JP2002360931A - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game device capable of improving the quality of an image projected on the plane of projection frequently observed by a player only by a single projection device and appreciating a real image with a concentration. SOLUTION: A curved screen 16 having a curved plane of projection is disposed with one end of the plane of projection drawn at the feet of the player P, the eye of the player is arranged near the center of the curved screen 16, and a fisheye lens 24 for wide-angle projecting an image on the plane of projection of the curved screen 16 is disposed in a position shifted from the center of the curved screen 16 toward the feet of the player P.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game apparatus for projecting an image on a curved screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a display device for projecting an image on a curved screen has been known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
Japanese Patent Application No. -80239 discloses a display device that projects an image on a hemispherical curved screen. In this display device, an image is projected on the entire projection surface of a curved screen by projecting the image with a wide-angle lens. Such images are generally projected at a uniform resolution and brightness over the entire screen.

[0003]

However, depending on the content of the game displayed on the amusement device, there is a case where directivity is generated in a range in which the player gazes. For example, assuming a game device in which a player sits on a seating means imitating a vehicle on a motorcycle or the like and enjoys a game play, an image effective for causing the player to feel a sense of speed is an image positioned in the direction of the player's feet. It is. There is a tendency that the opportunity to gaze at an image positioned above the player is reduced.

When projecting such a game content on a curved screen, there is no need to project the entire screen at a uniform resolution, and there is a demand to increase the resolution of an image projected in a range where the player frequently watches. .

In order to meet this demand, it is conceivable to divide the projection range of the screen, provide a projection device for each of the divided projection ranges, and project images at a resolution corresponding to the divided projection range from the projection device. In such a case, the size of the amusement device increases in accordance with the number of projection devices installed, and the cost also increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and has as its object to reduce the image quality of an image projected on a projection surface frequently watched by a player using only a single projection device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement apparatus which can enhance a real and immersive image.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an amusement apparatus comprising: a curved screen having a curved projection surface; and one end of the projection surface drawn into the player's feet. Then, the player's eyes are arranged near the center of the curved screen, and projection means for wide-angle projection of an image on the projection surface of the curved screen is arranged at a position shifted from the center of the curved screen in the direction of the feet of the player. It is characterized by having.

[0008] As described above, one end of the projection surface of the curved screen having the curved projection surface is drawn into the player's feet, and the player's eyes are arranged near the center of the curved screen. Wide-angle projection of the image onto the projection surface of the curved screen from the projection means arranged at a position shifted in the direction of the feet of the player, the resolution and brightness of the image projected on the projection surface frequently watched by the player under the feet of the player Thus, it is possible to view a real and immersive image on the entire screen. In particular, it is suitable for expressing a sense of speed by expressing the road surface state in detail in a simulator-type game such as a motorcycle in which the player's line of sight is concentrated from the front to the feet.

A game device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the game device according to the first aspect, further comprising seating means for the player to sit down, the seating means being provided at a position facing the curved screen.

As described above, the seating means for the player to be seated is provided, and the seating means is provided at a position facing the curved screen, so that the position of the projection means and the eyes of the player can be set near the center of the curved screen. , It is projected as a video that is easy for the player to see.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The amusement device 11 of the present embodiment is a motorcycle race game device for experiencing a motorcycle race, and a base 12 constituting a lower portion thereof.
And a simulated motorcycle housing (simulated housing) 13 fixed on the base 12 and imitating the shape of a real motorcycle, on which only one player P rides while straddling in a state facing the front of the apparatus.
Is formed in a hemispherical shape with an opening 14 formed on one side, and is connected to the base 12 via a connecting member 15 or the like in a state where the opening 14 is directed to the simulated motorcycle housing 13 side. A curved screen 16 is provided on the front side of the player P straddling the motorcycle housing 13 so as to cover the player P and the simulated motorcycle housing 13.

The curved screen 16 is a projection screen 1 on the inner peripheral side.
7 has a true spherical shape, and the edge 1 on the opening 14 side.
8 is fixed to the pedestal 12 in a state in which the lower portion is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical so that the lower portion approaches the simulated motorcycle housing 13 (that is, is positioned on the rear side of the device). In other words, the curved screen 16 is
Is provided so as to project forward and diagonally downward.

The simulated motorcycle housing 13 includes a seat portion 20 on which the player P sits, a step 21 for supporting the feet of the player P sitting on the seat portion 20, and a state where the player P sits on the seat portion 20. And a rotatable handle 22 gripped by the player P's hand. The player 22 performs an input operation of a traveling direction by rotation by the player P. The handle 22 includes an accelerator (not shown) in which an input operation of a speed is performed by the player P and an input operation of a brake. And a brake lever performed by the player P.

A projector for projecting an image on a curved screen 16 (not shown) is housed in the simulated motorcycle housing 13. This projector uses a fish-eye lens 24 as a projection lens. The fish-eye lens 24 is located at the front of the simulated motorcycle housing 13 and has a head P of a player P riding on the simulated motorcycle housing 13.
It is provided at a position that is always lower than a, specifically, at a position corresponding to the headlight of the simulated motorcycle housing 13 simulating a motorcycle (in the actual product, a position to which the headlight is attached). Here, the fisheye lens 24 faces the curved screen 16 and is provided so as to be inclined in parallel with the edge 18 on the opening 14 side of the curved screen 16.

