JP2002085617A - Dance game device and storage medium used for it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the conformity of the dance actions specified by the data generated by using noncontact sensors with the dance actions intended by a player. SOLUTION: This dance game device is provided with a detecting device 12 for detecting the dance actions of a player, a data generating device 20 judging the dance actions implemented by the player from the detection results of the detecting device 12 to generate the data of the dance actions based on the judgment results, and a guiding device guiding a series of dance actions based on the generated data to the player through a display device 8. The detecting device 12 is provided with a plurality of sensors 13a, 13b, 13c capable of detecting the dance actions in a prescribed detection area in no contact and outputting the signals corresponding to the detection results. The respective detection results of a plurality of sensors 13a-13c are compared with the prescribed conditions, and whether the signals outputted from the sensors should be processed as the signals for the bases of the data on the dance actions or not is judged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game device for detecting a dance motion of a player using a non-contact type sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a game device for enjoying a dance operation in accordance with music, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3003851 discloses a game machine having a step board provided with a plurality of foot switches and a player located on the foot switches. The monitor is provided with a monitor, and a series of steps according to a predetermined dance music is guided to the player through the screen of the monitor, while the step of the player corresponding to the guidance is detected by the foot switch, and the player is guided. There is disclosed a game device that compares a step with an actually performed step to evaluate a skill of a player.

[0003]

As one type of the above-mentioned game apparatus, a dance operation of a player is detected by a foot switch, step operation data is created based on the detection result, and a new step operation is performed based on the data. There are game devices that can guide the operation. When a dance operation is input using the detection device of the game device as described above, if the detection device is a foot-operated foot switch, the detection area of each switch is clearly distinguished visually and positionally. Therefore, there is almost no possibility that the player erroneously touches an undesired switch to output an unintended operation detection signal. Therefore, there is no possibility that the detection result of the player's step by the foot switch becomes unintended by the player.

[0004] However, when a non-contact type sensor such as an infrared sensor is used as a detection device, the detection area of each sensor cannot be visually discriminated by the player, and each sensor cannot detect the operation of the player. The player does not know whether it has been detected. Therefore, there is a possibility that the detection result of the dance operation input by the player includes an operation not intended by the player. For example, in an environment in which a plurality of detection devices are provided side by side, in addition to the detection region of the detection device that the player intends to detect its operation, the player enters the detection region of another detection device simultaneously or continuously, and the player An operation different from an intended operation may be input to the game device.

According to the present invention, even when data relating to a dance operation is created using a non-contact type detection device, a dance that can improve the consistency between the dance operation specified by the data and the dance operation intended by the player. It is an object to provide a game device and a storage medium suitable for use in the game device.

[0006]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0007] A dance game device according to the present invention comprises a music reproducing device (20, 23) for reproducing a predetermined music, a player dance area (A) prepared for a player to perform a dance operation, and the dance area. A display device (8) for displaying a predetermined image at a position visible to the player from a device, at least one detection device (12) for detecting a player's dance operation in the dance area, and interlocking with the reproduction of the song A data creation device (20) for determining the dance operation performed by the player from the detection result of the detection device, and generating data relating to the dance operation as a reference based on the determination result; do it,
A guiding device (20, 22) for guiding a series of dance operations based on the data created by the data creating device to the player through the display device, wherein the detecting device includes a dance within a predetermined detection area. A plurality of sensors (13a, 13b, 13c) capable of detecting an operation in a non-contact manner and outputting a signal corresponding to the detection result are provided with their respective detection areas shifted, and the data creation device is provided with a predetermined detection period. The detection result of each of the plurality of sensors is compared with a predetermined condition, and a signal indicating the detection of the dance operation output from each sensor during the detection period is a signal serving as a basis of data related to the dance operation. A determination device (20) for determining whether or not to perform processing.

According to the dance game device of the present invention, even if a plurality of sensors constituting one detection device output a detection signal of a dance operation within a predetermined detection period, the detection signal is directly transmitted to the dance operation of the player. It is not used as a basis for creating data on The detection result of each sensor in the detection period is compared with a predetermined condition, and it is determined whether or not the detection signal from each sensor should be processed as a signal serving as a basis for data relating to the dance operation. Data relating to the dance operation is created based on the signal thus obtained.

In the dance game apparatus according to the present invention, when only a part of the plurality of sensors constituting one detecting device detects a dance operation, or when a plurality of sensors constituting one detecting device are detected. Detection results of each sensor, such as when multiple sensors that are separated from each other by one or more sensors detect a dance operation, but the sensor sandwiched between them does not detect a dance operation By referring to the mutual relationship, it is possible to identify a case where it is doubtful whether or not the player has made a part such as a hand intrude into the detection area of the detection device with the intention of detecting the dance operation. Assuming such an example in advance and determining conditions to be compared with the detection result of each sensor, a detection signal suspicious as to whether or not it corresponds to the dance operation intended by the player is generated, and data on the dance operation is created. Of the signal to be processed as a basis for the dance operation, thereby producing data that is faithful to the dance operation intended by the player.

One of the conditions for judging that the signal should be processed as a signal serving as a basis for the data relating to the dance operation is that two or more predetermined numbers of sensors within the detection period have a predetermined time lag to perform the dance operation. It may include outputting a signal indicating detection, and within the detection period, a state where a signal indicating detection of the dance operation is output from each sensor and a state where it is not output May be included within the predetermined allowable range. The two or more predetermined numbers may be, for example, a majority of the number of sensors provided in one detection device.
The predetermined time difference can be set to an arbitrary time equal to or shorter than the time set as the detection period. Time difference is virtually zero,
That is, the condition may be set on condition that two or more predetermined numbers of sensors output signals indicating the detection of the dance operation substantially simultaneously.

The detection result of each sensor may be evaluated as follows. That is, reference data specifying the detection result of each sensor when it is assumed that the player has performed a predetermined dance operation is prepared in advance, and the determination device
The detection result of each of the plurality of sensors specified by the reference data should be compared with the actual detection result of each of the plurality of sensors, and processed as a signal serving as a basis for data relating to the dance operation. May be determined. In this case, the actual detection result is compared with the detection result of each sensor specified from the reference data prepared in advance, and a detection signal that does not exist in the reference data is excluded from the basis for creating data relating to the dance operation. do it. Further, a detection signal close to the reference data may be corrected according to the reference data. By doing so, the dance motion input by the player can be approximated by a predetermined dance motion, and when a sudden dance motion is input, it can be ignored and general dance motion can be created as data.

[0012] The detection period is set as a period during which a state in which a signal indicating the detection of the dance operation is output from at least one of the plurality of sensors constituting the one detection device continues. You may. A plurality of the detection devices may be provided side by side around the dance area, and a plurality of sensors provided in each detection device may be arranged along a direction in which the detection devices are arranged. A plurality of the dance areas are prepared, the data creation device detects a dance action of a player in one dance area and creates data related to the dance action, and the guide device provides a player with a dance action in another dance area. A series of dance operations based on the data created by the data creation device may be guided.

