an image of the forehand swing of the game player captured from the left side surface. On the surface of the input device 18, marks of “red (R)”, “yellow (Y)”, and “blue (B)” are arranged close to each other. Further, in the image (b) when captured from the right side surface, the marks are arranged in a state where the three marks are close to each other, as in the image of (a). in this way,
It is possible to more accurately determine the swing of the game player 40 by installing a plurality of imaging devices 10 installed in different places and capturing the same swing by the arrangement of marks of different patterns.

Next, the processing operation of the game machine body (or CPU) will be described. 8 is a diagram showing the trajectory of the ball for each swing batting method displayed on the monitor screen of the display device. In FIG. 8, 45 is a table (table tennis table)
Is. (1) When the game player swings straight with a forehand When the photographing device 10 captures the arrangement of the marks forming the triangle B in FIG. 6, the game machine main body 16 (or the CPU 2)
0) detects the color and arrangement of marks and their positions. The home position data 32 is searched for the color and arrangement of the detected marks. When the colors and arrangements of the same combination as the mark forming the triangle B in FIG. 6 are searched, the CPU
20 determines that the swing of the game player 40 is due to a straight forehand striking method, and arithmetically determines the movement parameter of the returning ball of the game player 40. Then, the game image data 30 corresponding to the calculated movement parameter is extracted from the storage device 20, generated, and output to the display device 12. As a result, a game image showing the trajectory of the returning ball by the straight strike method of the forehand is displayed on the monitor screen of the display device 12 (in FIG. 8). Further, the judgment as to whether or not the swing is actually performed and whether or not the swing is a back swing (judgment of an invalid swing) is made based on the movement locus of the marks and the arrangement thereof. For example, after the character returns the ball, the movement locus of the position of the mark accompanying the movement of the game player 40 is RA.
When stored in M26, when three marks are gradually separated from the arrangement of the marks forming the triangle b shown in FIG. 6 and its position, the arrangement of the marks forming the triangle b shown in FIG. 6 and its position are reached, Judge as a valid swing.
On the contrary, when the arrangement of marks (not shown) and the position of the three marks gradually decrease from that position to reach the arrangement and position of the triangle B shown in FIG. 6, it is determined as a backswing, and the game player 40 makes a mistake. The service game is ended as, and a new service game is started.

(2) When the game player swings with a forehand by a drive batting method or a cut batting method When the photographing apparatus 10 captures the arrangement of the marks forming the triangle C shown in FIG. 6, the game machine main body 16 (or CPU
20) detects the color and arrangement of the marks and their positions. The home position data 32 is searched for the color and arrangement of the same combination as the detected mark. When the colors and arrangements of the same combination as the mark forming the triangle C in FIG. 6 are searched, the CPU 20 determines that the game player 40
Is determined to be due to the forehand drive striking method, and the movement parameter of the returning ball of the game player 40 is calculated and determined. Then, the game image data 30 corresponding to the calculated movement parameter is extracted from the storage device 22, generated, and output to the display device 12. As a result, on the monitor screen of the display device 12, the game image showing the trajectory of the return ball by the drive batting method is displayed (in FIG. 8).
On the other hand, when the image capturing device 10 captures the arrangement of the marks forming the triangle 2 in FIG. 6, the CPU 20 determines that the swing of the game player 40 is due to the forehand cut striking method, and on the monitor screen of the display device 12. A game image showing the trajectory of the returning ball by the cut batting method is displayed on (in FIG. 8). Further, the judgment as to whether or not the swing is actually made and whether or not the swing is performed by the drive striking method or the cut striking method (determination of an invalid swing) is made based on the movement locus of the marks and the arrangement thereof. For example, after the character has returned, the movement locus of the positions of the marks accompanying the movement of the game player 40 is stored in the RAM 26, and the triangles of FIG. 6 are moved while the arrangement of the three marks changes while moving upward or downward. When the arrangement of the marks forming the c or the triangle 2 is reached, it is determined that the swing is effective. On the contrary, when the arrangement of the marks does not change or when the movement trajectory of the marks is not detected, it is determined that the swing is invalid.

