JP2001062142A - Portable game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a game player to select the image of a display part in a state suitable to the player, and play a game while looking at the image. SOLUTION: This game machine includes a display part, a first operating means 5a for selecting an enlarged display or a reduced display on a display part, a second operating means 5b for instructing for the movement of a character image on the display part, a third operating means 5c for once suspending the game on the display part in the midway of the game and releasing such suspension, and a case body for storing the display part, the first operating means, the second operating means and the third operating means. In this case, the machine includes a control part for scrolling in all directions the image of the game once suspended according to the operation of the second operating means is scrolled in all directions when an enlarged display is selected by the first operating means, and releasing the image of the game once suspended according to the operation of the third operating means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable game machine in which a game player plays a game while holding the game with both hands, and more particularly to a portable game machine having an operation unit for generating a still image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a conventional game machine displays a character image and a background image on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display panel, and a game player plays a game while operating an operation button while watching the displayed contents. It has been known.

[0003] On a liquid crystal display panel, an ally character which moves and moves by operation of a game player and an enemy character which moves and moves based on execution of a game program overlap on a predetermined background image. Will be displayed. While the enemy character attacks the ally character, the game player moves and moves the ally character by operating the operation button to avoid the enemy character, while attacking the enemy character and increasing the score.

In recent years, as game machines for playing such games, portable game machines capable of playing games both indoors and outdoors have become widespread. Portable game machines are required to be easily portable, and their sizes are being reduced in size to fit in small bags or pockets of clothes. With the miniaturization of this portable game machine,
The size of the screen of the display unit is decreasing.

[0005]

In such a small display section of the screen, the movement and the movement range of the enemy character may not be fully expressed on the liquid crystal display panel when playing the above-mentioned game. In such a case,
There is a problem that the game player cannot grasp the entire screen only by the image content displayed on the display unit. For example, even when the enemy character is present near the ally character, it is not displayed on the display unit and is suddenly displayed near the ally character. Further, it is difficult for the game player to know where the ally character is currently located in the entire game screen.

[0006] Also, the penetration rate of portable game machines is extremely high, and the range of age groups in which they are used is rapidly increasing. In particular, for people with low vision, such as seniors, if the size of the character becomes smaller as the size of the screen of the display unit becomes smaller, it becomes very difficult to play the game.

According to the present invention, by solving the above problems, even in a portable game machine having a small screen of a display unit, a game player selects an image on the display unit in a state suitable for the user and looks at the image. It is an object to provide a portable game machine capable of playing a game while playing.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

That is, a first aspect of the present invention is a display section for displaying a character image and a background image appearing in a game, and a first section for selecting either an enlarged display or a reduced display on the display section. Operating means, second operating means for instructing the movement of the character image on the display section, generating a still image during the game using the character image and the background image on the display section, and the still image Operating means for instructing to release the game, and a case housing the display section, the first operating means, the second operating means, and the third operating means. A portable game machine which holds the case body with both hands and plays a game while operating the first operation means while watching the character image and the background image on the display unit, wherein the first When the enlarged display is selected by the operation means, the still image generated during the game is scrolled in all directions based on the operation of the second operation means, and the scroll is performed based on the operation of the third operation means. And a control unit for canceling the obtained still image.

The first operating means, the second operating means and the third operating means in the present invention do not necessarily have to be individually provided. For example, the first operating means and the second operating means may be provided separately. Each operating means may be provided as a shared operating means, such as the means being provided as a common operating means.

[0011]

Next, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

First, the functions of the portable game machine and the game cassette used in the present embodiment will be briefly described. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions of the portable game machine and the game cassette according to the present embodiment.

The portable game machine has a game program 1
a, a game cassette A having a ROM 1 storing a plurality of image data 1b and sound data 1c, and a game machine body B having a CPU 2 as a control unit for executing a game program 1a in the game cassette A The cassette A is detachably electrically connected and used, and the image data 1b is displayed on the display 3a of the liquid crystal display device 3 as a display unit as the CPU 2 executes the game program 1a. Displayed as an image 1b1 and a background image 1b2,
The sound data 1c is generated as sound from the speaker 4. The portable game machine further includes an operation button 5 as an operation unit for a game player to manually input.

