JP3320700B2 - Game system and computer-readable storage medium for realizing the game system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game system and the like for enjoying an operation according to music.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game system for enjoying an operation according to music is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-151380. In this game system, an operation of an operation member provided on the input device is guided through a screen, and when the input device is operated according to the guidance, an appropriate sound effect or the like is superimposed on the music being reproduced as BGM. Guidance on the operation is provided through an indicator provided in the game screen. Different passages are set inside the indicator for each operation member of the input device, and a stationary mark representing the external characteristic of the operation member corresponding to each passage is arranged at the lower end of each passage. From the upper end of the indicator, a predetermined moving mark descends toward the still mark at a tempo corresponding to the music. Each movement mark has a length corresponding to the duration of the operation in the up-down direction (moving direction). The player is required to operate the operation member until the movement mark reaches the reference position set at the lower end of the indicator and passes through the reference position.

[0003]

According to the operation guide method in the game system described above, even if the player is unfamiliar with the game, the start and end timings of the operation can be determined by observing the length of the mark descending in the indicator. Can be easily grasped. However, the stimulus received from the guidance display gradually fades, and the interest in the game may be impaired accordingly.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a music game system capable of increasing the interest of players by devising a method of guiding operations.

[0005]

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.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an operation guide device (21) for guiding a series of operations of an input device (for example, 7) set in association with a predetermined music performance through a predetermined guide screen (100 , 300 ). , 210 ), the operation guide device is a continuous operation guide means for guiding a continuous operation of the input device longer than a predetermined unit time as a kind of operation included in the series of operations. Wherein the continuous operation guide means ends the continuous operation after the player starts operating the input device in accordance with the guidance of the timing of starting the continuous operation for at least one continuous operation. Guidance of timing, the operation guidance device, the guidance screen
At a tempo corresponding to the performance of the music in a predetermined direction.
Movable signs (115, 303B, etc.)
The reference sign (116, 116) displayed at a predetermined position on the movement route
311), it is included in the series of operations described above.
Can be configured to guide each operation. Soshi
And the continuous operation guide means starts the continuous operation.
The movable marker is synchronized with the reference marker
At the end of the continuous operation.
As expected, the movable sign passes the reference sign,
Control target selected from the movable sign or the reference sign
When controlling the position and length of the sign in the predetermined direction
Both, with respect to said at least one continuous operation,
In response to the guidance of when to start the continuous operation
Until the continuous operation is started,
The length corresponds to the original duration corresponding to the duration of the continuous operation.
Set the length different from the length and the continuous operation will start.
After changing the control target sign to the original length
The above- described problem is solved by guiding the end of the continuous operation .

According to the present invention, after the player starts the continuous operation according to the guidance of the operation guide device, the timing of ending the continuous operation is guided to the player. Therefore, until the continuous operation is started, it becomes impossible or difficult for the player to predict when to end the operation. As a result, unexpectedness is given to the game, and the interest of the player is stimulated. When the operation of the input device is started in accordance with the guidance of the continuous operation, the movable marker or the reference marker expands or contracts, and the player is notified of the correct operation end timing.

[0008]

[0009] The operation guidance equipment is a one-shot operation of ending within the unit time, it may comprise a one-shot operation guide means for guiding as a kind of an operation included in the series of operations. The one-shot operation guide means is configured to control the target marker selected from the movable marker or the reference marker so that the movable marker reaches the reference marker in synchronization with the timing at which the single operation is to be performed. controls the position for a given direction, it is possible to set the length of the control target label that corresponds to the one-shot operation in a predetermined reference length (claim 2). According to the present invention, a one-time operation and a continuous operation are mixed and guided,
The number of types of operations increases, and the user can experience a feeling similar to that of actually operating a musical instrument such as a keyboard.

The control target marker corresponding to the one-time operation and the control target marker corresponding to the continuous operation set to a length different from the original length can be identified in the guide screen. (Claim 3 ). In this case, the player can easily identify the control target sign corresponding to the continuous operation before the length is changed,
It can be prepared for a length change after the start of the continuous operation.

[0011] The control target marker corresponding to the continuous operation set to a length different from the original length may be displayed longer than the reference length of the control target marker corresponding to the single operation. Good (claim 4 ). When the control target sign is displayed with a different length in this way, the player can easily determine whether the control target sign corresponds to a one-time operation or a continuous operation. Become like

[0012] The movable sign is selected as the control target sign, and the continuous operation guide means extends the movable sign in a direction opposite to the moving direction after the continuous operation is started, thereby performing the continuous operation. The end timing may be indicated (claim 5 ). According to the present invention, when the movable sign reaches a predetermined position on the guidance screen and the player starts a continuous operation guided by the movable sign in accordance therewith, the movable sign extends to the opposite side to the moving direction and actually moves. The player is informed that the timing of the operation end is after the position indicated by the movable sign so far.

In the above invention, a sound generation control device (21, 28, 2) for performing a predetermined sound generation process in response to at least a part of the operations included in the series of operations.
5C), wherein the pronunciation control device may cause at least one continuous operation to respond to a phrase in which a plurality of sounds are successively expressed (claim 6 ). In this way, the phrase is automatically reproduced while the same operation is continued, so that the player's interest in the continuous operation can be stimulated as compared with the case where a single sound is continuously generated.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game system, wherein a series of operations of an input device (for example, 7 , 207 ) set in association with a performance of a predetermined music is performed on a predetermined guide screen (100 , 207 ) .
300 ) through the operation guide device (21 , 21).
0 ), the operation guide device includes a movable marker (115 , 303B, etc. ) that moves at a tempo corresponding to the performance of the music in a predetermined direction in the guide screen, and a predetermined position on the moving path of the movable marker. (116 , 31)
Each operation included in the series of operations is guided by the positional relationship with 1 ). Then, the operation guide device is synchronized with the timing of starting the operation.
The movable sign reaches the reference sign and
The movable sign is synchronized with the reference
To pass the sign, the movable sign and the reference sign
Controls the positional relationship, after at least one operation is guided the movable labeled with said reference marker is started for the input device, after the operation
And a length control means for changing the length of one of the movable marker and the reference marker for guiding the operation such that the timing changes .

According to the present invention, since the length of the movable sign or the reference sign is changed after the operation is performed, the guidance of the operation to be indicated by the positional relationship changes, thereby giving the game an unexpectedness. Is done.

[0016] In this case, before Sulfur butterfly of control means it may be stretched the movable indicator on the side opposite to the direction of movement (claim
8 ).

According to the present invention, a predetermined game program is recorded, and the program is provided as operation guide means for guiding a series of operations of the input device set in association with a predetermined music performance through a predetermined guide screen. A computer-readable storage medium configured to cause a computer to function, wherein the operation guide unit performs a continuous operation for a longer time than a predetermined unit time on the input device, for an operation included in the series of operations. The continuous operation guidance means includes a continuous operation guidance means for guiding the player, and the player starts operating the input device according to a guidance of a timing of starting the continuous operation for at least one continuous operation. After that , the operation guide device guides the timing of ending the continuous operation, and the operation guide device displays the guide screen.
At a tempo corresponding to the performance of the music in a predetermined direction.
Movable sign and a predetermined position on the movement path of the movable sign
The above series of operations is performed according to the positional relationship with the displayed reference sign.
It is configured to guide each operation included in the work,
The continuous operation guide means is a timer for starting the continuous operation.
The movable sign reaches the reference sign in synchronization with the ringing,
And in synchronization with the timing of ending the continuous operation,
Move the movable marker so that the movable marker passes the reference marker.
Or the control target marker selected from the reference marker
Controls the position and length in a predetermined direction, and
Note that for at least one continuous operation, the continuous operation
In response to the guidance of the timing to start the operation, said continuous
Until the operation is started, the length of the control target marker is
Different from the original length corresponding to the duration of the continuous operation
Set to a certain length before and after the continuous operation is started.
Change the control target sign to the original length and
Guiding the timing to finish the operation can be configured as a computer-readable storage medium characterized by (claim 9). By reading and executing the program on the storage medium by a computer, the game system according to claim 1 can be configured.

Further, according to the present invention, a predetermined game program is recorded, and the program includes an operation guide for guiding a series of operations of the input device set in association with a predetermined music performance through a predetermined guide screen. The computer is configured to function as a means, and the operation guide means includes:
It is included in the series of operations according to the positional relationship between a movable sign that moves at a tempo corresponding to the performance of the music in a predetermined direction in the guide screen and a reference sign displayed at a predetermined position on the moving path of the movable sign. In a computer-readable storage medium configured to guide each operation to be performed, the operation guide means is synchronized with a timing at which the operation is started.
The movable sign reaches the reference sign, and
The movable marker is synchronized with the timing of finishing the operation.
The movable marker and the reference marker so as to pass through the semi-sign;
And at least one operation guided by the movable marker and the reference marker is started on the input device, and the operation is terminated.
And a length control means for changing the length of one of the movable sign and the reference sign for guiding the operation such that the timing of the change is changed. It can be configured as a computer-readable storage medium (claim 10). By reading and executing the program on the storage medium by a computer, the game system according to claim 7 can be configured.

The continuous operation in the present invention includes, for example, an operation of continuously pressing a key as an operation member, a continuous hit of repeatedly pressing the same key in a short cycle, a plurality of keys in a predetermined order, or an arbitrary order. A single operation that requires the player to be conscious of the continuity of the operation, such as a pressing operation. Are distinguished by

In the present invention, means is provided for evaluating the player's operation based on the correlation between the guided operation and the operation actually performed by the player in response to the operation guidance (for example, the degree of coincidence of the operation). Is also good. The evaluation of the operation for a single operation includes, for example, the timing of the guided operation,
This can be performed based on the degree of coincidence with the timing of the actually performed operation, and the higher the degree of coincidence, the higher the evaluation. On the other hand, the evaluation of the continuous operation includes, for example, the correlation (for example, the degree of coincidence) between the timing of the start of the guided operation and the timing at which the player actually starts the operation, the timing of the end of the guided operation, and the actual timing of the player. Can be performed based on both or one of the correlations (for example, the degree of coincidence) with the timing at which the operation is completed. Only the correlation between the guided operation start timing and the actual operation start timing is evaluated, and then no evaluation is performed until the operation end timing is reached, or only the evaluation that results in a deduction is performed It may not be necessary. In this case, after the continuous operation is started, the player can freely operate the input device without worrying about a decrease in the evaluation until the end timing of the continuous operation comes. Thus, for example, a free session of music can be simulated.

