JPH08202342A - Device and method for processing image display and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To set a speed of movement of an image appearing on a display as one wishes by revising a forming processing interval or period of each frame in the stage of forming the display image data. CONSTITUTION: A CPU 1 reads out the image data from a ROM 3 and forms the display image data for displaying on the display 5 one frame each to progress a prescribed game according to a control command inputted from a program, etc., stored in the ROM 3 and a switch control part 4 by a player. The display image data of a series of frames are stored in a display image memory in a display control part 6 successively, and are read out at a fixed period to be displayed on the display 5. In such a case, the forming time interval or the forming time period of the display image data for successively storing in the display image memory in the control part 6 is set and revised to an image display means side independently of an image display period.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention provides an image of a character or the like displayed on a video display according to a player's operation input and a program, such as a video game machine such as an arcade-type game machine or a home-use game machine. If you want to progress the game by changing like
The present invention relates to a technique of image data display processing suitable for a purpose of changing a change speed of an image, that is, a moving speed of an image such as a character on a video display as desired.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For example, a video display device used in an arcade-type game machine displays 1/6 of a frame of an image.
The display is switched every 0 seconds. That is, this video display device reads out the image data in the video RAM every 1/60 seconds and displays it on the video display. A game program based on such a video display device assumes that the frame is switched every 1/60 seconds, and the background on the display, the main character, etc. are displayed at a predetermined speed in accordance with an operation input by the player. Created to change.

More specifically, the image data processing program in the game program uses 1/60 second as one cycle so that the image on the display changes at a predetermined speed so that the main character of the next frame is displayed. Processing including image data creation, image data creation of another character, background image data creation, composition of these image data, and writing of this composite image data in the video RAM are performed.

In the conventional video game machine, the image data processing is performed as described above, and the speed of movement of the image appearing on the video display is constant and set in a predetermined manner. .

By the way, if the speed of movement of the image on the display can be changed, even if the game content is the same, depending on the player's skill improvement, a wider variety of ways to enjoy the game can be achieved. .

[0006] In this way, as a possible method for changing the speed of movement of an image for the same game content, for example, a game program created so as to change the image at a normal speed. And a game created to change the image at a different speed
It is possible to prepare multiple programs with programs. That is, in this case, the image frame is 1 /
When switching every 60 seconds, the standard mode game program was created so that the specific pixels forming the character would move by 2 dots, for example, and the standard mode game program created by moving more dots (for example, 4 dots). Prepare a game program for high-speed mode.

However, in the method of preparing a plurality of types of game programs as described above, substantially two types or more of the entire program are created, so that the labor and cost burden required to create the program increase. However, the total amount of programming becomes huge,
Since it requires a large memory capacity to store this, hardware costs cannot be avoided.

The present invention has been devised under the circumstances described above. For example, in a video game machine, a game having substantially the same contents can be obtained by making a simple change to the method of image data processing. The problem is to be able to change the speed of movement of the image appearing on the video display when performing.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in the display image memory, and display image data stored in the display image memory for a predetermined time. Image display means for displaying on the display at intervals, and the creation interval of the display image data by the display image data creation means,
There is provided an image display processing device configured so as to be set independently of the image display time interval of the image display means.

In a preferred embodiment, it further comprises display image data creation interval changing means for changing the creation interval of the display image data by the display image data creating means.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention,
A game machine provided with the image display processing device is provided, and the game machine is configured such that the speed of movement of an image on the display can be set as desired by an input operation of the player.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention,
An image including display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in the display image memory, and image display means for displaying the display image data stored in the display image memory on the display at regular time intervals. An image display processing method using a display processing device, comprising:
There is provided an image display processing method, characterized in that a time management unit independent of the image display unit defines a creation processing time of display image data for a frame.