In this way, the game player 40 feels the actual play by feeling the trajectory of the ball shown in FIG. 8 displayed on the monitor screen of the display device 12 as the trajectory of his or her swing.

The swing striking method may be displayed on the monitor screen of the display device 12 by characters or the like. Further, the sound device 14 may output different sound effects depending on the hitting method.

[0018]

Second Embodiment Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the game machine of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an input device of a game machine. In FIG. 9, the components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in FIG. Also,
In this embodiment, a table tennis game machine will be described as an example as in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, an infrared sensing camera 46 is used as a photographing device. The infrared sensing camera 46 is installed toward the game player who plays the game, and is fixed to the game machine body 16 or other predetermined place where the movements of the game player and the input device 48 can be captured. It is assumed that the same image as the image 38 shown in FIG. 3 can be seen from the position where the infrared detection camera 46 is fixed. Further, the infrared sensing camera 46 uses the game machine body 16 (or the CPU 2) to capture an image of the infrared light emitting portion.
0). Game console body 16 (or CPU
20) detects the infrared light emitting part and its position from the transmitted image. The light emitting portion here means the central portion (the brightest portion) of the infrared light emitting portion.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the infrared sensing camera 46 is assumed to be installed at the same place as the image capturing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment described above.

An infrared irradiation device (infrared irradiation means) 50 as a subject is attached to the input device 48.
The infrared irradiation device 50 emits infrared rays having the same wavelength 6
Infrared light emitting diodes (infrared light emitting means) 52,
The infrared light emitting diode 52 is attached to the infrared light emitting diode 52, and the substrate 54 controls the timing for emitting (blinking) the infrared light emitting diode 52. The infrared light emitting diodes 52 are mounted on the surface of the input device 48, one on the upper surface and one on the lower left and right sides, for a total of three (six on both surfaces). The infrared light emitting diode 52 is provided on the substrate 5
Lights (blinks) in a predetermined order at the timing controlled by 4. Based on this light emission order (blinking order), the game machine 16
(Or CPU 20) is an infrared light emitting diode 52
Identify whether was emitted (blinking). In the present embodiment, the infrared light emitting diode (or its light emitting portion) 52a on the surface,
Infrared light emitting diode (or its light emitting portion) 52 on the back surface
b, infrared light emitting diode (or its light emitting portion) 5 on the surface
2c, infrared light emitting diode (or its light emitting part) on the back
52d, the infrared light emitting diode (or its light emitting portion) 52e on the front surface, and the infrared light emitting diode (or its light emitting portion) 52f on the back surface are blinked in this order. The blinking timing is assumed to be extremely short.
Therefore, it can be considered that all the infrared light emitting diodes 52 emit light substantially at the same time. The infrared emitting means and the infrared emitting means are not limited to the infrared emitting diode 52 and the infrared emitting device 50. When the game player 40 shakes the input device 48 with the forehand, the infrared sensing camera 46 that captures the light emission of the infrared light emitting diode 52 is the light emitting portion 52 of the light emitting diode 52.
Capture a, 52c and 52e. In addition, when shaken with the back hand, the light emitting portions 52b, 5 of the light emitting diode 52,
Capture 2d and 52f.

FIG. 11 shows how the light emitting portions are arranged by the infrared sensing camera. The image of the input device 48 viewed from the infrared sensing camera 46 side is the same as the image for each batting method shown in FIG. Therefore, in the image 56 captured by the infrared detection camera 46, the images of the light emitting portions 52a, 52c and 52e appear in the same arrangement as the marks shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 1).
1). Therefore, the game machine body 16 (or the CPU 20)
Is a light emitting portion 52a, 5 forming a triangle B shown in FIG.
By detecting the arrangement of 2c and 52e, it is possible to determine that the swing of the game player 40 is due to the straight striking method of the forehand. Further, the light emitting portions 52a, 52c and 5 forming the triangle C or the triangle C are formed.
When the arrangement of 2e is detected, the game player 40
It is possible to discriminate that the swing is caused by the forehand drive striking method or the cut striking method. Furthermore, when the arrangement of the light emitting units 52b, 52d, and 52f forming the triangle E is detected, it can be determined that the swing of the game player 40 is due to the backhand straight striking method. Thus, the arrangement of the light emitting units 52a, 52c and 52e captured by the infrared sensing camera 46, the light emitting unit 52b,
It is possible to determine how the game player 40 is shaken by the arrangement of 52d and 52f.