[0021]

[0022]

The continuous operation guide means (210) guides the timing of ending the continuous operation by performing a display for reducing the movable sign (303B or the like) after the player starts operating the input device (207). May
(Claim 11) .

In this case, visual appeal can be provided by the display in which the movable sign is reduced.

In this case, the continuous operation guide means (21)
0), the movable marker (303B or the like) may be displayed such that the disappearance of the movable marker (303B or the like) coincides with the timing of ending the continuous operation (claim).
12) .

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

A game system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention
A series of input devices set in association with a certain music performance
Operation guidance device that guides the user's operation through a predetermined guidance screen
In the game system provided with, the operation guide device
Is longer than a predetermined unit time for the input device.
A continuous operation is a type of operation included in the above series of operations.
Continuous operation guidance means for guiding
Guidance means for playing the music in a predetermined direction in the guidance screen;
A movable sign that moves at the tempo according to the performance, and the movable sign
Of the reference sign displayed at a predetermined position on the travel route
Guide the start time of the continuous operation according to the relationship
The continuous operation guide means is configured to perform the continuous operation.
Players follow the guidance of the timing to start the work
End the continuous operation after starting operation of the input device.
The continuous operation guide means (210) includes a gauge display means (210) for displaying a gauge (315) in the movable sign (303H), and the gauge display means (210) After the player starts operating the input device (207), the gauge (315)
Changing the gauge amount is the row Umono the display of the gauge (315) so that the gauge amount matches the timing to end the continuous operation when it reaches the predetermined gauge value.

In this case, visual interest can be provided by changing the gauge amount of the gauge.

A game system according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention
A series of input devices set in association with a certain music performance
Operation guidance device that guides the user's operation through a predetermined guidance screen
In the game system provided with, the operation guide device
Is longer than a predetermined unit time for the input device.
A continuous operation is a type of operation included in the above series of operations.
Continuous operation guidance means for guiding
Guidance means for playing the music in a predetermined direction in the guidance screen;
A movable sign that moves at the tempo according to the performance, and the movable sign
Of the reference sign displayed at a predetermined position on the travel route
Guide the start time of the continuous operation according to the relationship
The continuous operation guide means is configured to perform the continuous operation.
Players follow the guidance of the timing to start the work
End the continuous operation after starting operation of the input device.
The continuous operation guidance means (210) includes numerical value display means (210) for displaying a numerical value in the movable sign (303F), and the numerical value display means (210) is input by the player. device (207) operated numeric changing the after that initiated the numeric is used for displaying a numerical value to match the timing to end the continuous operation when it reaches the predetermined value.

In this case, by changing the numerical value in the movable sign, visual fun can be provided.

A reproduction means (212, 204, 205) for reproducing a predetermined sound when a predetermined operation set on the input device (207) is performed, and the reproduction means (21
2, 204, and 205) when the player starts operating the input device (207) at a predetermined timing, and also when the player does not operate the input device (207) at a predetermined timing. May be reproduced (claim 15) .

A reproduction means (212, 204, 205) for reproducing a predetermined sound when a predetermined operation set on the input device (207) is performed, and a reproduction means (21)
2, 204, 205) may not reproduce a predetermined sound when the player does not operate the input device (207) at a predetermined timing (claim 16) .

The game system according to claim 17 is an input device
Operations of a predetermined strength for
The operation guide device is capable of guiding as one type of work, and the movable sign includes a display element indicating a predetermined intensity of the operation.

In this case, not only the timing of the operation but also the strength of the operation is indicated by the movable sign, so that the game characteristics can be enhanced.

The predetermined strength of the operation may be indicated by the size of the display of the movable sign (claim 18) .

In the present invention, the storage medium includes various storage media such as a magnetic storage device, a magneto-optical storage device, and a semiconductor storage device.

[0040]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 4 show the appearance of an arcade game machine (business game machine) to which the present invention is applied. This game machine 1 includes a housing 2, a pair of left and right monitors 3, 3 attached to the front side of the housing 2, and speaker units 4 A, 4 B, 4 B respectively arranged on the upper side and the side of the housing 2. And a lighting device 5 such as a spotlight disposed around the housing 2.
... 5. Each monitor 3 is mounted in a vertically installed state in which the long sides are aligned with the vertical direction.
However, instead of the two monitors 3 and 3, one horizontally long monitor may be installed.

In a portion of the housing 2 below the monitor 3,
A control panel 2a is provided so as to protrude forward. The upper surface of the control panel 2a is substantially horizontal. Each of the operation units 6 and 6 is provided as a place where one player plays. However, one player can enjoy the play by operating both operation units 6 and 6 at the same time.

Each operation section 6 is provided with a keyboard 7 and a wheel control switch 8 as input devices. The keyboard 7 is an MI in the field of electronic musical instruments.
DI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface)
A key equivalent to two octaves, that is, 14 white keys 7a.
a and 10 black keys 7b... 7b (see FIG. 5). In the following, when there is no need to distinguish the white key 7a and the black key 7b, they are simply referred to as keys. The number of keys is not limited to two octaves, and may be one octave or three octaves or more.

The MIDI mentioned here is a standard that defines a communication protocol on a MIDI cable connecting a MIDI output and a MIDI input. According to the MIDI standard, 16 channels are defined, and different timbres, in other words, different types of musical instruments can be assigned to each channel. When a key on the keyboard 7 is pressed, a note-on message is output, and when the key is released, a note-off message is output. The note-on message includes information on the type of message, channel number, note number, and velocity. The channel number information is information for specifying which of the 16 channels is to be controlled. The note number information indicates which pitch (pitch)
Is to be output, in other words, which key has been pressed. The velocity information is information for designating the pressed strength of the key in, for example, 128 steps. Similarly, the note-off message includes information on the message type, channel number, note number, and velocity. The channel number information specifies which of the 16 channels is to be controlled. The note number information indicates which pitch (pitch) should be silenced, in other words, which key has been released. Is information that specifies The velocity information is information for designating the key release strength in, for example, 128 steps.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wheel control switch 8 has a shaft 8a extending in the left-right direction of the control panel 2a (equal to the direction in which the keys of the keyboard 7 are arranged).
And a wheel 8b as a half-moon-shaped operation member rotatable around a shaft 8a within a certain range as indicated by an arrow in the figure. Wheel control switch 8
Outputs a signal corresponding to the rotation direction of the wheel 8b. The operation member of the wheel control switch 8 is not limited to a half-moon shape, and may be a disk type or the like. Instead of the wheel control switch 8, an input device capable of sliding operation may be provided.

As is apparent from FIG. 4, each wheel control switch 8 is arranged outside each operation section 6, and keyboards 7, 7 are arranged inside the switch 8.
At the center of the control panel 2a in the left-right direction (between the keyboards 7, 7), push-button type panel switches 9, 9 used for stage selection and the like are provided. A coin slot 2 is provided on the front of the housing 2 and below the control panel 2a.
b and a coin return port 2c. The panel switch 9 is arranged at a position away from between the keyboards 7,
The keyboards 7, 7 may be continuous by filling the empty space.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system provided in game machine 1. As shown in FIG. The game machine 1 includes a CPU 21 mainly composed of a microprocessor, and a CPU 2.
22 and RAM as a main storage device for the memory 1
23, an image processing device 24 for displaying a desired image on the monitor 3 in accordance with a command from the CPU 21, and a CD-DA sound source 25A as a sound processing device for outputting a desired sound from the speaker units 4A and 4B. It has a sound source 25B and a MIDI sound source 25C, and a CD-ROM reader 27 for reading programs and data recorded on a CD-ROM 10 as a storage medium. Each element 21, 22, 23, 24, 25B, and 27
Are connected to each other via a bus 30.

In the ROM 22, a program necessary for basic operation control such as a start-up process of the game machine 1 is written. A game program and data read from the CD-ROM 10 are written in the RAM 23 as needed. The data recorded on the CD-ROM 10 includes music data for reproducing music used as BGM during the game, and sound effect data for reproducing various sound effects to be superimposed on the music. Song data is CD-D
A is recorded in the A format, and the sound effect data is recorded in the PCM format.

From the CPU 21 to the CD-ROM reader 27
Is instructed to reproduce a specific song on the CD-ROM 10, the CD-ROM reader 27 detects the leading sector of the designated song and starts reading song data from that sector. The read data is CD-ROM
The signal is passed from the reading device 27 to the CD-DA sound source 25A, where it is converted into an analog audio signal and output to the amplifier 26.

From the CPU 21 to the CD-ROM reader 27
Is instructed to reproduce a specific sound effect on the CD-ROM 10, the CD-ROM reader 27 reads the data of the specified sound effect and transfers it to the PCM sound source 25B. The read sound effect data is converted into an analog signal by the PCM sound source 25B and output to the amplifier 26. Note that the sound effect data on the CD-ROM 10
The sound effect data may be read into the AM 23 and the sound effect data may be passed from the RAM 23 to the PCM sound source 25B according to a command from the CPU 21.

The MIDI tone generator 25C has a MIDI control circuit 2
8 is connected. When the keyboard 7 is operated, a MIDI message corresponding to the operation is transmitted to the MIDI control circuit 28.
Is output to The MIDI control circuit 28 receives the received M
Information for determining the operation state of the keyboard 7 is output to the CPU 21 in response to the IDI message. The information for determining the operation state includes which key is operated, and data for specifying whether the operation is a key press or a key release. CPU 21 is a MIDI control circuit 2
8 determines the operation of the keyboard 7 based on the information from
The sound data corresponding to the operation is transmitted to the MIDI control circuit 28.
To instruct the reproduction. By this processing, a tone different in content from the MIDI message output from the keyboard 7 is generated, but details will be described later.

The sound output from the MIDI sound source 25C is
In order to experience the feeling of playing the keyboard 7, the sound is mainly set to the musical instrument sound.
It is preferable that the sound generated by the IDI sound source 25C is superimposed so that one piece of music is played. In contrast, P
The sound effect output from the CM sound source 25B is an effect (atmosphere) more specific to the performance composed of the sound generated by the CD-DA sound source 25A and the sound generated by the MIDI sound source 25C.
Sound is desirable. For example, it is also possible to prepare a sound of a cheer or applause of a person as sound effect data and reproduce them at an appropriate timing to create an atmosphere of a live performance.

Further, wheel control switches 8, 8, a panel switch 9 and a money authentication device 31 are connected to the CPU 21 via a bus 30. When the wheel control switch 8 or the panel switch 9 is operated, a signal indicating the operation is output to the CPU 21,
U21 executes a process corresponding to the operation as, for example, an interrupt process. The money authentication device 31 determines the authenticity of the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 2b, and outputs a predetermined insertion signal to the CPU 21 when the coin is determined to be true.

