JP3443415B2 - Game device - 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 control technique for displaying an image captured from a virtual viewpoint in a game space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a video game in which an image is displayed on a screen in front of the player so that the player can experience a shooting of a displayed object, a race with another vehicle on the course, and the like. There is.

A driving game device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-24140, an image projection type game device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-31090, a racing game device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-147143, and a Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-235011. All of the video interlocking devices of the above are for playing a video game as described above, and the player instructs movement, attack, etc. from a predetermined input device connected in accordance with the video on the screen, Progress the video game.

In particular, in these video games, an image is projected from a projector whose direction is changed by a direct operation of a player or an input of the player onto a screen having a cylindrical inner surface or a spherical inner surface (which stands up substantially vertically). Therefore, it can be said that the device is designed to create a realistic feeling in a small installation space.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional video games, the realism of the game that the player can experience is not always sufficient, and in the game industry, the tiredness for satisfying the player is tired. It is always desired to develop innovative video games that are hard to occur and powerful.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a video game control technique capable of effectively producing a novel and unique sense of tension and realism.

[0007]

In a game device according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a reference viewpoint position set at a predetermined height position on a play area in front of a game machine body is set as a game space. A game adapted to correspond to the virtual viewpoint of, and which is an image captured from this virtual viewpoint and including an object as a virtual attack target is read from the ROM storing image data and displayed on the screen. A device, which is a screen that is continuously curved from a lower part in front of the reference viewpoint position to an upper part in a substantially upper position of the reference viewpoint position, and an image projected from a projector is reflected to a part of the screen. An image captured from the virtual viewpoint by rotating the mirror around a horizontal axis in correspondence with the display means having a mirror and the direction of the virtual viewpoint. The viewpoint position moving means for moving up and down on the screen, and one or more sensors for detecting the left and right movements of the player on the play area are provided, and the viewpoint position moving means comprises: When the sensor is in a predetermined detection state, coordinates for moving the virtual viewpoint to the left and right with respect to the target object are set according to the detection state.

In the present game device, the image displayed on a part of the display means which is continuously curved from the lower part in front of the reference viewpoint position to the upper part in the upper part of the reference viewpoint position is displayed by the viewpoint position moving means as the virtual viewpoint. The display means may be curved so that it is moved at least in the up-down direction in correspondence with the direction of, and in particular, the distance from the reference viewpoint position to the upper portion is smaller than the distance from the reference viewpoint position to the lower portion. .

In these game devices, one or more sensors for detecting the movement of the player to the left and right,
When a predetermined detection state is reached, the virtual viewpoint moves to the left and right of the target object, so that a virtual attack from the target object can be avoided, for example.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A shooting video game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the movement of a projected image on a screen 121, which is characteristic of a shooting video game machine which is one of the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows the display of the projection image 122 on the lower part of the screen 121.
FIG. 1B shows the display of the projection image 123 on the upper part of the screen 121. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing changes in the display image due to the movement of the player 300 to the left and right.

Further, FIGS. 2 and 4 show an image 12 projected to the lower part.
2 is a diagram showing an example of FIG. 2, and FIG.
It is a figure which shows the example of.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the player 300 standing in the play area 130 set in front of the game machine operates the gun unit 10 to project the projected image 122 on the screen 121. Virtually shoot a dinosaur displayed in 123. A dinosaur that has a 3D shape in the game space (virtual three-dimensional space) and moves while moving with the passage of time is (the preset player 3
00 is displayed in the projection image 122 as shown in FIG. 2 when it exists at a distant position, and when it is close to the virtual viewpoint, the projection image as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. 123 is also displayed in the projection image 122 as shown in FIG.

Particularly, in this game machine, the screen 121
The projection image 122 (FIG. 1A) displayed at the bottom is the projection image 123 (FIG. 1) displayed at the top of the screen 121.
To (b)), while the display contents are changed according to the positions of the virtual viewpoint and the dinosaur moved in the game space, the arrow A
Continuously moved in _one direction, such a screen 1
Along with the movement of the projection image on the screen 21, the player's line of sight moves from the bottom of the screen 121 to the top of the screen 121 (from the direction of arrow A ₂ in FIG. 1A to the arrow A _{3 in} FIG. 1B).
Will be changed naturally.

Further, in this game machine, it is assumed that a dinosaur attacks the player in the game space.
From the state in the projection image 123, the dinosaur causes the player on the play area 130 to bite the screen 121, and from the state in the projection image 122 in FIG. 4, the dinosaur kicks the player. A motion (also a motion of swinging the tail) is displayed at the bottom of the screen 121.

The player 300 can avoid attacks from these dinosaurs by moving left and right on the play area 130. As shown in FIG. 1B, the player 300 shooting toward the head of the dinosaur recognizes that the dinosaur will start attacking, and moves to the left on the play area 130 as shown in FIG. When moving (in the direction of arrow A ₄ ), the game machine detects this movement, sets coordinates so that the virtual player (virtual viewpoint) moves away from the dinosaur in the game space, and the player 300 causes the dinosaur to move. The projected image 123 is displayed as if it were moving away from the dinosaur (the dinosaur is detached in the direction of arrow A ₅ ).

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper and lower parts of the large dinosaur close to the virtual viewpoint are displayed above and below the screen 121, but a flying dinosaur (pterosaur) far from the virtual viewpoint is displayed below the screen 121. It is possible to display the flying dinosaur near the virtual viewpoint on the upper part of the screen 121 by continuously changing the display content according to the position of the flying dinosaur with respect to the virtual viewpoint and continuously moving the displayed content.

The structure of the present game machine having the above-described operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11 in order. 6,
FIG. 7 relates to a configuration for projecting an image, FIGS. 8 and 9 relate to a configuration for detecting the direction of the muzzle 16, and FIGS. 10 and 11 show protection of rotation of the mirror 43 and the like. It is related to the configuration for.

A configuration for projecting an image will be described. FIG. 6 is a view showing the outer appearance of the present game machine, and FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the movement of the projection image on the screen 121.

In this game machine, as shown in FIG. 6, a screen 121 held by a screen holder 120.
Above, the projection image 124 projected from the projector 31 (FIG. 7) is moved in the direction of the arrow A ₆ and the gun unit 1
0, the gun unit 20 is connected to a control unit via a gun cable 17 (described later in FIG. 12). The projected image 124 includes an object to be shot such as the above-mentioned dinosaur, and the 1P player standing on the play area 130 operates the gun unit 10 (and the 2P player,
The gun target 20 is operated) to virtually shoot an object to be shot, and points are added according to the skill of the shooting such as the shooting position and the shooting timing.

The four player detection sensors 51 to 54 mounted on the front surface of the base 110 are used by a 1P player during one-player play (or a 1P player and a 2P play during two-player play).
A side plate 125 is provided to detect the movement of the player to the left and right, and to detect the orientation of the muzzle with respect to the screen 121 (described later) and prevent disturbances when displaying on the screen 121.

Further, in this game machine, music for producing realism and force is reproduced, and a speaker (upper) 32 for outputting a sound in the middle and high range when the game progresses,
A speaker (left) 33, a speaker (right) 34, and a woofer speaker 35 for outputting low-pitched sound are provided. Speaker (top) 32 and speaker (left)
33 forms a set, and the speaker (upper) 32 and the speaker (right) 34 form a set to reproduce stereo sound.

