JP4001434B2 - GAME DEVICE AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game device and an information storage medium.
[0002]
[Background Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Recently, the popularity of racing game devices that can perform more realistic driving simulation in pursuit of realistic images and operability is high. In such a racing game apparatus or the like, various sound effects accompanying the driving operation are output to produce a realistic and powerful performance.
[0003]
Conventionally, however, there has been a device that outputs a frictional sound generated between the road surface and the game device during braking, but there is no game device that outputs a frictional sound generated when the brake stops the tire. However, it is preferable to output a brake friction sound generated by such a brake itself in order to realize a driving game rich in reality by closely reflecting the driving operation of the player.
[0004]
In general, the more frequently the brake is applied, the temperature rises due to frictional heat and the coefficient of friction changes. For this reason, the braking force that affects the braking performance differs. However, no conventional racing game apparatus has realized operability reflecting such braking performance. The inventor of the present application has considered to realize a drive game that can enjoy a high degree of operability by changing the degree of braking according to the brake operation situation.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus and an information storage medium capable of experiencing an advanced and more realistic braking operation.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a drive game device in which a player travels a player moving body in a virtual space, and the player moving body detects a brake operation input means for the player to perform a brake operation input and detects the brake operation input. And a brake friction sound generating means for generating a brake friction sound generated when the brake stops the tire, and a sound output means for outputting the generated brake friction sound.
[0007]
The information storage medium according to the present invention includes information for realizing the above means.
[0008]
The brake friction sound generated when the brake of the player moving body stops the tire refers to the friction sound generated when the brake drum or disk stops the movement of the tire.
[0009]
In the past, there were some that output frictional noise generated between the tire and the road surface during braking, but none that output frictional noise generated by the brake itself.
[0010]
However, according to the present invention, a game apparatus that realizes a more realistic brake operation effect by outputting a brake friction sound generated by the brake itself is realized.
[0011]
The game apparatus according to the present invention further includes a moving body calculating means for performing a movement calculation of the player moving body by changing a braking effect according to a brake input state of the player, wherein the brake frictional sound generating means includes the brake The brake friction sound generated according to the effectiveness is changed.
[0012]
The information storage medium according to the present invention includes information for realizing the above means.
[0013]
The player's brake input status means, for example, the brake input interval, the number of inputs, and the like.
[0014]
In general, the more frequently the brake is applied, the temperature rises due to frictional heat, the friction coefficient changes, and the braking force varies. The present invention realizes a drive game in which the braking effectiveness is changed by such a change in the braking force and reflected in the movement calculation of the moving body, so that a highly advanced operability can be enjoyed. . Then, by changing the brake friction sound according to the effectiveness of the brake, the player can change the effectiveness of the brake.
[0015]
For example, the friction coefficient with respect to temperature differs depending on the metal, and while the brake is used, the temperature may rise and the brake may be improved. In such a case, the player needs to perform a brake operation corresponding to the brake characteristics depending on the temperature.
[0016]
According to the present invention, since the brake frictional sound changes according to the braking force of the brake, the player can change the effectiveness by changing the brake frictional sound.
[0017]
Therefore, for example, when the brake performance causes a fade phenomenon beyond a certain range in which friction is changed to heat, and the brake cannot be applied, the player can be informed of the change in the brake friction sound.
[0018]
As described above, in the game device of the present invention, the braking operation of the player is finely reflected and the braking effectiveness is changed, so that the advanced player can enjoy the enjoyment of driving by using advanced techniques. In addition, since a change in braking force can be detected from a change in brake friction sound and can be used as a guide for brake operation, even a beginner can easily get used to the operation and enjoy a game that requires complex operability.
[0019]
The game apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the brake frictional sound generating means changes at least one of a volume and a pitch of a brake frictional sound generated according to a change in the effectiveness of the brake.
[0020]
The information storage medium according to the present invention includes information for realizing the above means.
[0021]
According to the present invention, at least one of the volume and pitch of the brake friction sound changes according to the change in the effectiveness of the brake. Therefore, the player can grasp the change in the effectiveness of the brake based on this change and can be used as a guideline for performing a more appropriate brake operation.