Referring to the functional block diagram of the liquid crystal display device 3 shown in FIG. 2, the display display 3a is in a moving image state by sequentially displaying 60 screens per second. The image data 1b required for one screen is temporarily stored in the VRAM 6. VRAM6
Has a virtual screen area D larger than the screen area E of the display 3a as shown in FIG. 3, and the image data 1b including the image data required for the one screen on one surface of the virtual screen area D. Is written. Further, there is a register 7 for designating which of the virtual screen areas D is to be the screen area E of the display 3a. To this register 7, coordinate data for designating which part of the virtual screen area D is to be displayed as the screen area E of the display 3a is input by an instruction from the CPU 2. The coordinate data consists of data (H, V) of only the upper left vertex F1. FIG. 4 shows details of the coordinate data. The coordinate data includes horizontal coordinate data (H component) and vertical coordinate data (V component) on the VRAM 6. In the VRAM 6, the virtual screen area D is divided into a matrix so as to correspond to each dot in the screen area of the display 3a, and data to be displayed on the display 3a is temporarily stored in the divided portions. Will be. Therefore, the register 7 has an H component register 7a and a V component register 7b among the VRAM 6 divided in a matrix. The designated area is horizontal 16
It is set in advance as 0 dots × 152 dots vertically.
By sequentially changing the coordinate data of the register 7 on such a VRAM 6 in accordance with a command from the CPU 2, the same screen can be scroll-displayed on the display 3a. For example, when a still screen is designated, VR
While the image data 1b on the AM 6 is fixed, the coordinate data of the register 7 is sequentially changed, so that the VRAM 6
By gradually shifting the upper designated area, scroll display becomes possible. Since the virtual area D of the VRAM 6 is displayed on the display 3a as the entire game screen on the display 3a, it is possible to grasp the entire game screen on the display 3a by scrolling the still screen. Become.

The VRAM 6 stores image data (background code) relating to a background image, and corresponding background data is separately stored in a RAM (character RAM). Then, the character image is determined separately at what position on the display 3a and in what form in what form on the display 3a by an object attribute. The character image is scroll-displayed together with the background image as the coordinate data of the register 7 changes.

The operation button 5 includes first operation means 5a for selecting whether to enlarge or reduce the character image 1b1 and the background image 1b2 on the display 3a, and a display. 3a
The second operation means 5b for instructing the movement of the character image 1b1 above, and changing the character image 1b1 and the background image 1b2 on the display 3a from the moving image state to the still image state during the game to a still image and interrupting the change And a third operation unit 5c for instructing cancellation of the still image when the operation is performed.

The still image is generated in the ROM 1 of the game cassette A based on the input by the operation of the third operation means 5c.
The supply of new image data 1b from the VRAM 6 to the VRAM 6 is stopped, and the same image data 1b is supplied from the VRAM 6 to the display 3a. On the other hand, the release of the still image is performed by restarting in a state where supply of new image data 1b from the ROM 1 of the game cassette A to the VRAM 6 is enabled based on the input by the operation of the third operation means 5c.

When the enlarged display is selected by the operation of the first operating means 5a, the still image displayed on the display 3a becomes the second image after the moving image state is interrupted by the third operating means. The coordinate data of the register 7 is sequentially changed by an instruction of the CPU 2 in accordance with an input based on the operation of the operation means 5b, and scroll display is performed in all directions including a vertical direction, a horizontal direction and an oblique direction.

The coordinate data of the register 7 when a still image is generated when the moving image state is interrupted is stored in the game machine main unit B.
Is temporarily stored in a separate RAM (not shown) provided therein. When the still image is released by the input of the third operation means 5c, the coordinate data of the register 7 when the still image is generated is read out, and after returning to the initial state of the still image, the moving image is immediately displayed. The state is restored.

Referring again to FIG. 1,
In addition to the above functions, a RAM 8 as a work area in which the game program 1a is executed by a command from the CPU 2,
Two AA batteries 9 used as a power supply dedicated to the game machine main body B are provided. The dry cell 9 supplies an electric current in order to operate the functions such as the above-described image display.

