JPH0824438A - Television game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a television game machine in which an instantaneous play state such as cross play can be displayed on a CRT as an image with high presence. CONSTITUTION:A game content after the model of baseball ground is displayed on a CRT 2 as an image, and a player operates a control lever while watching it to perform a game. When an offensive player hits a ball image and runs to first base, and a defensive third player 17e catches the ball image and throws it to a defensive first player 17c, for example, a closeup screen CS for magnifying and displaying the cross play on first base is interruptingly displayed on the CRT 2, provided that the game player instructs the third player image 17e to throw the ball image through the control part. The game player can surely recognize what has happened by his own operation with high presence.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video game machine whose main subject is baseball, soccer and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Commercially available video game machines and home game machines are widely known as those having a theme of ball games such as baseball and soccer. This type of video game console is a CRT
And the like, and an operation unit including an operation lever, operation buttons, and the like. For example, in the case of a baseball game, a field image simulating a baseball field, a player image simulating a baseball player, and a moving child image simulating a baseball are displayed on the image display means. The game player operates the operation unit to move the player image on the image display means to play a game similar to an actual baseball game.

As a conventional video game machine, there is a game machine in which the entire game space, for example, the entire baseball field or the entire soccer field is displayed on the image display means to play the game. However, in this type of game machine, because the entire field is displayed as an image, the player image and the moving child image displayed on the image display means become small, and it is not possible to play a realistic game.

In a conventional video game machine, C
There is one in which a main portion of the game space is displayed on the entire surface of the RT and an auxiliary screen for displaying the entire area of the game space is provided on a specific portion of the CRT. For example, there is a display method in which only the infield area of the baseball field is enlarged and displayed on almost the entire surface of the CRT, and the entire baseball field including the outfield area is simply displayed on a small portion of the CRT as an auxiliary screen. .

In this game machine, the movement of the player and the movement of the ball in the entire baseball field, that is, in the entire game space is grasped by looking at the auxiliary screen. Since the game is played with a player image and a moving image of a ball or the like being displayed as a relatively large image on almost the entire surface of the CRT, it was expected that the game could be enjoyed with a sense of realism. .

By the way, in an actual baseball game, various cross-sprays such as a cross-spray between opponents on each base and a ball catching operation performed by a defending player at a fence are generated. In addition, in actual soccer games, crosssprays in which opponents compete for the ball and various other crosssprays occur.
With regard to such a cross-spray, even with the above-mentioned conventional video game machine in which the main part of the game space is enlarged and displayed on the CRT, it is difficult to display it realistically.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a realistic CRT for a momentary playing state such as cross spray.
It is an object of the present invention to be able to be displayed as a video on a display means such as, etc., so that the empathy of the game player can be surely brought out.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the video game machine according to the present invention displays a field image, a player image and a moving child image on an image display means,
The momentary state of the game content is expanded on a video game machine in which the player image is moved to perform an action action on the moving child image and the moving child image is moved and displayed on the field image in response to the action action. It is characterized in that the close-up screen displayed in accordance with the operation of the game player is displayed on the video display means displaying the normal game content as a video.

Regarding how to display the close-up screen, it is possible to switch to a normal game content image and display it, or to display an interruption on the normal game content image. The "switching display" here means to stop the display of the normal game content image and display the close-up screen. The "interruption display" means that a close-up screen is displayed overlaid on a normal game content image. In the case of interrupt display, if you set the size of the close-up screen small,
A normal game content image is displayed in a wide area around the close-up screen. On the other hand, if the size of the close-up screen is set large, the normal game content image is displayed in a small area. Extremely speaking, if the size of the close-up screen is set equal to the size of the CRT screen, the normal game content image is hidden and not displayed on the close-up screen.

The image display means can be constituted by an image display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display.
The "action motion" is, for example, a motion of throwing a moving child image, a motion of hitting with a bat,
For example, a kicking motion.

This video game machine can be subject to ball games such as baseball and soccer. For example, when baseball is the subject, a baseball field is simulated as a field image, a baseball player is simulated as a player image, and a baseball ball is simulated as a moving image.
Then, in this case, the close-up screen magnifies and displays a playing state which is instantaneously generated in a so-called cross spray baseball.