As described above, since the fisheye lens 24 is provided below the head Pa of the player P riding on the simulated motorcycle housing 13, the fisheye lens 24 is viewed from the front as viewed from the player P of the curved screen 16. The center of the brightness and pixel density of the image (the brightest position in brightness and the highest pixel density in pixel density) is located on the lower side. The fisheye lens 24 may be provided such that the lens center is located on the same plane as the edge 18 of the curved screen 16 on the opening 14 side.

The simulated motorcycle housing 13 is provided with a handle so that the eye Pb and the fisheye lens 24 of the player P in the riding posture holding the foot on the step 21 and gripping the handle 22 are positioned close to the center of the curved screen 16. The positional relationship between the seat 22 and the seat 20 is set, and the eyes Pb of the player P in the riding posture (the center position between the eyes Pb).
The positional relationship between the handle 22 and the seat 20 is set such that the center of the line connecting the camera and the fisheye lens 24 is located substantially at the center of the curved screen 16. The fisheye lens 24 may have its lens center coincident with the center of the curved screen 16, and the eyes Pb of the player P in the riding posture (the center position between both eyes Pb) may be substantially at the center of the curved screen 16. It may be possible to make them match. Further, the amusement device of the present embodiment includes an audio generation unit that reproduces audio and background sound in synchronization with the video projected on the curved screen 16.

In the amusement apparatus 11 having such a configuration, when an image of, for example, a circuit course is projected on the entire projection surface 17 of the curved screen 16 through the fisheye lens 24 by the projector, a step 21 The player P with his / her feet on and gripping the handle 22 plays a game by changing the direction of the handle 22 in accordance with the projected video and audio, operating the accelerator and the brake lever, and the like. At this time, the player P
Because the image will be projected over almost the entire field of view,
A great immersion will be obtained.

According to the above-described play apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, the fisheye lens 24 is provided at the front portion of the simulated motorcycle housing 13 and the projector is provided in the simulated motorcycle housing 13 so that the player P and the fisheye lens 24 Can be displayed while reducing the interference of the player P. Moreover, as shown in the figure, there is no need to provide anything above the simulated motorcycle housing 13, and as a result, the entire apparatus can be made smaller in size than when the fisheye lens 24 and the projector are arranged above the player P. .

Further, since the fisheye lens 24, which is the projection unit of the projector, is provided below the head Pa of the player P riding on the simulated motorcycle housing 13, the fisheye lens 24 is viewed from the player P of the curved screen 16. Thus, the center of the brightness and the pixel density of the image can be positioned from the front to the lower side. For this reason, it is optimal for a game such as a motorcycle race in which the player P rides while straddling the simulated motorcycle housing 13 in which the viewpoint of the player P is directed downward from the front.

Further, since the fisheye lens 24 as the projection unit is provided at a position corresponding to the headlight of the simulated motorcycle housing 13, the position of the fisheye lens 24 and the position of the player P riding over the simulated motorcycle housing 13 are determined. The position of the eyes Pb can be brought close to each other, and an image which is sufficiently easy to see from the player P can be displayed on the curved screen 16.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the curved screen 16 has a hemispherical shape has been described as an example. In this case, the above effects can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a description has been given by taking as an example a motorcycle racing game device in which the player P rides on the simulated motorcycle housing 13 as a simulated housing and experiences a motorcycle race. If the game device is a game device in which P rides and performs a game, for example, a player rides on a simulated bicycle housing and rides on a simulated snowmobile housing. A snowmobile racing game machine that allows you to experience a mobile race, a player rides on a simulated jet ski chassis, and a jet ski race game device that experiences a jet ski race. The present invention can be applied to various types of amusement devices, for example, to experience the game. Further, as a similar game device to which the above can be applied, for example, there is a simulator such as a riding simulator for causing the player P to perform a pseudo experience.

And, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ships, etc.
In the case where the simulated housing simulates a vehicle having a headlight, the fisheye lens 24 may be provided at a position corresponding to the headlight.

When the simulated housing is a model of a riding animal having a head such as a horse, the fisheye lens 24 may be provided at a position corresponding to the head.

[0025]

As described above in detail, according to the amusement device of the first invention, one end of the projection surface of the curved screen having the curved projection surface is drawn into the player's feet and disposed. By placing the player's eyes near the center and projecting a wide-angle image onto the projection surface of the curved screen from projection means arranged at a position shifted from the center of the curved screen in the direction of the player's feet, Can improve the resolution and brightness of an image projected on a projection surface that is frequently watched, and can enjoy a realistic and highly immersive image on the entire screen. In particular, it is suitable for realizing a sense of speed by expressing the road surface state in detail in a simulator-type game such as a motorcycle in which the player's line of sight is focused on the feet from the front.

According to the game device of the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seating means for the player to sit down, and the seating means is provided at a position facing the curved screen.
Since the position of the projection means and the eye of the player can be brought close to the vicinity of the center of the curved screen, the image is projected as an image which is easy for the player to see.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a curved screen is shown in a transparent state.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Amusement apparatus 13 Simulated motorcycle case (simulated case) 14 Opening 16 Curved screen 24 Fisheye lens P Player Pa Head

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A curved screen having a curved projection surface, one end of the projection surface is drawn under the player's feet, and the player's eyes are arranged near the center of the curved screen, and the projection of the curved screen is performed. A game device comprising: projection means for projecting an image on a surface at a wide angle, wherein the projection means is arranged at a position shifted from the center of the curved screen in a direction below the player's feet. 2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: seating means on which the player sits, wherein the seating means is provided at a position facing the curved screen.