In a preferred embodiment, the display image data creating means creates a display image data by synthesizing predetermined individual image data, and writes the display image data in a display image memory in the image displaying means. It is configured to repeatedly execute the display image data creation routine including the above, and the time management means can manage the repetition cycle of the display image data creation routine by the timer means and change the repetition cycle. Is configured as follows.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, the display image data creating means creates a display image data by synthesizing predetermined individual image data, and the display image data is stored in a display image memory in the image displaying means. The display image data creating routine including a writing step is repeatedly executed, and the time management means includes a time waiting step inserted in the display image data creating routine, and the time It is configured so that the waiting time of the waiting step can be changed.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, the time waiting step is formed by a routine that repeats a process unrelated to the creation of display image data, and by changing the number of repetitions of this routine, the time waiting step of the time waiting step is changed. It is configured so that the waiting time can be changed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a game
Display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in the display image memory according to an operation input of a program and a player, and display image data stored in the display image memory on the display at fixed time intervals. Image display means for displaying a game program and an image including a game character on a display in accordance with an operation input by a player, and playing a game. By making the change possible as desired, a game machine is provided in which the speed of movement of the image appearing on the display can be set according to the player's preference for the same game content.

In a preferred embodiment, the display image data creating means creates the display image data by synthesizing individual image data such as image data of the main character, image data of other characters, background image data, and the like. And a step of writing the display image data in the display image memory in the image display means, and a time waiting step, the display image data creating routine is repeatedly executed, and the time waiting step is executed. The waiting time is configured so that it can be changed by an operation input of the player.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the time waiting step is formed by a routine that repeats a process unrelated to the creation of display image data. By changing the number of repetitions of this routine, the time waiting step can be changed. The waiting time can be changed.

A video game machine generally has a display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in a display image memory for each frame, and display image data stored in the display image memory for a predetermined time. An image display means for displaying on the display at intervals is basically provided. In the case of the image display means in the arcade type video game device, the timing at which the image is displayed on the display in the image display means is usually 1/60 seconds as described above, which is a fixed timing in terms of hardware. is there. The display image data creating means in the conventional video game machine creates display image data for each frame in accordance with such image display timing on the image display means side and stores this in the display image memory (generally video R
Called AM).

For example, in a fighting game in which a player fighter controlled by a player and an opponent fighter controlled by another player or a computer are displayed on a video display to fight on the display, the progress of the game is progressed. And operation input by the player
If you want the fighter to perform a "punch",
The game program does this kind of "punch" action,
The display image data creating means is operated so as to sequentially display and display images of a plurality of frames on the display.

The display image data creating means usually calls individual image data such as image data of the main character (player character), image data of other characters, background image data, etc. from the image memory, The display image data for one frame is created by the procedure of synthesizing these, and the work of writing in the display image memory is repeated.

Conventionally, the generation cycle of the display image data for one frame as described above is set in accordance with the image switching cycle (1/60 seconds) determined by the specifications on the image display means side.

By the way, in recent years, when the speeding up of the CPU has been achieved, the time required to actually create the display image data as described above is actually the image switching period on the image display means side (1/60 seconds). Shorter than. The present invention has been made with this in mind.

In each invention of the present application, the time interval for creating the display image by the display image creating means is defined independently of the image display time interval on the side of the image displaying means, that is, the switching cycle of the images on the display. Is the central concept. For example, if the creation of the display image data for the next frame is started immediately after the creation of the display image data for one frame is completed, the creation time interval of the display image data for a series of frames is the image display means side. It becomes shorter than the image switching cycle (1/60 seconds). Therefore, the potential moving speed of the image in the display image memory which is sequentially updated by the display image data thus created is faster than the moving speed of the image in the conventional game machine.

On the other hand, the image display means reads the display image data stored in the display image memory at the display image switching cycle (1/60 seconds) and displays it on the display. Therefore, as described above, a part of the display image data sequentially stored in the display image memory is accelerated and skipped without actually being displayed on the display. Since it is sufficiently short for the eyes of the player, an image in which the movement is accelerated is displayed on the display without any discomfort for the player.