[0022]
The change in the volume and pitch of the brake may be changed in proportion to the effectiveness of the brake. For example, it may be changed when the braking force exceeds a certain threshold value just before the fade phenomenon occurs. It may be configured.
[0023]
According to the present invention, it is possible to change the effectiveness of the brake by changing the volume and the pitch, so that it is possible to provide a game device that makes it easy to intuitively understand the change in brake performance.
[0024]
In the game device of the present invention, the moving body computing means changes the braking effectiveness according to the brake characteristics set according to the vehicle type of the player moving body, and the brake frictional sound generating means The brake friction sound generated according to the effectiveness of the brake that changes according to the brake characteristics set according to the vehicle type is changed.
[0025]
The information storage medium according to the present invention includes information for realizing the above means.
[0026]
According to the present invention, since the brake characteristics are set according to the vehicle type of the player moving body, for example, different brake characteristics are set for a normal car and a racing car. Therefore, it is possible to provide a game device that allows the player to enjoy the brake operation according to the vehicle type.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, the case where the present invention is applied to a motorcycle game will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a game apparatus that performs various other games.
[0028]
FIG. 1 schematically shows an external view of the game apparatus according to the embodiment.
[0029]
The game apparatus according to the embodiment includes a simulated racing bike 1090 simulating an actual racing bike, and a display unit 1050 arranged in front of the simulated racing bike.
[0030]
While watching the game image displayed on the screen 1050, the player 1092 operates a handle 1070, an accelerator or a brake provided on the handle 1070, or a case (body) 1090 made by imitating a real motorcycle. Roll.
Then, when the player 1092 operates the accelerator and the brake, the moving body (bike) 1100 displayed on the screen 1050 is accelerated or decelerated. Further, when the player 1092 steers the handle 1070 or rolls the housing 1090, the moving body 1100 bends or rolls left and right.
[0031]
The simulated racing motorcycle 1090 is configured to be tiltable in the left-right direction, and the player 1092 straddling the motorcycle 1090 moves the center of gravity to the right or left, thereby tilting the motorcycle main body to the left and right to run in the game space. It is configured to steer a motorcycle.
[0032]
The simulated motorcycle 1090 of the embodiment is configured such that when it is tilted in the left-right direction, a restoring force corresponding to the traveling speed of the player motorcycle traveling in the game space is given as a reaction force toward the neutral position. Thus, the player can obtain the same feeling of operation as when riding an actual motorcycle, and also experience the same difficulty in operating a motorcycle as when operating an actual racing motorcycle.
[0033]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the game device of the present embodiment.
[0034]
Here, the operation unit 10 is for a player to input operation information, and the function can be realized by hardware such as the handle 1070 in FIG. 1, an accelerator or a brake provided on the handle 1070, and a housing 1090. . The operation unit 10 functions as a brake operation input unit.
[0035]
The processing unit 100 performs various processes such as control of the entire apparatus, instruction instruction to each block in the apparatus, and game calculation, and functions thereof are a CPU (CISC type, RISC type), DSP, ASIC. It can be realized by hardware such as (gate array) or a given program (game program).
[0036]
The storage unit 180 serves as, for example, a work area of the processing unit 100, and its function can be realized by hardware such as a RAM.
[0037]
An information storage medium (a storage medium from which information can be read by a computer) 190 stores programs and data. The function of the information storage medium 190 is, for example, an optical disk (CDROM, DVD), magneto-optical disk (MO), magnetic disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, portable information storage device (memory card, PDA, portable game device, game cassette). ) And hardware such as a semiconductor memory (ROM). The processing unit 100 performs various processes based on programs and data stored in the information storage medium 190.
[0038]
Part or all of the information stored in the information storage medium 190 is transferred to the storage unit 180 when the apparatus is powered on.
[0039]
The processing unit 100 includes a game calculation unit 110, an image generation unit 150, and a sound generation unit 160.
[0040]
Here, the game calculation unit 110 receives a coin (price) acceptance process, a game mode setting process, a game progress process, a selection screen setting process, a moving body (motorcycle, character, robot, car, tank, airplane, spaceship). , Processing to determine the position and direction of ships, boats, skis, surfboards, balls, bullets, etc.) processing to determine the viewpoint position and line-of-sight direction, processing to reproduce the motion of the moving object, processing to place the object in the object space, Various game calculation processes such as a hit check process, a process for calculating a game result (score), a process for a plurality of players to play in a common game space, a game over process, etc. Perform based on game programs.
