KR0144029B1 - A game machine having play-play announcement - Google Patents

Abstract

A game machine having a live broadcasting function includes a monitor, a manipulator, a memory in which each voice sound group stores respective data of a plurality of voice sound groups representing words related to the game, and a command signal generated by the game program and the manipulator. And a controller operable to specify data for voice sound suitable for the new scene produced, and a sound generator for generating voice sound in the new scene based on the specified data.

Description

Game machine with live broadcasting function

1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a control system of a game machine having a live broadcast function according to the present invention;

2 is a detailed view showing the sound sound data storage unit and its peripheral device of the control system;

3 is a flowchart showing an operation of designating a voice sound group under an attack scene of a baseball game executed in a game machine;

4 is a flowchart showing a partial transmission operation of voice sound data while processing for game deployment is interrupted.

[Background of invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine having a plurality of operating members for providing an operation command to a character displayed on a monitor and a controller for receiving the operation command for controlling the development of the game according to a predetermined game program.

In conventional television game machines, a technique for generating foot-step sounds, that is, sound effects related to movement of a character displayed on a monitor, is known. Japanese Utility Model Publications SO 55-56686 and 55-72994 respectively start baseball and golf game machines equipped with live broadcast sound.

More particularly, such game machines provide realism because they are associated with a sound record sheet inserted into the loading section of the game machine to produce sounds prepared for live broadcasting as the game develops.

Conventional sound effects typically represented by the above-described foot-steps associated with the character's movement are short in sounding time due to their simple sound properties, the processing being based on easy repetition of the same sound, and the sound effects being specific. This is especially true in that it only applies to. Thus, such conventional sound effects will face difficulties in generating continuous sounds that constitute meaningful sentences. Since such elaborate sound effects require significant data, the game development will generally be hindered by the processing of such sound effects if the game's development is carried out in accordance with the prior art.

In addition, it is impossible to accommodate complex judgments in accordance with the development of games that are mandatory for live broadcasting. For example, according to the conventional baseball game machine or golf game machine, the development of the game is mainly determined by the reproduction of a broadcast arbitrarily selected from the sound record sheet. In other words, it was not possible to perform a complex live broadcast in response to each scene of the game, i.e. each game action.

[Summary of invention]

One object of the present invention is to provide a game machine that overcomes the above problems of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of executing live broadcast without interrupting game development in order to provide a realistic atmosphere.

Accordingly, the game machine of the present invention is a monitor for displaying a game scene, a manipulator operable to generate a command signal according to the operation of a player, and each voice sound group for each of a plurality of voice sound groups each representing a word related to a game. A storage unit operable to store data, a game program installed on the monitor, and a command signal generated by the manipulator create a new scene on the monitor and generate data for a sound sound group suitable for the generated new scene. A controller operable to assign, and a sound generator operable to generate a sound sound suitable for the new scene based on the data.

The sound generator is operable to transmit the specified data to the transducer at a rate that maintains the frequency of the voice sound data in the audible band, and a transducer operable to convert the specified data into voice sound, and at a rate faster than the conversion rate at the transducer. It can be configured as a possible data transmitter.

It is desirable to divide the data into a plurality of data portions and to transmit the plurality of data portions to the converter sequentially at predetermined intervals. In addition, it can be understood that by using the address, the controller assigns each data portion together with a specific address so that the controller designates the data. Furthermore, the storage section includes a data area for storing data portions according to each address, and a reference area for storing the head address and the number of data portions of each voice sound group data so that the controller specifies the head address and the number of data portions. Provide to specify data.

The transmission of the data portion is preferably carried out by temporarily interrupting the production of a new scene. Furthermore the controller has a timer operable to provide an interruption time.

The above-described game machine is provided with a storage unit operable to store data of a plurality of voice sound groups, and a controller operable to generate a new game scene on the monitor according to command signals generated by the game program and the manipulator. Moreover, the controller is operable to generate data based on the new scene in which the appropriate sound sounds are alternately produced in the new scene and to designate the appropriate voice sound group data.

This makes it possible to generate a sound sound suitable for game development, resulting in improved realism.

The data transfer is performed from the storage to the converter faster than the designated data is converted into voice sound. Thus, sound sounds are generated without the possibility of providing annoying delays to the player.

The data is divided into a plurality of data portions, and the plurality of data portions are sequentially transmitted to the converter at predetermined intervals. This makes it possible to reduce each data transmission time as needed. Thus, data transfer has little effect on the processing of the controller to create the game scene.