On the contrary, the time period from the start of creating the display image data for one frame to the start of creating the display image data for the next frame can be extended by the time management means using a timer, or can be extended for one frame. After the creation of the display image data is completed, a time waiting step is inserted until the creation of the display image data for the next frame is started to change the creation time interval of the display image data of a series of frames on the image display means side. It can be set longer than the cycle (1/60 seconds). The potential moving speed of the image in the display image memory, which is sequentially updated by the display image data thus created in series, becomes slower than the moving speed of the image in the case of the conventional game machine.

In this case, the same display image data is read out a plurality of times by the image display means from the display image data whose cycle is delayed as described above and which is sequentially stored in the display image memory, and is displayed on the display. However, similar to the above, since the display image switching cycle is sufficiently short for human eyes, an image with slow motion is displayed on the display without any discomfort to the player.

As described above, according to the present invention, the movement of the image appearing on the display in the image display processing device is made possible by the simple structure of changing the creation processing interval or cycle of each frame at the display image data creation stage. The basic effect that the speed of can be set as desired can be achieved.

If this is applied to a video game machine,
For example, even if the game progressing program remains the same in the program, even if the game content is the same, the user or the player may prefer even if the program content relating to display image data creation is simply changed. , It becomes possible to set the speed of movement of the image appearing on the display in various ways, and it becomes possible to enjoy a wider variety of games.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a video game machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are flow charts showing an example of image display processing performed by this game machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, this game machine
A CPU 1 that performs arithmetic processing such as game progress processing, image display processing, or audio processing according to a predetermined program.
It is equipped with. The CPU 1 includes a ROM 3 in which a program including a game program, image data, sound data, etc. are stored, a RAM 2 used for temporarily storing data being processed, operation switches such as so-called joysticks and push button switches. A switch operation unit 4 including a display, a display control unit 6 for controlling a display 5 including a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and an amplifier and a speaker for generating various sound effects during a game. The generated sound generator 7 or the like is connected. When the game machine is configured as a home-use game machine, the ROM 3 is often connected in the form of a removable cartridge or configured as a CD-ROM. Further, as the display 5 and the sound generating device 7, those installed in a home television receiver will be used.

The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a game program, a control program, various data stored in the ROM 3, and a control command input by the player from the switch control section 5 so as to advance a predetermined game. Image data to be read out and displayed on the display 5 (display image data)
A display image data creation process is performed to create each one frame. The display image data of a series of frames thus created is sequentially stored in a display image memory (not shown) in the display control unit 6, for example. Also, this display control unit 6
Displays the display image data stored in the display image memory at regular intervals and displays it on the display 5. As described above, the image display cycle in the image display means including the display control section 6 and the display 5 is fixed as in the case of the arcade type video game machine (1/60 seconds).

In addition, the CPU 1 controls the sound generation device 7 so as to generate a predetermined sound in accordance with a predetermined game progress situation, for example, other processing required for the progress of the game, and the player using the RAM 2. It also performs processing such as calculating the score of.

According to the invention of the present application, the creation time interval or creation time cycle of the display image data to be sequentially stored in the display image memory in the display control section 6 is defined as the image display cycle on the image display means side (in this example, (It is fixed at 1/60 seconds as described above) and is configured to be set and changed independently.

A specific example in which the above-mentioned game machine is used to perform the image display processing by applying the present invention will be described below.

As an example of the game contents, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, two fighters are the main characters A and B, and one of them is controlled by the player.
There is one in which the game machine controls the other automatically or by another player to make the main characters A and B fight on the display. In this case, the player controls the moving direction and posture of his / her character by operating the joystick of the switch operation unit, and punches his / her character by operating the switches, or by combining the operation of the joystick and the operations of the switches. It causes various techniques such as kicks and kicks to damage the opponent character. Further, it is possible to generate another character C such as a bullet or a weapon by a combination of switch operations. Such a situation is displayed as a moving image on the display 5 together with the background image, the other character C, or the score display of each player.