In the above configuration, the CD-ROM 10
Although the song data is recorded in the CD-DA format above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the song data may be recorded in various formats. For example, data compressed according to the MP3 (Mpeg Audio Layer-3) standard may be used as music data. In this case, the music data can be compressed to about 1/10 compared to the CD-DA format.
The number of songs that can be recorded on a CD
(kHz, 16-bit stereo). As a storage medium for music data and the like, C
Instead of or in addition to the D-ROM 10, a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk or a DVD-ROM may be provided.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen displayed on the monitors 3 and 3 when a game is executed on the game machine 1. A left screen 100 is displayed on the left monitor 3 of the housing 2.
The screen 100 on the right side is displayed on the monitor 3 on the right side of the housing 2. As is clear from FIG. 8, the screen 100 is
An operation guide unit 110, an image display unit 120, and an evaluation display unit 130 are included.

The operation guide section 110 is provided to guide the player to operate the input devices 7 and 8 according to the music. At the lower end of the operation guide unit 110, a keyboard image 111 and a wheel image 112 indicating external characteristics of the keyboard 7 and the wheel control switch 8 are displayed. A portion above the images 111 and 112 is divided into a plurality of vertically long regions 114... 114 by dividing lines 113. The position of the dividing line 113 is the boundary between the white keys of the keyboard image 111 (however,
And the left end (left screen 100) or right end (right screen 100) of wheel 8b on wheel image 112. At the boundary between the white keys where no black key exists and the boundary between the keyboard image 111 and the wheel image 112, instead of displaying the dividing line 113, the background colors are switched (in FIG. 8, indicated by hatching differences), and the regions 114 and 114 are switched. 114 boundaries are shown.

In each area 114 and on the boundaries thereof, the short object 1 is used as a mark indicating the operation timing of the keys 7a, 7b of the keyboard 7 or the wheel 8b.
At least three types of images are displayed: 15A, long object 115B, and wheel object 115C. The short object 115A is for guiding an operation of hitting the keyboard 7 only once within a predetermined unit time (single-shot operation), and its vertical length is set to a minimum value corresponding to the unit time. . The long object 115B is for guiding the operation (continuous operation) of the keyboard 7 that is continued beyond the unit time, and has a longer vertical length than the short object 115A. The wheel object 115C guides the operation of the wheel 8b, and is different from the other objects 115A and 115B in that an arrow 117 indicating the operation direction of the wheel 8b is provided. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as objects 115.

Of the objects 115... 115, the white key 7a
Alternatively, the one corresponding to the wheel 8b is displayed in the area 114, and the one corresponding to the black key 7b is displayed on the dividing line 113, respectively. In other words, the operation guide unit 110 includes, as a path of the object 115, a path in the area 114 corresponding to the white key 7a and the wheel 8b and an area 1 corresponding to the black key 7b.
Thus, a passage on the boundary between 14 is provided. The object corresponding to the white key and the object corresponding to the black key are displayed in different colors from each other and can be visually distinguished.

Each object 115 appears at a predetermined timing at the upper end of the operation guide unit 110 in accordance with the progress of the BGM reproduced during the play. The object 115 that appeared
It descends straight at a speed that matches the tempo of the song. At the lower end of the operation guide unit 110, images 111, 1 of the input devices 7, 8 are provided.
12, the judgment line 116 is displayed. The determination line 116 extends straight in the left-right direction of the screen 100 and is displayed in a different color from the images 111 and 112. The operation timing of the keyboard 7 and the wheel control switch 8 is guided based on the relationship between the determination line 116 and the object 115. Further, the key depression position of the keyboard 7 is guided by the correspondence between the objects 115A and 115B and the keys on the image 111. For example, when the operation of the white key 7b on the right end of the keyboard 7 is requested, the object 115A or 115B is displayed in the area 114 on the image 110 that is linked to the right end key.

The lower end of the object 115A is the judgment line 11
When the player presses the key 7a or 7b at the key-depression position guided by the object 115A at the timing of reaching the object 6, the answer becomes correct, and a pale light is superimposed on the object 115A at the key-depression position. The object 115A disappears, and the sound associated with the object 115A is generated. In this case, the object 11
The operation of the player is evaluated based on the difference between the timing when 5A reaches the determination line 116 and the timing when the key 7a or 7b corresponding to the object 115A is actually operated.

When the player presses the key 7a or 7b at the key-depression position guided by the object 115B at the timing when the lower end of the object 115B reaches the determination line 116, the answer becomes correct.
The pronunciation associated with B is started. Thereafter, sound generation is continued until the player releases the key or the upper end of the object 115B passes through the determination line 116, whichever comes earlier. In this case, the difference between the timing when the lower end of the object 115B reaches the determination line 116 and the actual key-depression timing, and the difference between the timing when the upper end of the object 115B passes through the determination line 116 and the actual key-release timing. The operation of the player is evaluated based on the operation.

Further, the object 115C is set to the judgment line 1
As the player reaches 16, wheel 8b
Is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow 117, a process associated with the operation (for example, a process of superimposing the above-described sound effect) is performed. In this case, the object 115C
Reaches the decision line 116 and the wheel 8
The operation of the player is evaluated based on the deviation from the timing when b was actually operated, and the operation direction indicated by the arrow 117 on the object 115C and the actual operation direction of the wheel 8b.

As shown in FIG. 9, the long object 115
B is displayed on the operation guide unit 110 with a length shorter than the original length. When the player presses a key at a key-depression position corresponding to the long object 115B while the short object 115B displayed short overlaps the determination line 116, the long object 115B extends upward as shown in FIG. , And the correct key release timing is presented to the player. Therefore, the player can know in advance the key-depression timing from the relationship between the lower end of the long object 115B and the determination line 116, but the key-release timing corresponding to the key-depression is not correct until after the key-depression. I can't figure out. This allows
Surprisingly, the guidance of the operation is generated, and the interest of the player is stimulated.

The long object 115 before the length is changed
B is displayed longer than the short object 115A.
As a result, even before the length change, the long object 1
15B and the short object 115A can be distinguished from each other, and the player can be reliably made aware that a continuous operation is required. The long object 115B before the length change may have the same length as the short object 115A, and means for distinguishing the two may be provided separately. For example, the colors may be changed, different animations may be displayed for the long object 115B and the short object 115A, or a sign for distinguishing the two may be displayed separately. In short,
What is necessary is just to allow the player to distinguish between the long object 115B and the short object 115A before the length change. On the contrary, the long object 115B before the length change and the short object 115A cannot be distinguished from each other, and the player can recognize the continuous operation for the first time by changing the length after pressing the key corresponding to the long object 115B. You may do so.

The image display section 120 displays an image that enhances the atmosphere of the game. A change according to the evaluation result of the operation of the player may be added to the image.
For example, in the image on the right side of FIG. 8, the English characters “MISS” are displayed to indicate a player's operation error, and the image is disturbed. The evaluation display unit 130 displays a gauge 131 that expands and contracts in accordance with the evaluation of the player's operation and a score 132 that digitizes the player's operation. Further, at the upper end of the evaluation display section 130, a title section 133 indicating the title of the music currently being played is provided.

The display of the object 115 described above is performed on a CD-ROM.
It is controlled based on object data recorded on the ROM 10. Object data is prepared for each song. When different operations are required for the left and right operation units 6 and 6, object data is created for each operation unit 6. The object data describes the operation contents of the input device, specifically, how and when the keyboard 7 and the wheel 8b are to be operated in the music, respectively. 3 objects 115A ~
115C includes information which can specify the timing (position in the music) of the operation guided by the object 115 to be displayed. Further, data on the objects 115A and 115B is stored in each object 1A.
The information for specifying the key press position to be guided by 15A and 115B, and the data related to the object 115C are:
It contains information for specifying whether the arrow 117 is displayed upward or downward.

The CD-ROM 10 also records data describing what kind of sound should be generated corresponding to the object 115 described in the object data. Here, data corresponding to each of the objects 115A and 115B is recorded as sounding data described in a MIDI format. When the keyboard 7 is operated,
Instead of the MIDI message output from the keyboard 7, sound data associated with the object 115A or 115B is transmitted from the MIDI control circuit 28 to the MIDI sound source 25C.
, A sound different from the sound specified by the MIDI message from the keyboard 7 can be generated. The sound at this time may be, for example, a single tone having a height corresponding to a key different from the key pressing position, or a chord. A phrase in which a plurality of different sounds are linked may be produced. The data corresponding to the object 115C is the object 115A, 1
The data may be data described in the MIDI format as in the case of 15B, or may be data in a unique format for controlling the PCM sound source 25B to generate a predetermined sound effect.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an outline of the game processing executed by the game machine 1. When a signal indicating the insertion of a predetermined amount of coins is output from the cash authenticator 31 (see FIG. 7), the CPU 21 starts the game processing of FIG. In this process, first, various parameters and settings necessary for the game are initialized (step S1), and then stage selection is performed (step S2). Each stage is C
The songs are associated with different songs recorded on the D-ROM 10. The selection of the stage is performed by a procedure in which a list of selectable stages is displayed on the monitor 3 and the player operates one of the input devices of the operation unit 6 to select a desired stage.

When a stage is selected, data necessary for executing the selected stage is stored in a CD-ROM.
10 is read into the RAM 23 (step S3), and then the CD-ROM reader 27 is instructed to reproduce the music associated with the stage, and the performance is started (step S4). The processing shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is started in synchronization with this, which will be described later.

After the start of the performance, the current performance position (position in the music) is detected (step S5). For example, CD-R
In conjunction with the output of music data from the OM reader 27 to the CD-DA tone generator 25A, the CPU 21 reads the header information of the currently reproduced sector via the CD-ROM reader 27 by the CPU 21 so that the current playing position is obtained. Is detected. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the stage has ended based on the detected playing position (step S6).
The process proceeds to 7.

In step S7, the current operation state of the keyboard 7 or the wheel control switch 8 is detected based on the outputs from the MIDI control circuit 28 and the wheel control switch 8. Then, the detected operation state is compared with the operation content described in the object data to calculate the degree of coincidence between them (step S8), and the evaluation result based on the calculation result is displayed on the monitor 3. (Step S9). The higher the degree of coincidence, the higher the evaluation. For example, the gauge 131 increases or the score 132 increases. After the display of the evaluation, the process returns to step S5.