A predetermined amount of coins are inserted from the coin insertion slot 38, the start button 36 is appropriately pressed in accordance with the display on the screen 121, and the 1P player only plays one person, or the 1P player and the 2P player. Two-player play by is selectively started.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rectangular flat plate-shaped mirror 43 has a mirror shaft 45 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and both ends of the mirror shaft 45 are rotatably held by mirror holding members 46. ing. The rotation of the stepping motor 41, which is connected to the control unit described later, is rotated by the timing belt 44.
Is transmitted to the mirror 43 by the arrow A
_The projection image 124 is moved in the direction of arrow A ₆ on the screen 121 by being rotated in the direction of ₇ .

A virtual viewpoint in the game space is associated with a reference viewpoint set at a predetermined height position in front of the game machine, and a player (of average height) can move from this reference viewpoint position. It is envisioned to look at screen 121.

Next, a configuration for detecting the direction of the muzzle 16 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the gun unit 10 (the same applies to the gun unit 20), and FIG. 9 is a screen LED for detecting the orientation of the muzzle 16 with respect to the screen 121 together with the CCD camera 13 in the gun unit 10. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of P1-P17. FIG. 9A shows a front view of the screen 121 stretched on a plane, and FIG. 9B shows a side view of the screen 121 installed in the game machine.

The gun unit 10 is, as shown in FIG.
It is a model of a pump action gun, and the trigger switch 11 is a micro switch that is turned on by the player pulling the trigger 14 in the direction of arrow A ₈ , and the player slides the slide portion 15 in the direction of arrow A ₉ . It has a pump trigger switch 12 which is a micro switch which is turned on by this, and a CCD camera 13 which images the screen LEDs P1 to P17 provided on the surface of the screen 121 to detect the direction of the muzzle 16 with respect to the screen 121. .

Signals from the trigger switch 11, the pump trigger switch 12, and the CCD camera 13 are transmitted to the main body control unit 100 via the gun cable 17, and the trigger switch 11 is turned on to virtually shoot. When the pump trigger switch 12 is turned on, loading of a virtual predetermined number of bullets into the gun unit 10 is instructed.

Depending on the visual field 431 of the CCD camera 13, only a part of the screen 121 is imaged as shown in FIG. 9A, and as shown in FIG. Since the distance between the CCD camera 13 (in the unit 10) and the screen 121 is changed according to the operation of the player during the game progress, the size of the part of the screen 121 that fits within the visual field 431 of the CCD camera 13 is changed. To do.

In this game machine, C corresponding to the visual field 431
The characteristic of the arrangement of the image of the screen LED in the CD image is detected to detect which part on the screen 121 the player is pointing the muzzle 16.

Next, the structure for protecting the mirror 43 against rotation will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an acrylic plate 142 installed to protect the rotation of the mirror 43 and the projection of an image from the projector 31, and FIG. 11 is an acrylic plate holding member 141 (FIG. (A)) and It is a figure which shows the structure of the acrylic plate 142 (FIG. (B)).

Acrylic plate guide groove 143 (FIG. 11 (a))
The mirror 43 and the projector 3 with the end part passed through the inside.
The acrylic plate 142 (see FIG. 11) installed so as to cover the first and the like.
As shown in FIG. 10, (b)) is for protecting the inside where the mirror 43, the projector 31, etc. are placed from the outside while transmitting the image from the projector 31.
Further, when the real image is projected on the upper part of the screen 121, the light reflected from the acrylic plate 142, the mirror 43, etc. is inclined about 10 degrees from the horizontal direction so that the virtual image is formed outside the screen 121.

The control of the game machine having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control unit of the game machine, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a shooting video game process (shooting video game program) executed by the game control unit (CPU) 103. Is.

As shown in FIG. 12, base 110 (FIG. 6)
The main body control section 100 (the game control section 10 of the main body control section 100 installed therein
In 3), the trigger switches 11, 21, and
Pump trigger switches 12, 22, CCD camera 1
3, 23, screen LEDs P1 to P17, player detection sensors 51 to 54, start button 36, projector 31, stepping motor 41, and speaker 32 to.
35, a coin switch 37 for detecting the insertion of coins from the coin insertion slot 38, and a semi-circular plate mounted on the mirror shaft 45 (when the power is dropped, etc.) to determine the rotation reference position of the mirror 43. Position sensor 42 is connected to the screen 121 by the game control unit 103 designating a rotation angle from the rotation reference position.
(FIG. 7) The display position of the projection image 124 on the upper side is continuously designated.

More specifically, the main body control section 100 has a ROM 105 for storing a program for shooting video game processing, which will be described later, image data, audio data, and the like, and an RO.
RAM 10 for temporarily storing the program read from M105, data used in the program, and the like
6 and a game control unit 103 for controlling the overall progress of the game based on the program loaded on the RAM 106.
And a drawing control unit that writes image data corresponding to a projected image of the projector 31 into the frame buffer 102 while performing image-specific processing such as polygon drawing and texture mapping in accordance with the coordinates of an object having a 3D shape in the game space. (Image drawing processor) 101 and ADPCM
An audio control unit (audio control processor) 104 that includes a sound source and reproduces audio from audio data is included.

In the shooting video game process executed by the game control section 103, as shown in FIG. 13, if the coin switch 37 does not detect the insertion of a coin (ST
No in 2), the demo image data is read out and the demo screen is displayed (ST1).

When the insertion of a coin is detected (YES in ST2), the start screen is displayed (ST3), and the image data, the audio data, which differs depending on the stage (when the pressing of the start button 36 is detected), Also, other game data characterizing the attack, movement, movement of the player, etc. of the enemy character (the above-mentioned dinosaur or other shooting target) is read (ST4), and the screen LED P
1 to P17 are turned on (ST5).

In this game machine, as in the conventional fighting game machine, the time limit of the game and the life of the virtual player, which is reduced according to the attack from the enemy character, are set, and the game progresses during the game. Will it run out of time (ST6
YES), if life is exhausted (N at ST7)
O), the game ends, and a screen notifying that the game is over is displayed (ST13). If the time has not expired (NO in ST6) and there is remaining life (Y in ST7)
ES), the game processing main body (ST8, which will be described later in detail in FIG. 15 and the like) continues the game.

By defeating the large dinosaurs shown in FIGS. 2 to 4,
When one stage is cleared (YES in ST9), the cleared stage is not the final stage (S
(NO at T10), the process from ST4 is repeated for the new stage.

When the cleared stage is the final stage (YES in ST10), the screen LEDs P1 to P17 are turned off (ST11), and the ending screen and the game over screen are displayed (ST1).
2, ST13), the process is returned to ST1.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a game processing unit 400 (a part of a shooting video game program) for performing processing in the game processing main body of ST8 of FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is a game of ST8. It is a flow chart which shows a detailed procedure of processing in a processing body. 16 and 17 show the play area 13 by the player detection sensors 51 to 54.
It is a figure for demonstrating the detection of the position of the player 300 above 0 (at the time of one player only 1P player play).