The technical concept of the present invention can be embodied as a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium displays a music reproducing apparatus for reproducing a predetermined music, a player dance area prepared for the player to perform a dance operation, and a predetermined image at a position visible to the player from the dance area. A display device, comprising at least one detection device for detecting a dance operation of the player in the dance area, the detection device,
A plurality of sensors capable of detecting a dance motion in a predetermined detection area in a non-contact manner and outputting a signal corresponding to the detection result are applied to a dance game apparatus provided with a detection area shifted from each other, By a computer provided in the apparatus, a procedure for determining a dance operation performed by the player in association with the reproduction of the song from the detection result of the detection device, and data relating to a reference dance operation based on the determination result. A computer-readable storage medium on which a program for executing the creating procedure is recorded, and in the step of determining from the detection result, the detection result of each of the plurality of sensors within a predetermined detection period is determined. Referring to the mutual relationship, the signal indicating the detection of the dance operation output from each sensor during the detection period is output to the dam. Wherein the program is configured to whether or not to process the signal underlying the data relating to the scan operation is determined.

In the above-mentioned storage medium, one of the conditions for determining that the signal should be processed as a signal serving as a basis of the data relating to the dance operation is that a predetermined number of sensors having a predetermined time difference within two or more times within the detection period. The program may be configured to include outputting a signal indicating detection of the dance operation within the program. As one of the conditions for determining that it should be processed as a signal serving as a basis of the data regarding the dance operation, a state in which a signal indicating the detection of the dance operation is output from each sensor during the detection period. The program may be configured so as to include that the number of times that the state that has not been output has changed is within a predetermined allowable range. Reference data specifying the detection result of each sensor when it is assumed that the player has performed a predetermined dance operation is recorded, and the detection result of each of the plurality of sensors specified by the reference data, The program may be configured so as to determine whether or not to process as a signal serving as a basis for the data regarding the dance operation by comparing the actual detection result of each of the sensors. The detection period is set as a period in which a state in which a signal indicating the detection of the dance operation is output from at least one of the plurality of sensors included in the one detection device is continued. The program may be configured.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the present invention is configured as an arcade game machine installed in a game center or the like. FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line III-III, and FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. As apparent from these figures, the dance game machine 1 includes a main unit 2, a stage unit 3 disposed in front of the main unit 2,
And a top unit 4 installed above the stage unit 3.

The main unit 2 has a vertically long housing 2a. On the front side of the housing 2a, a woofer unit 5 for bass reproduction, a coin checking device 6 for determining the authenticity of a coin inserted from a coin insertion slot 6a, and an input device 7 used for selecting a game mode (FIG. 2), a monitor 8 and the like. On both sides of the front surface of the main unit 2, illuminating lamps 9, 9 using vertically long fluorescent tubes or the like are installed.

The stage unit 3 is provided to provide a place where the player can perform a dance, and has a flat and hollow box-shaped structure obtained by combining plate materials. The upper surface of the stage unit 3 is configured as a dance floor 3a, and a dance space A as a player dance area is formed between the dance floor 3a and the top unit 4. The dance floor 3a is provided with eight light-emitting portions 3b... 3b so as to draw a regular octagonal shape. Each light emitting unit 3b is covered with, for example, a translucent lens 3c, and an illumination lamp 3d such as an LED is installed inside the lens 3c (see FIG. 3). The light emitting unit 3b may be covered with a cover having no lens effect. An appropriate mark or the like may be displayed on the cover. For example, dance floor 3a
May be displayed on the light emitting unit 3b when viewed from the player standing at the center of the light emitting unit 3b (the center of the regular octagon drawn by the light emitting unit 3b).

The top unit 4 includes the stage unit 3
Front struts 10a, 10a provided on the left and right of the front end of the
And a rear column 10 protruding from the upper end of the main unit 2.
b and 10b support the dance floor 3a. The top unit 4 has a substantially regular octagonal frame 11. The center of the regular octagonal shape drawn by the frame 11 substantially coincides with the center of the dance floor 3a. Each side of the frame 11 extends in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the opposing light emitting portions 3b. As shown in FIG.
Are attached to each side of. Further, the frame 11 is provided with illumination lamps 14a and 14b composed of strobe lamps and spot lamps, and a speaker unit 15.

The motion detection device 12 is a dance floor 3
This is provided to detect the movement of the hand of the player located on the position a. Each detection device 12 has three sensors 13a, 13b, 13c. One sensor 1
3b is disposed at the center of each side of the frame 11, and the other two sensors 13a and 13c are disposed at an equal distance from the central sensor 13b. In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish the three sensors 13a, 13b, 13c, they are described as a sensor 13.

Each sensor 13 emits infrared light toward the object to be measured and receives reflected light from the object to be measured. Based on the phase difference between the emission position and the incident position of the infrared light, each sensor 13 emits infrared light. This is a reflection type distance sensor that detects the distance to the measurement target. The detection area of each sensor 13 is directed substantially directly below, and the light emitting section 3b of the dance floor 3a is located on an extension of the detection area. Therefore, the player can roughly grasp the detection area of each detection device 12 by the light emitting unit 3b. Note that the sensor 13 is not limited to a sensor that outputs a signal correlated with the distance to the measurement target, but may be any sensor that can output a signal that can be used to determine the presence or absence of the measurement target in the detection area. May be used.

The intervals between the sensors 13a to 13c are adjusted so that the respective detection areas do not overlap each other (see FIG. 6). However, if the detection area of each sensor 13 increases as the distance from the sensor 13 increases, the dance floor 3
A detection target range having a predetermined height may be set on “a” so that the detection areas do not overlap each other in the range. In the game machine 1 of the present embodiment, since the player is required to perform choreography relating to hand movements, the detection target range is the dance floor 3
This is set as a range in which the hand is expected to be located when the player stands on a. The sensor 13 is not limited to a distance sensor using infrared light, and various sensors may be used. However, the distance sensor using the infrared light has an advantage that the reaction speed is faster than that of a sensor using an ultrasonic wave or the like.

When a distance sensor is used as the sensor 13, when a detection target (including a player's hand or foot) enters the detection area of the sensor 13, the distance is correlated with the distance from the sensor 13 to the target. The resulting signal (hereinafter, a distance signal) is output from the sensor 13. However,
In this game machine 1, the distance signal when the detection target is not present in the detection area of the sensor 13 is used as a reference signal, and the state in which the reference signal is output is turned off of the sensor 13 and the detection target (player's hand or foot) is The state in which the distance signal has changed after entering the detection area of the sensor 13 (the state in which the sensor 13 has reacted to the detection target) is processed as the sensor 13 is turned on.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the game machine 1. As shown in FIG. The control system of the game machine 1 has a main control unit 20 mounted on the main unit 2 and a top unit control unit 40 mounted on the top unit 4. Each of the control units 20 and 40 includes a CPU and various peripheral components such as a RAM, a ROM, and a clock generator as main storage devices necessary for the operation thereof. Calculation and processing can be executed.