Next, the structures of the game cassette A and the game machine main body B will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the game cassette A and the game machine main body B in this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, this portable game machine includes a case body 11 for housing components having various functions described above. A display 3a for displaying an image in accordance with the progress of the game to the game player is provided at a substantially central portion of the front surface of the case body 11 in the longitudinal direction. Display 3
a is arranged so as to be located slightly above the front surface of the case body 11.

Operation buttons 5 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the display 3a so that the game player can input his or her intention with his fingertips. The operation button 5 includes a controller 5b1 as a second operation means 5b located on the left side of the display 3a, two push buttons 5b2 located on the right side of the display 3a, and a third operation means 5
and a pause key 5c1 as c. The controller 5b1 has a total of eight pressing points in the vertical, horizontal, and oblique directions. Controller 5b1 and push button 5
b2 is arranged to be located slightly above the case body 11. Moreover, the controller 5b1 and the push button 5b2 are provided at positions substantially symmetrical with respect to the display 3a. The pause key 5c1 is
When the game player turns on the game, the game is temporarily interrupted and the displayed image is temporarily stopped to generate a still screen. In addition, the generated still screen is set to be scrolled in all directions based on the operation of the controller 5b1.

In this embodiment, the controller 5b
The 1 and the push button 5b2 also have a function of determining whether to enlarge or reduce the game image on the display 3a based on the game program 1a. That is, in the present embodiment, the controller 5b1 and the push button 5b2 also have a function as a first operation unit in addition to the function of the second operation unit described above.

As described above, in the operating means of the present invention, the first to third operating means may be individually provided.
There is no need to provide them individually. In addition, for example, without providing the pause key 5c1, a separately provided start switch is used as a pause key, and the game player presses the start switch during the game to change the display screen to a still screen. After scrolling, it is also possible for the game player to press the start switch again to interrupt the moving image state and resume the generated still screen as the moving image state.

Further, on the upper side of the controller 5b1,
A power switch 12 that can be manually operated by a game player is provided. When the game player keeps pushing the power switch 12 for a certain period of time (for example, 2 seconds),
It is set to operate ON. Accordingly, even if the game player accidentally presses the power switch 12 momentarily, the power is not turned on, and wasteful power consumption can be prevented. Further, on the right side of the power switch 12, a light emitting device 13 including an LED device or the like is disposed, and even if the contrast volume of the display 3a is darkest and the image is hardly visible. In the game player, the power switch 12 is turned on.
You can immediately determine if it is working. Controller 5b1
On the lower side, a plurality of long holes 14 are provided so that the sound from the speaker 4 can be easily heard by the game player.

The following functions are provided inside the case body 11.

On the back side of the push button 5b2, two AA batteries 7 serving as a power supply dedicated to the game machine main body are arranged in parallel. A substantially circular and thin auxiliary battery (not shown) is provided on the back side of the speaker 4. Although not shown, the lower end surface of the case body 11 has a volume control for changing the volume reproduced from the speaker 4 and a power supply for taking in power from the outside in addition to the dry battery 8 and the auxiliary battery in the case body 11. An external power supply adapter, an earphone adapter, and a display volume for changing the density of an image displayed on the display 3a are provided.

A mounting opening for inserting and mounting the cassette A is formed in the upper end surface of the case body 11 at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction thereof. A connector (not shown) as a connecting means for electrically connecting to the cassette A is provided in a rear portion of the mounting opening.

Next, a game flow when playing a game using the portable game machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the game cassette A is inserted into the game machine main body B.
Into the cassette built into the. In this state, when the power switch 12 is turned on, the CPU 2 accesses and reads the game program 1a stored in the ROM 1 in the game cassette A, and executes the game program 1a on the RAM 8. Then, along with the execution of the game program 1a, a display for allowing the game player to select whether to enlarge or reduce the game screen displayed during the game is displayed on the display 3a. Since the present invention has a feature when the enlarged display is selected, the description of the case where the reduced display is selected will be omitted, and only the case where the enlarged display is selected will be described. After selecting the enlarged display, the game starts based on the execution of the game program 1a.