As shown in FIG. 14, the game processing section 400.
Is a processing unit that performs processing relating to the player (virtual viewpoint or virtual player in the game space) and detects the position of the muzzle 16 on the screen 121 based on the image captured by the CCD camera 13. Muzzle direction detector 401 of the pump trigger switch 12,
I / O for inputting that the trigger switch 11 is turned on and the detection states of the player detection sensors 51 to 54
When the input unit 402 and the pump trigger switch 12 are turned on, a bullet loading processing unit 403 that processes loading of a virtual predetermined number of bullets, and a muzzle from the vicinity of the virtual viewpoint in the game space in response to turning on the trigger switch 11 A bullet position calculation unit 404 that sets coordinates so as to move the bullet in a direction according to the direction of 16 and a normal viewpoint (with a predetermined movement width) in the game space, and When the player detection sensors 51 to 54 detect the movement of the player on the play area 130, a viewpoint position moving unit 405 that sets the coordinates of the virtual viewpoint so as to avoid the virtual viewpoint moving away from the dinosaur. The hit judging unit 406 for judging whether or not a virtual attack from the enemy to the player is hit is included.

Further, the game processing section 400 is a processing section for performing processing relating to the enemy character, and an enemy attack setting section 407 for generating an attack on the player when the enemy character comes close enough to the player (using random numbers or the like). , An enemy movement processing unit 408 that sets the coordinates of the enemy character so as to follow the player in the game space and moves the enemy character, and an enemy hit that determines whether a virtual attack from the player to the enemy has hit In addition to the above, the determination unit 409 is included, and in addition, data for instructing the drawing control unit 101 to perform drawing based on the setting of the coordinates of the player and the enemy character in the game space is set, and the image projected by the projector 31 is displayed. An image processing unit that rotates the stepping motor 41 depending on whether the screen 121 is displayed at the upper part or the lower part. 10, the voice control unit 1 so as selectively reproducing sound (including music) in accordance with the game progress
Audio processing unit 411 for setting data instructing 04.

Game processing section 40 including these processing sections
In the game process main body executed in 0, as shown in FIG. 15, first, the muzzle direction detection process is performed by the muzzle direction detection unit 401.
(ST81, which will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 19 and the like), and the reaction states of the pump trigger switch 12, the trigger switch 11, and the player detection sensors 51 to 54 are acquired by the I / O input unit 402. (ST82).

If the pump trigger switch 12 has responded (YES in ST83), bullets are virtually loaded in the bullet loading processing section 403 (ST84), and if the trigger switch 11 has responded (in ST85). And YES), the coordinates indicating the trajectory of the bullet in the game space are calculated by the bullet position calculation unit 404 according to the orientation of the muzzle 16 with respect to the screen 121 detected by the muzzle orientation detection unit 401 (ST86). .

If the reaction state of the player detection sensors 51 to 54 has a predetermined pattern indicating the movement of the player 300 on the play area 130 (YE in ST87).
S), the avoidance movement of the virtual viewpoint is set by the viewpoint position moving unit 405 (ST88), and the player detection sensors 51 to 51
If the reaction state of 54 is not the predetermined pattern (S
(NO at T87), normal movement of the virtual viewpoint is set (ST89).

More specifically, the player detection sensors 51 to 5
4 detects the distance to the obstacle using ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, etc., and the obstacle is located at a predetermined distance (play area 130).
It is a distance measuring sensor that turns on a signal when the distance is equal to or less than the distance corresponding to the player 300 above (the accurate distance measurement is not necessary). As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, when it is detected that the 1P player has moved from the reference position in front of the left inner player detection sensor 52 to the front of the left outer player detection sensor 51 in the normal state, the player is detected. As an instruction to wrap around the dinosaur to the left, the coordinates of the virtual viewpoint are set in the game space.

In particular, since the movement to the left is detected using a total of two player detection sensors, as shown in FIG. It can be said that "," a state in which a gallery other than the player is erroneously recognized "can be detected, and the movement of the player can be detected more accurately.

Further, regarding the movement of the 1P player to the right side (FIG. 16), when it is detected that the player has moved in front of the right inner player detecting sensor 53 (or the right outer player detecting sensor 54), The coordinates of the virtual viewpoint are set as an instruction to turn around the dinosaur to the right.

Further, the reference position may be in front of the right inner player detection sensor 53. At this time, when it is detected that the player has moved in front of the right outer player detection sensor 54, it is assumed that the player has instructed the dinosaur to wrap around to the right side, and the left inner player detection sensor 52.
When it is detected that the player has moved in front of (or the left outer player detection sensor 51), it is assumed that the player has instructed the dinosaur to wrap around to the left side, and the coordinates of the virtual viewpoint in the game space are set. be able to.

When the hit determination unit 406 determines that the enemy character has hit the player with a hit (YES in ST90 of FIG. 15), the self-life is reduced,
The display of the self-life gauge (representing the self-life value in a bar shape on the screen) is updated (ST91).

When an attack from the enemy character to the player occurs in the enemy attack setting section 407 (YE in ST92).
S), the coordinates in the game space of each part are set so that the enemy character such as the mouth, arms, legs, and tail attacks the player from the part where the attack occurs (ST9).
3) If the movement of the enemy character is set by the enemy movement processing unit 408 (YES in ST94), the coordinates of the enemy character in the game space are moved (ST95). continue,
If the enemy hit determination unit 409 determines that the player has hit the enemy character with an attack (YES in ST96), the enemy life is reduced and the display of the enemy life gauge is updated (ST97).

It is possible to assume that there are one or more enemy characters in the game space, and while the target enemy character is being updated, the processes of ST92 to ST97 are repeated for all enemy characters (ST9).
8 NO). ST9 against all enemy characters
When the processing of 2 to ST97 is completed (YE in ST98
S), image display processing in the image processing unit 410 (ST99,
(Details will be described with reference to FIG. 19 and the like), the sound output processing (ST100) is performed by the sound processing unit 411, and the processing of the game processing body is returned.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the muzzle direction detecting section 401 which performs the muzzle direction detecting process in ST81 of FIG. 15, and FIG. 19 shows the detailed procedure of the muzzle direction detecting process in ST81. It is a flowchart shown. Further, FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the 2-point set selection processing in ST811 of FIG. 19, and FIG. 21 is a diagram showing grouping of 2-point sets according to the positional relationship of 2 points.

As shown in FIG. 18, the muzzle direction detector 40
1, the position of the image of the screen LED (one of P1 to P17) in the CCD image (data for each pixel is stored in a predetermined area on the RAM 106) which is the image captured by the CCD camera 13 is indicated. The distance and angle (0) between the LED position specifying unit 4011 specified by the coordinates set in the CCD image and any two points of the screen LED in the CCD image.
2-point distance calculation unit 40 for calculating the calculation results in the 2-point set table 423 (FIG. 23).
12, a two-point angle calculation unit 4013 and a two-point set consisting of arbitrary two points of the screen LED, those arranged in the vertical direction (0 °) and those arranged in the horizontal direction (90 °) in the CCD image, It corresponds to either of the 2-point set type selection unit 4014 that selects from the direction of the straight line connecting the two points and the pattern (pattern shown in FIGS. 25 to 28) in which the selected 2-point set pattern is designated in advance. The 2-point pattern determining unit 4015 for determining whether to perform the determination, and which of the screen LEDs in the CCD image on the screen 121 is identified according to the determination result, and the LED position data 424 (screen LED designated in advance) The position on the screen 121 where the center of the muzzle 16 faces based on the coordinates on the screen 121 of the Muzzle direction calculation unit 4 that calculates the position) and determines the flight direction of the bullet in the game space.
016 and are included.

In the muzzle direction detection processing including these processing units, as shown in FIG. 19, first, among two arbitrary pairs of points in a CCD image, those arranged substantially vertically and those arranged substantially horizontally. A 2-point set selection process (ST811, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 20) is performed.