[0041]
The image generation unit 150 generates a game image according to the game calculation in the game calculation unit 110. The game image generated by the image generation unit 150 is displayed on the display unit 12.
[0042]
The sound generation unit 160 generates game sound according to the game calculation in the game calculation unit 110, and the brake is tired based on the brake friction sound generation information calculated by the brake friction sound generation information calculation unit 130 described later. A process of generating a brake friction sound generated when stopping is also performed. The game sound generated by the sound generation unit 160 is output from the sound output unit 14.
[0043]
The game calculation unit 110 includes a moving body calculation unit 120 and a brake frictional sound generation unit 130.
[0044]
The moving object calculation unit 120 performs processing for moving the moving object in the object space based on operation information input from the operation unit 10 and a given program. That is, a process of moving the moving body in the object space is performed based on operation information from the player (self player, other player) and a command from the computer (a given movement control algorithm).
[0045]
More specifically, the moving body computing unit 120 performs processing for obtaining the position and direction of the moving body, for example, every frame (1/60 seconds). For example, assume that the position of the moving body in the (k-1) frame is PMk-1, the speed is VMk-1, the acceleration is AMk-1, and the time of one frame is Δt. Then, the position PMk and the speed VMk of the moving body in k frames are obtained, for example, by the following equations (1) and (2).
[0046]
PMk = PMk-1 + VMk-1 * .DELTA.t (1)
VMk = VMk-1 + AMk-1 * .DELTA.t (2)
Note that the moving body calculation unit 120 performs movement calculation processing of the player moving body by changing the braking effectiveness according to the brake input status of the player.
[0047]
The brake friction sound generation information calculation unit 130 detects brake operation input from the operation unit 10 and calculates brake friction sound generation information necessary for generating a brake friction sound generated when the brake of the player moving body stops the tire. Process. The brake friction sound generation information includes information necessary for changing the brake friction sound according to the effectiveness of the brake. Specifically, it includes information necessary for changing at least one of the volume and pitch of the brake friction sound generated according to the change in the brake effectiveness. And the sound production | generation part 160 produces | generates a brake friction sound based on this information. As described above, the brake friction sound generation information calculation unit 130 and the sound generation unit 160 function as a brake friction sound generation unit.
[0048]
Next, a characteristic operation example of the present embodiment will be described.
[0049]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the output of the brake friction sound in the present embodiment.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, the following processing is performed at predetermined intervals to generate a brake friction sound according to the value of the temperature parameter T.
[0051]
First, based on the brake operation input information from the operation unit 10, it is detected whether or not the player is braking. When the brake is applied, the temperature parameter T is increased by a predetermined value, and the brake is not applied. The temperature parameter T is decreased by a predetermined value (steps S10, S20, S30).
[0052]
If the brake is applied, a brake friction sound is generated at a volume V corresponding to the temperature parameter T (step S40).
[0053]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the temperature parameter T and the brake friction sound volume V in the present embodiment.
[0054]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a temperature parameter T for determining the effectiveness of the brake is provided. Generally, as the brake is applied more frequently, the temperature rises due to frictional heat, and the friction coefficient changes. For this reason, the braking force which influences the performance of a brake changes with temperature. In the present embodiment, the brake performance is changed according to such a change in the braking force, and the volume of the brake friction sound is also changed as shown in FIG. Therefore, the player can perceive the change in the brake performance by the change in the volume V of the brake friction sound.
[0055]
Next, an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the apparatus shown in the figure, a CPU 1000, a ROM 1002, a RAM 1004, an information storage medium 1006, a sound generation IC 1008, an image generation IC 1010, and I / O ports 1012, 1014 are connected to each other via a system bus 1016 so that data can be transmitted and received. A display 1018 is connected to the image generation IC 1010, a speaker 1020 is connected to the sound generation IC 1008, a control device 1022 is connected to the I / O port 1012, and a communication device 1024 is connected to the I / O port 1014. Has been.
