JPS58212475A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gaming machine 1.1'', in particular a TV or bidet type 111 gaming machine.

This type of game machine includes a game controller equipped with a stick, push buttons, knobs, etc. operated by the player, and a receiver, projector, or the like that displays the progress of the game. It consists of a video monitor that can perform a similar display, a central control unit that controls the entire device according to a predetermined program, and a fee collection device, prize dispensing device, and other accessories that are installed as necessary. .

Furthermore, the games and machines of the present invention are capable of playing a wide variety of complex games, and are particularly suitable for driving games, speed racing games such as auto racing and motor boat racing, various tracking games, exploration games, Suitable for skiing games, shooting games, fighting games, etc.

Therefore, in conventional games of this type, all data such as programs and patterns necessary to configure the game are encoded and recorded in the memory of the central control unit, and when these data are needed, C
The desired image signals are processed by a PU or the like and then displayed.

However, in game machines, mainly due to price constraints, it is not possible to adopt very complex incisions, and the memory capacity cannot be very large, so the configuration as described above is adopted. Sometimes, the screens are limited to simple and monotonous ones, and it is impossible to develop the game using complex, colorful and realistic screens.
There was 1 point in II.

Furthermore, since the game content of conventional game machines is fixed to some extent, players tend to grow tired of the game after a certain amount of time has passed, and therefore the game program has to be replaced at regular intervals. However, developing a game program requires a lot of effort and money, so it cannot be done very often, and even if you spend a lot of money and effort developing a new game program, you can easily replace the existing one. Since the program is copied, it is often impossible to recover the costs for game development.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to create a complex and interesting screen using a simple circuit without increasing the memory capacity. To provide a game machine that allows players to play games easily, has extremely difficult programs to copy, and allows game programs to be easily and inexpensively replaced.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use a video player that records a program for a game, an image that can be used for the game, and information on a part of the image that is necessary for the progress of the game; This is achieved by loading the information necessary for the progress of the game into random access memory and controlling it based on that record.

Hereinafter, the details of the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

The drawing is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a game machine, which is comprised of a video monitor 2, a controller 3, a central control unit 4, and a video disc player 5.

The video monitor 2 is, for example, a known display device such as a cathode ray tube type or a preset type, and when the game is, for example, a driving game, the video monitor 2 is a display device such as a display device such as a cathode ray tube type or a pneumatic display device. boundary 2
d, 2d, wind along the road! t2e, traveling speed 2 of car 2a
It has a main side for games where f etc. are displayed, and a secondary side where current and past game results 2g and 2h are displayed.

The controller 3 is a device operated by the player to play the game, and is composed of a game fee slot 6, a steering wheel 7, an accelerator pedal 8, a brake pedal 9, a change gear 10, game selection buttons 11, 11, etc. ing. The steering wheel 7 is the car 2 on the main screen.
a position, and the accelerator pedal 8. □'□The brake pedal 9 and the change gear 10 are known ones for controlling the traveling speed and stopping the vehicle.

However, in the drive game machine known as C1, the game pattern is limited to a substantially fixed number, but in the game machine of the present invention, there are many game selection buttons 11.1.
For example, in a driving game, the player can select the streets of New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, etc., as well as other famous I/O spaces, as backgrounds. In addition, various racing games, tracking games, aerial battles, space fighting games, military game J1, maze games, skiing games, etc., such as driving games, etc., can be selected at will.

The central control unit 4 is a so-called game board, and includes RAMs (Rang J...access memory) 12 and 14, a data selector I3, and a CPU (central controller).
It consists of a processing unit) 15, a video signal output circuit 16, a mixing circuit 17, and an interface 18, and together with a video disc player 5, a video monitor 2
and is housed in a common cabinet with the controller 3 or a separate dedicated cabinet.
- Programs and data necessary for the game are recorded on a video disc and loaded into the RAM 12 via a VDP (video disc player) 5. This program mainly includes basic programs as well as programs for subroutines that are used as needed, and are loaded into the RAM 12 as necessary.

Signals from a coin selector (ζ is omitted in the figure) and a game selection button 11.11 in the fee slot 6 are sent to the CPU 15 and video player 5 via a data bus, and a predetermined game fee is sent to the CPU 15 and the video player 5. is input, an instruction to select and press one of the game selection buttons 11.11 will appear on the main screen, and when the player presses the desired selection button, the main screen will appear. An image for playing a predetermined game appears.

The above image includes an image element whose position can be controlled at any time within a certain range by the player via the controller 3 according to the rules of the game, that is, a pattern of the car 2a;
It consists of other background parts.