More specifically, this two-point set selection process (see FIG. 2)
In 0), first, in the LED position specifying unit 4011, CC
Screen LED displayed as multiple pixels in D image
The center point of the image is indexed and set as the position of the screen LED (ST8111). With respect to a two-point set having two arbitrary points as one set, the distance and angle between the two points are calculated (ST8112, ST8113), and the two points are set to 0 (±) in the vertical direction.
Depending on whether they are lined up in 5) ° (Fig. 21) or lined up in 90 (± 5) ° in the horizontal direction, the two-point set is classified as a 0 ° set and a 90 ° set, and the two point sets on the same straight line are the same. Are divided into groups (ST8114), and the process returns. The angle range (± 5 ° in this case) set with respect to the reference directions 0 ° and 90 ° can be designated according to the assumed inclination width of the gun unit 10 by the player.

An example of processing in such a two-point set selection processing will be described. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a CCD image, and FIG. 23 is a screen LED in the CCD image of FIG.
It is a diagram illustrating a two-point set table that is based on the image D ₀ to D ₆ of the product. Further, FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a detailed procedure for grouping.

25 to 28 are diagrams showing examples of the pattern of the position of the CCD image 131 with respect to the screen 121. Further, FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 are diagrams for explaining calculation of the position G on the screen 121 on which the center g faces from the images P _u and P _v of the screen LED in the CCD image.

With respect to the CCD image, as shown in FIG. 22, coordinates consisting of a set of integers in the set xy coordinates are associated with each of the pixels arranged in 182 rows and 256 columns. The image of the screen LED in the CCD image, the position of which is specified in ST8111 of the 2-point set selection process, is D ₀ ~
It is D ₆ . One set of two points is formed from arbitrary two points of the LED images D _{0 to} D ₆ , and ST8121, ST8113
At, the distance and angle are calculated for each 2 point set,
The calculation result is generated in the 2-point set table (FIG. 23), and S
At T8114, grouping is performed based on the angle.

In the two-point set table shown in FIG. 23, two 90 ° sets A and B on the same straight line and one 0 ° set A are selected. Here, when selecting two 90 ° sets, it is assumed that the points are traced and the two-point set is specified, as shown in FIG. That is, NO. Since the 2-point set of 0 is composed of the first point D ₃ and the second point D ₄ ,
In the 2-point set table of FIG. 23, the 2-point set including the second point D ₄ , NO. 2, NO. 5 is specified, and the first point D ₃
2 point set including NO. 6, NO. 8 is specified. N
O. For two-point set is containing D _5, further two-point set NO containing D _5. 1 is specified.

As described above, other two-point sets including points in a certain two-point set are sequentially specified, and a group consisting of only two point sets on the same straight line (here, 90 ° set A) is formed. Will be done. After these, NO. 0-NO. 2, N
O. 5, NO. 6, NO. No. 8 for the 2-point set except the 2-point set. The same process is performed from the 2-point set of No. 3 and NO.
3, NO. 4, NO. 2-point set of 7 is 2-point group, 9
It will be specified as a constituent of the 0 ° group B.

In the two-point set selection process (FIG. 19) as described above, the feature of the positional relationship between arbitrary two points in the CCD image is extracted (here, the CCD image is arranged in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction). The two-point set is specified together with the interval), and ST812, ST814, ST816,
Based on the determination in ST818, ST819, ST823, ST827, etc., that the extracted feature (using the two-point set table) corresponds to one of the predesignated patterns, ST813, ST815, ST8
17, ST820, ST821, ST825, ST82
6, ST830, ST831, ST833, ST834
At, it is identified which of the screen LEDs P1 to P17 the image of the screen LED in the CCD image is, and the coordinates on the screen 121 corresponding to the center of the CCD image are calculated based on the identification result. Based on the result, the trajectory direction of the flying bullet is specified in the game space.

Actually, the same 0 ° group group (a group of two points arranged substantially vertically on the same straight line) in the CCD image
If three points at equal intervals are included (Y in ST812
ES), these three points are screen LEDs P10, P1
2, P13, CCD image 131 is on screen 1
It is presumed that the position is as shown in FIGS. 25 (a) to 25 (g) with respect to No. 21, and (from the positions shown in FIGS. 29 and 30) screen CCDs P10, P12, P13. The position on the screen 121 corresponding to the center of the image 131 (position G in FIG. 30) is calculated, the direction of the muzzle 16 with respect to the screen 121 is specified (ST813), and the process is returned.

In addition to these, if there is only one 0 ° group group (YES in ST814), the screen LEDs P11 and P14 show the CCD image 131 in FIG.
The CCD image 131 is included from the positions of the screen LEDs P11 and P14, which are included in the positions shown in FIGS.
The position on the screen 121 corresponding to the center of is calculated, the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST815), and the process is returned.

Image p of screen LED in CCD image
_{As for u} and p _v , as shown in FIG. 29, the center of the CCD image is g, the straight line passing through the images p _u and p _v is s, the inclination of the straight line s is θ, and the distance from the center g to the image p _v is If d is the distance from the center g to the straight line s and m is the length of the orthogonal projection of the distance d onto the straight line s, then [Formula 1] holds for l and m.

[0067]

[Equation 1]

The distance in the CCD image and the distance on the screen can be treated as being proportional to each other. As shown in FIG. 30, G is on the screen corresponding to the center g of the CCD image, S is a straight line passing through the screen LEDs P _u and P _v , and L is a length corresponding to the distance 1 on the straight line S and m is a distance m. If the length corresponding to is M, then [Equation 2] holds, so C
The position G on the screen corresponding to the center g of the CD image is
It is calculated from the positions of L and M calculated by [Equation 2] and the already identified P _v .

[0069]

[Equation 2]

When the position G is calculated in this way, it is possible to specify the direction of the muzzle 16 and calculate the trajectory of the bullet in the game space from the vicinity of the virtual player to the object. Become.

In the muzzle orientation detection process (FIG. 19), if the 0 ° group group is 0 group and the 90 ° group group is 2 groups (YES in ST816), the screen LEDs P2 and P3 are CCDs. Image 131 of FIG.
Presumed to be included at the position shown in (a),
Similarly to the above, the position G on the screen 121 corresponding to the center g of the CCD image 131 is calculated from the positions of the screen LEDs P2 and P3, the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST817), and the process is returned. .

If the 0 ° set group is 0 group and the 90 ° set group is 1 group (ST81
8), the screen LEDs P15 to P17 are estimated to be included in the CCD image 131 at the positions shown in FIG. 27B, and two 0 ° group groups and two 90 ° group groups are included. If yes (YES in ST819), screen LED P15
To P17 are included in the CCD image 131 at the positions shown in FIG. 27 (c), or the screen LEDs P5 to P9.
Is estimated to be included in the CCD image 131 at the positions shown in FIGS. 27D and 27E, and the process proceeds to ST820.

In ST820, it is determined whether or not the total number of 90 ° groups (two-point groups arranged in the substantially horizontal direction) is more than 7, and if the total number is 7 or less (NO in ST820), FIG.
(B) (total number of 90 ° groups: 3), FIG. 27 (c) (total number of 5)
Screen LEDs P15 to P17 at the positions shown in
Is estimated to be included and includes the lowest point 90
° P1 is the 2-point set with the longest distance in the set group
5 and P17 are assumed, and these P15 and P
The position G is calculated from 17, the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST821), and the process is returned.