[0056]
The information storage medium 1006 mainly stores programs, image data for expressing display objects, sound data, and the like. For example, a consumer game device uses a CD-ROM, game cassette, DVD, or the like as an information storage medium for storing a game program or the like. The arcade game machine uses a memory such as a ROM. In this case, the information storage medium 1006 is a ROM 1002.
[0057]
The control device 1022 corresponds to a game controller, an operation panel, and the like, and is a device for inputting a result of a determination made by the player in accordance with the progress of the game to the device main body.
[0058]
In accordance with a program stored in the information storage medium 1006, a system program stored in the ROM 1002 (such as device initialization information), a signal input by the control device 1022, the CPU 1000 controls the entire device and performs various data processing. . The RAM 1004 is a storage means used as a work area of the CPU 1000 and stores the given contents of the information storage medium 1006 and the ROM 1002 or the calculation result of the CPU 1000. A data structure having a logical configuration for realizing the present embodiment is constructed on the RAM or the information storage medium.
[0059]
Further, this type of apparatus is provided with a sound generation IC 1008 and an image generation IC 1010 so that game sounds and game images can be suitably output. The sound generation IC 1008 is an integrated circuit that generates game sounds such as sound effects and background music based on information stored in the information storage medium 1006 and the ROM 1002, and the generated game sounds are output by the speaker 1020. The image generation IC 1010 is an integrated circuit that generates pixel information to be output to the display 1018 based on image information sent from the RAM 1004, the ROM 1002, the information storage medium 1006, and the like. As the display 1018, a so-called head mounted display (HMD) can be used.
[0060]
The communication device 1024 exchanges various types of information used inside the game device with the outside. The communication device 1024 is connected to other game devices to send and receive given information according to the game program, and to connect a communication line. It is used for sending and receiving information such as game programs.
[0061]
1 to 4 includes an information storage medium 1006 that stores a program for performing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, a CPU 1000 that operates according to the program, an image generation IC 1010, a sound generation IC 1008, and the like. It is realized by. The processing performed by the image generation IC 1010, the sound generation IC 1008, and the like may be performed by software using the CPU 1000 or a general-purpose DSP.
[0062]
When the present embodiment is applied to an arcade game apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 described above, a CPU, an image generation IC, a sound generation IC, and the like are mounted on a system board (circuit board) 1106 built in the apparatus. The Then, based on at least one of the operation information from the player and the command from the computer, the information for performing the calculation for moving the moving body in the object space and the effectiveness of the brake are changed according to the brake input situation. Information for performing movement calculation of the player moving body, information for changing the brake friction sound generated according to the effectiveness of the brake, and information for generating an image visible at a given viewpoint in the object space The information and the like are stored in a semiconductor memory 1108 that is an information storage medium on the system board 1106. Hereinafter, these pieces of information are referred to as stored information. The stored information includes program code, image information, sound information, display object shape information, table data, list data, player information, information for instructing the processing of the present invention, It includes at least one piece of information for processing according to the instruction.
[0063]
FIG. 6A shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to a home game device. The player enjoys the game by operating the game controllers 1202 and 1204 while viewing the game image displayed on the display 1200. In this case, the stored information is stored in a CD-ROM 1206, memory cards 1208, 1209, etc., which are information storage media detachable from the main unit.
[0064]
FIG. 6B shows a host device 1300 and terminals 1304-1 to 1304- connected to the host device 1300 via a communication line (a small-scale network such as a LAN or a wide-area network such as the Internet) 1302. An example in which the present embodiment is applied to a system including n will be shown. In this case, the stored information is stored in an information storage medium 1306 such as a magnetic disk device, a magnetic tape device, or a semiconductor memory that can be controlled by the host device 1300, for example. When the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n have a CPU, an image generation IC, and a sound processing IC and can generate game images and game sounds stand-alone, the host device 1300 receives game images and games. A game program or the like for generating sound is delivered to the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n. On the other hand, if it cannot be generated stand-alone, the host device 1300 generates a game image and a game sound, which is transmitted to the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n and output at the terminal.
