JP2003210842A - Video-game equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide video-game equipment, with no sanitary problems, that can display a different game image for each player all over the monitor screen of a single display device and allows the spectators to enjoy the game as well. <P>SOLUTION: This video game equipment that allows a plurality of players, (Pa, Pb) to play a same game together, comprises the single display devices (3, 30) that serve to a plurality of players, game calculating devices (4, 40) that generate different game images based on each player's viewpoint and can time-sharing display these images in turns on the single display devices, and panel windows (5a, 5b and 50a, 50b) that are provided to the respective players. The panel windows are provided with an optical shutter function, wherein pushing up and closing the shutter are controlled by the signals transmitted from the game calculating device so as to be opened when a game image observed from the viewpoint of the corresponding player is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a video game apparatus that allows a plurality of players to play a common game. [0002] Today, video game devices are widespread,
Although enjoyed, some of these video game devices include, for example, fighting games, baseball games, soccer games, mahjong games, card games, drive games, gun games, RPG games, and even those geographically. There is a configuration in which a plurality of players play a common game in a battle format, such as a communication game performed between distant persons. In that case, the reality of the game is improved when the display is made so that each player can see the opponent from each viewpoint. For example, in a boxing game, it is more realistic to display that the opponent's fighter is approaching and punching out than to display the screen as if two fighters are seen from the audience seat. ing. In that case, since each player has a different viewpoint, it is necessary to display a different image for each player. Further, in the case of a mahjong game or a card game, it is not possible to show other players a game or the like to each player, so it is necessary to display a different image for each player. In this way, when multiple players play a common game,
When it is necessary to display a different game image for each player, dividing the screen of one display device according to the number of players reduces the display area per player, and for each player In addition, there is a problem that the cost increases if one display device is used. In order to solve such problems, a plurality of different images are alternately displayed on the screen of one display device in a time-sharing manner, and each player wears glasses that can be opened and closed quickly such as a liquid crystal shutter. By opening and closing each player's glasses in synchronization with the time-division image,
It is also possible to make it possible to see different game images for each player. However, in the case of such a glasses system, spectators other than the player can hardly identify what is displayed even when looking at a display screen where different images are switched at high speed. However, there is also a problem that the appealing effect of the game device for persons other than the player is lacking. Moreover, in the case of the glasses method, there is a hygiene problem because it directly touches the skin, and many people feel resistance to wearing glasses previously used by an unknown person. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a video game that allows a plurality of players to play a common game. It is a device that can display different game images for each player on the whole screen of a single display device, each player can see only the images for himself independently, and the spectators together It is an object of the present invention to provide a video game apparatus that can enjoy a game and has no sanitary problem. The above object of the present invention is to
In a video game device that allows a plurality of players to play a common game; according to a plurality of controllers operated by different players, a single display device common to a plurality of players, and a predetermined game program, The game progresses according to the input from the controller operated by each player, and a game image is generated in the virtual space coordinate system. At the same time, a game image viewed from each player's viewpoint is generated separately. A game operation device that displays a time-division display on the single display device in a rotating manner, and the game that is provided corresponding to each player and opens only when a game image viewed from the viewpoint of the corresponding player is displayed. With an optical shutter function that is controlled to open and close by a signal from the arithmetic unit This can be achieved by the above-mentioned video game apparatus characterized by comprising a panel window. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an operating state when displaying an image for one player in an embodiment for business of a video game apparatus according to the present invention,
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state when image display is performed for the other player in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video game apparatus according to the present invention for home use. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state when image display is performed for the other player in the embodiment of FIG. 3. First, an embodiment of the professional video game apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. 1 and 2
1 is a game apparatus main body, 2a is a controller for player Pa to perform game operations, 2b is a player Pb
Is a controller for performing game operations, 3 is a display device commonly used by the players Pa and Pb, 4 is a game calculation device, 5a is a panel window with an optical shutter function through which the player Pa sees through the screen of the display device 3, and 5b is This is a panel window with an optical shutter function through which the player Pb sees through the screen of the display device 3. This video game apparatus is configured such that two players Pa and Pb play a common game, for example, a boxing game, using the respective controllers 2a and 2b. One player becomes a fighter and the player Pb becomes the other fighter, and fights while watching the appearance of the opponent fighter displayed on the display device 3. In accordance with a predetermined game program, the game calculation device 4 advances the game in accordance with inputs from the controllers 2a and 2b operated by each player, generates a game image in the virtual space coordinate system, and A game image viewed from the viewpoint and a game image viewed from the viewpoint of the player Pb are generated separately, and these images are displayed in a time-sharing manner on the single display device in a rotating manner. The panel window 5a with an optical shutter function on the player Pa side is controlled to be opened and closed by a signal from the game arithmetic device 4 so that it opens only when a game image viewed from the viewpoint of the player Pa is displayed. The panel window 5b with an optical shutter function on the player Pb side is controlled to be opened / closed by a signal from the game calculation device 4 so that it opens only when a game image viewed from the viewpoint of the player Pb is displayed. Yes. As the panel windows 5a and 5b with an optical shutter function, a liquid crystal plate or the like that can electrically switch the light transmittance at high speed is preferably used. Thus, in the normal video game apparatus, the screen drawing is performed on the display device 3 at a speed of 60 frames / second. For example, in the case of two players as described above, the odd-numbered frames are displayed. An image A viewed from the point of view of the player Pa (an image mainly including a fighter that punches out by operation of the player Pb) is displayed, and an image B viewed from the point of view of the player Pb (operation of the player Pa) To display a main image of a fighter that feeds punches and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, when the image A is displayed, the panel window 5a with the optical shutter function on the player Pa side is opened, and the panel window 5b with the optical shutter function on the player Pb side is closed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the image B is displayed, the panel window 5b with an optical shutter function on the player Pb side.