If the total number of 90 ° groups is more than 7 (ST8
20 (YES), FIG. 27 (d) (total number of 90 ° sets is 1)
6), it is estimated that the screen LEDs P5 to P9 are included in the positions shown in FIG. 27 (e) (total number of 90 ° groups 12), and 5 points are arranged on the same straight line 90 °
Of the group of sets, the two-point set with the longest distance is P5,
P9 is assumed, the position G is calculated from P5 and P9, and the orientation of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST82
2), the process is returned.

If the 0 ° group is one group and the 90 ° group is two groups (ST82
3), the CCD image 131 is displayed on the screen 12
28, it is estimated that the positions are as shown in FIG. 28 (a) and FIG. 28 (b), and further the points on the upper side of the 0 ° set (two-point set aligned in the vertical direction) are With respect to the other point (non-overlapping point) of the 90 ° set included as an overlapping point, it is determined whether or not the overlapping point is on the left side (ST824).

If this overlapping point is on the left side of the non-overlapping point (S
(YES at T824), the CCD image 131 is estimated to be at the position shown in FIG. 28 (a) with respect to the screen 121, and the two points included in the 0 ° group are P1 and P from the top.
5 is assumed, and the position G from these P1 and P5
Is calculated and the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST82
5), the process is returned.

If the overlapping point is on the right side of the non-overlapping point (ST8
It is assumed that the CCD image 131 is in the position as shown in FIG. 28B, and it is assumed that the two points included in the 0 ° group are P4 and P9 from the top. The position G is calculated from P4 and P9, the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST826), and the process is returned.

If the 0 ° group is one group and the 90 ° group is one group (S
(YES at T827), it is estimated that the CCD image 131 is included in the screen 121 at the positions shown in FIGS. 28 (c) to (f), and ST828, S
By determining the detailed positional relationship between the points in T829 and ST832, it is determined which of these four patterns the position of the CCD image 131 with respect to the screen 121 corresponds to.

In ST828, 0 does not overlap with the 90 ° set.
By determining whether or not the non-overlapping point included in the ° set is below the overlapping point included in the 0 ° set overlapping the 90 ° set, the position of the CCD image 131 is determined as shown in FIG. c),
Which of the patterns shown in (d) and the patterns shown in (e) and (f) of FIG. 28 is selected.

Further, in ST829 and ST832, it is judged whether or not the above-mentioned overlapping point is on the left side with respect to the other points of the 90 ° set.

If it is determined in ST829 that the overlapping point is on the left side (YES in ST829, FIG. 28C), 0
° Two points from above included in the group are P5 and P10
Is assumed to be the position G from these P5 and P10.
Is calculated and the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST83
0), if it is determined that the overlapping point is on the right side (ST829)
NO in FIG. 28D), it is assumed that the two points from above included in the 0 ° group are P9 and P11.
The position G is calculated from these P9 and P11, and the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST831).

If it is determined in ST832 that the above-mentioned overlapping point is on the left side (YES in ST832, FIG. 28).
(E)), it is assumed that the two points from below included in the 0 ° group are P15 and P13.
The position G is calculated from P15, the direction of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST833), and if it is determined that the overlapping point is on the right side (NO in ST832, FIG. 28 (f)), it is included in the 0 ° group. It is assumed that the two points from below are P17 and P14, the position G is calculated from these P14 and P17, and the orientation of the muzzle 16 is specified (ST834).

Other than these (N at ST827)
O), this processing is returned as it is, and the orientation of the muzzle 16 with respect to the screen 121 is specified by the above-described muzzle orientation detection processing.

By the above-described muzzle direction detection processing, C
From the characteristic of the positional relationship of the plurality of screen LEDs in the CD image, which part of the screen 121 the muzzle 16 is facing is first specified, and then the position on the screen corresponding to the center of the CCD image is calculated. From this position on the screen, it is possible to calculate the position of the virtual trajectory of the bullet fired from the muzzle toward the target in the game space.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the image processing section 410 which performs the image display processing in ST99 of FIG. 15, and FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the image display processing in ST99. is there.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the display of a corrected image on this game machine, FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the display of a normal image, and FIG. 35 is set on this game machine. It is a figure for demonstrating an image correction parameter.

When a normal image as shown in FIG. 34A is projected from the projector 31 (FIG. 7), the screen 121
Due to the curvature of the projected image 12, the distance from the reference viewpoint of the player 300 on the game machine front play area 130 is
Since the upper part and the lower part of 4 are different from each other, an image as shown in FIG. 34 (b) is captured by the eyes of the player 300.

On the other hand, in this game machine, the image projected from the projector 31 is corrected before projection as shown in FIG. 33 (a).
An image without distortion as shown in (b) will be seen by the player 300. Furthermore, when the projection image 124 is projected on the lower part of the screen 121 (corresponding to the dotted line in FIG. 7) and when it is projected on the upper part (corresponding to the solid line in FIG. 7), the upper part of the projection image 124 from the reference viewpoint, Since the difference in the distance to the bottom is different, the degree of correction differs depending on the rotation angle of the mirror.

In this image display processing, an image including a display object having a 3D shape in the game space, which is captured by a virtual camera (virtual viewpoint) having a rectangular field of view,
According to the rotation angle of the mirror, the lower end of the image is corrected so as to be tilted so as to approach the virtual camera, and the corrected image is projected from the projector 31.

As shown in FIG. 31, the image processing unit 410 for displaying an image with these corrections makes a line of sight according to the object position data 421 (data indicating the position of the shooting target in the game space) and the like. A line-of-sight elevation angle setting unit 4101 for setting an elevation angle (an angle at which the line of sight is tilted upward with respect to the horizontal plane, EYE_R shown in FIG. 35 described later) and a rotation angle of the mirror are specified according to the line-of-sight elevation angle, and the stepping motor 41
And a mirror tilt control unit 4102 for controlling the image correction table 422 (with respect to the line-of-sight elevation angle EYE_R, the tilt angle CAM_R of the virtual camera and the angle CAM that specifies the upper end of the image).
_FT, a table associating the angle CAM_FB that specifies the lower end of the image) and reads and sets the image correction parameter corresponding to the line-of-sight elevation angle, and the drawing control unit 101
And an image generation instruction unit 4103 for instructing the generation of an image.

Actually, from the line-of-sight elevation angle EYE_R, the inclination angle CAM_ of the virtual camera is next calculated as shown in FIG.
R, image upper end angle CAM_FT and image lower end angle CA
M_FB can be designated, and these correspondences are held in the image correction table 422.