If it is determined in step S6 that the stage has ended, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, evaluations from the start of the game are totaled. After that, the game results are displayed to the player based on the tally result (step S12), and it is determined whether or not the stage has been cleared according to a predetermined condition (for example, whether or not the remaining amount of the gauge 131 is equal to or more than a predetermined value) ( Step S1
3). If the stage is clear, it is determined whether or not all the prepared stages have been cleared (step S).
14) If the stage still remains, the process returns to step S2. If there is no remaining stage, or if the stage has not been cleared in step S13, a predetermined end display is performed (step S15), and the game process ends. The game may be ended when a predetermined condition is satisfied even during the stage.

While steps S5 to S9 are repeated in the above game processing, the object display updating processing shown in FIG. 12 is executed in parallel with the processing. This processing is performed for the object 11
5, the object 115 is updated at a predetermined cycle in the operation guide unit 110, and the object 115 is scrolled downward in the screen 100. When the object display update process is started, it is first determined whether or not a predetermined display update time has come (step S21). If the update time has come, the operation guide unit is used based on the object data in use at that time. All objects 115 to be displayed on 110 are extracted and their display positions are calculated (step S22). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the long object 115B before the length change exists in the next display range of the operation guide unit 110 (step S23). Here, the long object 115B before the length change is the long object 115B before reaching the determination line 116, and the long object 115 whose corresponding key is not pressed even after reaching the determination line 116.
B. If there is a long object 115B before the change, the display position of the long object 115B is adjusted so that the length is changed to a false length (a length shorter than the original length) and displayed (step S24). However, the position of the lower end of the long object 115B is set to a position corresponding to the original key pressing timing. That is, the lower end of the long object 115B is set at a position corresponding to the key press timing determined by the object data, but the upper end of the long object 115B is temporally shorter than the key release timing determined by the object data. Set earlier. If there is no long object 115B before the change, step S2
4 is skipped.

Thereafter, the newly calculated object 115
Is updated on the basis of the display position of (step S25). Subsequently, the object 115B before the length change and overlapping the determination line 116 is extracted as a monitoring target (step S26), and it is determined whether a key pressing operation corresponding to the monitoring target long object 115B has been performed. (Step S27). here,
An allowable range is set above and below the determination line 116, and the object 115B overlapping the allowable range is determined on the determination line 1
16 and is included in the monitoring target. The object 1 displayed at a timing slightly earlier than the lower end of the object 115B coincides or with a false length.
This is because, when a key is pressed at a slightly later timing after the upper end of 15B passes the determination line 116, the length of the object 115B is changed in response to the key pressing. If it is not the update time in step S21, step S
22 to step S25 are skipped and step S26
The processing proceeds to

Next, it is determined whether or not the key corresponding to the object 115B extracted as the monitoring target has been pressed (step S27). If there is a key press, the object 11
5B is changed to the original length and displayed (step S2).
8) The object 115B is removed from the monitoring target (step S29), and thereafter, the process returns to step S21. In step S27, the long object 1 to be monitored
If it is determined that there is no key press on 15B, steps S28 and S29 are omitted, and the process returns to step S21.

According to the above processing, the long object 11
5B is displayed for a shorter time than the operation duration specified by the object data until the determination line 116 is reached. Then, when the player presses the key 7a or 7b corresponding to the long object 115B at the timing when the long object 115B reaches the determination line 116, the object 115B extends upward and the correct key release timing is presented to the player. You. If the long object 115B has passed the determination line 116 without performing the key pressing operation corresponding to the long object 115B before the length change, the object 115B is not extracted as a monitoring target in step S26. Even if a key is pressed in the key pressing range on the object data, the long object 1
15B does not change to its original length. The length of the long object 115B before the change may be set at random or may be a fixed ratio (for example, 1/2) to the original length.
You may set so that it may become. The change of the length may be immediately returned to the original length in response to the key depression, or may be gradually returned to the original length as the key depression is continued. It should be noted that the long object 115B is the judgment line 11
Even if the key passes through No. 6, the upper end of the long object 115B may be extended to a position corresponding to the original key release timing defined on the object data when a key is pressed within the key pressing range on the object data. . At this time, the display of the long object 115B may be omitted only for a portion corresponding to a period from when the object 115B before the length change passes the determination line 116 to when the key is pressed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a tone generation process executed in parallel with steps S5 to S9 in the game process of FIG. In this sound generation process, it is determined whether or not the key 7a or 7b has been pressed (key on) or released (key off) (steps S51 and S5).
2) Whether or not the sounding period corresponding to the long object 115B has started (step S53);
It is repeatedly determined whether or not the sounding period corresponding to 15B has ended (step S54) and whether or not the wheel control switch 8 has been operated (step S55). Here, the sounding period corresponding to the long object 115B is the long object 115B (of the correct length) in the game screen 100 of FIG.
This is the period from when you reach 16 until you pass by.

As described above, the game machine 1 of the present embodiment
Then, the objects 115A and 115 related to the keyboard 7 will be described.
MIDI-format sound data is prepared which describes what sound is to be generated for each of B. FIG.
In the processing of (1), the sound generation for the keyboard 7 is controlled as follows in accordance with the determination results of steps S51 to S54.

First, when a key is depressed, step S51 is performed.
Is determined, and it is determined whether the key depression corresponds to the long object 115B (step S61). If the key does not correspond to the long object 115B, the tone generation data for the depressed key is output to the MIDI tone generator 25C via the MIDI control circuit 28 (step S62), and tone generation is performed according to the tone generation data. For example, if the key is a key pressed corresponding to the short object 115A, a sound is generated according to sound data assigned to the short object 115A in advance.

On the other hand, when the key is pressed corresponding to the long object 115B, the volume of the channel of the MIDI sound source 25C specified by the sound data corresponding to the long object 115B is turned on (step S63).
When the volume is on, the MI
Audio output from the DI sound source 25C to the amplifier 26 is permitted. When the volume is off, even if MIDI data is sent to the MIDI sound source 25C, no sound is generated for the corresponding channel. After the process in step S62 or S63, the process proceeds to step S53.

Here, whether or not a key is pressed corresponding to the objects 115A and 115B is determined by, for example, the timing of actually pressing the key and the closest key pressing timing described in the object data with respect to the pressed key. It can be determined based on whether the difference is within a predetermined range. When a key is pressed that does not correspond to any of the objects 115, it is conceivable that no sound is generated or a sound is generated in accordance with a MIDI message output from the keyboard 7.

Next, when there is a key release, step S52
Is affirmed, and it is determined whether or not the key release corresponds to the long object 115B (step S64). If the key does not correspond to the long object 115B, the tone generation data corresponding to the key release (however, in this case, the content for instructing mute) is transmitted to the MIDI control circuit 28 via the MIDI control circuit 28.
It is output to the DI sound source 25C (step S66). For example, if the key release corresponds to the short object 115A, the sound generation for the short object 115A is stopped.

On the other hand, when the key is released corresponding to the long object 115B, the volume of the channel of the MIDI sound source 25C specified by the sound data corresponding to the long object 115B is turned off (step S65).
The key release corresponding to the long object 115B here refers to an operation of releasing the key corresponding to the long object 115B despite the fact that the long object 115B overlaps the determination line 116. Step S65 or S6
After the process in step 6, the process proceeds to step S53.

In step S53, long object 115
If it is determined that the sounding period corresponding to B has started, the volume of the MIDI channel specified by the sounding data corresponding to the long object 115B is turned off (step S71), and then the long object is turned off. The output of the sound data corresponding to 115B to the MIDI sound source 25C via the MIDI control circuit 28 is started (step S72). The sound data corresponding to the long object 115B is configured such that a predetermined phrase (for example, a drum loop) is automatically played for a length corresponding to a sound period corresponding to the long object 115B.
After the output of the sound data is started, the process proceeds to step S55.

In step S54, long object 115
If it is determined that the sounding period corresponding to B has ended, the output of the sounding data corresponding to the long object 115B is stopped (step S73), and the volume of the corresponding channel is turned on (step S74). .
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S55.

If it is determined in step S55 that the wheel control switch 8 has been turned on, an effect corresponding to the operation is added (step S81). The effects here include, for example, reproduction of a sound effect via the PCM sound source 25B, change of tone color and pitch (scale) with respect to the current tone generation from the MIDI sound source 25C, and the like. After the process in step S81, the process returns to step S51.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a sounding situation corresponding to the long object 115B realized by the above sounding control. Now, the sounding period corresponding to the long object 115B is set as shown in FIG. 14A, and after the key is pressed in accordance with the sounding period, the key is released halfway as shown in FIG. 14B. Then, it is assumed that the key is pressed again within the same sounding period as shown in FIG. The sound data corresponding to the long object 115B is sequentially supplied to the MIDI sound source 25C in synchronization with the start of the sound period. However, since the volume is off until a key is pressed (see step S71), the sound data corresponds to the sound data. The phrase does not play. When the key is pressed, the volume is turned on (step S63), and the phrase corresponding to the sound data is reproduced from the position corresponding to the key pressing timing. In other words, the phrase is not reproduced from the beginning when the key is pressed, but is reproduced from the middle when the key is shifted.

The volume is turned off from when the key is released until the key is pressed again, and the phrase is not reproduced. However, MIDI data (sound generation data) corresponding to the long object 115B continues to be supplied to the MIDI sound source 25C during that time. When the key is pressed again, the phrase is output again from the point of time when the key is pressed.

As described above, the output of the sound data corresponding to the long object 115B is not started in response to the actual key depression, but the sound data is output at the start of the sound generation period, and the volume is adjusted until the key is pressed. The long object 115B is set to the judgment line 1
16 and the long object 115
The period during which the phrase is reproduced in accordance with the pronunciation data corresponding to B always matches. Although the long object 115B and the determination line 116 do not overlap, the unnaturalness that the phrase is reproduced in response to the key depression is avoided.

Further, according to the above-described processing, the phrase is automatically reproduced by assigning a phrase to the long object 115B and continuing to press the key corresponding to the long object 115B. In addition to the instantaneous and one-time operation of pressing the key at the time specified by the user, the continuity of keeping pressing a specific key on the keyboard 7 is added to the play element, giving the player the feeling of playing the instrument. You can feel stronger. Further, the player requests the operation of the wheel control switch 8 while the key is being continuously depressed, and adds an effect such as a pitch change in response to the operation, thereby further adding an element for operating the sound. You can experience a more authentic playing feeling. Furthermore, if the sound is generated at the scale corresponding to the arrangement order of the keys 7a and 7b in correspondence with the short object 115A, the sense of playing the keyboard as the electronic musical instrument can be more strongly felt.