Conventionally, these controllable I! ! Both the li image element and its background were constructed by the CPU 15 based on data recorded in one ROM (read only memory) and in response to signals from the controller 3. In this method, the screen is subdivided and addressed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the scanning line, and F! Since the image is expressed by the brightness or color of the dots (XISYj) specified by the scanning line number Yj and the address Xi, it has been extremely difficult to generate realistic and complex patterns using a small memory capacity. .

The gaming machine according to the present invention is configured such that all information regarding the background portion other than the controllable image element 2a is supplied from the video disc player 5. This information consists of at least the video signal necessary to produce a background image on the video monitor 2; and the information necessary to configure and develop the game in the central control unit 4.

Furthermore, in conventional game machines, necessary programs and data for a game are recorded in one ROM, but in the device of the present invention, a RAM is provided instead of the ROM, and programs can be stored as needed. is supplied from the video disc player 5.

The video signal for producing the back* image is sent to the mixing circuit 1
7, where it is superimposed with a video signal for displaying the controllable m-image element 2a sent from the CPU 15 via the video signal output circuit 16, and then sent to the video monitor 2. A desired composite image is displayed on the video monitor 2.

On the other hand, from the video disc player 5, in synchronization with this video signal, image information necessary for the game development, in the case of this embodiment, road boundaries 2d, 2d, oncoming vehicles 2b,
Information indicating the positions of obstacles such as parallel cars 20, etc. is output. Similar to game data in conventional game machines, these position information correspond to the area occupied by each ramming obstacle. It can be indicated by a scanning line number YJ and an address Xt, and furthermore, information regarding an obstacle appearing in the next frame can be transmitted for each retrace period.

This position information is extracted separately from other signals by the data selector 13 and stored in the RAM 14.

The data stored in the RAM 14 is the road boundary 2d in the scenery that appears in the currently displayed frame.
, 2d, oncoming vehicle 2b, parallel vehicle 20, etc., the capacity of the RAM 14 does not need to be so large. Note that this data is updated in synchronization with the display.

On the other hand, the CPU 15 reads data from the RAMs 12 and 14 as needed, and inputs the data from the steering wheel 7, the accelerator pedal 8, the brake pedal 9, and the like through the encoder.
It performs calculations or information processing in accordance with the operation information of the change gear 10, etc., and in accordance with the game rules, and generates an output.

The output of the CPU 15 includes at least a signal for producing the controllable image element 2a and a control signal for the video disc player 5, and usually also includes:
It also includes a control signal for a sound effect generator (not shown).

The signal for producing the image element 2a is organized by the video signal output circuit 16 into a video signal train that is output in synchronization with the video signal output from the video disk player 5, and is sent to the mixing circuit 17 and sent to the main Car 2 on the screen
An image of a is generated.

The background image is moved relative to this car 2a, and a scene appears as if the car 2a is running at full speed on the road.

When the player steps on the accelerator 8, the image playback speed of the video recorder 5 increases and the car 2a accelerates.
When the brake 9 is stepped on, the automobile 2a is decelerated. The player operates the steering wheel 7 to drive as fast as possible along the roads that appear one after another without causing a traffic accident such as colliding with an oncoming vehicle 2b or other obstacles. It is required to outperform a large number of rates.

The CPU 15 compares the position data of the vehicle 2a outputted by itself with the position data of the obstacle stored in the RAM 14, and when it detects a match between the former and part of the latter, that is, the vehicle 2a is located at the road boundary. When the vehicle runs over the lines 2d and 2d or comes into contact with the oncoming vehicle 2b or the parallel rate 2C, the progress of the background image is immediately stopped, a scene of the vehicle 2a overturning, catching fire, an explosion, etc. is displayed, or the screen is flashing, etc. According to the rules of the game, the video disc player 5
It controls the operation of other components.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, when using the present invention, for example, taking a driving game as an example, the game can be played on a realistic and interesting screen that continues from the city area to the expressway to the countryside. In addition, it is possible to incorporate landscapes, traffic signs, traffic lights, etc. from all over the world, as well as science fiction scenes, etc., allowing players to enjoy various races according to their preference or in a medley. Furthermore, it is not necessary to replace the ROM when changing the game content, the game content can become complicated, and it is difficult to analyze where the program is recorded on the medium, making it extremely difficult to steal the program. It is something.

In the embodiment described above, it is assumed that image information necessary for game development is sent from the video disc player 5 in synchronization with a video signal for generating a background image. This is achieved by recording the image information on a soundtrack, data track, etc. provided on the video tape or the like to be used. However, the above image information may be recorded and transmitted using the horizontal or vertical retrace period of the video signal, or the top and bottom or left and right sides of the screen of the video monitor.

A part of the video signal is erased so that a blanking part is generated at the edge of the frame, and this erased part is used to record and transmit the image signal.
・ ・ , 1 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and for example, as the video player, in addition to a VTR, all known misaki image reproducing devices such as a video disc player can be used. Furthermore, the format, design, and game content of other parts such as the player and controller can be freely changed within the scope of the intended purpose, and the present invention encompasses all of these.

4.Additional related original invention uses ROM for recording of programno, and
Background data recorded on a videotape or disk and the output from the CPU are combined and displayed, but the present invention uses R instead of a ROM that stores programs.
Using AM, the program and data required for the game in addition to background data are recorded on the videotape or disk, and this is loaded into the RAM as necessary to advance the game. .

In the present invention, since the program and the background data are recorded on the recording medium, when changing the game content, the RO
No need to replace M. Furthermore, the game content can become complicated, making it extremely difficult to copy the program.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1--...----------------1----Game machine 2--
---Video monitor 2a--・--------1---
--- Car 2b where the player is driving vertically ------
−−1−−−−−−−1 Oncoming vehicle 20～・−−−1111−−−−−・−Parallel rate 2d−1・−−−−−−1−−
−−−−−−−−−Road boundary'l e −−−−−1・・・−・−・・−・−Roadside scenery 3−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−Controller 4−−−−・−・
−1−−−−−−−−−−−−−−Central control device 5−−
−−・−−−−1−−−−−−−−−−−−−Video disc player 6−−−−−・−−−−1−−−・−1−−−・−Game fee input mouth? −−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−Steering wheel 8−−−・−・
−−−−−−−−−−−−−1−−−Accelerator pedal 9−
−−・−11111−−−・−−−−1・・Brake i o −−−−−1・・−・−1−−−−・−Change gear 11−−1・− ------------1---Game selection button 12.14-------ROM 2S----1-----1-------CPU
16--------------1--Video signal output circuit 17-------1-----Mixing circuit 1 B-------1 −−−−−−−−−Interface patent applicant Pacific Kogyo Co., Ltd. Agent (7524) Shotabe Mogami

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A controller for a game operated by a player, and a memory that stores data necessary for the game; a central control unit that generates video signals necessary for displaying the progress of the game according to the program; and a central control unit that responds to the video signals generated by the central control unit;
It consists of a video monitor that displays images showing the progress of the game, and the player can freely control the position of the displayed WJ image within a certain range using the controller according to the rules of the game. In a game machine that composes a game based on the relative relationship between the obtained Il image element and the uncontrollable M image element that appears in the background other than the controllable image element, the program for the game and the background are provided. a video player capable of outputting the video signals necessary for making the part appear and information indicating the position of a particular image element in the background part; and a random player into which the program for said game is loaded.
an access memory; and a mixing circuit for synthesizing the signal created by the logic circuit of the central control unit and the video signal output from the video player, thereby causing a synthesized image to appear on the video monitor; The central controller receives information indicating the locations of particular image elements output by the video player based on a program loaded into random access memory, and determines the locations of these image elements and the player. The gaming machine described above is further provided with a circuit that controls the operation of the video player according to game rules by checking the position of the image element controlled by the game machine. 2) The game is a driving game, the image element controlled by the player is a pattern representing a car, and the background portion sent from the video player is a landscape including a road on which the car controlled by the player can drive. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the specific image elements therein are a boundary line of the road and a pattern of other cars traveling along the road. 3) The game is a fighting game, and the image element controlled by the player is a pattern that does not show friendly weapons and what is fired from the weapon, and the background portion sent from the video player is an image controlled by the player. Claim 1: A landscape including enemy weapons attacking elements and shots fired from the weapons, wherein image elements therein include enemy weapons and shots fired from the weapons. The game machine described. 4) The game is a speed race, the image elements controlled by the player are those participating in the race, and the background portion sent from the video player is a landscape including the race course, and certain 5) The game according to claim 11, which determines the boundary *a or course of the FII image element--space 5) Information indicating the position of a specific image element in the background part sent from the video player , the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the video signal is transmitted during the retrace period. 6) Any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information indicating the position of a specific image element in the background portion sent from the video player is sent in parallel in synchronization with the video signal. The game machine described in . 7) In the video signal sent from the video player, a portion corresponding to a part of the edge of the screen of the video monitor is erased, and information indicating the position of a specific image element in the background portion is erased during this erasure period. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to be transmitted.