Each piece of data is assigned with a specific address. The storage unit is mainly composed of a data area and a reference area. Therefore, the appropriate voice sound group can be easily specified.

The transmission of the data portion is performed by temporarily interrupting the production of a new scene. The controller has a timer operable to provide an interruption time. Thus, the sound image for the new scene is generated at the same time as the creation of the new scene.

The above and other objects, features and effects of the present invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing the main arrangement of the game machine of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an operating device including an operation lever, a switch, and a button. The operation contents of the operating device 1 are transmitted to the main CPU 3 via the I / O port 2. The operating lever of the operating device 1 provides a command relating to the direction of movement of the character. The switches and buttons allow the character to perform certain motions at certain timings, such as pitching, throwing, and bat swings of a baseball game. Moreover, this type of game machine has a team generation function that allows the game player to flexibly select his preferred team and baseball player using the operating device 1.

The main CPU 3 executes the overall operation control of the game, and has a ROM 31 which stores a game program and a RAM 32 which temporarily stores processing data. The ROM 31 can be omitted if the game program is stored in a game cassette which is detachably inserted into the cassette loading portion of the game machine.

The sound sound data storage section 4 stores various sound sound group data required for live broadcasting in association with the command signal generated by the operation device 1 to be described later and the development of the game. For example, a baseball game includes a total of four scenes: batting scenes, fielding scenes, change over scenes, and game set scenes. A predetermined number of sound sound groups are assigned to each of the four scenes for live broadcast in association with the operation of the operating device 1 and the development of the game.

In the attack scene, for example, the following voice sound group: change ball, fastball, change up, strike, ball, no runner, first base runner, batter out, first base out, karate shift, team name, batting order, defense Location, player name, uniform number, etc. Using these voice sound groups, the live broadcast will be described later, for example, change ball, strike, first batter, center field, Smith, No. 5. Proceed with strike, batter out, three out, etc.

In the defensive scene, for example, there are the following voice sound groups: hits !, hit the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball to first base, throw the ball to the home base, great, hit the fence directly, home run , First base, second base, two-run home runs, first base (for four-ball), nice play, one point, fouls. Using these voice sound groups, the live broadcast function is, for example, hit !, awesome, home run, 1 point, catch the ball, nice play, throw the ball to the home base, run out, etc. .

In the air shift scene, for example, there are voice sound groups such as inning, ending, beginning, end of game, team name, end of game without scoring, reversing, and the like.

In the end-of-game scene, for example, there are voice sound groups such as today's end of the game, wins, team names, and the like.

safety! The reason why a plurality of voice sound groups having the same meaning are prepared in the same scene, such as hitting a ball, is to express a delicate nuance of each voice sound by considering the situation. For example, the former voice sound group hit! Is used primarily for scenes that are likely to score points or to divert the flow of the game, and are often used in other situations where the latter sound the ball. Similarly, it may be desirable to prepare multiple voice sound groups with the same word but with different accents, and select the appropriate voice sound group according to the situation.

The main CPU 3 successively designates a suitable sound sound group to be used as a live broadcast function according to the operation instruction given from the game deployment and operation device 1. After the pulse code modulation (PCM) value predetermined data compression process is applied, the designated voice sound group is transmitted to the sound CPU 5 which will be described later.

The sound CPU 5 temporarily stores the sound sound group data for the live broadcast function transmitted from the main CPU 3. After demodulation and decompression have been applied, the voice sound data is read out at a predetermined rate that maintains the frequency of the voice sound data in the audible band. The sound controller 6 outputs the sound sound data from the plurality of loudspeakers 8 through the amplifier 7 and converts it into analog sound waveforms.

The CRT controller 9 accesses the graphics memory 10 to supply the necessary image signals and characters to the frame memory 11 in response to the control signals supplied from the main CPU 3. The frame memory 11 stores image signals and characters read from the graphics memory 10. The video signal generation circuit 12 converts image signals and others stored in the frame memory 11 into video signals, and periodically supplies these video signals to the monitor 13 at high speed.

The monitor 13, such as a CRT or LCD, provides a scene image on the screen of the monitor in accordance with the received video signal.

2 is a schematic diagram showing details of the sound sound data storage section 4 and its peripheral devices. The sound sound data storage section 4 includes three sound areas, a sound sound data area 41, a reference area 42, and an array area 43.

The voice sound data area 41 includes a ROM having a predetermined air capacity and stores data of the voice sound group for the live broadcast function. Voice sound data is a series of digital signals representing voice waveforms. