JP2003024634A - Function display for controller in game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To announce the function information of an operating means in a game to a player of the game. SOLUTION: A means is provided for reporting the information of a controller itself in the game and the information of operation keys provided on the controller to the player in the manner of sight, hearing and touch and the player of the game smoothly performs operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation means for inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a game control means for controlling a game based on the operation signal from the operation means, and a function information of the operation means. The present invention relates to a game device, a game control method, and a game program that are transmitted to a person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A video game, whether for home use or for business use, has an operating means, and a game is usually operated by a player operating the operating means.

[0003]

However, the game tends to be more complicated, and accordingly, the operation means also have various types, and the operation itself is also complicated. Similarly, the functions of the operation keys provided on the operation means are also complicated. Therefore, what kind of operation key can be used and what kind of operation can be used in order to play the game while the player does not feel uncomfortable and what kind of operation key is effective for the progress of the game. It is desirable to properly inform the player.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game device, a game control method, and a program for appropriately informing a player of information on the function of the operating means.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the game device according to the present invention, the game player operates the operation key provided on the operation means by displaying the function information of the operation key on the game screen. The feature is that the function of the key is known.

Further, the game control method according to the present invention is characterized by including an operation step operated by the player and a step of transmitting the function information of the operation key to the player.

Further, the game program according to the present invention is
It is characterized in that the game device is caused to execute the function of transmitting the function information of the operation key operated by the player to the player. This program can also be stored in an information storage medium.

In the present invention, the player progresses the game by using the operating means, and at that time, the function information of the operation keys can be displayed on the game screen. Therefore, the player can visually judge which operation key has what kind of function.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the function information of the operation keys can be displayed on the game screen by distinguishing whether the function information affects the game or not. As a result, the player does not have to operate the meaningless operation keys by mistake. For example, in the game, when the character moves in the same direction, the operation can be performed using another operation key. Therefore, if this mode is used, it is possible to convey the operation to the player in an easy-to-understand manner when the operation is performed with different operation keys.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to distinguish which of the analog signal and the digital signal is to be performed among the operation keys and display them on the game screen.
It should be noted that since the operation keys that emit analog signals can also be handled digitally as game control, the distinction between analog signals and digital signals here may be distinguished by the effect on the progress of the game. The signal and the digital signal may not be supported.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to display, on the game screen, how much the operation key operation affects. For example, when another operation key can be used to shoot a bullet in the same manner and the power of the bullet differs depending on the operation key, it can be displayed on the screen. This allows the player to easily use the bullets effectively for playing.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the change in the function information of the operation key can be displayed on the game screen.
For example, the game may be controlled such that the amount of movement of the character appearing in the game is different even if the same operation key is used during the game. In this case, the player can visually recognize the amount of movement by displaying the change on the screen.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, when an operation of a certain operation key is analog-processed, it is digitally processed, or an operation which has an influence on the progress of the game has no influence. In such a case, the change can be displayed on the game screen. This allows the player to easily visually recognize the operation effect of the operation key even during the progress of the game.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, when the above aspect is displayed on the game screen, a diagram corresponding to the arrangement of the operation keys provided on the operation means on the game screen can be used. For example, in a home-use game, a figure simulating the controller is always displayed on the screen. As a result, the operation can be more easily performed visually. The operation keys provided on the controller are shown in the figure, and information of the operation keys can be displayed by coloring them, or the shape of the operation keys on the game screen can be changed and displayed. With respect to the main body, for example, a controller having a shape other than a normal household controller, for example, a gun-type controller also displays operation keys corresponding to the shape, so that the player can appropriately recognize the function of the controller. The controller of the present invention is not limited to one that is connected to a game machine or an image display device by wire, but may be a wireless type controller that uses an infrared sensor or the like.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the above aspect is displayed on the game screen, or in place of it.
It can be notified by voice or vibration. In addition, by controlling the controller itself so that it does not operate, the player can more easily recognize the information of the operation keys.
For example, when an operation key that does not affect the progress of the game is pressed, the controller itself can be vibrated or a warning sound can be issued. The operation keys may be locked.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Game device 10 shown in FIG.
Is an embodiment of the game device according to the present invention. The program installed in the game device 10 shown in the figure is an embodiment of the program according to the present invention. Furthermore, the game control method by the game device 10 shown in the figure is an embodiment of the game control method according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG.
Includes a monitor 18 and a speaker 22 on the home game machine 11.
Is connected and the DVD 25 in which the game program and game data are stored is mounted. Here, the home-use game machine 11 using the DVD 25
The game program and game data are supplied to
Any other computer-readable information storage medium such as a D-ROM or a ROM card can be used. Further, the game program and game data can be supplied to the home-use game machine 11 from a remote place via a data communication network such as the Internet.

