JPH1052571A - Video game device and computer readable medium storing video game program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attract the interest of a game player or the third person by applying variation to images on a display screen by switching image information, which is outputted from an output part when the proceeding of a video game is temporarily stopped, from image information corresponding to the proceeding state of the video game to prescribed image information. SOLUTION: First of all, a parameter is loaded from a RAM 42 and initially set by a CPU 10, the video data of an initial picture are generated corresponding to this parameter, and the video information is displayed through a display RAM 11 onto a monitor television 3. Next, the push-down of a controller 2 due to the game player is waited and when a start key 21 is pushed down, a game routine is executed by reading out the input data of the controller 2 temporarily stored in a RAM 102. In this case, when the input data with which a select key 22 is pushed down are stored in the RAM 102, an animation routine is executed but when these input data are not stored in the RAM 102, processing is back and the game routine is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, during execution of a video game, processing of a video game is temporarily stopped by software in accordance with an operation such as pressing a specific key (for example, a select key) on a controller, and the execution state is maintained. There have been video game programs with software poses.

However, according to the conventional software pause function, the processing of the entire video game program is stopped, so that the image on the display screen remains stationary. For this reason, the screen during the software pause did not attract the interest of game players and third parties.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points in the related art, and changes the image on the display screen when the progress of a video game is temporarily stopped to change the game player or the game player. An object of the present invention is to provide a video game device and a computer-readable medium storing a video game program that can attract the interest of a third party.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game apparatus, wherein operation information relating to progress of the video game, pause information for temporarily stopping the video game, and release of the pause of the video game are released. A video game device provided with an input unit for inputting pause release information for causing the video game device to output and an output unit for outputting image information to the outside, in accordance with the operation information input by the input unit. Video game progressing means, first image generating means for generating image information corresponding to a progress state of the video game progressed by the video game progressing means, and the motion information inputted by the input unit Second image generating means for generating predetermined image information without depending on the input information; Sometimes, the operation of the video game advancing unit is stopped and the image information generated by the second image generating unit is notified to the output unit. When the pause release information is input by the input unit, And a control unit for restarting the operation of the video game proceeding unit and notifying the output unit of the image information generated by the first image generation unit.

According to the video game apparatus, before the pause information is input by the input unit, the video game progressing unit advances the video game in accordance with the operation information input by the input unit. Is generated by the first image generating means. This image information is output to the outside of the video game device via the output unit. Therefore, in this case, an image corresponding to the progress of the video game is displayed on the television monitor connected to the video game device. When the pause information is input by the input unit, the control unit stops the operation of the video game advancing unit and notifies the output unit of the image information generated by the second image generating unit. This image information is output to the outside of the video game device via the output unit. Therefore, in this case, a predetermined image independent of the progress of the video game is displayed on the television monitor connected to the video game device. When the pause release information is input by the input unit, the control unit restarts the operation of the video game proceeding unit, and the first image is displayed in accordance with the progress state of the video game proceeded by the video game proceeding unit. The output unit is notified of the image information generated by the generation unit. This image information is output to the outside of the video game device via the output unit. Therefore, an image corresponding to the progress of the video game is displayed again on the television monitor connected to the video game device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the input unit of the first aspect has an operation member, and each time the operation member is operated, the pause information and the pause release information are alternately displayed. It is specified by inputting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the video game apparatus is specified by the second image generating means of the first aspect generating image information for displaying a moving image that changes as predetermined. is there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means of the first aspect operates the video game advancing means and the first image before the pause information is input by the input unit. By notifying the image information generated by the generation unit to the output unit,
It is specified.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the video game device, when the control means of the fourth aspect stops the operation of the video game proceeding means when the pause information is input by the input unit, a predetermined time has elapsed. The image information notified to the output unit is specified by switching from the image information generated by the first image generating means to the image information generated by the second image generating means.

[0011] The computer readable medium according to claim 6 comprises:
A video game progress process for progressing a video game in accordance with the input operation information; a first image generation process for generating image information corresponding to a progress state of the video game progressed by the video game progress process; A second image generation process for generating predetermined image information without depending on the input operation information; and, when pause information is input, stopping the video game progress process and simultaneously executing the second image generation process. Outputting the generated image information and, when the pause release information is input, restarting the video game progress process and outputting the image information generated by the first image generation process. The game program is stored.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a video game apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the video game device includes a main body 1 connected to a monitor television 3, and two controllers 2, 2 detachably connected to the main body 1 via a cable. Be composed. The main body 1 has a slot 1a into which a cartridge 4 containing a video game program is inserted. Also, a controller 2 as an input unit
Has a start key 21, a select key 22, a cross key 23, and an operation key 24 arranged on an upper surface thereof.