The contents of the game used in the present embodiment are as follows. A maze is displayed as a background image, and a game player uses a controller 5b1 and a push button 5b2 as a character image.
Is displayed, an ally character operated by operating, an enemy character operating based on the execution of the game program 1a, and other scored characters. The content of this game is such that an ally character is chased by an enemy character on a maze, and proceeds along the maze while escaping from the enemy character to reach a scored character, thereby adding points. Therefore, the game player controls the controller 5
By operating b1, the user moves and operates on the maze. However, although the entire game screen is displayed in the reduced display, in the present embodiment, since the enlarged display is selected, the game player cannot view the entire game screen at once. Therefore, the game player is in a state where it is not possible to grasp the positions of the ally character and the enemy character in the entire game screen. When the game player wants to grasp the entire game screen during the game, the pause state of the moving image is temporarily stopped by pressing the pause key 5c1, the game screen is changed to the still screen, and the still screen is scrolled in all directions by operating the controller 5b1. Understand the entire screen. Then, the game player presses the pause key 5c1 again,
The moving image state is interrupted once, the generated still screen is released, the state returns to the moving image state, and the game continues. When the still screen is released, even if a position shifted from the first still screen is displayed on the display 3a by scrolling the display screen, the still screen in the initial state before the scroll display (by pressing the pause key 5c1). Since the game is resumed from the position of the still screen immediately after the interruption of the moving image state), the game player can immediately play the game in the original state before scrolling.

[0034]

Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the game player can select whether to enlarge or reduce the display on the display unit according to his / her preference, and to select the enlarged display. If you do, you can interrupt the video state by yourself during the game and generate a still screen and scroll it, for example, you can check where the character image is in the entire game screen Becomes
Then, the game screen can be released by the operation of the game player itself, and the game can be restarted immediately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions of a game machine body and a game cassette.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the liquid crystal display device 3.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a data storage state in a VRAM.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing details of a register that specifies coordinates in a VRAM;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a game cassette A and a game machine main body B in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a game flow when playing a game using the portable game machine according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Game cassette B Game console 1 ROM 1a Image data 2 CPU 3 Liquid crystal display 3a Display 5 Operating means 6 VRAM 7 Register

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 13, 1999 (1999.10.
13)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Portable game machine

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable game machine in which a game player plays a game while holding the game with both hands, and more particularly to a portable game machine having an operation unit for generating a still image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a conventional game machine displays a character image and a background image on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display panel, and a game player plays a game while operating an operation button while watching the displayed contents. It has been known.

[0003] On a liquid crystal display panel, an ally character which moves and moves by operation of a game player and an enemy character which moves and moves based on execution of a game program overlap on a predetermined background image. Will be displayed. While the enemy character attacks the ally character, the game player moves and moves the ally character by operating the operation button to avoid the enemy character, while attacking the enemy character and increasing the score.

In recent years, as game machines for playing such games, portable game machines capable of playing games both indoors and outdoors have become widespread. Portable game machines are required to be easily portable, and their sizes are being reduced in size to fit in small bags or pockets of clothes. With the miniaturization of this portable game machine,
The size of the screen of the display unit is decreasing.

[0005]

In such a small display section of the screen, the movement and the movement range of the enemy character may not be fully expressed on the liquid crystal display panel when playing the above-mentioned game. In such a case,
There is a problem that the game player cannot grasp the entire screen only by the image content displayed on the display unit. For example, even when the enemy character is present near the ally character, it is not displayed on the display unit and is suddenly displayed near the ally character. Further, it is difficult for the game player to know where the ally character is currently located in the entire game screen.

[0006] Also, the penetration rate of portable game machines is extremely high, and the range of age groups in which they are used is rapidly increasing. In particular, for people with low vision, such as seniors, if the size of the character becomes smaller as the size of the screen of the display unit becomes smaller, it becomes very difficult to play the game.

According to the present invention, by solving the above problems, even in a portable game machine having a small screen of a display unit, a game player selects an image on the display unit in a state suitable for the user and looks at the image. It is an object to provide a portable game machine capable of playing a game while playing.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

That is, a first aspect of the present invention is a display section for displaying a character image and a background image appearing in a game, and a first section for selecting either an enlarged display or a reduced display on the display section. Operating means, second operating means for instructing the movement of the character image on the display section, and temporarily interrupting the game on the display section during the game
Operating means for instructing the user to perform the operation and canceling the operation, and a case housing the display unit, the first operating means, the second operating means, and the third operating means. A portable game machine in which a game player holds the case body with both hands and plays a game while operating the first operation means while watching the character image and the background image on the display unit; If the enlarged display is selected by the operating means, once the game to the game midway
A control unit is provided for scrolling the interrupted image in all directions based on the operation of the second operation means, and canceling the image in which the scrolled game has been temporarily interrupted based on the operation of the third operation means. Portable game machine.