In the home-use game machine 11, the microprocessor 14, the image processing unit 16, the main memory 26, and the input / output processing unit 30 are connected by the bus 12 so that mutual data communication is possible, and the input / output processing unit 30 further includes a controller. 32,
The audio processing unit 20 and the DVD reproducing unit 24 are connected. Each component of the home-use game machine 11 other than the controller 32 is housed in a housing. The monitor 18 is, for example, a home-use television receiver, and the speaker 22 is, for example, its built-in speaker.

The microprocessor 14 is an R (not shown).
Operating system and DVD2 stored in OM
Based on the program read from 5, each unit of the home-use game machine 11 is controlled. The bus 12 is for exchanging addresses and data between the respective units of the home-use game machine 11. The game program and game data read from the DVD 25 are written in the main memory 26 as needed. The image processing unit 16 is configured to include a VRAM, receives the image data sent from the microprocessor 14 and draws a game screen on the VRAM, converts the content into a video signal, and displays it on the monitor 18 at a predetermined timing. Output.

In the input / output processing unit 30, the microprocessor 14 controls the controller 32, the audio processing unit 20, and the DVD.
This is an interface for accessing the reproduction unit 24. The controller 32 is an input means for a player to operate the game. The input / output processing unit 30 scans the operation states of various buttons of the controller 32 in a constant cycle (for example, every 1/60 seconds), and passes an operation signal indicating the scan result to the microprocessor 14 via the bus 12. The microprocessor 14 determines the game operation of the player based on the operation signal. Further, not only the operation state but also what kind of controller is connected is similarly determined.

The voice processing unit 20 includes a sound buffer, reproduces data such as game music and game sound effects read from the DVD 25 and stored in the sound buffer, and outputs the data from the speaker 22. The DVD reproducing device 24 reads the game program and the game data recorded on the DVD 25 according to an instruction from the microprocessor 14.

An example of the controller 32 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller is provided with many operation keys. A signal from the controller is input by the input / output processing unit 30 of FIG. 1 to determine what kind of controller the controller itself is, and this is determined by the game device as described above. Similarly, an operation signal from an operation key provided on the controller is also input from the input / output processing unit 30 in FIG. The operation signal mentioned here includes not only a signal operated by the player, but also a signal unique to the operation key indicating what kind of operation key is present.

How to process the signal input from here,
Whether to proceed with the game is determined by the game processing control unit or the like.

Further, even if a signal is input, the signal may be ignored so as not to affect the progress of the game.
For example, even if a signal itself is received by the game device when a specific operation key shown in FIG. 2 is pressed after the game is started, the signal can be ignored and processed.

It is important for the game player to smoothly play the game that the function information of the controller, which is the operation means of the game thus determined, and the operation keys provided therein is transmitted to the player.

Therefore, the mode of how to inform the player will be described below with reference to specific examples.

FIG. 3 shows a screen during the playing of a game called gun shooting. A diagram corresponding to the controller is displayed on the game screen. In this game, a player moves the scope 31 and shoots an enemy character 32 specified by the center point thereof with a gun to obtain points. And when the enemy character 32 is defeated, the next enemy character 3
Move the scope 31 to shoot 3.

At this time, the player operates the operation keys 28 of the controller, which means shooting a gun. But,
Especially in the case of a home-use game machine, a general-purpose controller is often used, and it has a drawback that it is difficult for a player to know what operation key is pressed to fire a bullet of a gun. On the other hand, in this game, the operation keys 26 and the like do not need to function in this scene.

Therefore, in this scene, if the operation keys that do not function as shown in FIG. 4 are marked with a cross, the player can watch the progress of the game on the game screen and at the same time select one of the operation keys provided on the controller during the game. It is possible to recognize things that do not work at first glance. Further, instead of marking the operation keys that do not function in this way, some marks may be marked on the operation keys that function. It is also possible to display the function keys of the operation keys in a different color from the color keys that do not function. For example, operation keys that do not function in the game may be displayed in red and functioning operation keys may be displayed in blue.

There is also a means for notifying the player of the function information of the operation keys without using the diagram corresponding to the controller. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to display a comment that "○ button does not work". Alternatively, only the O button may be displayed to indicate that only the O button functions.

Further, in such a game, when the center point of the scope 31 of FIG. 3 overlaps with the enemy character 31, shooting a gun causes the enemy character 31 to collapse. In that case, a slight distance movement and fine adjustment are required to match the center point of the scope with the enemy character. On the other hand, after defeating the enemy character 32, aiming at the next target enemy character 33 is to move the scope a lot at a time and to move the scope to the position of the enemy character immediately. . Therefore, even when the scope is moved to the left in the same way, in the case of a small amount,
When the operation key 22 of is to be largely moved, the operation key 29 of FIG. 2 may be used.