FIG. 2 shows the main body 1, the controller 2,
2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration inside the cartridge 4; FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 1 includes a CPU 10 for controlling the entire video game device,
ROM 101 and RAM 1 respectively connected to U10
02, a display RAM 11, RAMs 12 to 17, and a sound generator 18 are connected. This display RAM 11
Is connected to the television monitor 3 described above. A speaker 31 is connected to the sound generator 18. Further, the start key 21, the select key 22, the cross key 23, and the operation keys 24 of the controller 2 described above are connected to the CPU 10.

The cartridge 4 has a ROM 41, R
AM42 is built in. These ROM 41 and RAM 4
2, are connected to the CPU 10 when the cartridge 4 is inserted into the slot 1a.

The ROM 41 holds a video game program executed in the main unit 1. Also, RAM
Reference numeral 42 stores parameters related to the game. RO
M101 is a controller 2, a display RAM 11 and other CPUs
Device directly connected to CPU 10 and CPU 10
It stores an input / output control routine for controlling the exchange of data with the server.

CPU 10 (video game proceeding means, first
(Corresponding to the image generation means, the second image generation means, and the control means) is an arithmetic processing device for controlling the entire video game device. For example, when the main body 1 is powered on, the CPU 10 loads the above-mentioned input / output routine from the ROM 101 and checks whether the cartridge 4 is inserted into the slot 1a. When it is confirmed that the cartridge 4 is inserted, the CPU 10 performs a process according to a video game program stored in the ROM 41.

An input / output control routine read from the ROM 101 and a game program read from the ROM 41 are loaded into the RAM 102. The input / output control routine and the game program loaded on the RAM 102 are appropriately paged and executed by the CPU 10. The RAM 102 temporarily stores input data input by the game player via the controller 2 during execution of the video game program. The input data is read by the CPU 10 as needed, and is used for executing the game program.

The display RAM 11 as an output unit has a CP
Video data of the game generated when U10 executes the video game program is stored. Then, the video data stored in the display RAM 11 is
Displayed above.

The sound generator 18 converts audio data generated when the CPU 10 executes the video game program into analog electric signals, and
Output from

The controller 2 has a start key 21,
A select key 22, a cross key 23, and an operation key 24 are provided on an upper surface thereof. The start key 21 is a key for instructing the CPU 10 to start a video game program. The select key 22 is a key for the game player to instruct various selections regarding the video game program stored in the ROM 41 and to instruct the CPU 10 to temporarily stop the execution when the game routine is executed. The cross key 23 is a key for the game player to give commands indicating up, down, left, and right to the CPU 10. The operation keys 24 are keys for giving operation commands unique to the video game program.

Next, the contents of the video game program stored in the ROM 41 and executed by the CPU 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, this video game program is executed by turning on the
The process is started by confirming that the cartridge 4 has been inserted into a.

First, in S01, the CPU 10 sets R
The parameters are loaded from the AM 42 and initialization is performed. The parameters are information necessary for playing the game. Then, the CPU 10 generates the video data of the initial screen according to the parameter, and
This video information is displayed on the monitor television 3 via the control unit 1.

In S02, the CPU 10 waits for the game player to press the controller 2, and when the start key 21 is pressed, the process proceeds to S03. S
In step 03, the CPU 10
The input data of the controller 2 temporarily stored in the controller 2 is read out, and a game routine is executed based on the input data (operation information on the progress of the video game).
The “game routine” is a routine that progresses / develops the execution state of the game stage by one stage based on the above-mentioned input data (video game progress in which the video game progresses in accordance with the operation status input by the input unit). Means and a video game progress process). Data indicating the game execution state advanced by one step by executing this game routine is stored in the RAM 42. At this time, video data of the game corresponding to the game execution state is generated by the CPU 10 and output from the monitor television 3 via the display RAM 11 (corresponding to the progress state of the video game progressed by the video game progression means). (First image generating means for generating image information). Also, audio data,
Output from the speaker 31 via the sound generator 18. With the execution of the game routine, the TV monitor 3
FIG. 4A shows an example of an image output on the screen of FIG. The video game executed by repetition of this game routine is a game in which a player character G appearing in the game acquires points S appearing during the game while fighting enemy characters N appearing one after another (that is, a game in which the player character G appears in the game) A so-called action game). In the example of FIG. 4 (a), a player character (pirate) holding a sword on the screen
The state where G and the enemy character (ninja) N are opposed to each other is shown, and a thousand boxes S corresponding to points are arranged on the floor.