The first operating means, the second operating means and the third operating means in the present invention do not necessarily have to be individually provided. For example, the first operating means and the second operating means may be provided separately. Each operating means may be provided as a shared operating means, such as the means being provided as a common operating means. Also,

[0011]

Next, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

First, the functions of the portable game machine and the game cassette used in the present embodiment will be briefly described. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions of the portable game machine and the game cassette according to the present embodiment.

The portable game machine has a game program 1
a, a game cassette A having a ROM 1 storing a plurality of image data 1b and sound data 1c, and a game machine body B having a CPU 2 as a control unit for executing a game program 1a in the game cassette A The cassette A is detachably electrically connected and used, and the image data 1b is displayed on the display 3a of the liquid crystal display device 3 as a display unit as the CPU 2 executes the game program 1a. Displayed as an image 1b1 and a background image 1b2,
The sound data 1c is generated as sound from the speaker 4. The portable game machine further includes an operation button 5 as an operation unit for a game player to manually input.

Referring to the functional block diagram of the liquid crystal display device 3 shown in FIG. 2, the display display 3a is in a moving image state by sequentially displaying 60 screens per second. The image data 1b required for one screen is temporarily stored in the VRAM 6. VRAM6
Has a virtual screen area D larger than the screen area E of the display 3a as shown in FIG. 3, and the image data 1b including the image data required for the one screen on one surface of the virtual screen area D. Is written. Further, there is a register 7 for designating which of the virtual screen areas D is to be the screen area E of the display 3a. To this register 7, coordinate data for designating which part of the virtual screen area D is to be displayed as the screen area E of the display 3a is input by an instruction from the CPU 2. The coordinate data consists of data (H, V) of only the upper left vertex F1. FIG. 4 shows details of the coordinate data. The coordinate data includes horizontal coordinate data (H component) and vertical coordinate data (V component) on the VRAM 6. In the VRAM 6, the virtual screen area D is divided into a matrix so as to correspond to each dot in the screen area of the display 3a, and data to be displayed on the display 3a is temporarily stored in the divided portions. Will be. Therefore, the register 7 has an H component register 7a and a V component register 7b among the VRAM 6 divided in a matrix. The designated area is horizontal 16
It is set in advance as 0 dots × 152 dots vertically.
By sequentially changing the coordinate data of the register 7 on such a VRAM 6 in accordance with a command from the CPU 2, the same screen can be scroll-displayed on the display 3a. For example, when a still screen is designated, VR
While the image data 1b on the AM 6 is fixed, the coordinate data of the register 7 is sequentially changed, so that the VRAM 6
By gradually shifting the upper designated area, scroll display becomes possible. Since the virtual area D of the VRAM 6 is displayed on the display 3a as the entire game screen on the display 3a, it is possible to grasp the entire game screen on the display 3a by scrolling the still screen. Become.

The VRAM 6 stores image data (background code) relating to a background image, and corresponding background data is separately stored in a RAM (character RAM). Then, the character image is determined separately at what position on the display 3a and in what form in what form on the display 3a by an object attribute. The character image is scroll-displayed together with the background image as the coordinate data of the register 7 changes.

The operation button 5 includes first operation means 5a for selecting whether to enlarge or reduce the character image 1b1 and the background image 1b2 on the display 3a, and a display. 3a
The second operation means 5b for instructing the movement of the character image 1b1 above, and changing the character image 1b1 and the background image 1b2 on the display 3a from the moving image state to the still image state during the game to a still image and interrupting the change And a third operation unit 5c for instructing cancellation of the still image when the operation is performed.