Now, in the fighting game as described above,
It is assumed that the condition for causing the character A to perform a certain type of punch is satisfied depending on the progress status of the game and the operation by the player. The punch-out motion of character A is R
Among various types of still image data regarding the character A stored in the OM 3, a plurality of still image data necessary for expressing a specific punch-out motion are called in a predetermined order to be expressed as a moving image.

The image (display image) to be displayed on the display 5 is a combination of display image data concerning the main characters such as the characters A and B, display image data of other characters, and background image data. A moving image is represented by sequentially switching such display images on the display. Each of a series of still images to represent a particular video,
In this specification, it is called a frame.

Based on the above, an example of image display processing of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The flow chart of FIG. 2 shows an example of a method of creating display image data for each frame according to the present invention. After starting timing (step 00
1) The image data of the main characters A and B is created (step 002). Specifically, as mentioned above,
For example, the first image data necessary for expressing a specific punch-out motion for the character A is created. Next, the image data of the character C other than the main character is created (step 003). Then, background image data other than the above characters is created (step 004). At this time, for example, it is determined whether or not the punch delivered by the character A hits the opponent character B (step 005), and then the image data of each of the characters A to C and the background data are combined to display one frame. Image data is created and written in the video RAM of the display controller 6 (step 006).

Then, when a predetermined set time elapses from the start of timing in step 001 (YES in step 007)
S) Then, the process returns to step 001 to proceed to the process of creating display image data for the next frame.

The set time in the above step 007 is
It is set according to the selection of the moving speed of the image by the user or the player. For example, the game machine is provided with an image speed selection function such as “high speed mode”, “standard mode”, and “low speed mode”. For example, when “high speed mode” is selected, the set time of step 007 is set. Is set to any time shorter than 1/60 seconds,
When the "standard mode" is selected, the above step 00
The setting time of 7 is set to 1/60 seconds, and when the "low speed mode" is selected, the setting time of step 007 is set to any time longer than 1/60 seconds.

If "high speed mode" is selected, 1
The display image creation cycle for the frame is shorter than 1/60 seconds, which is the image switching cycle on the display side, and the display image data in the video RAM is updated at such a short cycle. When the "standard mode" is selected, the display image data of the video RAM is updated at a 1/60 second cycle which is the same as the image switching cycle on the display side. When the "low speed mode" is selected, the display image creation cycle for one frame is longer than the image switching cycle of 1/60 seconds on the display side, and the display image in the video RAM is displayed at such a long cycle. The data is updated.

The flow chart of FIG. 3 shows another example of the method of creating display image data for each frame according to the present invention. In this example, the image speed can be selected from "standard mode" and "high speed mode". For example, when the player selects the "high speed mode" by operating the switch of the switch operating unit 4 (YES in step 101), the variable i to be used in the execution of the later time waiting routine (step 109, step 110) is, for example, i. = 100 is set (step 102). On the other hand, when the "high speed mode" is not selected, that is, when the "standard mode" is selected (NO in step 101), the variable i is set to, for example, i =
Set to 1000.

Next, the image data of the main characters A and B is created (step 104), the image data of the character C other than the main character is created (step 105), and the background image data other than the character is created (step 104). 004) and the hit determination (step 107) are performed in steps 002 to 002 in the flow chart of FIG.
The same operation as described in step 004 is performed, and thereafter, the image data of each of the characters A to C and the background data are combined to create display image data for one frame.
This is written in the video RAM of the display controller 6 (step 108).

After the display image data for one frame has been created and written to the video RAM in this way, in the processing method of this example, a time waiting routine is executed (step 10).
9, step 110). When this time waiting routine is completed, the process basically returns to step 104 and proceeds to the process of creating the display image data of the next frame. In this example, a step (step 111) for referring to the information from the switch operation unit is inserted.