And the panel window 5a with an optical shutter function on the player Pa side is closed. By doing so, the player Pa can see only the image A displayed changing every moment as a movie at 30 frames / second, and similarly the player Pb can see only the image B as a movie at 30 frames / second. It can be done. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 shows a home video game apparatus using a television receiver as the display device 30. In the figure, 20a is a controller for player Pa to perform game operations, 20b. Is the controller on which the player Pb operates the game, 3
0 is a television receiver as a display device commonly used by the players Pa and Pb, 40 is a game computing device, 50a is a panel window with an optical shutter function through which the player Pa sees through the screen of the display device 30, 5
Reference numeral 0b denotes a panel window with an optical shutter function through which the player Pb sees through the screen of the display device 3. The operation of this video game device for home use is
As shown in FIG. 3, when the image A is displayed, the panel window 50a with an optical shutter function on the player Pa side is opened and the optical shutter on the player Pb side is displayed. Panel window 50 with function
4 is closed, and as shown in FIG. 4, when the image B is displayed, the panel window 50b with the optical shutter function on the player Pb side is opened, and the panel window with the optical shutter function on the player Pa side is opened. 50a is closed. By doing so, the player Pa can see only the image A displayed changing every moment as a moving image at 30 frames / second, and similarly the player Pb can see only the image B as a moving image at 30 frames / second. It can be done. The present invention is a fighting game as described above.
Baseball games, soccer games, mahjong games, playing cards games, drive games, gun games, RPG games, etc., as well as commercial game machines and home game machines, which are played by those who are geographically distant from each other It can be widely applied to communication game machines and the like. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the time division coefficient of the image switching display on the display device and the number of frames allocated to each player are the number of players and the video to be displayed. The panel windows 50a and 50b with an optical shutter function in a home video game apparatus can be connected so as to be foldable with each other, or an appropriate stand member can be attached. Is possible,
Further, in the case of a communication game, the panel window with the optical shutter function is provided for each display device of each player who plays the game at a geographically distant place. Therefore, the present invention is within the scope of the object. From the above description, all modified embodiments that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art are included. Since the present invention is constructed as described above, according to the present invention, the following operational effects can be obtained. (1) Since a single display device is used in common by a plurality of players, only one display device and a video board for image generation are required. Furthermore, in a gun game or the like, a sensor mechanism can be shared. Can be manufactured and provided at low cost. (2) Since the display screen is not divided into areas for each player, a powerful game can be enjoyed on a wide screen. (3) It is possible to feel that each player shares the same world at the time of the battle, and the reality of the game increases. (4) Unlike the glasses method, the panel window with an optical shutter function can be viewed not only by the player but also by the spectator, so that the spectator can enjoy the game together, and the exciting and appealing effect of the game can be enjoyed. Can be increased. (5) The panel window with an optical shutter function is hygienic because it does not touch the skin directly unlike the glasses method, and the resistance of the player is eliminated. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an operating state when image display is performed for one player in a business embodiment of a video game apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state when performing image display for the other player in the embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state when image display is performed for one player in a video game apparatus according to the present invention for home use. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state when displaying an image for the other player in the embodiment of FIG. 3; FIG. [Explanation of Symbols] 1 Game console body 2a, 2b Controller 3 Display device 4 Game operation device 5a, 5b Panel window with optical shutter function 20a, 20b Controller 30 Display device 40 Game operation device 50a, 50b Panel with optical shutter function Window Pa, Pb player

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. A video game apparatus for playing a common game by a plurality of players (Pa, Pb); a plurality of controllers (2a, 2b; 20a, 20a, 20b), a single display device (3; 30) common to a plurality of players, and a virtual space coordinate system in accordance with an input from a controller operated by each player in accordance with a predetermined game program A game operation device (4; which generates game images from the viewpoint of each player separately, generates the game images separately from each other, and displays these images in a time-sharing manner on the single display device. 40) and a game image provided for each player and viewed from the corresponding player's viewpoint. Optical shutter function panel window (5a which is opened and closed controlled by a signal from the game operating unit to open only when displayed,
5b; 50a, 50b), and the video game device described above.