The main controller 20 is connected to input switches 21... 21 (only two are shown in FIG. 2) and a coin checking device 6 which constitute the above-described input device 7 (see FIG. 2). The unit 22, the sound processing unit 23, and the dimming control unit 24 are connected to each other. Image processing unit 2
2 generates and outputs a video signal for rendering an image corresponding to the data on the monitor (CRT) 8 in response to the output of the data for rendering the image from the main control unit 20.
In response to the output of the data for sound generation from the main control unit 20, the sound processing unit 23 generates an audio signal for outputting a musical tone or voice corresponding to the data, and outputs the generated audio signal to the speaker units 5 and 15. . The dimming control unit 24 controls the lighting state of the illumination lamp 9 and the like in response to a dimming control signal sent from the main control unit 20. Although FIG. 7 shows only the illuminating lamp 9, the illuminating lamp is also provided around the woofer speaker 5, for example.

Further, the main control unit 20 has a CD-RO
The M drive 25 is connected. CD-ROM drive 2
5 reads a game program or data from a CD-ROM 50 as a storage medium in response to a request from the CPU of the main control unit 20 and outputs the program and data to the main control unit 20. The main controller 20 is also connected to a dimming controller 26 in the stage unit 3 via a predetermined communication cable. The dimming control section 26 responds to a dimming control signal sent from the main control section 20 to control the illumination lamp 3 provided in the light emitting section 3b.
The lighting state of d (see FIG. 3) is controlled.

The above-described distance sensors 13... 13 and the dimming control unit 41 are connected to the top unit control unit 40, respectively. The top unit control unit 40 monitors the distance signal of each sensor 13 at a constant cycle, and transmits information corresponding to the monitoring result to the main control unit 20. Further, the top unit control section 40 outputs a dimming control signal to the dimming control section 41 in response to a request from the main control section 20, and the dimming control section 41 responds to the dimming control signal to illuminate the lamp. 14a,
The lighting state of 14b or the like is controlled.

The main control unit 20, the top unit control unit 40, and the image processing unit 22,
The control device of the game machine 1 is configured by a combination of the sound processing unit 23 and the dimming control units 24, 26, 41.
The control device functions as a computer that executes a predetermined dance game in accordance with the program recorded on the CD-ROM 50, whereby the game machine 1 functions as a dance game device. In this dance game apparatus, any one of the pieces of music data is selected from a plurality of pieces of music data recorded on the CD-ROM 50 in accordance with the operation of the player and reproduced from the speaker units 5 and 15. The choreography of the dance is guided to the player through the monitor 8 in conjunction with the reproduction of the music. When the player moves his / her hand forward, backward, left and right in accordance with the guidance, the movement is detected by the sensor 13, and the detected movement is compared with the content of the choreography guided through the monitor 8 to evaluate the skill of the player.

To make such a game possible, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the CD-ROM 50, waveform data for each song for reproducing each song used in the game and data defining a choreography procedure for each song are recorded in a predetermined format. The waveform data of the music is stored in the CD-ROM
It is recorded in a compressed state in P3 (MPEG Layer-3) format. When the game is executed, the waveform data of the music is loaded into a predetermined area in the RAM provided in the main control unit 20. When the music is reproduced, the waveform data of the music in the RAM is decoded by the CPU of the main control unit 20 and output to the sound processing unit 23. The sound processing unit 23 converts the digital waveform data of the given music into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal to the speaker units 5 and 15. Thus, the main control unit 20 and the sound processing unit 23 form a music reproducing device. When the waveform data of a music piece is loaded in the RAM as described above, the time required from the selection of the music piece to the start of the reproduction is reduced, and for example, a medley for continuously reproducing a plurality of music pieces can be easily realized. However, CD-ROM
For example, waveform data of a music piece may be recorded on the CD-ROM 50 in the CD-DA format, and the encoded waveform data may be directly transmitted from the CD-ROM drive 25 to the sound processing unit 23. In that case, the CD-ROM drive 25 and the sound processing unit 23 constitute a music reproducing device.

In addition to the data shown in FIG. 8, various types of image data, data describing the correspondence between songs and choreography procedures, and the like are recorded on the CD-ROM 50 as necessary, but the details are omitted.

FIG. 9 shows a main part of an image for guiding the choreography procedure displayed on the screen 8a of the monitor 8 based on the data of the above-described choreography procedure. In this example, the monitor 8
A scroll area 100 having a predetermined range is set on the upper side, and arrow-shaped stationary marks 101a to 101e (hereinafter, may be represented by reference numeral 101) are arranged in the left-right direction (horizontal direction) near the upper end thereof. . Also, arrow-shaped movement marks 102a to 102e are displayed in the scroll area 100.
(Sometimes represented by reference numeral 102) is also displayed. Each mark 101a to 101e, 102a to 102e
The direction indicated by the arrow is associated with the direction of the choreography motion required of the player. That is, the marks 101a and 102a mean a forward movement as viewed from the player, the marks 101b and 102b mean a diagonally forward right movement as viewed from the player, and the marks 101c and 101c.
02c means a movement to the right as viewed from the player,
The marks 101d and 102d mean a motion diagonally forward left as seen from the player, and the marks 101e and 102e mean a motion leftward as seen from the player.

The moving marks 102a to 102e are scrolled from the lower end to the upper end of the scroll area 100 at a tempo according to the performance of the music. And moving mark 1
02a to 102e coincide with (overlap) the stationary marks 101a to 101e, so that the marks 101, 10e
The timing to move the hand in the direction indicated by 2 comes. That is, the player standing on the dance floor 3a inserts his / her hand below the detecting device 12 located in the direction indicated by the marks 101 and 102 at the timing when the marks 101 and 102 coincide with each other. 12 is guided to detect the movement.

As described above, in the example of FIG. 9, the direction of the choreography operation and the operation thereof are performed by using the stationary marks 101a to 101e and the moving marks 102a to 102e in a range from the right side to the left side of the player. The timing to be played is shown to the player.

As is clear from the above description, the data of the choreography procedure is such that the moving mark 102 is the stationary mark 101
Is data in which the timing coincident with is determined for each operation direction. The operation timing is specified at a predetermined resolution. For example, one bar is divided into sections each having a length corresponding to a sixteenth note, a serial number is assigned to each section from the beginning of the music, and the timing at which the marks 101 and 102 match is designated by the number. In this case, the resolution is a length corresponding to a sixteenth note, and the display position of the moving mark 102 on the screen is determined using the length corresponding to the sixteenth note as a minimum unit. Instead of the serial number, the operation timing may be designated by the elapsed time from the beginning of the music. Note that the frame line indicating the scroll area 100 may be displayed on the screen or may be omitted. The scroll region 100 may be further divided into elongated regions for each of the stationary marks 101a to 101e, and these divisions may be visually distinguished by the player. For example, the stationary mark 101a
The scroll area 100 may be divided by a dividing line or the like for every 101e.