In the above-described embodiment, the sound generation is terminated simultaneously with the key release from the long object 115B.
After the key is released, the sound volume may be gradually reduced so that the sound disappears. In this case, if the key is released at a timing earlier than the key pressing range of the long object 115B, the sound is cut off.

On the other hand, if the key is released at a timing later than that of the long object 115B, the sound gradually decreases in volume from the time when the sounding period of the long object 115B ends, as in the case where the key is released at the correct timing. Disappear. That is, even if the key is released at any time after the key depression range of the long object 115B disappears, the volume gradually decreases from that point, the sound disappears, and no sound is produced even if the key is depressed any longer. .

In the present embodiment, each operation section 6 has two
Since there are provided 24 keys 7a... 7a, 7b... 7b corresponding to an octave, it is not impossible to play an actual song with fingering according to the musical score using these keys.
However, if a performance according to a musical score using 24 keys is requested, the object 115 is scattered to the left and right of the operation guide unit 110, complicating the operation guide, and a sufficient operation may not be performed unless a person who is proficient in keyboard operation is used. There is. This is not a game.

Therefore, while changing the arrangement and number of the objects 115 displayed on the operation guide section 110 to simpler ones, the sound contents corresponding to the objects 115 are assumed to be equivalent to those of actually playing a tune, and It is desirable to set the correspondence between the object 115 and the sound data so that a full-scale performance can be performed by a simple operation. Such adjustment is referred to herein as complementation. Various methods can be considered for complementation,
It is important to take care not to impair the feeling of playing the keyboard. To do so, as mentioned above,
It is necessary to match the relationship between the key arrangement order and the pitch of the sound. In other words, the higher the right key is, the higher the tone is produced. For example, if the objects 115 are lined up from left to right of the operation guide unit 110 when the sound gradually increases, the direction in which the pitch changes and the direction in which the key pressing position on the keyboard 7 changes match. Without it, the feeling of playing the keyboard is impaired. Hereinafter, an example of the complementing method will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the complementing method. 15A in FIG. 15A indicate keying positions required based on the original musical score, and in FIG. 15B, indicate keying positions after complementation. This complementing method compresses the interval between key pressing positions while maintaining the ratio between key pressing positions. That is, assuming that the distance between adjacent white keys is 1, the key depression position in the case of FIG.
Are sequentially set to 2, 4, 6, and 8, respectively, and are compressed to 1/2, and are reduced to 1, 2, 3, and 4 intervals. The object 115 is displayed on the operation guide unit 110 corresponding to the key press position after the complementation.
It is assumed that the pronunciation corresponding to the key corresponds to the key pressing position before the complementation. The objects 115 are displayed on the operation guide unit 110 in correspondence with the key depression positions after the complementation.
It is assumed that the pronunciation corresponding to the key corresponds to the key pressing position before the complementation. The compression ratio of the interval is not limited to 1/2, but may be more or less.

In the case where the degree of difficulty is still high even after complementing as described above, the irregular compression method shown in FIG. 16 may be used. In the irregular compression method A shown in FIG. 16A, all of the key pressing positions shown in FIG. 15A whose intervals are smaller than a predetermined reference value (for example, 4) are compressed to the minimum interval (for example, 1). The interval exceeding the reference value is an example of compression to 1/2.
In addition, the irregular compression method B of FIG.
In the key-depressing positions shown in (1), all the portions whose intervals are equal to or less than a predetermined reference value (for example, 8) are compressed to the minimum interval (for example, 1), and all the intervals exceeding the reference value are larger than the minimum interval and This is an example of compression to a value smaller than the reference value (for example, 2).

When the black key is assigned as a new key pressing position by performing the above-described complementation, the difficulty level is further reduced by changing the key pressing position to a further adjacent white key. be able to. Especially for beginners, the range where one hand can play (for example, 1 octave range)
It is desirable to perform the complementation so that the object 115 is within.

When all key depression positions are complemented, the feeling of playing the keyboard may be impaired. Therefore,
It is desirable to maintain the same interval for portions where the difficulty level is low even if the original key-depression position remains, and to narrow the interval between key-depression positions only for portions where the difficulty level is higher than a predetermined level. FIG.
7 shows an example. FIG. 17A shows a key pressing position before complementation, and FIG. 17B shows a key pressing position after complementation. In this example, a key-depressing position whose interval falls within a predetermined reference value (for example, 2) or less is not complemented, and an interval exceeding the reference value is compressed according to the above-described complementing method. That is, in the range indicated by α and β in FIG. 17A, the interval between the key pressing positions is 2 or less, so that the interval is maintained as it is. Then, complementation is performed so that the interval between key pressing positions is 3 or more, and the interval is 2 in all cases. Range β
Since the interval between the leftmost key-pressing position and the adjacent key-pressing position is 4, the number is reduced to 2 and the interval between the key-pressing positions within the range β is maintained as it is. .

In the above, the embodiment in which the present invention is embodied as an arcade game machine has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The input device is not limited to a keyboard, and various electronic musical instruments such as a guitar and a drum or the like can be used. In the above embodiment, the object 115 corresponds to the movable marker, and the determination line 116 corresponds to the reference marker. However, the object 115 is stopped at a predetermined position on the screen to function as the reference marker, and the determination line 116 is moved. It may function as a movable sign.

Second Embodiment FIG. 18 shows an embodiment in which the game system of the present invention is configured as an arcade game machine installed in a game center or the like. The game machine 201 has a vertically long housing 202.
A monitor 203 mounted on the upper front surface of the housing 202; an upper speaker unit 204 mounted on the upper portion of the monitor 203; a lower speaker unit 205 mounted below the monitor 203; There are nine operation buttons 207... As operation members provided on an operation panel section 206 protruding forward from a lower part of the speaker unit 205. Each operation button 2
Reference numeral 07 denotes a push-button switch that outputs a signal corresponding to a pressing operation.

The operation buttons 207 are arranged in two front and rear rows as viewed from the player facing the housing 2. Moreover,
The operation buttons 207 in the rear row are arranged almost in the middle of the operation buttons 207 and 207 in the front row in the left-right direction of the housing 202. To clarify the distinction between the operation buttons 207, the surfaces of the operation buttons 207 are colored with different colors. However, the nine operation buttons 207 are not necessarily required to be distinguished from each other, and it is sufficient that the adjacent operation buttons 207 are not colored with the same color. Although not shown in the figure, a proper position of the housing 202, for example, the operation panel unit 20
6 is provided with a coin insertion slot (not shown) for games.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system provided in game machine 201. The game machine 201
CP that performs various calculations and operation controls necessary for the progress of the game
U210, a screen drawing control device 211 for drawing a desired image on the monitor 203 in accordance with a command from the CPU 210
A sound control device 212 that reproduces a desired sound in stereo from the speaker units 204 and 205 in accordance with a command from the CPU 210, and an illumination control device 213 that changes the display mode of the decoration lamp 214 of the game machine 201 in accordance with a command from the CPU 210. , RA as storage means
M215, ROM 216, storage device 217, and processing such as judging the suitability of coins inserted from a coin slot (not shown) of the housing 202, storing coins determined to be appropriate, and returning coins determined to be inappropriate. And a coin management device 218 that performs The sound control device 212 has a storage device 217.
PCM data and ADPCM data recorded in the
Musical sounds and sound effects corresponding to the data received in accordance with the instructions from the
5 is provided.

Each of the control devices 211 to 213, the RAM 21
5, the ROM 216, the storage device 217, and the coin management device 218 are connected to the CPU 210 via the bus 219. The above-described operation buttons 207 are also connected to the CPU 210 via the bus 219. The bus 21
Although an input / output interface is provided at a connection portion between the element 9 and each element, their illustration is omitted.

A program and data necessary for controlling the basic operation and the like at the time of starting the game machine 201 are written in the ROM 216. In the storage device 217, a game program and various data necessary for executing the game program are written. When a predetermined initialization operation, for example, an operation of a power switch or a reset switch (not shown) is performed, the game machine 201
CPU 210 executes a predetermined initialization process according to the program in the ROM 216, and then reads the program and data recorded in the storage device 217 into the RAM 215 to start processing unique to the game. Then, when a signal indicating insertion of coins necessary for starting a game is output from the coin management device 218, predetermined game processing is started. The outline of the game processing is as follows. While reproducing a predetermined BGM from the speaker units 204 and 205, the player issues an instruction to the player via the monitor 203 to operate the operation button 207 according to the procedure according to the BGM. Operates the operation button 207, the sound effect corresponding to the operation is set to B
The output from the speaker units 204 and 205 is superimposed on the GM, and the operation is determined and displayed on the monitor 203.

FIG. 20 shows a game executed on the monitor 20 according to the program recorded in the storage device 217.
3 shows a basic game screen displayed in FIG. An indicator 301 for instructing the player on the operation timing of the operation button 207 is displayed substantially at the center of the game screen 300. The indicator 301 has the same number (nine) of tracks 3 as the operation buttons 207 extending in the vertical direction.
02a to 302i.
A timing mark 303A and a timing mark 303B vertically longer than the timing mark 303A are displayed on a to 302i. Timing mark 303
A indicates that the corresponding operation button 207 is pressed down for a short time, and the timing mark 303
B indicates that the operation of depressing the corresponding operation button 207 for a certain period of time is continued. Note that FIG.
The imaginary lines separating the 0 tracks 302a to 302i are not displayed on the actual screen. Also, in FIG. 20, although one vertical line 304 is displayed on each track 302, this may be omitted.

During the game, tracks 302a-3
02i is the operation button 20 according to the horizontal order.
7 in one-to-one correspondence. That is, the track 302a at the left end of the screen corresponds to the operation button 207 arranged at the left end of the front row of the operation panel section 6, and the second track 302b from the left corresponds to the operation button 207 at the left end of the rear row of the operation panel section 206. Hereinafter, similarly, the track 302c
To 302i are associated with the respective operation buttons 207. To clarify these correspondences, the tracks 302a to 302a
302i is provided with a portion expressed in the same color as the corresponding operation button 207. In the case of FIG. 20, when the leftmost operation button 207 is green, the leftmost track 302a
Each line 304 is expressed in the same color as the corresponding operation button 207, such that the line 304 is expressed in green.

When the game is started, the timing mark 303A gradually moves downward under the control of the CPU 210. When the timing mark 303A reaches the line 311 extending in the left-right direction at the lower end of the track 302a to 302i, the track 302a to 302i
The operation timing of the operation button 207 corresponding to i arrives. When the player presses down the operation button 207 in anticipation of this operation timing, the CPU 210 performs an operation based on a time lag between the operation timing indicated by the timing mark 303A and the timing at which the operation button 207 is actually operated. Judge pass / fail
The judgment results are displayed on judgment display sections 305 arranged at the lower ends of the tracks 302a to 302i. Judgment display part 3
05 are arranged in two rows like the operation buttons 207. Then, in each judgment display section 305, characters such as "GREAT!", "GOOD!", "BAD!" Are displayed according to the judgment result. The determination result may be displayed inside the indicator 301.