The still image is generated in the ROM 1 of the game cassette A based on the input by the operation of the third operation means 5c.
The supply of new image data 1b from the VRAM 6 to the VRAM 6 is stopped, and the same image data 1b is supplied from the VRAM 6 to the display 3a. On the other hand, the release of the still image is performed by restarting in a state where supply of new image data 1b from the ROM 1 of the game cassette A to the VRAM 6 is enabled based on the input by the operation of the third operation means 5c.

When the enlarged display is selected by the operation of the first operating means 5a, the still image displayed on the display 3a becomes the second image after the moving image state is interrupted by the third operating means. The coordinate data of the register 7 is sequentially changed by an instruction of the CPU 2 in accordance with an input based on the operation of the operation means 5b, and scroll display is performed in all directions including a vertical direction, a horizontal direction and an oblique direction.

The coordinate data of the register 7 when a still image is generated when the moving image state is interrupted is stored in the game machine main unit B.
Is temporarily stored in a separate RAM (not shown) provided therein. When the still image is released by the input of the third operation means 5c, the coordinate data of the register 7 when the still image is generated is read out, and after returning to the initial state of the still image, the moving image is immediately displayed. The state is restored.

Referring again to FIG. 1,
In addition to the above functions, a RAM 8 as a work area in which the game program 1a is executed by a command from the CPU 2,
Two AA batteries 9 used as a power supply dedicated to the game machine main body B are provided. The dry cell 9 supplies an electric current in order to operate the functions such as the above-described image display.

Next, the structures of the game cassette A and the game machine main body B will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the game cassette A and the game machine main body B in this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, this portable game machine includes a case body 11 for housing components having various functions described above. A display 3a for displaying an image in accordance with the progress of the game to the game player is provided at a substantially central portion of the front surface of the case body 11 in the longitudinal direction. Display 3
a is arranged so as to be located slightly above the front surface of the case body 11.

Operation buttons 5 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the display 3a so that the game player can input his or her intention with his fingertips. The operation button 5 includes a controller 5b1 as a second operation means 5b located on the left side of the display 3a, two push buttons 5b2 located on the right side of the display 3a, and a third operation means 5
and a pause key 5c1 as c. The controller 5b1 has a total of eight pressing points in the vertical, horizontal, and oblique directions. Controller 5b1 and push button 5
b2 is arranged to be located slightly above the case body 11. Moreover, the controller 5b1 and the push button 5b2 are provided at positions substantially symmetrical with respect to the display 3a. The pause key 5c1 is
When the game player turns on the game, the game is temporarily interrupted and the displayed image is temporarily stopped to generate a still screen. In addition, the generated still screen is set to be scrolled in all directions based on the operation of the controller 5b1.

In this embodiment, the controller 5b
The 1 and the push button 5b2 also have a function of determining whether to enlarge or reduce the game image on the display 3a based on the game program 1a. That is, in the present embodiment, the controller 5b1 and the push button 5b2 also have a function as a first operation unit in addition to the function of the second operation unit described above.

As described above, in the operating means of the present invention, the first to third operating means may be individually provided.
There is no need to provide them individually. In addition, for example, without providing the pause key 5c1, a separately provided start switch is used as a pause key, and the game player presses the start switch during the game to change the display screen to a still screen. After scrolling, it is also possible for the game player to press the start switch again to interrupt the moving image state and resume the generated still screen as the moving image state.

Further, on the upper side of the controller 5b1,
A power switch 12 that can be manually operated by a game player is provided. When the game player keeps pushing the power switch 12 for a certain period of time (for example, 2 seconds),
It is set to operate ON. Accordingly, even if the game player accidentally presses the power switch 12 momentarily, the power is not turned on, and wasteful power consumption can be prevented. Further, on the right side of the power switch 12, a light emitting device 13 including an LED device or the like is disposed, and even if the contrast volume of the display 3a is darkest and the image is hardly visible. In the game player, the power switch 12 is turned on.
You can immediately determine if it is working. Controller 5b1
On the lower side, a plurality of long holes 14 are provided so that the sound from the speaker 4 can be easily heard by the game player.

The following functions are provided inside the case body 11.

On the back side of the push button 5b2, two AA batteries 7 serving as a power supply dedicated to the game machine main body are arranged in parallel. A substantially circular and thin auxiliary battery (not shown) is provided on the back side of the speaker 4. Although not shown, the lower end surface of the case body 11 has a volume control for changing the volume reproduced from the speaker 4 and a power supply for taking in power from the outside in addition to the dry battery 8 and the auxiliary battery in the case body 11. An external power supply adapter, an earphone adapter, and a display volume for changing the density of an image displayed on the display 3a are provided.

