JPH119837A - Video game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable character images to be examined in advance before a coin is thrown in by providing an operation unit and a viewpoint switch- processing circuit, which switch the viewpoint of an image for an attract demonstration in response to the operation of player. SOLUTION: When power is turned on for this video game device, on the screen of a monitor 6, a series of images for an attract demonstration which are previously determined, are displayed. For example, in the case of a racing game, a state wherein an automobile is running on a road surface is displayed from a viewpoint such as seeing the automobile from behind. Then, under the state, if a patron wants to know the shape, etc., of the automobile more in details, by pressing a viewpoint switching button provided on an operation unit, its switching input signal is provided to a viewpoint switch-processing circuit 8 through an I/O port 5, and after being viewpoint switch-processed into an image data for demonstration which is obtained from a ROM 3, an image composition is performed by a three dimensional image processing device 4, and the image for attract demonstration under a state seen from another viewpoint, is displayed on the monitor 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a video game device for displaying an image for attract demonstration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an arcade video game device, usually,
Before the start of the game with no coins inserted, a so-called attract demonstration image is displayed on the monitor screen to arouse the customer's interest. Determines whether to play on the device. Conventionally, the image for attract demonstration cannot be changed by a customer's operation, and a series of predetermined images is only displayed unilaterally according to a predetermined program. Therefore, for example, in a competitive racing game, etc.,
Customers trying to decide whether or not to play the game after observing the car running in the attract demonstration from various angles could not meet the demand. Particularly, in recent years, video game devices have made great progress in both hardware and software, and it is now possible to display three-dimensional and realistic images, so when customers decide whether to play with the game machine In addition, the presence or absence of the reality of the displayed character image is a big selection factor, and it is no longer satisfied with a demonstration in which a series of predetermined images is unilaterally displayed according to a certain program as in the past. ing.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to switch the viewpoint of an attract demonstration image by a customer operation. For example, in the case of a racing game, it is an object of the present invention to provide a video game device capable of deciding whether or not to play with a game device after sufficiently observing and examining a car driven by a customer from a plurality of viewpoints.

[0004]

An object of the present invention is to provide a video game device which displays an attract demonstration image on a monitor screen before the start of a game, and an operation unit for switching a viewpoint of the attract demonstration image in accordance with an operation of a player. And a viewpoint switching processing circuit.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a video game device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the video game device according to the present invention.
Is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image for attract demonstration, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image in which the viewpoint shown in FIG. 3 is switched.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire video game apparatus, and performs main arithmetic processing necessary for the progress of the game. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM for transmitting and receiving data necessary for the operation of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a ROM in which all data required for the game are recorded, in which programs and image element data necessary for a normal video game are recorded. Reference numeral 4 denotes a three-dimensional image processing device that organizes video of a game screen based on image data from the RAM 2 and the ROM 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes switches / joysticks operated by the player, operation buttons for the customer to switch the viewpoint of the image for attract demonstration in the present invention, and I / O connected to various display lamps.
O port. Reference numeral 6 denotes a monitor for displaying a game screen, and reference numeral 7 denotes a sound circuit for generating a sound effect, a voice instruction to a player, and the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a viewpoint switching processing circuit that switches the viewpoint of the attract demonstration image according to the operation of the customer. 9 is a car image displayed as an attract demonstration before the game starts.

Hereinafter, the operation of the video game apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. When the power of the video game apparatus is turned on and the operation of the apparatus is started, a series of predetermined images for attract demonstration are displayed on the screen of the monitor 6. For example, in the case of a racing game, as shown in FIG. 3, the state in which the car 9 to be driven by the player is running on the road surface is displayed from the viewpoint of looking at the car 9 from behind.
In this state, if the customer is interested in this game and wants to know the shape of the car 9 in more detail, he or she presses a viewpoint switching button (not shown) provided on the operation unit. In that case, the switching input signal is supplied to the viewpoint switching processing circuit 8 through the I / O port 5, the viewpoint switching process is performed on the demonstration image data obtained from the ROM 3, and then the three-dimensional image processing device 4. Thus, an image for attract demonstration viewed from a different viewpoint from before pressing the viewpoint switching button is displayed on the monitor 6. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle 9 is displayed from a viewpoint as viewed obliquely from the front. When the customer decides to play the game after sufficiently observing and examining the car 9 based on these images, he or she only has to insert coins and start the game at that time.

Although the above description has been made mainly with reference to a racing game using a car, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, racing games such as horse racing, wheel racing, boat racing, various combat games, survival games, etc. The present invention encompasses all of these alternative embodiments.

[0009]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, according to the present invention, the customer can sufficiently examine the character image in advance by using the image of the attract demonstration before inserting coins. A video game device that can fully enjoy the enjoyment of the game is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a video game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image for attract demonstration in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image in which the viewpoint shown in FIG. 3 is switched and displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 3D image processing apparatus 5 I / O port 6 Monitor 7 Sound circuit 8 Viewpoint switching processing circuit 9 Car image

Claims (2)

[Claims] An operation unit for switching a viewpoint of an attract demonstration image according to an operation of a player, in a video game device for displaying an image for attract demonstration on a monitor screen before a game starts.
The video game device described above, further comprising a viewpoint switching processing circuit (8). 2. The video game device according to claim 1, wherein the video game device is a racing game.