[0065]
In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 6B, the processing according to the present invention may be performed in a distributed manner between the host device and the terminal (when the server is provided, the host device, the server, and the terminal). Good. The storage information for realizing the present invention is distributed to the information storage medium of the host device and the information storage medium of the terminal (or the information storage medium of the host device, the information storage medium of the server, and the information storage medium of the terminal). May be stored.
[0066]
The terminal connected to the communication line may be a home game device or an arcade game device. When the arcade game device is connected to a communication line, portable information storage that can exchange information with the arcade game device and also exchange information with the home game device. It is desirable to use a device (memory card, PDA, portable game device).
[0067]
The present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
[0068]
For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the volume of the brake friction sound is changed according to the brake operation of the player has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pitch or tone of the brake friction sound may be changed according to the player's brake operation.
[0069]
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the volume of the brake friction sound continuously changes according to the temperature parameter has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be changed when a certain threshold value is exceeded, such as changing immediately before the fade phenomenon occurs.
[0070]
Different brake friction sounds may be generated depending on the vehicle type of the player moving body.
[0071]
In this embodiment, the case where the player moving body is a motorcycle has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Anything having a braking action may be used, for example, a car, a motorcycle, a jet ski, a boat, and the like.
[0072]
The present invention can be applied not only to home and business game devices but also to various game devices such as a simulator, a large attraction device in which a large number of players participate, a personal computer, a multimedia terminal, and a system board for generating game images. Applicable.
[0073]
The present invention is not limited to home and business game devices, but also various image generation devices such as a simulator, a large attraction device in which a large number of players participate, a personal computer, a multimedia terminal, and a system board for generating game images. It can also be applied to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of the game device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example in the present embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a temperature parameter T and a brake friction sound volume V in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating examples of various types of apparatuses to which the exemplary embodiment is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Operation part 12 Display part 14 Sound output part 100 Processing part 110 Game calculating part 120 Moving body calculating part 130 Brake friction sound generation information calculating part 150 Image generating part 160 Sound generating part 180 Storage part 190 Information storage medium 1050 Screen 1070 Handle 1090 Housing 1092 Player 1100 Moving object

Claims (6)

A drive game device in which a player runs a player moving body in a virtual space,
Brake operation input means for the player to input brake operation;
A moving body calculating means for changing a predetermined parameter related to the effectiveness of the brake according to the brake input status of the player, and performing a moving calculation of the player moving body based on the changed predetermined parameter;
A brake friction sound generating means for detecting the brake operation input and generating a brake friction sound generated when the brake of the player moving body stops the tire;
Sound output means for outputting the generated brake friction sound,
The brake frictional sound generating means is
A game apparatus, wherein a brake friction sound generated according to the predetermined parameter is changed. In claim 1,
The brake frictional sound generating means is
A game apparatus, wherein at least one of a volume and a pitch of a brake friction sound generated according to the predetermined parameter is changed. In claim 1 or 2,
The moving body computing means is
The predetermined parameter is changed according to the brake characteristic set according to the vehicle type of the player moving body,
The brake frictional sound generating means is
A game apparatus that changes a brake friction sound generated according to the predetermined parameter that changes according to a brake characteristic set according to a vehicle type of a player moving body. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for performing a drive game in which a player runs a player moving body in a virtual space,
Brake operation input means for the player to input brake operation;
A predetermined parameter relating to the effectiveness of the brake is changed according to the brake input status of the player, and a moving object calculating means for calculating a movement of the player moving object based on the changed predetermined parameter and detecting the brake operation input Brake friction sound generating means for generating a brake friction sound generated when the brake of the player moving body stops the tire;
A program for causing a computer to function as sound output means for outputting the generated brake friction sound is stored,
The brake frictional sound generating means is
An information storage medium characterized by changing a brake friction sound generated according to the predetermined parameter. In claim 4,
The brake frictional sound generating means is
An information storage medium characterized by changing at least one of a volume and a pitch of a brake friction sound generated according to the predetermined parameter. In claim 4 or 5,
The moving body computing means is
The predetermined parameter is changed according to the brake characteristic set according to the vehicle type of the player moving body,
The brake frictional sound generating means is
An information storage medium characterized by changing a brake friction sound generated according to the predetermined parameter that changes according to a brake characteristic set according to a vehicle type of a player moving body.

Images