The above time waiting routine (step 109,
Step 110) is, in short, a timer formed by the program. That is, the execution of the next step is waited until the value of the variable i is subtracted by 1 from the set value and becomes 0. In the present embodiment, as described above, the variable i = 100 in the “high speed mode” and the variable = 10 in the “standard mode”.
Since it is 00, the waiting time in the "high speed mode" is shorter than the waiting time in the "standard mode". Therefore, 1
Display image creation cycle for each frame is "high speed mode"
It is shorter than "Standard mode". For example,
In the "standard mode", the display image creation cycle for substantially one frame is the image switching cycle (1/60
In the "high speed mode", the display image data is created and the video RAM is updated in a cycle shorter than the image switching cycle. In this example as well, the "low speed mode" can be selected. In this case, the set value of the variable i is a value larger than i = 1000.

Next, the image display means when the display image creating means changes the display image data creation time interval or cycle to "high speed mode", "standard mode", "low speed mode", etc. The operating state in step 1 will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a display image in the "standard mode" in (a), the "high speed mode" in (b), and the "low speed mode" in (c) when the method described in FIG. 3 is adopted. A time chart of data processing is shown.

In the "standard mode", the display image data creation time interval, which is the sum of the time required to create the display image data of each frame and the waiting time T1 in the time waiting routine, is the image switching period (1/60). All the generated display image data of each frame is displayed on the display at 1/60 second intervals. In the method shown in FIG. 3, since the time waiting routine is inserted subsequent to the process of creating the display image data, the process time of creating the image data to be displayed varies depending on the frame. It should be noted that the total time and waiting time in the waiting routine are not always constant. However,
In the method shown in FIG. 2, since the time from the start to the end of the display image data creation processing for each frame is managed, the display image data creation time interval is constant for each frame.

In the "high-speed mode", the display image data creation time interval, which is the sum of the time required to create the display image data for each frame and the waiting time T2 in the time waiting routine, is the image switching period (1/60). Second)). Video R updated at such time intervals
When the display image data in the AM is read every 1/60 seconds and displayed on the display 5, there is a frame that is skipped without being actually displayed (in the second line in FIG. 4B).
Frame and 6th frame are not actually displayed). However, it is 1 which is the image switching period on the image display means side.
Since / 60 seconds is a very fast cycle for the human eye, the character appears on the display as if moving faster than in the "standard mode" without any discomfort.

Specifically, in the "standard mode", when a predetermined time has elapsed from the display state of the display 5 shown in FIG. 5, the character C moves on the screen by a distance L as shown in FIG. Assuming that the character C can be seen, in the “high speed mode”, the character C is longer than the distance L after the same time has elapsed from the display state shown in FIG.
It looks like one move. That is, the movement of the character C becomes faster in the "high speed mode" than in the "standard mode". Similarly, the movement of the other characters A and B on the display is also faster in the "high speed mode" than in the "standard mode".

In the "low speed mode", the display image data creation time interval, which is the sum of the time required to create the display image data of each frame and the waiting time T3 in the time waiting routine, is the image switching period (1/60). Seconds). Video R updated at such time intervals
When the display image data in the AM is read every 1/60 seconds and displayed on the display 5, the image of the same frame may actually be displayed twice ((c) in FIG. The frame is displayed twice). However, 1/60 seconds, which is the image switching period on the image display means side, is a very fast period for the human eye, so that the character does not feel any discomfort on the display and the character moves slower than in the “standard mode”. Reflected.

Therefore, the "standard mode" is more important than the "low speed mode", and the "high speed mode" is more "main mode" than the "standard mode".
Character control techniques will be more demanding. As a result, according to the present invention, even if the game content is the same, a wider variety of ways to enjoy the game are possible.

In each of the above examples, the speed of image movement is set to three levels of "high speed mode", "standard mode", and "low speed mode". You can increase.

In the processing method shown in FIG. 2, the display image creation processing cycle may be timed by a software timer or by counting hardware-generated pulses such as clock pulses.