At this time, since another operation key is used regardless of the movement in the same direction, it is desired by the player to transmit the function information of the operation key to the player. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, if the shaded portion of the operation key 62 is colored differently and it is desired to move a lot at a time, it may be implied to use the operation key.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the movement amount of the operation key 71 and the operation key 72 for moving to the left can be displayed by changing the size of the arrow. By doing so, the player can visually and instantly understand the amount of movement at the time of operation.

The function information of such operation keys is not always the same even in the same game. When it is desirable for the game to change during the game progress, the signal input from the operation key may be changed during the game. This change can also be displayed on the game screen. When the function of the operation key is changed during the game, the player is likely to make an error in the operation, which is particularly effective. The specific display may be the same as the above-mentioned aspect or may be another aspect. For example, a diagram showing the change can be displayed on the screen only when there is a change in the function information. In this way, the player can be more effectively notified of the change in function.

Here, a method of displaying on the game screen will be described with reference to FIG.

A signal input from the controller 78 for specifying the controller itself and any operation key,
Further, an operation signal indicating what operation the player has performed is input to the game progress processing section via the signal input section 71. As a result, the progress of the game is determined by the player's operation. Also, along with that, the operation signal input unit 7
The information of the operation signal from 1 is input to the function information processing unit.
The function information processing unit 73 has an operation signal determination unit 79, which determines how the signal from the operation key functions in the game. It also determines what type of game controller itself is.

In this way, the drawing displayed on the game screen is determined by the display screen selection unit 74 based on the information specified by the operation signal determination unit. Here, a case has been described in which the display screen selection unit 74 uses a method of selecting a display screen from a plurality of drawings, but it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of drawings when always using the same image. It is also possible to determine a drawing to be displayed by combining one drawing and another drawing. The drawings referred to in the present invention include all things that can be visually expressed such as pictures, symbols and characters.

Next, the display screen storage unit 75 stores the drawing selected by the display screen selection unit 74, and finally it is combined with the game screen by the image processing unit and displayed on the screen. At this time, the position to be displayed may be determined in relation to the game screen. This makes the game screen easier for the player to see.

Next, the case of not displaying on the game screen will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. When the operation key is pressed while the game is in progress, the operation signal is input to the game device from the input / output processing unit of FIG. It is the game progress control unit, the image processing unit 16, and the sound processing unit 20 that decides how this influences the game progress. If you do not want to affect the game by pressing the operation key 21 in FIG.
It is sufficient if the input signal is not used for game control.

In FIG. 8, a signal from the controller 98 is input to the game progress processing section through the operation signal input section 91. As a result, the game progresses and the player enjoys the game. Similarly, the operation signal is also input from the operation signal input unit 91 to the functional information sound generation unit. In the functional sound selecting section of the functional information sound generating section 93, sound information corresponding to the function is selected.

Specifically, when an operation key that does not affect the progress of the game is pressed, a sound indicating it is selected, and when an operation key for shooting a bullet is operated, the sound of the bullet is emitted. select. The sound is stored in the functional sound storage unit 95,
Finally, the sound processing unit 96 synthesizes it with another game sound and recognizes it by the player through the speaker 97.

In addition to this, it is also possible to convey the function of the controller to the player by sending a signal to the controller to vibrate the controller or to make it impossible to press the operation key of the controller.

[0044]

Although the player of the conventional game has proceeded with the game based on various operation instructions, the information of the controller, which is means for performing the operation, is difficult for the player to understand. Therefore, the present invention has been made, and as described above, a player can easily know what function an operation key to operate has, visually, aurally, or tactilely before or during operation of the operation key. You can As a result, complicated operations can be easily recognized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a home-use game controller used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a screen of a game according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a screen of the game according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is one screen of the game according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a screen of the game according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is one screen of the game according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 3/02 G06F 3/02 370Z