In S04, the CPU 10 checks whether or not the input data (pause information for temporarily stopping the video game) indicating that the select key 22 of the controller 2 has been pressed is stored in the RAM 102. Here, if the input data indicating that the select key 22 has been pressed is stored in the RAM 102, the process proceeds to S05. The CPU 10 waits for a predetermined time to elapse. Then, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S06. In S06, an animation routine is executed. The “animation routine” is a routine that generates video data (moving image that changes as predetermined) in which a character appearing in a game is moved by one step according to a predetermined operation (generates predetermined image information). (Corresponds to a second image generating means). This video data is output from the monitor television 3 via the display RAM 11. FIG. 4B shows an example of an image output on the screen of the television monitor 3 with the execution of the animation routine.
In the example of FIG. 4 (b), one screen of an animation is shown in which a player character (pirate) G holding a sword starts to care for a sword and an enemy character (ninja) N starts to fall asleep while standing.

On the other hand, if the input data indicating that the select key 22 has been pressed is not stored in the RAM 102, the process proceeds to S08. Here, unless the execution state of the game is "game over", the process returns to S03 again to execute the game routine.

In S07, as in the processing in S04, the CP
U10 is the RAM 102 in which the input data (pause release information for releasing the pause of the video game) indicating that the select key 22 of the controller 2 has been pressed is stored in the RAM 102.
Check whether it is stored in the. If the input data is not stored in the RAM 102, the process returns to S06, and the animation routine is executed again. On the other hand, if the above input data is stored in the RAM 102 in order to release the software pause, the process proceeds to S08.

In S08, S03 up to that point is executed.
It is checked whether or not the execution state of the game is "game over" as a result of the execution of the game routine in.
Then, if the execution state of the video game is not yet "game over", the process returns to S03, and the game routine is executed again. On the other hand, if the execution state of the video game is "game over", the entire processing of the game program is ended.

That is, when the pause information is input by the input unit, the operation of the video game advancing means is stopped and the second image is displayed in the series of steps S03 to S08 described above. The image information generated by the generation unit is notified to the output unit, and when the pause release information is input by the input unit, the operation of the video game proceeding unit is resumed and the image information generated by the first image generation unit To the output unit.

As described above, according to the video game apparatus of the present embodiment, when the progress of the video game is temporarily stopped, the video of the execution state of the video game is not replaced by the input of the controller 2. Since the video of the animation in which the character performs a certain action is displayed on the monitor television 3, the interest of the game player or the third party watching the video game is not spoiled.

The predetermined time checked in S05 may be zero. In that case, the animation routine is executed simultaneously with the pause of the video game.

[0031]

According to the video game apparatus and the computer-readable medium storing the video game of the present invention, the image output from the output unit when the progress of the video game is temporarily stopped. Since the information is switched from the image information according to the progress state of the video game to the predetermined image information, the image on the display screen can be changed to attract the interest of the game player or a third party.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a video game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of the video game apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a video game program stored in the ROM of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an example of an image displayed on the television monitor of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Controller 3 TV monitor 4 Cartridge 10 CPU (Central operator) 22 Select key 41 ROM 102 RAM

Claims (6)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting operation information relating to the progress of the video game, pause information for temporarily stopping the video game, and pause release information for releasing the pause of the video game; A video game device comprising: an output unit for outputting information to the outside; a video game proceeding unit for proceeding a video game in accordance with the operation information input by the input unit; A first step of generating image information corresponding to the progress state of the video game
An image generating unit, a second image generating unit that generates predetermined image information without depending on the operation information input by the input unit, and when the pause information is input by the input unit, The operation of the video game advancing means is stopped and the image information generated by the second image generating means is notified to the output unit. When the pause release information is input by the input unit, the video game progressing is stopped. A video game device comprising: a control unit that restarts the operation of the unit and notifies the output unit of the image information generated by the first image generation unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input unit has an operation member, and each time said operation member is operated, said pause information and said pause release information are alternately inputted. A video game device as described. 3. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second image generating means generates image information for displaying a moving image that changes as predetermined. 4. The control means operates the video game advancing means and inputs the image information generated by the first image generation means before the pause information is input by the input unit. 2. The video game device according to claim 1, wherein the notification is sent to an output unit. 5. When the pause information is input by the input unit, the control unit transmits image information to be notified to the output unit after a lapse of a predetermined time after the operation of the video game proceeding unit is stopped. 5. The video game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image information generated by said first image generating means is switched to image information generated by said second image generating means. 6. A video game progress process for proceeding a video game in accordance with input operation information, and a first process for generating image information corresponding to a progress state of the video game progressed by the video game progress process. An image generation process, a second image generation process for generating predetermined image information without depending on the input operation information, and when the pause information is input, the video game progress process is stopped and the second Outputting the image information generated by the image generation process, and when the pause release information is input, restarting the video game progress process and outputting the image information generated by the first image generation process. Computer capable of storing a video game program comprising processes Reading medium.