In this game machine, the gaze expected position VIEW_P is set according to the distance between the player and the dinosaur, and the part of the dinosaur that causes an attack on the player when approaching. As shown in FIG. 35 (a), this gaze assumed position VI
According to EW_P, a line-of-sight elevation angle EYE_R, which is an angle between the straight line q ₀ from the virtual viewpoint position EYE_P to the gaze assumed position VIEW_P and the horizontal line (reference line), is determined.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 35B, the position, inclination angle, projection angle of view, and mirror 43 of the projector 31.
, The mirror rotation angle MIRROR_R is determined so that the upward angle of view EYE_FU of the virtual camera and the downward angle of view EYE_FD are equal to each other with the line-of-sight elevation angle EYE_R as the center, and the upper end SCREE of the projected image is determined.
Find N_U, bottom SCREEN_D. (The virtual camera has a rectangular imaging range, and the upper end SCREEN_U and the lower end SCREEN_D correspond to the vertical angle of view of the virtual camera, but regarding the horizontal angle of view, EYE_
It is appropriately calculated from the distance from P to SCREEN_D and the width of the projected image. ) As shown in FIG. 35C, the projected image upper end SCREEN_U and the projected image lower end SCR
A straight line q ₃ passing through EEN_D and a virtual viewpoint position EYE_P
CAM_VP is the intersection of the line q ₃ and the perpendicular q ₄ to the line q ₃ , and the angle (elevation angle) between the line q ₄ and the horizontal line is
The inclination angle of the virtual camera is CAM_R. Further, the angle between the straight line q ₄ and the straight line q ₁ that determines the position of the upper end of the projected image is CAM_FT, and the position of the lower end of the projected image is (CAM
Let CAM_FB be the angle between the straight line q ₁ and the straight line q ₂ defined (with _FT).

By the procedure as described above, the virtual camera tilt angle CAM_ which is an image correction parameter corresponding to the line-of-sight elevation angle EYE_P (and the mirror rotation angle MIRROR_R set accordingly) set during the progress of the game.
R, CAM_FT, and CAM_FB will be calculated. Here, CA calculated and increased / decreased for partial adjustment
It is assumed that M_R, CAM_FT, and CAM_FB are associated with the line-of-sight elevation angle EYE_R in the image correction table 422, but the rotation angle MIRR of the mirror
These correction parameters can be associated with OR_R.

In the image display processing using these image correction parameters, as shown in FIG. 32, first, the line of sight is determined (according to the position of the dinosaur with respect to the virtual viewpoint, the part of the dinosaur that causes an attack when approaching, etc.). The elevation angle is the line-of-sight elevation angle setting unit 41
01 (ST991), mirror tilt control unit 4
At 102, the mirror rotation angle according to the line-of-sight elevation angle is designated (ST992), the stepping motor 41 is controlled, and the mirror 43 is rotated (ST993).

Subsequently, in the image generation instructing section 4104, the image correction parameter (CAM) is set for the set line-of-sight elevation angle.
_R, CAM_FT, CAM_FB, etc.) is designated (ST994), the drawing control unit 101 is instructed to draw an image captured from the virtual viewpoint based on these image correction parameters (ST995), and the process is returned. In response to the drawing instruction, the drawing control unit 101 (3
(Dimension) Data regarding polygons in the game space is calculated to generate image data corresponding to a 2D image inclined with respect to the line of sight EYE_R, and the image data is written into the frame buffer 102, and the frame buffer 10
An image is projected on the screen 121 according to the image data on the screen 2.

According to this image display processing, the image is appropriately corrected according to the position of the vertically curved portion on the screen where the display is performed, so that the player can see the image without distortion while shooting the video game. You will be able to enjoy it.

The overall structure of the shooting video game machine and the effects provided by the structure can be summarized as follows.

This shooting video game machine allows a player to play a game while displaying an image captured from a virtual viewpoint (virtual camera) whose position in the game space corresponds to the reference viewpoint position of the player. In a game machine, an image projected from a projector through a mirror is displayed on a part of the screen that curves continuously from the lower part in front of the reference viewpoint position to the upper part in the upper part of the reference viewpoint position. The mirror is rotated so as to move at least in the up-and-down direction corresponding to.

According to this game machine, the line of sight of the player is moved in the vertical direction as the game progresses, so that the player can enjoy a novel game that has never existed before.
It can be said that these have a simple configuration. Further, since the screen is curved in the inner surface of the cylinder, the projection distance is kept substantially constant, and the size and focus of the projected image are kept substantially constant.

In particular, the screen may be curved so that the distance from the reference viewpoint position to the upper portion is smaller than the distance from the reference viewpoint position to the lower portion. It is possible to create a unique sense of urgency because it is felt so close.

Furthermore, the gun unit causes the player to virtually shoot a dinosaur which is displayed on the screen and corresponds to the size of the screen when approaching, and the dinosaur causes a virtual attack on the player. By displaying the parts such as the mouth, arms, and legs that are about to be displayed on the screen, the player can enjoy a shooting game that effectively produces a novel and unique sense of tension.

Also, a flying dinosaur far away from the virtual viewpoint (also a dinosaur that does not fly) is displayed at the bottom of the screen, and a flying dinosaur close to the virtual viewpoint (the top of a dinosaur that does not fly) is displayed at the top of the screen. In addition, the mirror can be rotated, whereby a flying dinosaur (a dinosaur that does not fly) approaching from the distance to the vicinity of the player can be expressed with a powerful perspective.

In this game machine, since the acrylic plate for protecting the rotation of the mirror and the like is provided so as to be inclined so that the virtual image is transmitted to the outside of the screen when the real image is projected on the upper part of the screen, the game is in progress. Player will not be distracted by the virtual image appearing on the screen unnecessarily.

In addition, when the player detection sensor reaches a predetermined detection state, the virtual viewpoint is moved so as to wrap around the dinosaur in the game space, so that the player's left and right movements are naturally performed. It can be communicated to the game space and enrich the interest of the game.

Further, particularly regarding the detection of the direction of the muzzle, the configuration and effects of the shooting video game machine described above can be summarized as follows.

This shooting video game machine receives the input corresponding to the shooting on the dinosaur displayed on the screen by the operation of the trigger in the gun unit, and the CCD camera near the muzzle of the gun unit. , A CCD image of an imaging range corresponding to a part of the screen is generated, and at least when the trigger is pulled, images of a plurality of screen LEDs arranged on the screen so as to have a predetermined positional relationship are generated. The shooting position on the screen that substantially corresponds to the center of the imaging range is calculated from the position of the image of the identified screen LED.

According to this game machine, it is possible to identify which part on the screen is being imaged from the positional relationship of the images of the screen LEDs in the CCD image, and to calculate the shooting position. The orientation of the gun unit can be detected smoothly with respect to the screen. In particular, it can be said that the positional relationship can be easily specified by generating the two-point set table as shown in FIG. 23 and specifying the positional relationship of the screen LEDs in the CCD image.

The direction of these gun units is detected on the screen having a cylindrical inner surface, the images to be shot are displayed on the upper and lower parts of the screen, and the images are moved up and down according to the direction of the virtual viewpoint. By doing so, it is possible to realize a shooting game full of interest and power.

Further, the configuration and effects of the shooting video game machine described above can be summarized as follows, particularly regarding image correction.

This shooting video game machine allows the player to play a game while displaying an image captured from a virtual viewpoint corresponding to the position of the player in the game space at the reference viewpoint position of the player. The image projected from the projector via the mirror onto the part of the screen that curves continuously from the lower part in front of the reference viewpoint position to the upper part in the upper part of the reference viewpoint position, the virtual image is generated by rotating the mirror. An image that is vertically moved according to the direction of the viewpoint and is captured from the virtual viewpoint is obtained by tilting the image so that the lower side is closer to the virtual viewpoint and moved to the top of the screen. It is generated by correcting the displayed image.

In particular, the angle of this inclination can be made substantially equal to the rotation angle of the projected image on the screen.

According to this game machine, since the appropriate correction is made in accordance with the rotation of the mirror, the image projected on the screen is not distorted from the viewpoint of the player.

Further, by setting an image correction parameter for instructing the rotation of the virtual camera in accordance with the rotation of the mirror (and the line-of-sight elevation angle set during the progress of the game) in the image drawing processor, these images can be displayed. By performing the correction, effective image correction can be realized by simple control.