[0012]

The game player moves the player image on the field image by operating the operation lever, the operation button, or the like to give some action to the moving image, whereby the game proceeds. When a specific condition is satisfied by the operation of the game player, a close-up screen that magnifies and displays the instantaneous state of the game content corresponding to the operation is displayed as an image on a wide area such as a CRT, for example, almost entirely. The interrupt is displayed. The game player who sees this can visually and clearly confirm what happened due to the operation performed by himself, and thus can enjoy the game with a rich sense of presence.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the overall appearance of a video game machine according to the present invention. This video game machine has a video display means, for example, a CRT 2 stored in the upper part of the housing 1, and an operation unit 3 provided in the central portion of the housing 1. The operation section 3 is provided with two operation stages 5 and 6, and each operation stage is provided with one operation lever 7 and three operation buttons 8A, 8B, 8C. When the player plays the game alone, one of the operation stages 5 and 6 is used, and when the game is played by two players, both the operation stages 5 and 6 are used by the respective players. .

FIG. 2 shows an example of a control device housed inside the housing 1. This control device has a computer 9 that controls the entire game, and the computer 9 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 10 and a ROM 1 that stores a control program for the entire game, a random number generator, and the like.
1, a RAM 12 that stores various progress states of the game in a readable and writable manner, an input / output interface 13 to which an external device is connected, and character data for a close-up screen, which will be described later, and a game space. ROM 14 in which other character data and the like are stored
And a drawing controller 15 for driving the CRT by electron beam scanning, and a VRA for instructing the drawing controller 15 of the address of the character data to be read.
And M16. The input / output interface 13 is connected to the output lines of the respective devices such as the operation lever 7 and the operation buttons 8A to 8C.

Now, baseball is selected as the theme of the game,
Further, the operation of the game will be described by taking as an example the case where one player operates the operation lever 7 and the operation buttons 8A to 8C in the operation stage 5 to play the game.

When the game is started, the game space is displayed on the CRT 2 as shown in FIG. The entire game space consists of infield and outfield areas, but CR
The infield region, which is the main part of T2, is largely projected at T2. Specifically, the infield portion of the baseball field and the symbols 17a to 1
Each image such as the image of 6 players on the defending side indicated by 7f, the image of one player on the attacking side indicated by reference numeral 19, and the baseball ball image 18 as the moving child image is displayed on the CRT 2. Since the game player plays the game from both the attacking side and the defensive side, the description will be given separately for each case.

(At Attacking Game Player ) When the game player is in the attacking position, the batter player image 19
Moves according to the player's operation, and the defense player image 1
7a to 17f perform a predetermined operation calculated by the game program.

When the player tilts the operation lever 7 vertically and horizontally, the position of the batter player image 19 moves forward and backward and left and right. When there are runners on each base, the runner direction of those runners is indicated by the tilt movement of the operation lever 7. Pressing the operation button 8A, the batter player image 1
9 makes a bat swing, and if there is a runner on each base, the runner returns home. When you press operation button 8B,
The attacker is replaced. Furthermore, operation button 8C
When is pressed, each runner advances if there is a runner on each base.

The pitcher player image 17a performs a simulated motion of throwing the ball image 18 toward the catcher player image 17b at an appropriate timing calculated by the game program. The game player swings the bat by pressing the operation button 8A at an appropriate timing when it is determined that the ball image has arrived at the home base. Whether or not the computer has missed the ball by judging the coordinate position of the thrown ball image 18 and the pressing timing of the operation button 8A,
Calculates whether the ball was hit or in which direction the hit ball flew, and the calculated result is CRT
Display as an image on the screen.

The movement route of the ball image 18 is calculated by a computer, but when any of the defense side player images 17c to 17f is present on the movement route, it is out. When the defensive player image does not exist on the moving path of the ball image 18, the ball image 18 moves through the infield area to the outfield area, and the CRT screen is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the screen switches to the screen displaying the outfield area.

(At the time of defense of the game player ) When the game player is in the position of the defense side, in FIG. 3, the defense side player images 17a to 17f move in response to the player's operation, and the batter player image 19 shows the game. Performs a predetermined operation calculated by a program. As shown in FIG.
When the outfield area is displayed on the CRT screen, the defending player images 20a and 20b existing in the outfield area move in response to the player's operation.

When the player tilts the operation lever 7 vertically and horizontally, the pitcher player image 17a (FIG. 3), each player image 17c to 17f (FIG. 3) and 20a, 20b.
The position of (FIG. 4) moves forward, backward, leftward and rightward. Operation button 8A
When is pressed, the pitcher player image 17a, each player image 17
c to 17f and 20a and 20b perform a ball throwing operation. In addition, by pressing the operation button 8A,
So-called fine play can be performed. When the operation button 8B is pressed, the player on the defensive side is replaced.
Further, when the operation button 8C is pressed, each player on the defensive side can be moved while holding the ball image 18. The moving direction at this time is determined by the tilt direction of the operating lever 7.

When the initial state shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the CRT 2, the game player tilts the operation lever 7 to move the pitcher player image 17a to the front, rear, left and right on the CRT screen and place it at a desired position. . Then, when the operation button 8A is pressed, the ball image 18 is thrown toward the catcher player image 17b. According to the generated random number, the computer determines whether there was a miss, a bat hit, the hit ball rolled on the field, or the hit ball became a flying ball. Further, when it is determined that the ball is a flying ball, at the same time, the position where the ball image 18 falls in the game space, that is, in the baseball field is predicted as a coordinate position.

When the computer determines that there is a hit by the bat, the radar screen 21 is displayed in the left corner portion of the CRT screen as shown in FIG. This radar screen displays the entire game space, in the case of the embodiment, the entire simulated baseball field, and specifically, the infield area and the outfield area, and the defenses existing in the infield area and the outfield area. The dot display 22 showing a side player is shown. Further, the traveling path 23 along which the hit ball image travels is displayed, and the calculated predicted fall position of the ball is displayed by the mark M.

The game player operates the operation lever 7 to move the dot display 22 toward the predicted drop position. After that, as shown in FIG. 4, the CRT screen is switched to the outfield area where the ball image 18 is about to fall, and the catching operation by the defending players 20a and 20b and the rolling operation of the ball image 18 are performed. Is displayed as an image. In this way, the radar screen 21 is displayed on the CRT screen, and the predicted fall position M of the ball image 18 is displayed on the radar screen 21, so that the player can make a speedy and accurate judgment. . Further, since not the entire game space but the main part of the CRT 2 is displayed on a large screen, the game can be enjoyed with a high sense of presence. Also, the radar screen is displayed on the CRT2 when necessary, so
Normally, the game space can be displayed on a large screen by using the entire surface of the CRT 2, and thus the authenticity in displaying the game space is not impaired.

In FIG. 3, consider a case where the ball image 18 hit by the batter image 19 rolls in the infield area and is caught by any of the defending players 17a to 17f. At this time, the game player presses the ball-sending operation button 8A, and the ball image 18 is sent to the first-base side defense player image 17c. The ball throwing direction is determined by the tilt direction of the operating lever 7.
If the timing at which the first base player image 17c receives the ball image 18 is earlier than the timing at which the attacking player after the hit reaches the first base, it is determined to be out. On the other hand, if the attacking player reaches the first base earlier,
It is judged safe.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the computer performs a cross performed on the first base by the defending player image 17c and the attacking player image 19, as shown in FIG. 6, on condition that the operation button 8A for throwing the ball has been pressed. Show play on a big screen. This big screen, close-up screen CS
Is displayed as an interrupt on the normal game screen for a predetermined time. The game player who sees this can enjoy the game with the real feeling.

Further, in FIG. 3, a batter player image 1
When the ball image 18 hit by 9 advances in the field image in the liner state, when the game player presses the fine play operation button 8A, any of the player images 17a to 17f existing at a predetermined short distance jumps sideways. In this state, the ball image 18 is caught. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the computer closes up the state in which the defensive player image 17 jumps sideways on condition that the fine play operation button 8A is pressed.
Interrupt display as S.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the player image 20a on the defending side tries to catch the ball image 18 that has jumped to the outfield area, when the game player presses the fine play operation button 8A, the player image 20a is displayed. It is assumed that the ball image 18 is caught in the jumped state. At this time, the computer displays the player image 2 as shown in FIG. 9 on condition that the fine play operation button 8A is pressed.
A state in which 0a jumps and catches the ball image 18 is interrupt-displayed as a close-up screen CS.

As described above, by displaying the close-up screen CS displaying the instantaneous game contents on the CRT screen in a timely manner in association with the operation by the game player, an extremely realistic game image can be displayed. Therefore, the player's empathy can be surely brought out.

The types of close-up screens are not limited to those described above, and more types can be set as required. For example, (1) When the game player attacks, the stolen base instruction button 8C
When the runner is stolen from 1st base to 2nd base or 2nd base to 3rd base by pressing, the close-up screen that displays the cross-spray on each base is interrupted, provided that the stealing instruction button 8C is pressed. it can.

(2) When the game player is defending, the defending player in the outfield area catches the ball image, and when the game player pushes the ball sending button 8A to send the ball image onto the home base, On condition that the button 8A is pressed, the close-up screen displaying the cross-spray on the home base can be displayed by interruption.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and can be variously modified within the technical scope described in the claims.

For example, the subject of the game is not limited to the baseball game, but may be a soccer game or another ball game. Further, the electric control system is not limited to the circuit configuration for business use shown in FIG. 2, and may be a circuit configuration used for a home computer. Further, the method of displaying the game content shown in FIG. 3 is an example for making the description easy to understand, and specifically, various other display modes can be adopted. Further, the radar screen 21 shown in FIG. 5 is also an example, and the radar screen 21 may be displayed in various other display positions in various display forms.

[0035]

As described above, the close-up screen for enlarging and displaying the instantaneous state of the game contents is displayed as a video image in a wide area on the CRT or the like, for example, almost the entire surface, in response to the operation of the game player. . Therefore, the game player who sees this can visually and clearly confirm what happened due to the operation performed by himself, and thus can enjoy the game with a high sense of presence.

As described in claim 2, when the present invention is applied to a video game machine whose theme is a game content having a wide game space, it is particularly advantageous in playing a game with a high degree of realism. .

[0037]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an example of a video game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an electric control system used in the video game machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of game contents displayed on a CRT screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the game content displayed on the CRT screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a radar screen is displayed on the CRT screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a close-up screen CS is displayed on the CRT screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which another close-up screen CS is displayed on the CRT screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another example of the game content displayed on the CRT screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which another close-up screen CS is displayed on the CRT screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 case 2 CRT (video display means) 3 operation part 5,6 operation stage 7 operation lever 8A, 8B, 8C operation button 17a-17f defense side player image 18 ball image (moving child image) 19 attack side player image 20a, 20b Defensive side image 21 Radar screen 22 Dot display 23 Predicted ball movement path M Predicted ball drop position CS Close-up screen

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Shigeo Sasaki 2-8-5 Tamagawa, Ota-ku, Tokyo NAMCO CORPORATION

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A field image, a player image, and a moving child image are displayed on the image display means, an action motion is performed on the moving child image by moving the player image, and the moving child image is displayed on the field image corresponding to the action motion. On a video game machine that displays a game by moving it with, a close-up screen that magnifies and displays the momentary state of the game content is displayed as an image of the normal game content corresponding to the operation of the game player. A video game machine characterized by displaying on a video display means. 2. The video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the close-up screen is switched to a normal game content video and displayed on the video display means. 3. The video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the close-up screen is displayed in an interrupted manner on a video display means displaying a normal game content as a video. 4. The video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the field image is a simulated display of a baseball field, the player image is a simulated display of a baseball player, and the moving child image is a simulated display of a baseball. The up-screen is a video game machine characterized by a play state that occurs instantaneously in baseball.