During the execution of the game (at the time of reproducing the music), the choreography operation included in a predetermined display range (for example, corresponding to two measures from the next screen rewriting time to the future) based on the data defining the choreography procedure. Is specified. And
The display coordinates of the marks 102a to 102e on the next screen are calculated according to the specified timing and direction of each operation, and the image data of the next scroll area 100 is created according to the calculation result. This process is repeated at a predetermined cycle, and the marks 102a to 102e are scrolled as described above.

As shown in FIG. 9, a long object 103 having a predetermined length in the scroll direction (vertical direction) may be added to some of the moving marks 102. The long object 103 detects the sensor 13 in the direction indicated by the mark 102 for a time corresponding to the length of the long object 103 (the long object 103 and the stationary mark 10).
This is a request for the player to turn on continuously for a period of time when 1 overlaps. In the following, the moving mark 102 to which the long object 103 is added is called a long-press mark, and may be distinguished from the normal moving mark 102.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the direction of the choreography operation for the player is limited to five directions, that is, rightward, diagonally forward right, forward, diagonally forward left, and leftward, so that the motion detecting device 12 faces the monitor 8. Only the right, diagonally forward, forward, diagonally forward and left five sides are used from the point of view of the player. However, when viewed from the player facing the monitor 8, three directions, that is, diagonally rightward, rearward, and diagonally leftward, are added to the operation instruction direction, and a total of eight directions of choreography are guided to the player, and eight detection devices are provided. 12 may be used to play the game.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen actually displayed on the monitor 8 corresponding to FIG. The game screen 120 includes a main display section 121 and a title display section 12.
2, a score display section 123, and a gauge 124. The above-described still mark 10 is displayed on the main display unit 121.
In addition to displaying 1a to 101e and moving marks 102a to 102e, moving images and still images for enlivening the atmosphere of the game are displayed as their background images.
The title display section 122 displays information such as the title of the song currently being played. The score display section 123 displays the skills of the players as scores. Gauge 124
Is for displaying the evaluation of the play from the start of the song to the current time in the form of a bar graph. Various other images and information may be displayed on the game screen 120, but details are omitted.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a game process executed by the CPU of the main control unit 20 to execute the above-mentioned game. When the player inserts a predetermined number of coins from the coin insertion slot 6a and the coins are determined to be authentic by the coin confirmation device 6, a predetermined game start signal is sent from the coin confirmation device 6 to the CP of the main control unit 20.
U, the CPU starts the process of FIG.

In the processing shown in FIG. 11, first, a mode selection for causing the player to select a game mode is executed (step S1). As the selectable mode, for example, a plurality of modes having different degrees of difficulty are prepared. When the mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S2, and a stage select is performed. In the stage select, the player operates the input device 7 to select a song to dance from now. When a predetermined number of coins are inserted, the player can play a predetermined number of stages, and one stage is associated with one song.

When a tune is selected, the process proceeds to step S3, where various data required for the game (such as data of a choreography procedure) are loaded into the RAM of the main control unit 20, and an environment required for executing the game is set. Is done. When this is completed, the process proceeds to step S4, and the performance of the selected music is started.

Subsequently, based on the data of the choreography procedure used on the current stage, various calculations (calculation of display coordinates, etc.) necessary for scrolling the moving mark 102 on the screen are executed (step S5). When the processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S6, in which a process of evaluating the player's operation during a predetermined processing target period (from the time of the previous processing of step S6 to the current processing time) is performed. This rating is
The operation of the player detected by the sensor 13 during the processing target period is compared with the choreography operation determined by the data of the choreography procedure, and the score or gauge 124 displayed on the score display unit 123 is displayed in accordance with the degree of coincidence between the two. This is the process of calculating the gauge amount. The higher the degree of coincidence between the choreography motion determined by the choreography procedure data and the motion detected by the sensor 13, the higher the score is, and the calculation is performed so that the gauge amount increases. Here, the degree of coincidence is a concept that includes both coincidence of the operation direction and coincidence of the operation timing.

When the evaluation is completed, it is determined whether or not the game stop condition is satisfied based on the evaluation result (step S7). For example, when the gauge 124 decreases below a predetermined amount, it is determined that the game is to be stopped. If the game stop condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether the music has been reproduced (played) up to a predetermined end position. If not, the process returns to step S5.

If it is determined in step S8 that the music has reached the end position, it is determined whether or not the stage has been cleared. One stage is associated with one song, and if one song can be played at a predetermined level or more (for example, the amount of the gauge 124 at the end point is a predetermined value or more), the stage is cleared. When the stage is cleared, the process proceeds to step S10, and it is determined whether or not all the playable stages have been played within the range where the player has inserted coins. If a negative determination is made, the next stage is selected in step S11, and the process returns to step S3. When all stages are completed, the process proceeds to step S12, an image indicating that the game has been cleared is displayed on the monitor 8, and the game process ends. If step S7 is affirmed,
If step S9 is negative, step S13
The game proceeds to the end, and an image indicating that the game is over is displayed on the monitor 8 and the game process ends.

Note that the degree of coincidence between the choreography operation determined by the choreography procedure data and the operation detected by the sensor 13 may be evaluated by various methods. As the simplest method, of the three sensors 13a, 13b and 13c constituting the detecting device 12 corresponding to one operation direction, the time when the sensor 13 is first turned on (the position in the music) and the choreography procedure It is sufficient to compare the operation times (positions in the music where the marks 101 and 102 should overlap) designated by the data with respect to the same operation direction and give a higher evaluation as the difference between the two is smaller. When the long object 103 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, the time when the same sensor 13 is turned on and the time when it is turned off are detected, and the time is specified by the data and the choreography procedure data. The operation start time and the operation end time corresponding to the long object 103 may be compared, and a determination may be made according to the degree of coincidence.

In the processing of FIG. 11 described above, step S2
The choreography operation is guided to the player based on the data of the choreography procedure corresponding to the music selected in. In the game machine 1 of the present embodiment, the data of the choreography procedure (data relating to the dance operation) is not limited to the data recorded in the CD-ROM 50 in advance, and the data input by the player via the motion detection device 12 is used. You can also.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a process executed by the main control unit 20 to create data of a choreography procedure based on a player's input operation. These processes are executed in place of the processes in FIG. 11 when the player operates the input device 7 and selects the choreography recording mode. The choreography recording mode may be always selectable as in the general game mode, or may be selectable only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. As the predetermined condition, for example, it is conceivable that the choreography recording mode can be selected only when the highest score is recorded in a specific mode of the game or when the task music is cleared.

First, the processing of FIG. 12 will be described. When the choreography recording mode is selected, the main control unit 20
In, various data (waveform data for reproducing music, data of a background image, etc.) necessary for recording the choreography operation are loaded into the RAM of the main control unit 20 (step S21), and an environment necessary for executing the game is set. You. When this is completed, the process proceeds to step S22, and the performance of the selected music is started. The music for which the data of the choreography procedure is recorded may be limited to a part of the music prepared in the game machine 1,
All songs may be targeted.

