JPH09108442A - Video game device provided with temperature sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a game having more reality by incorporating a temperature sensor into the hardware configuration of main body of a video game device, sensing the surrounding temperature of a game player with the temperature sensor and describing the game corresponding to that temperature. SOLUTION: The temperature sensor is externally fitted on the game device by connecting it through the input port of the game device or the temperature sensor is incorporated by directly connecting it to the system bus of the game device. When incubating the egg of an animal in the game, for example, since the time for the egg of the animal to be incubated is made different corresponding to the surrounding temperature, a game software controls the time for the egg to be incubated corresponding to the surrounding temperature. Therefore, variety can be provided for the game. Besides, in the case of a portable game machine, by carrying the game machine while putting it in the pocket, it can be simulated how many hours it takes to incubate the egg at the player's own body temperature.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a home-use game and an arcade-use video game having a display device such as a television or a personal computer display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows the basic hardware configuration of a general home video game console. The program or data read from the external storage device is once expanded in the RAM, and the program is executed by the analysis of the CPU. Image data read from an external storage device or image data created by a program is sent to a VDC (video display controller) and processed (defined) into image data that can be displayed on a display. The data processed by VDC is temporarily stored in VRAM. VDC
The data stored in the VRAM, which is defined by, is divided into a background (background image) and a sprite (main character of the game, etc.), and information such as a display pattern, a display position on the display, and a display color is added.

A VCE (video color encoder) converts a digital color image signal sent from VDC through a video output port into a CRT analog RGB signal and a video color signal based on color palette information stored in the VCE, and externally outputs the signal. Output to the video device. On the other hand, CPU
The sound information such as music and onomatopoeia analyzed by is a PSG (program sound generator), stereo circuit configuration,
It is output to the speaker as a sound effect integrated with the image by the functions of the noise generation circuit and the low frequency generation circuit. Since a television is generally used as an output device in a home video game machine, the image display device and the speaker are the same device.

[0004]

At present, a household video game machine having a dedicated function for three-dimensional expression has been developed. As a method of three-dimensional expression,
A method of moving a three-dimensional object by creating a three-dimensional figure by joining two-dimensional planes (polygons) called polygons and moving the coordinates of its vertices in a three-dimensional space is used.

Polygons can be colored with only one color or at most a gradation (how to apply a color that smoothly changes colors). Therefore, by using a method in which a separately prepared picture (texture) is attached to the three-dimensional shape made up of these polygons, three-dimensional shapes of various colors and designs are made. This method is called texture mapping. To get a more realistic representation, you have to increase the number of polygons and textures. For that purpose, a high-speed CPU and a large-capacity memory are required. For this reason, even a home video game console has a 32-bit CPU and a CD.
-ROM is essential.

[0006] In virtual reality, the three-dimensional representation using polygons as described above is widely used, and besides, new technologies in the field of computer graphics are being developed one after another. However, these functions are related to the expression on the screen, and the construction of a more realistic game system is being pursued. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a device capable of playing a more realistic game.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention incorporates a temperature sensor as a part of an external input device into the hardware configuration of the main body of the video game device. Further, in the game program, the temperature sensor detects the ambient temperature of the game player, and the game is described in accordance with the temperature.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some application examples will be described as embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a system block diagram when the temperature sensor is connected via the input port of the game device. That is, this is an example in the case of being externally attached to the game device.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram when the temperature sensor is connected without using the input port of the game device. That is, this is an example of the case where the temperature sensor is incorporated in a form directly connected to the system bus of the game device. The basic hardware configuration of the game device is the same as the system configuration diagram of FIG. 1, except that a temperature sensor is attached.

The temperature sensor is basically the same at any position, but it is preferable that the temperature sensor is exposed from the main body so that it is not affected by temperature change due to heat generation of the main body of the game apparatus. When the temperature sensor is attached to the current game device as an additional function, the external type shown in FIG. 2 is suitable, but the built-in type shown in FIG. 3 is suitable in terms of eliminating the obstacles such as cords.

Since the temperature sensor is not used in all games, the input from the temperature sensor is not always necessary. For example, when using conventional game software, the input of the temperature sensor is ignored. In other words, the game devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 have a hardware configuration in which conventional software can be used as it is.

An example of game software using information from the temperature sensor will be described. An example of hatching an animal egg in a game will be explained. In general, the eggs of animals have different hatch times depending on the ambient temperature. For example, the game software can change the game by controlling the time when the egg hatches depending on the ambient temperature. Also, in the case of a portable game machine, by carrying the game machine in a pocket and carrying it, it is possible to simulate how many hours an egg will hatch at its own body temperature.

It is said that among the reptiles such as alligators and turtles, the hatched individual becomes female or male depending on the temperature. Utilizing this fact, we consider game software that works differently for males and females. For example, when the ambient temperature sensed by the sensor is 30 to 32 ° C., a male is born and a female is born otherwise.

However, since it is difficult to create such a situation only by accidental ambient temperature in order to provide the game property, first, the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor when the game is starred is set as a base point, that is, 0, and +1 to Males are born when the temperature rises within the range of + 3 ° C, and females are born otherwise. In such a game, a game player can blow the temperature sensor or hold his / her hand to adjust the temperature to control the ratio of males and females that hatch. In this way, new games that were not possible with conventional game machines can be created.

A car racing game using information from a temperature sensor will be described. In this game, the speed of the racing car changes depending on the ambient temperature, the condition of overheating changes, and the way the road slides changes. In this case, since the racing state changes depending on the ambient temperature change, the game play is not always constant, but another game can be played depending on the ambient temperature situation.

There are two types of games that utilize temperature sensors. One is a method of sensing the ambient temperature at the beginning of the game and assembling the game based on the temperature, as shown in FIG. The other is a method of constantly sensing the ambient temperature and reflecting the newly sensed temperature in the game, as shown in FIG.

Recently, since the residential environment is fully air-conditioned, the temperature rarely rises and falls easily. Therefore, in the latter type game, it is preferable to use a sensor having a sensitivity up to about 1/10. In this case, the difference between the latest sensed temperature T _new and the immediately preceding sensed temperature T _old is taken, and the difference ΔT is reflected in the game content. FIG. 5 shows an example of such a game.

[0018]

Although the conventional game machines have the input device such as the mouse, the control pad and the keyboard, none of them have the temperature sensor. for that reason,
We couldn't make game software suitable for the game environment. However, it is possible to make a game that depends on the temperature by inputting the current temperature with a keyboard or the like, but this is a tedious task for game players and is not very realistic. First of all, such a method cannot respond to a change in state in real time.

On the other hand, in the present invention, since the temperature sensor is interlocked with the main body of the game machine, it is possible to reflect the actual situation in the game contents by inferring the environment of the game player. This makes it possible to realize more virtual reality sensations. Furthermore, by constantly using the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor as a control numerical value for the progress of the game, the game can be changed. Many of the games so far have been in a uniform format, but they have the potential to create new forms of games.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic hardware configuration diagram of a home video game machine.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a video game device with an external temperature sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of a video game device with a built-in temperature sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the initial temperature sensed by a temperature sensor is used as the content of a subsequent game using the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart when the initial temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the latest temperature are reflected in the game content using the device of the present invention.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video game device comprising a temperature sensor. 2. A video game device with a temperature sensor, comprising means for changing a game setting in accordance with temperature information from the temperature sensor. 3. A video game device with a temperature sensor, comprising means for changing game settings according to a rate of change of temperature information from the temperature sensor.