As with the timing mark 303A, the timing mark 303B is displayed by the CPU 210 at the start of the game.
Gradually moves down according to the control of. FIG.
(E) shows the display of the timing mark 303B in chronological order. As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the timing mark 303B gradually descends,
When reaching the position shown in FIG.
The operation start timing of 7 comes. When the player presses down a predetermined operation button 207 in accordance with the operation start timing, as shown in FIGS. 24C and 24D, the timing mark 303B contracts vertically without changing the lower end position. 24D, after the size becomes the same as the timing mark 303A as shown in FIG.
It disappears as shown in (e). Timing mark 303
The moment when B disappears is the end of the phrase.

According to the instruction of the timing mark 303B,
The operation button 207 is provided to the player in the state of FIG.
Of the operation button 2 until the timing mark 303B shown in FIG.
It is required that the depressing operation of 07 should be continued without interruption.

The time during which the operation of the operation button 207 is to be continued changes by changing the speed at which the timing mark 303B is reduced.
It is necessary to be aware of the reduction speed of the game, and the game characteristics are enhanced.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing how a phrase is reproduced when the operation start time of the operation button 207 is shifted. FIG. 25A shows the timing mark 303B.
Indicates the period T1 during which the phrase is reproduced when the operation button 207 is operated as instructed by the user. On the other hand, FIG. 25 (b) shows a period T2 in which the phrase is reproduced when the operation is started too early, and the phrase is reproduced earlier than the original timing. FIG.
(C) shows a period T3 during which the phrase is reproduced when the operation start is too late, and the phrase is reproduced with a delay from the original timing. In addition, FIG.
Timing mark 303B and line 3 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a display state at the start of operation of the operation button 207 in each case. When the operation button 207 has not been operated for a predetermined period including the operation start time, the timing mark 303 falls down so as to pass through the line 311 without stopping at the position of the line 311. The phrase may be reproduced irrespective of the presence / absence of an operation, and the corresponding phrase may be reproduced even when there is no predetermined operation for a predetermined period. Also,
If a predetermined operation is not performed during a predetermined period, the corresponding phrase may not be reproduced.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a reproduction state when a key is released in the middle of a phrase. FIG. 26A shows the operation button 2
07 shows that the phrase is kept depressed until the reproduction of the phrase ends, and the phrase is reproduced from the beginning to the end. On the other hand, FIG. 26B shows a case where the operation of pressing down the operation button 207 is stopped during the reproduction of the phrase, and the reproduction of the phrase is stopped when the operation on the operation button 207 is interrupted. FIG. 26C shows the case where the operation of pressing down the operation button 207 is interrupted and then the operation of pressing down the operation button 207 is performed again. In this case, the playback of the phrase is not restarted despite the pressing operation again.

FIG. 33 shows an operation button 20 in the middle of a phrase.
7 shows the display of the timing mark 303B when the operation of No. 7 is interrupted. As shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B, after operating the operation button 207, the timing mark 3
03B is reduced in the vertical direction, but when the operation of the operation button 207 is interrupted, the playback of the phrase is stopped, and
The contraction of the timing mark 303B stops, and the timing mark 303B descends as it is. Therefore, it is possible to make the player recognize that the operation of the operation button 207 is incorrect. The operation button 2
Even if 07 is operated again, the display of the timing mark 303B is not different from that of FIG.

The player's operation in response to the instruction of the timing mark 303B is determined based on two points: the operation start time for a predetermined operation button, and whether or not this operation button has been continuously operated until the end of the phrase.
The operation start timing is based on the operation start timing indicated by the timing mark 303B and the actual operation button 20.
The quality of the operation is determined based on the time difference from the timing at which the operation of 7 is started. Further, whether or not the operation button has been continuously operated is determined based on whether or not the operation of the operation button 207 has been interrupted between the start of the operation of the operation button 207 and the end of the phrase. Is done. The above determination is performed by the processing of the CPU 210.

The judgment results are displayed on the judgment display sections 305. Each judgment display unit 305 displays “GR
EAT! , "GOOD!", "BAD!", Etc. are displayed. The determination result may be displayed inside the indicator 301.

At the lower left of the screen 300, a score display section 306 for displaying a game score (1234 points in the illustrated example) is provided. This score is a value calculated based on the above-described determination result for each operation timing. At the lower right of the screen 300, a title display section 307 for displaying the contents of the stage and the title of BGM is provided. Indicator 301
Character display sections 308L, 308
R is provided. These display units 308L and 308R display animations of game characters and the like. The displayed character changes according to the background music, and the content of the animation changes according to the determination result for each operation timing. The score gauge 30 is displayed below the judgment display section 305.
9 are provided. On the score gauge 309, a highlight portion 309a that expands and contracts according to the score in the middle of the game is displayed with its left end as the origin of expansion and contraction.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show the structure of the data recorded in the storage device 217, particularly the data provided in connection with the BGM reproduction and the display control of the indicator 301. FIG. In the present game machine 201, a plurality of songs are prepared in advance as BGM to be used for the game, and data shown in FIG.
7 recorded. The music X data includes waveform data, waveform table data, and performance data.

As shown in FIG. 21B, the waveform data includes BGM data and sound effect data. BGM
The data is data for reproducing the music piece X, and the sound effect data is data of a sound generated when the operation button 207 is operated. These data are created and recorded as PCM data or ADPCM data, for example. The reason why sound effect data is included in the data for each song is to generate an appropriate sound effect according to the type of BGM.

As shown in FIG. 21C, the waveform table data includes a data table for specifying a waveform address, a waveform size, a panpot, a port number, and the like. In the table relating to the waveform address and the waveform size, information necessary for extracting desired BGM data and sound effect data from the above-described waveform data is described. In the table relating to the pan pot, information for instructing which of the left and right channels of the speaker units 204 and 205 to output the BGM data and the sound effect data (including the case of outputting from both) is described. The port number table describes information for specifying a port number for outputting BGM data and sound effect data. That is, the sound control device 212 has a plurality of channels (for example, eight channels) for generating a sound, and the port number specifies which of these channels to use to reproduce the waveform data. Information necessary for selecting this port number is described in a port number table.

As shown in FIG. 22, the performance data includes operation timing data, automatic performance timing data, assigned waveform number data, and tempo data. The operation timing data is data that specifies the operation timing of each operation button 207 with respect to the music X in association with the elapsed time from the start of the performance of the music X. In other words, the operation timing data is data that defines how many operation buttons 207 should be pressed after the start of the performance of the music piece X. The operation timing data forms the basis for determining the display of the indicator 301 and the operation of the operation button 207. The operation timing data includes information defining the start of operation and the end of phrase for each timing mark 303B, and the display of the timing mark 303B is controlled based on this information.

When the music piece X has a plurality of phrases, information indicating the break time of the phrases is also included in the operation timing data.

The automatic performance timing data is provided to generate a sound effect even if the operation button 207 is not operated. Is the data that defines During the play of the game, the CPU 210 instructs the sound control device 212 to generate the sound effect specified at the time specified by the automatic performance timing data. The automatic performance data is not always necessary for executing the game, and can be omitted.

The allocated waveform number data is stored in the operation button 2
This is data for designating a sound effect to be generated when 07 is pressed. The relationship between the operation button 207 and the sound effect may be constant throughout the music X, or may be an appropriate break (for example, the music X
May be changed for each phrase). When the sound effect is changed in the middle of the music piece X, the relationship between the operation button 207 and the sound effect is recorded in association with the elapsed time from the start of the performance.

The tempo data is data indicating the performance tempo of the music piece X. If the tempo changes in the middle of song X, the tempo is recorded in association with the time from the start of the performance. In the game machine 201, the display range of the indicator 301 is controlled with reference to the tempo data.

FIG. 23 shows a reading range of operation timing data during a game play and an indicator 301.
Shows the relationship with the display range. While playing the game,
A prefetch buffer area for operation timing data is set in the RAM 215 (see FIG. 19), and operation timing data from the current time tx to the time ty based on the performance start time is read into that area.
Of the data read into this prefetch buffer area,
The operation timing data in the range from the current time tx to the time tn (<ty) is further read into the display buffer area of the RAM 215. The time from the time tx to the time tn is set to be equal to two measures of the music X, but the time length changes according to the playing tempo of the music X. Therefore,
The CPU 210 determines the time tn two measures later from the current time tx with reference to the tempo data, and reads the operation timing data from the time tx to tn as a display range of the indicator 301 into the display buffer area. CPU2
Numeral 10 calculates the arrangement of the timing marks 303 in the indicator 301 according to the operation timing data read into the display buffer area, and creates image data for displaying the indicator 301 based on the calculation result. By updating the game screen 300 by the screen drawing control device 211 based on this image data,
An indicator 301 suitable for the current time tx is displayed in the game screen 300. In addition, the time ty in the range of the prefetching
May also be changed according to the tempo of the song X. The amount of data read into the display buffer area is not limited to two measures, and may be variously changed.

(Other Display Forms of Timing Marks) In this embodiment, the operation timing of the operation button 207 is instructed by the timing mark 303B shown in FIG. 24. Is also good.

In the example shown in FIG.
After 03C has descended to the line 311, its width decreases and disappears at the end of the phrase. FIG.
The respective timings of (a) to (e) are shown in FIG.
To (e). That is, the state of FIG. 27B corresponds to the start of the operation of the operation button 207, and the timing mark 30 shown in FIG.
The disappearance of 3C corresponds to the end of the phrase. The time when the operation of the operation button 207 should be continued is determined by the timing mark 30.
Since the speed is changed by changing the speed at which the 3C is reduced, the player needs to be aware of the speed at which the timing mark 303C is reduced, which enhances the game characteristics.

In the example shown in FIG.
After 03D descends to line 311 (FIG. 28)
(A) and (b)), the width of which decreases (see FIG. 2).
8 (c) and (d)), and then the height decreases (28 (e) and (f)). Then, at the end of the phrase, the timing mark 303D disappears (FIG. 28).
(G)). The state in FIG. 28B corresponds to the start of the operation of the operation button 207, and the disappearance of the timing mark 303D shown in FIG. 28E corresponds to the end of the phrase. Since the time during which the operation of the operation button 207 is to be continued changes by changing the speed at which the timing mark 303D is reduced, the player needs to be aware of the speed at which the timing mark 303D is reduced, and the game characteristics are enhanced.