With regard to the shooting video game machine of the above-described embodiment, the following modifications can be envisioned.

FIG. 36 is a view for explaining rotation control of mirrors respectively associated with two areas dividing one stage in the shooting video game machine of the first modification.

In the game machine of this modification, the area 501 corresponding to the first half of one stage and the area 50 corresponding to the second half of one stage.
2 is assumed, the small dinosaur and the flying dinosaur (normal enemy character) are shot in the first half area 501, and the large dinosaur (enemy character corresponding to the boss character) as described above is shot in the second half area 502. Let's shoot.

In the area 501 in the game space, the virtual player (virtual viewpoint) moves in the direction of arrow B ₁ at a speed designated in advance. Virtual player is in place 51
An enemy character is generated when passing 1 to 514, and the player performs virtual shooting using the gun unit 10 with respect to the display of these enemy characters. When the player detection sensors 51 to 54 react, in the game space,
A relatively small width movement is performed to the extent of avoiding the enemy character's attack to the left or right, and the mirror that determines the position of the projected image on the screen is rotated based on pre-specified data.

In the area 502 in the game space, the player detection sensors 51 to 54 detect the attack of the boss character 522 approaching the virtual player 521 in the game space.
The player operates the gun unit in response to the display of the boss character to shoot while avoiding in the direction of the arrow B ₂ or the arrow B ₃ by reacting. As if following the moving virtual player 521, the boss character 522 shows an arrow B.
₄ or move in the direction of arrow B ₅ .

Here, the player detection sensors 51 to 54
In the reaction of, a relatively large movement (a movement that goes around to the left or right of the dinosaur, such as 5 meters, 20 meters, ... with different movement widths set depending on the stage) is performed, Further, as described above, the mirror is rotated according to the distance between the boss character and the virtual viewpoint or the part where the boss character causes an attack.

In the game machine of this modification, since the magnitude of the movement width of the player detection sensors 51 to 54 when reacting and the method of controlling the rotation of the mirror are different, the player
It can be said that you can enjoy a more varied and timeless shooting game.

FIG. 37 shows the player 3 using the player detection sensors 51 to 54 in the shooting video game machine of the second modification.
It is a figure for demonstrating the detection of the position of 00 (at the time of two-player play of a 1P player and a 2P player).

In the game machine of this modification, when two players play,
The two virtual players in the game space are Ikuren, and both are moved in the same direction. When the 1P player (left player) is detected to move from the reference position in front of the left inner player detection sensor 52 to the front of the left outer player detection sensor 51, the player instructs the dinosaur to wrap around to the left. As, the coordinates of two virtual players are set in the game space. In addition, the 2P player (right player) is the right inner player detection sensor 5
3 from the reference position in front of the right outer player detection sensor 54
When it is detected that the virtual dinosaur has moved forward, the coordinates of the two virtual players are set in the game space as if the player had instructed the dinosaur to wrap around to the right.

In the shooting video game machine of this modification, the coordinates of the virtual players are set in accordance with the movements of the two players, so that it is possible to find a unique interest in the progress of the game in cooperation with each other. it can.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing screen LEDs 601 to 603 installed in the shooting video game machine of the third modification.

The screen LEDs 601 to 603 provided on the screen 610 of the game machine of the present modification are each made up of a plurality of minute light emitting bodies, and the light emitting positions are set so that the position on the screen 610 can be specified. Is different. Since the minute light emitters are arranged so that they can be identified vertically and horizontally, the orientation of the muzzle can be accurately specified even if the gun unit is tilted horizontally.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing image correction parameters set in the shooting video game machine of the fourth modification.

In the game machine of this modification, SCREEN_U 'is designated on the extension line of q ₁ shown in FIG.
Since CAM_VP is defined on the straight line q ₅ passing through CREEN_D and SCREEN_U ′, CAM_R becomes smaller. CAM_R should be small like these, and CAM_R should be large on the contrary.
By appropriately adjusting and setting the size of _R, it is possible to generate an image that does not give a sense of incongruity in accordance with the reference viewpoint position of the player, and an image that produces more power.

In addition to these, the following modifications can be envisioned.

In the shooting video game machine of the above embodiment, the image from the projector is reflected by the mirror and projected on the screen. However, the projector is used while changing the inclination angle of the projector without using the mirror. Images from can be displayed directly on the screen, which can be said to be a simpler configuration.

In the shooting video game machine of the above-mentioned embodiment, two player detection sensors are provided on the left and right, but one or three or more may be provided. When clearing each stage and proceeding to the next stage, when the player selects one of a plurality of preset routes (different game settings such as dinosaur and background), these player detection sensors are used. , The selection can be entered.

Further, the avoidance movement by the player detection sensor is not limited to the movement to the left and right, but may be the movement to lie down, or diagonally downward right, diagonally downward left. This is because, as an attack of the enemy character, when the player swings the arm or the tail in the lateral direction, the player cannot avoid the attack even if the player flies right and left. For example, if the left outer player detection sensor is turned on, it can be automatically switched depending on the scene so as to squat down and avoid the attack.

By extending the screen of the shooting video game machine according to the above-mentioned embodiment to a position above the player in the play area and covering the player, the image of the upper part is displayed by the player. When you look at it, you will be looking up, creating a stronger sense of urgency. Further, the screen may include a linear portion other than the arcuate portion.

Further, although the inclination angle of the acrylic plate of the shooting video game machine of the above-mentioned embodiment is set to about 10 °, the virtual image is appropriately projected to the outside of the screen according to the positions of the mirror, the projector and the screen. Can be adjusted.

In the shooting video game machine according to the above-described embodiment, the mirror rotation angle is associated with the line-of-sight elevation angle in advance when displaying an image, and the image correction parameter is stored in advance. The parameters can be sequentially calculated in the procedure shown in FIG. Further, all or a part of the screen on which the image to be corrected is projected may be vertically inclined, left or right or obliquely curved or inclined, and may be hemispherical or the like. in addition,
When projecting onto a curved screen (up, down, left, right, hemisphere, etc.), divide the entire screen into several areas and make the same corrections as above according to the position of each area. You can Furthermore, the front screen and at least 2 slantingly (from the player's perspective)
When three screens are arranged side by side so as to surround the player, and the three screens are continuously displayed, the same correction as described above is applied to the display on the two screens inclined in the oblique direction. Can be

In the shooting video game machine of the above-mentioned embodiment, when detecting the muzzle direction, the muzzle direction is determined from the images of the two screen LEDs in the CCD image, but the images of three or more screen LEDs are used. C in the muzzle
The direction of the muzzle can be determined by obtaining the tilt of the CD camera with respect to the screen, etc., whereby the direction of the muzzle can be specified more accurately.

In addition, in the shooting video game machine of the above-mentioned embodiment, the direction of the muzzle is specified by the screen LED and the CCD camera. However, ultrasonic waves are emitted from at least two points on the screen, and near the muzzle. The direction in which the muzzle is pointing can be specified by receiving with the directional microphone attached to the. In addition, a plurality of screen LEDs that flash at high speed in pulse waves while changing waveforms such as period and amplitude according to position are mounted on the screen, and a light receiving element is mounted in the vicinity of the muzzle in addition to the CCD camera. The element can receive light from these screen LEDs to identify the screen LED in the CCD image.