A mounting opening for inserting and mounting the cassette A is formed in the upper end surface of the case body 11 at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction thereof. A connector (not shown) as a connecting means for electrically connecting to the cassette A is provided in a rear portion of the mounting opening.

Next, a game flow when playing a game using the portable game machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the game cassette A is inserted into the game machine main body B.
Into the cassette built into the. In this state, when the power switch 12 is turned on, the CPU 2 accesses and reads the game program 1a stored in the ROM 1 in the game cassette A, and executes the game program 1a on the RAM 8. Then, along with the execution of the game program 1a, a display for allowing the game player to select whether to enlarge or reduce the game screen displayed during the game is displayed on the display 3a. Since the present invention has a feature when the enlarged display is selected, the description of the case where the reduced display is selected will be omitted, and only the case where the enlarged display is selected will be described. After selecting the enlarged display, the game starts based on the execution of the game program 1a.

The contents of the game used in the present embodiment are as follows. A maze is displayed as a background image, and a game player uses a controller 5b1 and a push button 5b2 as a character image.
Is displayed, an ally character operated by operating, an enemy character operating based on the execution of the game program 1a, and other scored characters. The content of this game is such that an ally character is chased by an enemy character on a maze, and proceeds along the maze while escaping from the enemy character to reach a scored character, thereby adding points. Therefore, the game player controls the controller 5
By operating b1, the user moves and operates on the maze. However, although the entire game screen is displayed in the reduced display, in the present embodiment, since the enlarged display is selected, the game player cannot view the entire game screen at once. Therefore, the game player is in a state where it is not possible to grasp the positions of the ally character and the enemy character in the entire game screen. When the game player wants to grasp the entire game screen during the game, the pause state of the moving image is temporarily stopped by pressing the pause key 5c1, the game screen is changed to the still screen, and the still screen is scrolled in all directions by operating the controller 5b1. Understand the entire screen. Then, the game player presses the pause key 5c1 again,
The moving image state is interrupted once, the generated still screen is released, the state returns to the moving image state, and the game continues. When the still screen is released, even if a position shifted from the first still screen is displayed on the display 3a by scrolling the display screen, the still screen in the initial state before the scroll display (by pressing the pause key 5c1). Since the game is resumed from the position of the still screen immediately after the interruption of the moving image state), the game player can immediately play the game in the original state before scrolling.

[0034]

Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the game player can select whether to enlarge or reduce the display on the display unit according to his / her preference, and to select the enlarged display. If, for example, the user interrupts the video state during the game and generates a still screen ,
Once scrolls it is interrupted, for example, a character image in the entire game screen Ri Do can check and whether present in any position, and, by releasing a still picture by operating the game player himself Games The interruption
The game can be resumed immediately after being released .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions of a game machine body and a game cassette.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the liquid crystal display device 3.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a data storage state in a VRAM.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing details of a register that specifies coordinates in a VRAM;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a game cassette A and a game machine main body B in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a game flow when playing a game using the portable game machine according to the present embodiment.

[Description of Signs] A Game cassette B Game machine main unit 1 ROM 1a Image data 2 CPU 3 Liquid crystal display device 3a Display display 5 Operating means 6 VRAM 7 Register

Claims (1)

[Claims] A display unit for displaying a character image and a background image appearing in a game; first operation means for selecting either an enlarged display or a reduced display on the display unit; and the display unit Second operation means for instructing the movement of the character image above, and instructing to generate a still image during the game using the character image and the background image on the display unit and cancel the still image A third operating means, and a case body for housing the display unit, the first operating means, the second operating means, and the third operating means, wherein a game player holds the case body with both hands. A portable game machine for playing a game while operating the first operation means while watching the character image and the background image on the display unit, wherein an enlarged display is selected by the first operation means. In this case, the control is performed such that the still image generated during the game is scrolled in all directions based on the operation of the second operating means, and the scrolled still image is released based on the operation of the third operating means. A portable game machine comprising a unit.