In the example shown in FIG. 29, a horizontally long object is lowered as a timing mark 303E as shown in FIGS. 29 (a) and (b), and its width is gradually reduced (FIGS. 29 (b) to (d). )). After the width is reduced, the timing mark 303 is set in accordance with the phrase end timing.
E disappears. The state of FIG.
It corresponds at the time of operation start. Since the time during which the operation of the operation button 207 is to be continued changes by changing the speed at which the timing mark 303E is reduced, the player needs to be aware of the speed at which the timing mark 303E is reduced, which enhances the game characteristics.

In the example shown in FIG. 30, the timing mark 3
An area 312 for displaying the count number is provided in 03F, and the count number in the area 312 is reduced. As shown in FIG. 30, the timing mark 303F gradually descends (FIGS. 30A and 30B), and waits at the position shown in FIG. 30B. During that time, the count number of the area 312 decreases by one (FIGS. 30A to 30D), and the count number becomes “0”.
Immediately after it becomes (FIG. 30 (d)), the timing mark 303F disappears at the end of the phrase (FIG. 30).
(E)). The state in FIG. 30B corresponds to the start of the operation of the operation button 207. The time during which the operation of the operation button 207 should be continued changes by changing the numerical value of the first count number, and the longer the initial numerical value, the longer the time during which the operation should be continued. Therefore, the player needs to be conscious of the count number displayed on the timing mark 303F, and the game characteristics are enhanced. The difference in the time during which the operation of the operation button should be continued may be dealt with by changing the speed of the countdown while keeping the initial count number constant.

In the example shown in FIG. 31, the timing mark 3
The color of the 03G area 314 (see FIG. 31A) gradually changes. As shown in FIG.
3G descends gradually (FIGS. 31 (a) and (b)) and waits at the position of FIG. 31 (b). During that time, the color of the region 314 gradually changes (FIGS. 31A to 31D), and
Immediately after the color becomes the same as the color of the area 313 of the timing mark 303G (FIG. 31D), the timing mark 303G disappears at the end of the phrase (FIG. 31).
(E)). The state in FIG. 31B corresponds to the start of the operation of the operation button 207. Since the time during which the operation of the operation button 207 should be continued changes by changing the speed at which the color of the timing mark 303G is changed, the player needs to be aware of the speed at which the color changes, and the game characteristics are enhanced.

In the example shown in FIG. 32, the timing mark 3
The gauge 315 (FIGS. 32 (c) and (d)) is displayed at 03H, and when the gauge 315 rises to a predetermined position, the timing mark 303H disappears. As shown in FIG.
The timing mark 303H gradually descends (FIG. 32).
(A) and (b)) and stop at the position shown in FIG. Thereafter, the gauge 315 gradually rises (FIG. 32).
(B)-(d)), immediately after the gauge 315 has completely risen (FIG. 32 (d)), the timing mark 303H disappears at the end of the phrase (FIG. 32 (e)). FIG.
The state (b) corresponds to the start of the operation of the operation button 207. Since the time during which the operation of the operation button 207 should be continued changes by changing the speed at which the gauge is raised, the player needs to be aware of the speed at which the gauge is raised, and the game characteristics are enhanced.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a game process executed by CPU 10 when a signal instructing the start of a game is output from coin management device 18. First, in step S101, the player is requested via the monitor 3 to select a tune to be played as BGM, and in subsequent step S102, it is determined whether or not BGM has been selected. The operation buttons 7 may be used to select a song. When a player selects a song, data on that song (Fig. 4
(A)) is read into the RAM 15 (step S10).
3).

In the following step S105, it is determined whether or not the game preparation is completed. When the preparation is completed, the waveform data of the music is passed to the sound control device 12 to start the reproduction (step S106). Next, a timer for specifying the elapsed time from the start of the performance is started (step S1).
07).

In the following step S108, the current time tx is detected, and in the next step S109, the current time tx is changed to t.
The operation timing data up to y is read into the look-ahead buffer area in FIG. 6, and the operation timing data for two measures from the current time tx is read into the display buffer area. In the following step S110, image data for displaying the indicator 101 is created based on the data read into the display buffer area.

In a succeeding step S113, the image data of the created indicator 101 is transferred to the screen drawing control device 11.
To update the image of the indicator 101. Thereafter, it is determined in step S114 whether or not one piece of music has been completed, and if not completed, the flow returns to step S108. If one song has been completed, the processing in FIG. 10 ends.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an operation determination process executed by the CPU 10 in parallel while the processes of steps S108 to S114 are repeated in the process of FIG. In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the player has operated any of the operation buttons 7 (step S121), and if there is an operation, the operation time is calculated (step S122). In step S122, a time at which the operation of the operation button 7 is completed is also calculated. As described above, this time is used for determining the operation corresponding to the timing mark 303B.

Subsequently, sound effects assigned to the operation are generated from the speakers 4 and 5 (step S123). That is, based on the assigned waveform data in FIG. 5, the sound effect assigned to the current operation is specified, and the recording position of the assigned sound effect data is specified in the waveform data table in FIG. Then, the sound effect data at the specified position is passed to the sound control device 12, and the sound effect corresponding to the data is superimposed on the BGM and output.

In the following step S124, in step S1
The time between the operation time detected at 22 and the operation timing closest to the current time tx among the operation timings specified by the operation timing data (however, only the operation timing related to the actually operated operation button 7). Detect misalignment. Then, based on the detected deviation, the quality of the operation is determined in several stages. Further, as an operation on the timing mark 303B, it is determined whether or not the operation on the operation button 7 is interrupted before the end of the phrase (step S125). In a succeeding step S126, the determination result is displayed on the determination display unit 105 of the screen 100. At this time, the determination display unit 10 connected to the track corresponding to the operation button 7 whose operation has been detected in step S121.
5 is selected as the display position of the judgment result.

In the following step S127, in step S1
The score from the start of the performance to the present is calculated according to the result of the determination in step 25. For example, a standard position is provided in the judgment result, and points are added when the judgment result is better, and points are deducted when the judgment result is poor, so that the higher the individual operation, the higher the score. Adjust to

Note that the score displayed on the score display section 106 of the screen 100 and the length of the highlight section 109 of the score gauge 109 are appropriately updated according to the score adjusted in step S127.

Subsequently, it is determined in step S133 whether or not one piece of music has been completed. If one song has not been completed, the process returns to step S121 and waits for the next operation. If it is determined in step S121 that there is no operation, the process proceeds to step S128. If it is determined in step S128 that one song has ended, the processing in FIG. 11 is ended. If it is determined that one song has not ended, step S is performed.
Return to 121.

In the above embodiment, the length of the object is used to indicate the duration of the operation. However, the strength of the operation may be specified using the length of the object. For example, a strong operation may be indicated by a long object, and a weak operation may be indicated by a short object. In this case, the strength of the operation can be grasped as velocity information when, for example, a MIDI keyboard is used as the input device. Further, the method of indicating the strength of the operation is not limited to the method using the length of the object, and for example, the various display forms described above, such as numbers, gauges, colors, etc., displayed on the object can be used. When instructing the strength of the operation, it is necessary to show the strength of the operation to the player before the predetermined operation is performed. Therefore, the size of the object presented before the predetermined operation, the number displayed on the object, May be used as a parameter indicating the strength of the operation.

[0143]

As described above, according to the present invention, when guiding a continuous operation to some extent,
Unless the operation is started in accordance with the guidance, the timing of ending the operation is not correctly guided, so that the player can feel unexpected and attract the interest.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an arcade game machine to which the present invention is applied (No. 1).
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an embodiment.

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

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the game machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a left operation unit of a pair of operation units provided in the game machine of FIG. 1;

6 is a perspective view of a wheel control switch provided in the operation unit of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system provided in the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on a monitor when a game is executed on the game machine shown in FIG. 1;

9 is a view showing a state before the length of a long object displayed on the game screen of FIG. 8 is changed.

FIG. 10 is a view showing how the length of a long object displayed on the game screen of FIG. 8 is changed.

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

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an object display updating process executed in parallel during the game process of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a tone generation process executed in parallel during the game process of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a sounding situation corresponding to a continuous operation realized by the sounding processing of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of complementation performed to facilitate keyboard operation.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of complementation performed to facilitate keyboard operation.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing still another example of complementation performed to facilitate keyboard operation.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a game system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a basic game screen displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a data structure of data recorded in a hard disk storage device.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the contents of performance data.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a relationship between a read range of operation timing data during a play and a display range of an indicator.

24A and 24B are diagrams illustrating a display form of a timing mark, in which FIG. 24A illustrates a state in which the timing mark descends, FIG. 24B illustrates a display state subsequent to FIG. (D) shows a display state following (c), and (e) shows a state where the timing mark disappears.

25A and 25B are diagrams showing the relationship between the operation timing of the operation button and the reproduction of the phrase, wherein FIG. 25A shows a case where the operation is performed correctly, FIG. 25B shows a case where the operation is performed too early, (C) is a diagram showing a case where the operation is too slow.

26A and 26B are diagrams illustrating a relationship between operation timing of an operation button and a phrase, wherein FIG. 26A illustrates a case where the operation button is continuously operated for a sufficient time, and FIG. FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a case where the operation is interrupted, and FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a case where the operation is performed again after the operation is interrupted.

FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams showing another display form of the timing mark, in which FIG. 27A shows the timing mark descending, FIG. 27B shows the display state following FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a display state following (b), FIG. 4D is a diagram showing a display state following (c), and FIG. 4E is a diagram showing how the timing mark disappears.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are diagrams showing another display form of the timing mark, where FIG. 28A shows a state in which the timing mark descends, FIG. 28B shows a display state following FIG. FIG. 4B shows a display state following (c), FIG. 4D shows a display state following (d), and FIG. 4F shows a display state following (d); The figure which shows a display state, (g).
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a timing mark disappears.

29A and 29B are diagrams showing another display form of the timing mark, where FIG. 29A shows a state in which the timing mark descends, FIG. 29B shows a display state subsequent to FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a display state following (b), FIG. 4D is a diagram showing a display state following (c), and FIG. 4E is a diagram showing how the timing mark disappears.

FIGS. 30A and 30B are diagrams showing another display form of the timing mark, where FIG. 30A shows a state in which the timing mark descends, FIG. 30B shows a display state following FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a display state following (b), FIG. 4D is a diagram showing a display state following (c), and FIG. 4E is a diagram showing how the timing mark disappears.