After the reproduction of the music is started, it is determined whether the music has been reproduced (played) up to a predetermined end position (step S2).
3) If it is not the end position, the determination in step S23 is repeated. When the tune is played to the end position, data of a choreography procedure is generated based on the result of the choreography recording process of FIG.
In a predetermined memory (RAM) (step S2).
4). Thus, the processing of FIG. 12 is completed.

As is clear from the above, in the choreography recording mode, even when the music is performed, the scroll display processing of the movement mark 102 based on the choreography procedure data is not performed, and the choreography procedure data and the player's operation are compared. No evaluation is based on this. That is, the player can freely dance to the song. The choreography operation during that time is sequentially recorded by the choreography recording process of FIG. The choreography recording process of FIG. 13 is performed in parallel with the process of FIG. 12, and is separately performed for each motion detection device 12 that is to detect a choreography operation. For example, when the choreography motion in five directions is detected using five motion detection devices 12 in front, right diagonally forward, right side, left diagonally front, and left side as viewed from the player facing the monitor 8, FIG. 1
The process of 3 is repeatedly executed for each of the five motion detection devices 12 individually and at a predetermined cycle.

In the process of FIG. 13, first, one detecting device 1
It is determined whether or not one or more of the three sensors 13a to 13c constituting the second sensor 2 are turned on (a state in which a detection target is detected) (step S31). When this is affirmed, the time at which the ON state is detected is recorded (step S32), and the sensors 13a to 13 at that time are recorded.
The on / off state of c is recorded (step S3).
3). The time here is the elapsed time from the beginning of the music.

Next, based on the state recorded in step S33, the number of times that each of the sensors 13a to 13c has changed on / off while the processing from step S31 to step S34 is repeated is recorded ( Step S3
4). Thereafter, the process returns to step S31.

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S31, that is, if all the sensors 13a to 13c constituting one detecting device 12 are turned off, the previous detection (step S31 was executed last time) ), It is determined whether or not any of the sensors 13a to 13c has been turned on (step S35). Step S when off
The process returns to step S31. On the other hand, if the switch is turned on, the process from step S36 is performed on the information recorded in the processes of steps S32 to S34.

As is clear from the above, in the processing of FIG. 13, three sensors 13a constituting one detecting device 12 are used.
As long as at least one of the ON states continues to be on, the processes of steps S32 to S34 are repeatedly executed and information is accumulated. And all sensors 13
When a to 13c are turned off, the processing from step S35 is performed using the information accumulated up to that time as one processing unit. When the information stored in steps S32 to S34 is processed once step S35 and subsequent steps are executed, the information to be processed is cleared. Then, step S31 is newly affirmed and steps S32 to S34 are performed.
Is executed, the information of the next processing target is accumulated. The following description is for information of one processing unit.

In step S36, it is determined whether or not the duration of the ON state of the sensor 13 is within a predetermined length. Here, the ON state means a state where at least one of the sensors 13a to 13c is ON. This duration corresponds to the difference between the earliest time and the latest time among the ON times recorded in step S32. The reason why the duration of the ON state is limited within the predetermined range is to limit the length of the operation of "stopping" the detection area of the same detection device 12 to an appropriate range. The time limit is set to, for example, a length corresponding to four measures. As a result, the input of the operation for an unnecessarily long “because” is rejected, and the ON signal is continuously output due to the failure of the sensor 13 or the intrusion of foreign matter into the detection area thereof. The ON signal is ignored.

When step S36 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S37, and based on the information recorded in step S33, it is determined whether a valid detection pattern is detected in the current processing target information. You. The effective detection pattern referred to here means that the central sensor 13b and the other at least one sensor 13a within a predetermined time difference.
Or 13c is turned on. Such a condition is provided because at least two sensors 13 including the central sensor 13b are provided when the player puts his hand under the detecting device 12 in order to detect the choreography operation.
Is likely to be turned on simultaneously or continuously, but if the detection device 12 detects an operation not intended by the player, such a detection pattern is often not obtained. For example, when the player waves his / her hand diagonally forward to the right from the front, the movement should normally be detected only by the detection devices 12 arranged forward and diagonally to the front, In some cases, the hand may move to the detection area of the right-side detection device 12 and the right-side detection device 12 may react to it. However, in this case, since the player attempts to lower his hand at the stage where he moves his hand from the front to the right and diagonally forward, even if the hand is detected by the right detection device 12, only the end sensor 13a reacts. Probability is high.
Therefore, if the detection by the central sensor 13b is indispensable, it is more likely that such an unintended operation can be ignored and a choreography operation according to the player's intention can be created as data.

If the determination in step S37 in FIG. 13 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S38, and based on the information recorded in step S34, while the ON state is continued (the processing in steps S32 to S34 is repeated). While the information of one processing unit is stored).
It is determined whether the number of on / off changes of .about.13c is within a predetermined range. Such a condition is provided because a part such as a hand moved by the player with the intention of causing the specific detection device 12 to detect the detection device 12 other than the specific detection device 12 (typically, the adjacent detection device 12 ) May be repeated in and out of the detection area. In such a case, since the sensor 13 tends to be repeatedly turned on and off frequently in the detection devices 12 other than the specific detection device 12, the frequency at which the sensor 13 is switched on and off is frequently used. This is to determine whether the detection of the choreography motion by the detection device 12 is based on the player's intention or not.

If any one of steps S36 to S38 is negative, the process returns to step S31. On the other hand, steps S36 to S38
Are all affirmative, the process proceeds to step S39. In step S39, it is determined whether a long press operation is detected based on the duration of the valid pattern. For example, if the duration of the valid pattern is equal to or greater than one beat (corresponding to the length of 1/4 of one bar), it is determined that a long press operation has been detected. If it is determined that the key is not long-pressed, the moving mark 102 is determined based on the detection time of the effective pattern included in the current processing target information.
Determines the timing at which a normal choreography operation should be guided, and records the result (step S40). On the other hand, when it is determined that the long press operation is performed, the timing at which the long press operation should be guided by the long press mark 102 based on the detection time of the effective pattern included in the current processing target information (start of the long press operation) Is determined, and the result is recorded (step S41). After the processing in step S40 or S41, the processing returns to step S31 again.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the correspondence between the information on the ON / OFF of the sensor 13 recorded in FIG. 13 and the arrangement of the marks 102. FIG. 14A illustrates an example in which the sensor 13 is switched on and off while an arbitrary Nth bar in the music is being played. The lower side of the waveform is off and the upper side is on. The sensors A to C correspond to the sensors 13a to 13c, respectively. In this example, it is assumed that the resolution of the timing of the operation guided by the moving mark 102 is equivalent to a sixteenth note, and one bar is 1 bar.
An alternate long and short dash line is displayed at each of the six positions. In the following description, a division position within one measure is specified by a serial number where the start of the measure is 0 and the last is 16.

When the processing of FIG. 13 is performed on the example of FIG. 14A, step S31 is performed at times t1 to t4 and t4.
The result is affirmed between 5 and t6 and between t7 and t10, and denied otherwise. Therefore, the information accumulated in the processing of steps S32 to S34 during the time t1 to t4 is processed immediately after the elapse of the time t4, and the information accumulated in the processing of steps S32 to S34 between the time t5 and t6 is The information is processed immediately after the time t6 has elapsed, and the information accumulated in the processing of steps S32 to S34 during the time t7 to t10 is the time t1
Processing is performed immediately after 0 has elapsed.

The information stored between times t1 and t4 is processed as follows. First, since the interval between the times t1 and t4 is within four measures, an affirmative determination is made in step S36. Since the sensor B at the center and the other sensor A are simultaneously turned on at the times t2 and t3, there is an effective pattern. Is determined, and step S37 is also affirmed. Further, since the ON / OFF state of the sensors A and B has changed only once between times t1 and t4, the determination in step S38 is also affirmative. Since the interval between times t2 and t3, which is the duration of the effective pattern, is less than one beat, it is determined that the operation is not a long press operation. Thereby, time t2 to t3
The timing at which a normal choreography operation is to be performed is determined in accordance with the valid pattern detected in step (1). Here, as described above, in the present embodiment, since the timing guided by the moving mark 102 is specified with a resolution corresponding to a sixteenth note, the operation timing corresponding to the ON state following the times t2 to t3 is as follows. At that time t2
The time corresponding to the fourth partition position from the beginning of the Nth bar, which is a partition position earlier in time among the partition positions corresponding to the sixteenth notes included in the period from t2 to t3, is from time t2 to t3.
Is determined and recorded as the timing of the operation corresponding to the effective pattern.

Next, as for the information stored during the period from time t5 to time t6, only the sensor C is ON and no effective pattern exists during that period, so that the negative determination is made in step S37. Therefore, the timing of the choreography operation is not recorded for the information accumulated between times t5 and t6.

As for the information accumulated between times t7 and t10, the duration of the ON state is within 4 beats, there is an effective pattern between times t8 and t9, and
During t10, ON / OFF of each of the sensors A to C changes only once, and the duration of the effective pattern is within one beat. Accordingly, steps S36 to S38 are affirmed, and step S39 is denied. As a result, the time corresponding to the eleventh segment position from the beginning of the Nth bar is determined as the operation timing and recorded.

As described above, the timing of the choreography operation in the music is sequentially determined according to the input operation of the player, and when the music is over, the recorded contents are put together to create data of one choreography procedure (FIG. 12 Step S
24). The data of the created choreography procedure is CD-R
The player can select and play in the same manner as the choreography procedure data recorded on the OM 50 in advance.

FIG. 14B shows N based on the data of the choreography procedure created in accordance with the detection result of FIG. 14A.
Movement mark 1 when the choreography of a measure is guided
02 shows a correspondence relationship between 02 and a position in the music. In this example, the upward movement mark 102 is shown assuming that the choreography procedure corresponding to the front detection device 12 has been determined by the above-described processing. Is executed, the movement mark 102 is also displayed as an arrow in the direction corresponding to the detection device 12. As described above, from the detection result of FIG. 14A, the fourth and eleventh counting from the head of the Nth bar are determined as the timings to guide the choreography operation. Therefore, the moving mark 102 has a reference point RP of N
The bar is displayed so as to match the positions on the screen corresponding to the fourth and eleventh bars, respectively.

In the above description, the timing of the choreography operation is determined based on the earliest time while the effective pattern is detected. However, the timing of the choreography operation is determined within the time of one processing unit (for example, times t1 to t4). Early time (for example, t
The operation timing may be determined based on 1). If it is determined in step S39 of FIG.
The delimiter positions closest to the start and end of the period in which the valid pattern is detected may be determined as the start and end of the long press operation, respectively. In the processing of FIG.
When an ON state exceeding four measures is detected, the placement of the movement mark 102 based on the information is not performed, but the long-press mark 102 having a predetermined length within four measures may be arranged.

In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the signal detected by the sensor 13 can be used as a basis for creating data of a choreography procedure in steps S37 and S38 in FIG.
Although the judgment is made using the above, the judgment may be made by another method. For example, as shown in FIG. 15B, a plurality of types (reference patterns A, B...) Of detection signals of each sensor 13 when the detection device 12 detects some representative choreography procedures are used as pattern data. ) Have it ready. The pattern data can be stored in the CD-ROM 50 in advance, for example. Then, as shown in FIG. 15A, the output signal from each sensor 13 is stored for a predetermined period, and is compared with the pattern data. Then, pattern data closest to the actually detected signal pattern is selected, and data of a choreography procedure is created based on the selected pattern data. In this way, the detection signal from each sensor 13 detected within a predetermined period is approximated by the closest pattern data, so that even if the player inputs an unusual choreography action, it is ignored and the general choreography action is ignored. Data of typical choreography is created. In the example of FIG. 15A, since a pattern close to the reference pattern A shown in FIG. 15B is detected, the detection signals shown in D and E in FIG. 15A are ignored, and the choreography operation is performed. Will be created.

The game device of the present invention has a single dance area A.
Is not limited to an example configured as an arcade game machine having a plurality of dance areas A1, as shown in FIG.
The arcade game machine 1 including A2 and A3 may be configured. Hereinafter, the game machine 1 of FIG. 16 will be described focusing on its characteristic portions.

The configuration of the game machine 1 shown in FIG. 16 is such that three stage units 3 and three top units 4 are provided on the front surface of the main unit 2 of the game machine 1 shown in FIG. Each top unit 4 is provided with a substantially regular octagonal frame 11. As also shown in FIG.
In the frame 11 of each top unit 4, five detection devices 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 13, 12, 13, 12, 13, 12, and 13, are viewed from the player facing the monitor 8.
Is provided. One detecting device 12 includes three sensors 13a to 13c as described in FIG. Note that the detection devices 12 may be provided in all eight directions as shown in FIG. FIG. 17 shows a state in which the top unit 4 is looked up from the stage unit 3 side.
This corresponds to a cross-sectional view along the line II-XVII.

As is clear from FIG. 17, in the game machine 1 of FIG. 16, while shifting the three units 4... 4 in the left and right units 4 and 4 and the center unit 4 in the front-rear direction,
Since the central unit 4 is arranged between the left and right units 4 and 4 so as to be interrupted, the detecting devices 12 and 12 disposed on the oblique side 11a of the frame 11 of the central unit 4 are arranged.
And the detection devices 12 of the left and right units 4 and 4 are not adjacent to each other, and the right and left units 4 of the right unit 4
A certain amount of space is secured between the detection devices 12 and 12 disposed on the left side of the device. Thereby, the detection devices 12 corresponding to the dance areas A1 to A3 respectively.
The stage units 3 can be compactly combined to reduce the installation area of the game machine 1 while preventing the risk of erroneously detecting a dance operation in the dance area A different from the above.