Similarly, in the processing method shown in FIG. 3, a time waiting step (step 109, step 110)
Is composed of a soft timer, but in this case as well, the waiting time may be defined by referring to clock pulses generated by hardware. Further, also in the case of configuring the soft timer, in addition to the above-described method of decreasing the set value of the variable i as described above, it is possible to perform a software wait time before proceeding to the display image creation processing of the next frame. Any method may be adopted as long as it is used. For example, the step of repeating the processing unrelated to the display image creation for the set number of times is performed in the step 10 above.
It is possible to insert it in place of 9,110.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to the battle game with two types of main characters as described above, but also to other types of games such as a role play game. By the way, the specific content of the display image data processing is not limited to the game processing as described above, but may be applied to various image data processing other than the game.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a video game machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of a display image creation process performed by the above game machine.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing another example of a display image creation process performed by the above game machine.

FIG. 4 is a display image in a case where the method shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3 is adopted, (a) is a “standard mode”, (b) is a “high speed mode”, and (c) is a “low speed mode”. A time chart of data processing is shown.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image for one frame displayed on a display.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the movement of the character on the display in the standard mode.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of the character on the display in the high speed mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 3 ROM 4 Switch Operation Unit 5 Display 6 Display Control Unit

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in a display image memory, and image display means for displaying the display image data stored in the display image memory on a display at fixed time intervals. And an image display processing device comprising: a display image data creation unit configured to set the display image data creation interval independently of the image display time interval of the image display unit. An image display processing device characterized by the above. 2. The image display processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display image data creation interval changing means for changing the creation interval of the display image data created by the display image data creating means. 3. A game machine comprising the image display processing device according to claim 2, wherein the speed of movement of the image on the display can be set as desired by an input operation of the player. game machine. 4. Display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in a display image memory, and image display means for displaying the display image data stored in the display image memory on a display at fixed time intervals. An image display processing method using an image display processing device comprising: a time management means independent of the image display means for defining a processing time for creating display image data for one frame. Image display processing method. 5. The display image data creating means includes steps of synthesizing predetermined individual image data to create display image data, and writing the display image data in a display image memory in the image displaying means. Is configured to repeatedly execute the display image data creation routine, and the time management means is configured to manage the repetition cycle of the display image data creation routine by the timer means and change the repetition cycle. The image display processing method according to claim 4, which is performed. 6. The display image data creating means includes a step of creating display image data by synthesizing predetermined individual image data, and a step of writing the display image data in a display image memory in the image displaying means. The time management means includes a time waiting step inserted in the display image data creation routine, and the waiting time of the time waiting step is configured to be repeatedly executed. The image display processing method according to claim 4, wherein the image display processing method is configured to be changed. 7. The time waiting step is formed by a routine that repeats a process unrelated to display image data creation. By changing the number of times this routine is repeated, the waiting time of the time waiting step is changed. 7. The image display processing method according to claim 6, wherein the image display processing method is configured to be capable. 8. Display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in a display image memory according to a game program and operation input of a player, and display image data stored in the display image memory. An image display means for displaying on a display at fixed time intervals, and a game machine for playing a game by displaying an image including a game character on the display according to an operation input of a game program and a player. By allowing the processing speed of the means to be changed as desired, the speed of movement of the image appearing on the display for the same game content can be set according to the player's preference. game machine. 9. Display image data creating means for repeatedly creating display image data to be stored in a display image memory according to a game program and operation input of a player, and display image data stored in the display image memory. Image display means for displaying on the display at a fixed time interval, and the display image data creating means synthesizes individual image data such as image data of the main character, image data of other characters, and image data of the background. Creating display image data by means of writing, and writing the display image data in the display image memory in the image display means,
A game that is configured to repeatedly execute a display image data creation routine including a time waiting step, and is configured such that the waiting time of the time waiting step can be changed by an operation input of the player. Machine. 10. The time waiting step is formed by a routine that repeats processing unrelated to display image data creation, and the waiting time of the time waiting step is changed by changing the number of times this routine is repeated. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein the game machine is configured to be capable.