FIGS. 31A and 31B are diagrams showing another display form of the timing mark, wherein FIG. 31A shows a state in which the timing mark descends, FIG. 31B shows a display state following FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a display state following (b), FIG. 4D is a diagram showing a display state following (c), and FIG. 4E is a diagram showing how the timing mark disappears.

FIGS. 32A and 32B are diagrams showing another display form of the timing mark, where FIG. 32A shows the timing mark descending, FIG. 32B shows the display state following FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a display state following (b), FIG. 4D is a diagram showing a display state following (c), and FIG. 4E is a diagram showing how the timing mark disappears.

FIG. 33 is a view showing a method of displaying a timing mark when the operation on the operation button is interrupted.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a game process.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an operation determination process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,201 game machine 2 housing 3,203 monitor (display device) 6 operation unit 7,207 keyboard (input device) 8 wheel control switch 8b wheel 9 panel switch 10 CD-ROM (storage medium) 21,210 CPU (operation Guide device, sound control device) 25A CD-DA sound source 25B PCM sound source 25C MIDI sound source (sound control device) 28 MIDI control circuit (sound control device) 100 Game screen (operation guide screen) 110 Operation guide section 111 Keyboard image 112 Wheel image 113 Separation line 114 Area 115A Short object (movable sign corresponding to one-time operation) 115B Long object (movable sign corresponding to continuous operation) 115C Wheel object 116 Judgment line (reference sign) 204, 205 Speaker unit ( Reproduction means) 212 Sound control device (reproduction means) 302a to 302i Tracks (moving paths) 303B to 303H Timing marks (movable signs) 315 gauge

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 13/00-13/12 G09B 15/00

Claims (18)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game system comprising an operation guide device that guides a series of operations of an input device set in association with a performance of a predetermined music through a predetermined guide screen, wherein the operation guide device includes the input device. And a continuous operation guide unit that guides a continuous operation longer than a predetermined unit time as a kind of operation included in the series of operations, wherein the continuous operation guide unit includes at least one continuous operation. Guides the timing of ending the continuous operation after the player starts operating the input device according to the guidance of the timing of starting the continuous operation.
Then, the operation guide device is provided in a predetermined direction in the guide screen.
A movable sign that moves at a tempo according to the music performance,
Reference sign displayed at a predetermined position on the moving path of the movable sign
Each operation included in the above series of operations depending on the positional relationship with
And the continuous operation guiding means starts the continuous operation.
The movable marker reaches the reference marker in synchronization with the timing.
At the end of the continuous operation
So that the movable sign passes through the reference sign.
A control target sign selected from a movable sign or the reference sign
Controls the position and length of the
Wherein, with respect to said at least one continuous operation,
In response to the guidance of the timing to start the continuous operation,
Until continuous operation is started,
Length is the original length corresponding to the duration of said continuous operation
Set to a different length than and the continuous operation was started
After changing the control target sign to the original length,
A game system for guiding the timing of ending a continuous operation . 2. The operation guide device includes a single operation guide unit that guides a single operation that is completed within the unit time as a kind of operation included in the series of operations, and the single operation guide unit. Controls the position in the predetermined direction of the control target marker selected from the movable marker or the reference marker so that the movable marker reaches the reference marker in synchronization with the timing at which the one-time operation is to be performed. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the control target marker corresponding to the one-time operation is set to a predetermined reference length. 3. The control screen according to claim 1, wherein the control target marker corresponding to the one-time operation and the control target marker corresponding to the continuous operation set to a length different from the original length can be identified in the guidance screen. The game system according to claim 2 , wherein 4. A control target marker corresponding to the continuous operation set to a length different from the original length is displayed longer than the reference length of the control target marker corresponding to the single operation. the game system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in Rukoto. 5. The movable sign is selected as the control target sign, and the continuous operation guide means extends the movable sign to a direction opposite to the moving direction after the continuous operation is started, and the continuous operation guide means includes: The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a timing for ending the operation is provided. 6. A sound control device for performing a predetermined sound processing in response to at least a part of the operations included in the series of operations, wherein the sound control device includes at least one continuous sound control device. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein in response to the operation, a phrase in which a plurality of sounds are successively expressed is produced. 7. An operation guide device for guiding a series of operations of an input device set in association with a performance of a predetermined music through a predetermined guide screen, wherein the operation guide device is provided in a predetermined direction in the guide screen. Each operation included in the series of operations is guided by a positional relationship between a movable marker that moves at a tempo corresponding to the music performance and a reference marker that is displayed at a predetermined position on the moving path of the movable marker. In the game system configured as described above, the operation guide device is configured to start the operation at a timing.
Synchronously when the movable sign reaches the reference sign and
The movable marker moves forward in synchronization with the end of the operation.
The movable sign and the reference so as to pass the reference sign.
Controls the position relationship between the labels, after at least one operation is guided by said reference marker and the movable indicator has been started for the input device, the operation
The movable marker and the reference marker for guiding the operation so as to change the timing of completing the operation, the length of one of the movable marker and the reference marker is changed. Game system. Wherein said length control means according to claim, characterized in that extending the movable indicator on the side opposite to the direction of movement 7
The game system according to 1. 9. A predetermined game program is recorded,
The program is a computer-readable storage medium configured to function as a computer as operation guide means for guiding a series of operations of the input device set in association with a predetermined music performance through a predetermined guide screen. The operation guide unit includes a continuous operation guide unit that guides a continuous operation that is longer than a predetermined unit time on the input device as a kind of operation included in the series of operations. The guidance means, with respect to at least one continuous operation, guides the timing of ending the continuous operation after the player starts operating the input device in accordance with the guidance of the timing of starting the continuous operation. The guidance means is provided in a predetermined direction in the guidance screen.
A movable sign that moves at a tempo according to the music performance,
Reference sign displayed at a predetermined position on the moving path of the movable sign
Each operation included in the above series of operations depending on the positional relationship with
And the continuous operation guiding means starts the continuous operation.
The movable marker reaches the reference marker in synchronization with the timing.
At the end of the continuous operation
So that the movable sign passes through the reference sign.
A control target sign selected from a movable sign or the reference sign
Controls the position and length of the
Wherein, with respect to said at least one continuous operation,
In response to the guidance of the timing to start the continuous operation,
Until continuous operation is started,
Length is the original length corresponding to the duration of said continuous operation
Set to a different length than and the continuous operation was started
Wherein by changing the control target label before Symbol original length after
A computer-readable storage medium for guiding a timing of ending a continuous operation . 10. A predetermined game program is recorded, and the program is used by a computer as operation guidance means for guiding a series of operations of an input device set in association with a predetermined music performance through a predetermined guidance screen. The operation guide means is displayed at a predetermined position on the movement path of the movable marker moving at a tempo corresponding to the performance of the music in a predetermined direction in the guidance screen. In a computer-readable storage medium configured to guide each operation included in the series of operations according to a positional relationship with a reference marker, the operation guide unit may be configured to execute the operation at a timing when the operation is started.
Synchronously when the movable sign reaches the reference sign and
The movable marker moves forward in synchronization with the end of the operation.
The movable sign and the reference so as to pass the reference sign.
Controls the positional relationship between the label, since at least one operation is guided by said reference marker and the movable indicator has been started for the input device, the operation
The movable marker and the reference marker for guiding the operation so as to change the timing of completing the operation, the length of one of the movable marker and the reference marker is changed. Computer readable storage medium. 11. The continuous operation guide means may provide a display for reducing the movable sign after the player starts operating the input device, thereby guiding a timing of ending the continuous operation. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein: 12. The continuous operation guide means according to claim 11 , wherein the display of the movable marker is performed such that the time when the movable marker disappears coincides with the timing of ending the continuous operation. Game system. 13. A music program which is set in association with a predetermined music performance.
A series of operations of the input device
In the game system provided with the operation guide device, the operation guide device is a predetermined unit with respect to the input device.
Continuous operations longer than time are included in the series of operations.
Including the continued operation guide means to guide as a kind of operation that
The continuous operation guidance means is provided in a predetermined direction within the guidance screen.
Movable sign that moves at a tempo corresponding to the performance of the music
Is displayed at a predetermined position on the moving path of the movable sign
At the start of the continuous operation according to the positional relationship with the reference sign
The continuous operation guide means starts the continuous operation.
When the player guides the input device
Timing that ends the continuous operation after starting the operation
The continuous operation guide means includes a gauge display means for displaying a gauge in the movable sign, the gauge display means, after the player starts operating the input device wherein changing the gauge of the gauge, features and be Ruge over beam system that performs a display of the gauge so that when the gage amount reaches a predetermined gage amount matches the timing to end the continuous operation. 14. A program set in association with a predetermined music performance.
A series of operations of the input device
In the game system provided with the operation guide device, the operation guide device is a predetermined unit with respect to the input device.
Continuous operations longer than time are included in the series of operations.
Continuous operation guidance means for guiding
The continuous operation guidance means is provided in a predetermined direction within the guidance screen.
Movable sign that moves at a tempo corresponding to the performance of the music
Is displayed at a predetermined position on the moving path of the movable sign
At the start of the continuous operation according to the positional relationship with the reference sign
The continuous operation guide means starts the continuous operation.
When the player guides the input device
Timing that ends the continuous operation after starting the operation
The continuous operation guide means includes numerical display means for displaying a numerical value in the movable sign, the numerical display means, after the player has started the operation of the input device the numeric changing the characteristic and to Ruge over beam system that when the numerical value reaches a predetermined value to display the numeric to match the timing to end the continuous operation. 15. A reproduction device for reproducing a predetermined sound when a predetermined operation set on the input device is performed, wherein the reproduction device operates the input device at a predetermined timing by the player. in addition to the cases began, claim wherein the player is characterized in that for reproducing operations said predetermined sound even if not of the input device at a predetermined timing 1～5,7,8,11～ 15. The game system according to any one of 14 . 16. A reproduction device for reproducing a predetermined sound when a predetermined operation set on the input device is performed, wherein the reproduction device operates the input device at a predetermined timing by the player. If you do not select is characterized in that it does not reproduce the predetermined sound claim 1～5,7,8,1
15. The game system according to any one of 1 to 14 . 17. The operation guide device can guide an operation of a predetermined strength on the input device as a kind of operation included in the series of operations, and the movable sign includes the predetermined operation of the operation. 9. A display element indicating intensity is included .
The game system according to any one of claims 11 to 16 . 18. The game system according to claim 17 , wherein the predetermined strength of the operation is indicated by a display size of the movable sign.