As shown in FIG. 18, a mirror ball 30 is suspended between the left and right top units 4. By illuminating the mira ball 30 from the front and rear of the game machine 1 at an appropriate angle, each dance area A
The players 1 to A3 can be evenly illuminated. The illumination applied to the mirror ball 30 may be flashed in time with the music. The mirror ball 30 should just be arrange | positioned at the ceiling part of the substantially equal position from each dance area.

The control system of the game machine 1 shown in FIG. 16 may have three parts corresponding to the stage unit 3 and the top unit 4 in the configuration shown in FIG. However, a plurality of game machines 1 having a single dance area A shown in FIG. 1 may be connected to form a single arcade game machine that can be played by a plurality of people at the same time as in FIG. In this case, a control system as shown in FIG. 7 is provided for each dance area. In order to synchronize play in each dance area, respective main control units 20 are connected to each other via a network line. A host may be assigned to any one of the main control units 20, and the play in each dance area may be centrally controlled by the one main control unit 20.

When a plurality of dance areas are provided in one arcade game machine as described above, the same choreography operation may be guided to the players in each dance area, or different choreography operations may be guided. Good. Figure 12 shows the choreography of players in one dance area
Also, data of the choreography procedure may be created by recording by the processing of FIG. 13 and the choreography operation based on the data may be guided to the players in the other two dance areas.

In the game machine 1 of FIG. 16, since one monitor 8 is provided for the three dance areas A1 to A3, the screen displayed on the monitor 8 is, for example, as shown in FIG. The display areas 31A, 31B, and 31C are divided into display areas 31A, 31B, and 31C that are associated 1: 1 with A1 to A3.
It is preferable to display marks 101 and 102 for guiding the choreography operation of dance areas A1 to A3 associated with.

When a plurality of dance areas A1 to A3 are provided, an element (stationary mark 10) displayed to guide choreography (dance operation) to the players in each dance area.
It is desirable that the display modes (for example, colors) of the 1 or the movement mark 102) be different from each other. In this way, there is an advantage that the player can easily distinguish the guidance of the operation for each of the dance areas A1 to A3.

As described above, when the display modes of the marks 101 and 102, which are elements for guiding the choreography, are distinguished for each of the dance areas A1 to A3, each of the dance areas A1 to A3 is used.
The player of A3 comes to grasp the guidance of the operation for himself in association with the display mode of the marks 101 and 102. Therefore, for example, during the game, each dance area A1 to A1
The display mode of the marks 101 and 102 displayed for A3 can be exchanged to guide the player to change the dance areas A1 to A3. In this way, in addition to the pleasure of dancing in accordance with the guidance on the screen, another pleasure of changing the dance area with another player is given to the game, and the interest of the game is further enhanced. If the display modes are exchanged at random, it is not possible to predict when the replacement of the dance area is instructed during the game, and the enjoyment of the game is further increased. The display mode of the marks 101 and 102 may be changed for at least one of the still mark 101 and the moving mark 102. When the display mode of the stationary mark 101 is distinguished for each of the dance areas A1 to A3, the change of the dance area described above is performed in each of the display areas 31A.
This is realized by mutually exchanging the display modes of the still marks 101 displayed on the screens 31C to 31C. An animation in which the stationary marks 101 are interchanged between the display areas 31A to 31C may be displayed so as to more strongly impress the change of the dance area.

Note that, even with an integrated structure in which a plurality of dance areas A1 to A3 are provided for one main body unit 2, the monitors 8 are provided independently for each of the dance areas A1 to A3. Is also good.

The dance game device of the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which a plurality of dance areas are provided in one place, but may be connected as a single dance game device by connecting game machines installed in remote locations via a communication line. The control mode is also included. In this case, the game machines may be directly connected to each other, or may be connected via a predetermined server.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be embodied in various forms. For example, stage unit 3
A device that detects the movement of the player's foot (for example, a foot switch that responds to a depressing operation, or a device that uses infrared rays or ultrasonic waves) may be provided to perform both hand movement and foot movement. May be requested from the player as choreography. The guidance of the choreography operation to the player may be achieved by displaying a live-action movie or the like on which a dance scene is recorded on the monitor 8 instead of or in addition to the display in the scroll area 100.

In the above embodiment, the movement of the player's hand is particularly described.
As long as it reaches the detection area, the use method of performing a dance while detecting the feet and other parts of the player's body with the sensor 13 is naturally possible.

In the game device described above, a dance operation of a player is detected, dance operation data is created based on the detection result, and the dance operation is guided to the player based on the created data. There is a common feature in that. According to the dance game device having such characteristics, a new dance choreography created or learned by one player is quickly transmitted to other players, and many players enjoy the dance with the same choreography. Can be easily realized via the game device.

The above-described game device shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 16 can be considered as an example of a game device for guiding a dance operation to music (music) to a player through a screen. In this type of game device, The following configuration may be provided irrespective of the presence or absence of the above-described dance operation data creation function.

The player may be instructed to change the direction during the dance. For example, when a dance is performed facing the monitor 8, the dance may be performed with the back turned to the monitor 8 or an instruction may be given to perform the dance in the left-right direction. In this case, the guidance of the dance motion through the screen specifies the motion direction on the premise that the monitor 8 and the player face each other (hereinafter, this state is referred to as a standard posture). In the case of dancing in the direction, there is a difference between the front, rear, left and right directions viewed from the player and the front, rear, left and right directions of the dance operation guided through the monitor 8. Therefore, the correspondence between the direction of the dance motion and each detection device 12 may be changed in accordance with an instruction to change the direction of the player. For example,
When the user instructs the monitor 8 to perform a dance with his / her back turned on, the detection signal of the dance motion from the detection device 12 located behind the player in the standard posture is detected as the detection of the dance motion in front of the player. Similarly, in the case of the standard posture, the detection signal from the detection device 12 located to the right or left as viewed from the player is handled as the detection signal of the dance motion of the player to the left or right, respectively.
The same applies to the operation diagonally forward.

The calorie consumption corresponding to the player's hand motion may be calculated based on the result of the hand choreography detection. In this case, the calorie consumption based on the foot motion of each song is determined in advance based on the content (eg, rhythm) of the song, and the calorie consumption based on the foot motion and the calorie consumption based on the hand motion are summed up. Then, the player may be notified of the total consumed calories. The calculated calorie consumption may be registered in a predetermined server to compete for ranking. The calorie consumption based on the movement of the hand may be adjusted for each player with reference to information on the physique of the player. For example, the player may be made to input physical information such as weight and height in advance, and the calorie consumption for each operation may be changed according to the input information.

In a dance game apparatus in which a plurality of dance areas are provided and a dance operation is guided separately for each dance area, a technical idea or a technical idea for requesting a player in each dance area to change dance areas during a dance. The technical idea of making the display mode of the element guiding the dance operation different can also be applied to various game devices that allow the user to enjoy the dance operation irrespective of the presence or absence of the function of creating data relating to the dance operation.