Further, in the shooting video game machine according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the part of the dinosaur that causes an attack is partially displayed when the virtual viewpoint is approached. However, the direction of the virtual viewpoint in the game space is changed. In addition, it is possible to display a portion that the player wants to pay attention in the progress of the game.

Further, in the shooting video game machine of the above-mentioned embodiment, the projection image is moved in the vertical direction on the screen with the mirror axis for rotating the mirror as one axis. The projection image may be provided on the screen and moved in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0140]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the player's line of sight is moved up and down in accordance with the movement of the displayed image, so that the player can play a game that gives an unprecedented novel and unique sense of tension. You can enjoy. Moreover, since the left and right movements of the player are naturally transmitted to the game space, it is possible to make the game more entertaining.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is felt that the image displayed on the upper side is closer to the image, so that the sense of tension is further increased.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to avoid the attack of the virtual player from the target object.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the movement of the player can be detected more accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing movement of a projection image on a screen 121, which is characteristic of a shooting video game machine which is one of embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first example of a projected image 122.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a projected image 123.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example of a projected image 122.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in display image due to movement of the player 300 to the left and right.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an appearance of the game machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining movement of a projected image on the screen 121.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gun unit 10.

FIG. 9 shows the orientation of the muzzle 16 with respect to the screen 121,
It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of screen LED P1-P17 for detecting with the CCD camera 13 in the gun unit 10. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an acrylic plate 14 installed to protect the rotation of the mirror 43 and the projection of an image from the projector 31.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing 2.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a configuration of an acrylic plate holding member 141 (FIG. (A)) and an acrylic plate 142 (FIG. (B)).

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control unit of the game machine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a shooting video game process executed by the game control unit (CPU) 103.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a game processing section 400 that performs processing in a game processing main body of ST8 of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of processing in a game processing body in ST8.

FIG. 16 is a first diagram for explaining detection of the position of the player 300 on the play area 130 by the player detection sensors 51 to 54.

FIG. 17 is a second diagram for explaining detection of the position of the player 300 on the play area 130 by the player detection sensors 51 to 54.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a muzzle direction detection unit 401 that performs muzzle direction detection processing in ST81 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a muzzle direction detection process in ST81.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a 2-point set selection process in ST811 of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing grouping of two-point sets according to the positional relationship of two points.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a CCD image.

23 is a diagram showing a two-point set table generated based on the images D _{0 to} D ₆ of the screen LED in the CCD image of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a detailed procedure for grouping.

FIG. 25 is a CCD image 131 on the screen 121.
It is a 1st figure which shows the example of the pattern of the position of.

FIG. 26 is a CCD image 131 on the screen 121.
It is a 2nd figure which shows the example of the pattern of the position of.

FIG. 27 is a CCD image 131 on the screen 121.
It is a 3rd figure which shows the example of the pattern of the position of.

FIG. 28 is a CCD image 131 on the screen 121.
It is a 4th figure which shows the example of the pattern of the position of.

FIG. 29 is a first diagram for explaining calculation of a position G on the screen 121 to which the center g faces.

FIG. 30 is a second diagram for explaining the calculation of the position G on the screen 121 to which the center g faces.

31 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image processing unit 410 which performs image display processing in ST99 of FIG.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of image display processing in ST99.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a display of a corrected image on the game machine.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a normal image display.

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining image correction parameters set in this game machine.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining rotation control of mirrors respectively associated with two areas dividing one stage in the shooting video game machine of the first modified example.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining detection of the position of the player 300 by the player detection sensors 51 to 54 in the shooting video game machine of the second modified example.

FIG. 38 is a view showing screen LEDs 601 to 603 installed in the shooting video game machine of the third modified example.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing image correction parameters set in the shooting video game machine of the fourth modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20 gun units 11,21 Trigger switch 12, 22 Pump trigger switch 13, 23 CCD camera 14 Trigger 15 Slide part 16 muzzle 17 gun cable 31 projector 32 speakers (top) 33 speaker (left) 34 speaker (right) 35 woofer speaker 36 Start Button 37 coin switch 38 coin slot 40 Mirror drive 41 Stepping motor 42 Position sensor 43 mirror 44 Timing belt 45 mirror axis 46 Mirror holding member 51-54 Player detection sensor 100 Main unit control unit 101 drawing control unit 102 frame buffer 103 Game control unit (CPU) 104 voice control unit 105 ROM 106 RAM 110 base 120 screen holder 121,610 screen 122 Projected image on the bottom of screen 121 123 Projection image on top of screen 121 124 Projected image 125 side plate 130 play areas 131 CCD image 141 acrylic plate holding member 142 acrylic board 143 Acrylic plate guide groove 300 players 400 game processing unit 401 Muzzle direction detector 402 I / O input section 403 Bullet loading processor 404 Bullet position calculator 405 Viewpoint position moving unit 406 Hit judgment unit 407 Enemy attack setting section 408 Enemy movement processing unit 409 Enemy hit judgment unit 410 Image processing unit 411 voice processing unit 421 Object position data 422 image correction table 423 2-piece set table 424 LED position data 431 Field of view of CCD camera 13 501 Area corresponding to the first half of one stage 502 Area corresponding to the latter half of one divided stage 511-514 Position of enemy character 521 Virtual player in game space 522 Boss character 4011 LED position specifying unit 4012 2-point distance calculator 4013 2-point angle calculator 4014 2-point set classification section 4015 2-point pattern determination unit 4016 Muzzle orientation calculator P1-P17, 601-603 Screen LED

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hirofumi Mohashi 4-3 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo KONAMI CORPORATION (72) Inventor Manabu Akita 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Kona In Mi Inc. (72) Inventor Hirofumi Fujimoto 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Kona Inc. (72) Inventor Hirofumi Nagao 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Konami Inc. (72) Inventor Masato Nagatomi 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Konami Corporation (72) Inventor Satoshi Ueda 4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Konami Corporation (56) Reference References JP-A-11-90041 (JP, A) JP-A-2000-56256 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 7-31090 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 9/24 A63F 13/00-13/12

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A play area in front of the game console body
Between Gate arm empty set reference viewpoint position at a predetermined height position
Virtual viewpoint is associated, disk and image <br/> image including the object as a virtual attack an image captured from the virtual viewpoint, reads from the ROM for storing the image data of the
A game device adapted to display on a lean, from the bottom generally anterior of the reference viewpoint position, the screen continuously curved substantially upward the top of the reference viewpoint position
And the image projected from the projector on the screen
A display unit that have a a mirror for reflecting to a portion, the horizontal axis divides the said mirror so as to correspond to the orientation of the virtual viewpoint
Rotate the image to get the image captured from the virtual viewpoint.
And viewpoint position moving means you move up or down direction on the screen, detecting a movement to the left and right of the player on the playing area
1 or 2 or more sensors for controlling the viewpoint position moving means,
, The virtual viewpoint is paired according to the detection state.
A game device characterized by setting coordinates for moving the elephant to the left and right . Wherein said screen is the distance from the reference viewpoint position to top, the game according to claim 1, characterized in that curved so as to be smaller than the distance to the bottom from the reference viewpoint position apparatus. 3. The object virtually attacks a player
The point-of-sight position moving means is capable of responding to the attack.
The game device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in avoidance movement der Rukoto to. 4. The number of sensors is two, and the number of sensors is
Re also When off, the game apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 that you detection and in a non-play condition characterized.