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. In a game device in which a game is operated by a player, an operation means for inputting an operation signal by the operation of the player, a control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and an operation by the player. A game device comprising display means for displaying function information of operation keys provided on the operation means on a game screen. 2. In a game device in which a game is operated by a player, operation means for inputting an operation signal by the operation of the player, control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and operation by the player Among the plurality of operation keys provided on the operation means, there is provided means for displaying the function information of the operation means on the game screen by distinguishing the operation key that affects the game from the operation key that does not affect the game. And the game device. 3. A game device in which a game is operated by a player's operation, an operation means for inputting an operation signal by the player's operation, a control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and a player's operation. Among the plurality of operation keys provided on the operation means, there is provided means for displaying a distinction between an operation key for analog signal processing and an operation key for digital signal processing on a game screen as functional information of the operation means. And the game device. 4. A game device in which a game is operated by a player's operation, operation means for inputting an operation signal by the player's operation, control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and the player's operation. A game apparatus having a means for displaying the functional information of the operating means on the game screen by distinguishing the difference in the degree of influence on the game among the plurality of operation keys provided on the operating means. 5. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the function information display of the operation keys uses a diagram corresponding to the arrangement of the operation keys provided on the operation means. 6. The game device according to claim 5, wherein the displayed figure is such that a plurality of operation keys are colored so that the player can visually recognize the function information of the operation keys. . 7. The display according to claim 5, wherein the displayed figure is such that the player can visually recognize the function information of the operation keys by using the shape characteristics of the plurality of operation keys. Game device. 8. In a game device in which a game is operated by a player's operation, operation means for inputting an operation signal by the player's operation, control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and operation by the player A game device comprising display means for displaying on a game screen a change in functional information of an operation key provided on the operation means. 9. In a game device in which a game is operated by a player's operation, an operation means for inputting an operation signal by the player's operation, a control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and a player's operation. Of the plurality of operation keys provided on the operation means, an operation key that affects the game does not affect the game, or an operation key that does not affect the game starts to affect the game. , A game device having means for displaying changes in the functional information on the game screen. 10. A game device in which a game is operated by a player's operation, operation means for inputting an operation signal by the player's operation, control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and operation by the player. When an operation key operated by an analog signal can be operated by a digital signal among a plurality of operation keys provided on the operation means, or when an operation key operated by a digital signal can be operated by an analog signal , A game device having means for displaying changes in the functional information on the game screen. 11. A game device in which a game is operated by a player's operation, operation means for inputting an operation signal by the player's operation, control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and the player's operation. A game apparatus comprising: means for displaying, on a game screen, a change in functional information such as a degree of influence on a game among a plurality of operation keys provided on the operation means. 12. The vibration generating device or the operation device according to claim 9, wherein the sound generating device or the operating device vibrates or operates in addition to the display unit for displaying the change of the functional information on the game screen or in place of the display unit for the game screen. A game device having means for giving a restriction. 13. The game device according to claim 9, wherein the change of the function information of the operation key is displayed by using a diagram corresponding to the arrangement of the operation key provided on the operation means. 14. The figure displayed in claim 13 is characterized in that the change of the function information of the operation key can be visually notified by the player by using the change of color for the plurality of operation keys. Game device to play. 15. The figure displayed in claim 13 is characterized in that the change of the shape of the plurality of operation keys is used so that the player can visually notify the change of the function information of the operation keys. Game device to play. 16. A game device in which a game is operated by a player's operation, an operation means for inputting an operation signal by the player's operation, a control means for controlling the game based on the operation signal, and a player's operation. A game apparatus comprising means for notifying a player of an operation key provided on the operation means that does not affect the progress of the game when the operation key is operated. 17. The game device according to claim 16, wherein the notification is voice. 18. The game device according to claim 16, wherein the notification is a change in display on the screen corresponding to the operation key. 19. The game device according to claim 16, wherein the notification is a vibration of the operating means. 20. A game screen which includes an operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and functional information of operation keys provided in an operation means operated by the player. A game control method comprising the step of displaying on. 21. An operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and a game among a plurality of operation keys provided on operation means operated by the player. A game control method comprising the step of displaying the function information of the operating means on the game screen by distinguishing between the operation keys that affect the game and the operation keys that do not affect the game. 22. An operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and a game among a plurality of operation keys provided on operation means operated by the player. And a step of displaying the functional information of the operating means on the game screen while distinguishing the difference in the degree of the effect on the game control method. 23. An operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and a change of functional information of an operation key provided on an operation means operated by the player. A game control method comprising the step of displaying on a game screen. 24. An operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and a function screen of operation keys provided on operation means operated by the player, showing a game screen. A program for causing a game device to execute the steps displayed on. 25. An operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and a game among a plurality of operation keys provided on an operation means operated by the player. A program for causing a game device to execute a step of displaying the function information of the operation means on the game screen by distinguishing the operation key that affects the game from the operation key that does not affect the game. 26. An operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and a game among a plurality of operation keys provided on operation means operated by the player. A program for causing a game device to execute a step of displaying functional information of operating means on a game screen while distinguishing the degree of influence on the game screen. 27. An operation step of inputting an operation signal by a player's operation, a step of controlling a game based on the operation signal, and a change of functional information of an operation key provided on an operation means operated by the player. A program that causes a computer to execute the steps displayed on the game screen.