Further, an input line (cord) 58 connecting to the game machine main body 16 is connected to the board 54. This input line 58 is used to blink the infrared light emitting diodes 52a to 52f so that the game machine main body 16 (or the CPU 20) can detect the light emitting portions 52a to 52f at the same time when the infrared light emitting diodes 52a to 52f blink. This is transmitted to the machine body 16 (or the CPU 20).
In this way, the CPU 20 causes the light emitting units 52a to 52f to be synchronized by synchronizing the blinking of the infrared light emitting diodes 52a to 52f and the detection of the light emitting units 52a to 52f by the CPU 20.
The arrangement of f can be accurately detected.

Although the table tennis game machine has been described as an example in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a tennis game machine, by attaching an object such as a mark or an infrared light emitting diode to an input device imitating a tennis racket, it is possible to determine how the input device is shaken. In the case of a baseball game machine or a kendo game machine, it is possible to determine how the input device is shaken by providing a surface on which the subject is attached to the input device imitating a bat or a bamboo sword. For cooking games,
Attach the subject to the bottom of the input device that imitates a frying pan,
It is possible to determine how the frying pan is shaken by installing the imaging device on the stove.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the arrangement of the marks or the light emitting parts attached to the input device, which the game player actually shakes, is detected from the image captured by the image capturing device, and the input device is shaken from the arrangement of the marks and the light emitting parts. It is possible to determine how to do it. Therefore, for example, it is possible to distinguish whether it was shaken with the forehand or the backhand, which could not be distinguished with the conventional table tennis game machine, and the batting method can be judged. It is possible to display the loci of various changes in the above on the monitor screen. Since the game player can check the return ball or the like due to his / her swing on the monitor, the game player can enjoy playing on various swings and can experience the actual play.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a game machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input device of a game machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by a photographing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state diagram of the input device for each batting method when the input device is swung by the forehand.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image of an input device captured by a photographing device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the marks captured by the image capturing apparatus are arranged.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image of the input device captured from another image capturing device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a trajectory of a ball for each swing batting method displayed on a monitor screen.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a game machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an input device of a game machine according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how light emitting units are arranged by an infrared sensing camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Imaging device 12 Display 16 Game console body 18 Input device 20 CPU 38 images 46 infrared sensing camera 48 input device 50 infrared irradiation device 52 Infrared light emitting diode 56 images R, Y, B, O, G, P marks

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A game machine for playing a character on a monitor screen, the input device being shaken by the game player with respect to the monitor screen, a subject attached to the input device, and a photographing device for capturing the subject. And the image signal transmitted from the image capturing device is received, the way the input device is shaken is determined based on the image signal, and the game image corresponding to the determined how the input device is shaken is displayed on the monitor screen. A game machine having a display computer. 2. The object is composed of three or more marks having different colors, and the computer detects the color, the arrangement and the position of the mark based on the image signal, and the detected color, the arrangement and the position of the mark. 2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the way the input device is shaken is determined according to the change of the. 3. The subject is an infrared irradiating means having three or more infrared emitting means for emitting the infrared emitting means in a predetermined order, and the computer emits the infrared emitting means based on the image signal. 2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting order, the arrangement direction, and the position of the input device are detected, and the way the input device is shaken is determined according to the detected change in the light emitting order, the arrangement direction, and the position of the light emitting unit. 4. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the subject is attached to a front surface and a back surface of the input device.