[0085]

As described above, according to the dance game device of the present invention, even if a plurality of sensors constituting one detection device output a detection signal of a dance operation within a predetermined detection period, The detection signal is not used as it is as a basis for creating data on the dance operation of the player, and the detection result of each sensor during the detection period is compared with a predetermined condition, and the detection signal from each sensor is used as a basis for the data on the dance operation. Since it is determined whether or not to process as a signal that becomes a signal, among the dance actions detected by the sensor, a detection signal corresponding to an action not intended by the player is excluded from the basis for creating data on the dance action Thus, it is possible to create dance operation data that is faithful to the dance operation intended by the player. Therefore, even when the data relating to the dance motion is created using the non-contact type detection device, it is possible to sufficiently improve the consistency between the dance motion specified by the data and the dance motion intended by the player.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the present invention is configured as an arcade game machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a distance sensor attached to a frame of the top unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a mutual relationship between detection areas of each distance sensor.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram relating to a control system of the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a part of data recorded on the CD-ROM of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a screen for choreography guidance displayed on the screen based on the data of the choreography procedure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an actual game screen.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure of a game process executed by the game machine of FIG. 1;

12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a game process executed by the game machine when detecting a dance motion of a player and creating data of a choreography procedure in the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a choreography recording process executed in parallel with the process of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of the processing of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of specifying a choreography operation by comparing signals detected by a plurality of sensors with pattern data prepared in advance.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an example of a game machine having a plurality of dance areas.

FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII in FIG. 18;

FIG. 18 is a front view of the game machine of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a view showing an example of a game screen displayed on a monitor to guide a dance operation for each dance area in the game machine of FIG. 16;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dance game machine 2 Main unit 2a Case 3 Stage unit 3a Dance floor 3b Light-emitting part 3d Illumination light 5,15 Speaker unit 6 Coin check device 6a Coin insertion slot 7 Input device 8 Monitor 9,9 Illumination light 11 Frame 12 Motion detection Device 13 Distance sensor 20 Main control unit 21 Input switch 22 Image processing unit 23 Sound processing unit 24 Dimming control unit 40 Top unit control unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seyuki Senami 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Konami F-term (reference) 2C001 AA17 BA06 BA07 BB00 BB04 BB05 BB06 BC09 BD05 CA00 CA08 CA09 CB01 CB06 CC02 CC08

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A music reproducing apparatus for reproducing a predetermined music, a player dance area prepared for the player to perform a dance operation, and a predetermined image displayed at a position visible to the player from the dance area. A display device, at least one detection device for detecting a player's dance operation in the dance area, and determining a dance operation performed by the player in association with the reproduction of the song from a detection result of the detection device; A data creation device that creates data relating to a reference dance operation based on the determination result; and, in conjunction with the reproduction of the song, a series of dance operations based on the data created by the data creation device, through the display device. A guiding device for guiding a player, wherein the detecting device performs a dance operation in a predetermined detecting region in a non-contact manner. A plurality of sensors capable of detecting and outputting a signal corresponding to the detection result are provided so as to shift their respective detection regions, and the data creation device is configured to detect each detection result of the plurality of sensors within a predetermined detection period. A determination device that determines whether a signal indicating the detection of the dance operation output from each sensor during the detection period should be processed as a signal serving as a basis of data related to the dance operation, in comparison with a predetermined condition. A dance game device, comprising: 2. One of the conditions for determining that the signal relating to the dance operation should be processed as a signal serving as a basis, data of two or more predetermined numbers of the sensors within a predetermined time difference during the detection period. 2. The dance game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising outputting a signal indicating detection of an action. 3. As one of the conditions for determining that the signal should be processed as a signal serving as a basis for the data relating to the dance operation, a signal indicating the detection of the dance operation is output from each sensor during the detection period. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number of times that the state in which the output is performed and the state in which the output is not performed is within a predetermined allowable range.
3. The dance game device according to claim 1. 4. Reference data specifying a detection result of each sensor when it is assumed that the player has performed a predetermined dance motion is prepared in advance, and the determination device is configured to determine the plurality of sensors specified by the reference data. And comparing the detection result of each of the plurality of sensors with the actual detection result of each of the plurality of sensors to determine whether or not the signal should be processed as a signal serving as a basis of data relating to the dance operation. Item 2. The dance game device according to item 1. 5. The detection period is a period in which a state in which a signal indicating the detection of the dance operation is output from at least one of a plurality of sensors included in the one detection device is continued. The dance game device according to claim 1, wherein the dance game device is set. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the detection devices are provided around the dance area, and a plurality of sensors provided in each of the detection devices are arranged along a direction in which the detection devices are arranged. The dance game device according to claim 1. 7. A plurality of dance areas are prepared, wherein the data creation device detects a player's dance action in one dance area and creates data relating to the dance action, and the guide device creates another dance area. The dance game device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a series of dance operations based on the data created by the data creation device are guided to the player in (1). 8. A music reproducing device for reproducing a predetermined music, a player dance area prepared for the player to perform a dance operation, and a predetermined image displayed at a position visible to the player from the dance area. A display device, and at least one detection device for detecting a player's dance motion in the dance area, wherein the detection device detects a dance motion in a predetermined detection region in a non-contact manner and detects the detection result. Is applied to a dance game device provided with a plurality of sensors capable of outputting signals corresponding to the respective detection regions, and the player provided in conjunction with the reproduction of the music by a computer provided in the dance game device. A procedure for determining the dance operation performed by the detection device from the detection result of the detection device, and a reference dance operation based on the determination result. A program for executing a procedure for creating data to be performed and a program for executing the procedure for determining from the detection result, wherein in the procedure for determining from the detection result, each of the plurality of sensors within a predetermined detection period With reference to the mutual relationship between the detection results, it is determined whether or not the signal indicating the detection of the dance operation output from each sensor during the detection period should be processed as a signal serving as a basis of data regarding the dance operation. A storage medium readable by a computer, wherein the program is configured to have the configuration described above. 9. One of the conditions for judging that the signal relating to the dance operation should be processed as a signal serving as a basis, data of two or more predetermined numbers of sensors within a predetermined time difference during the detection period. 9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the program is configured to include outputting a signal indicating operation detection. 10. A signal indicating detection of the dance operation is output from each sensor during the detection period as one of the conditions for determining that the signal should be processed as a signal serving as a basis for the data relating to the dance operation. 10. The storage according to claim 8, wherein the program is configured so that the number of times that the state of being output and the state of not being output are within a predetermined allowable range is included. Medium. 11. Reference data specifying a detection result of each sensor when it is assumed that the player has performed a predetermined dance operation is recorded, and detection of each of the plurality of sensors specified by the reference data is performed. The program is configured such that a result is compared with an actual detection result of each of the plurality of sensors to determine whether or not to process as a signal serving as a basis for the data regarding the dance operation. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein
A storage medium according to claim 1. 12. The detection period is a period in which a state in which a signal indicating detection of the dance operation is output from at least one of a plurality of sensors included in the one detection device is continued. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the program is configured to be set.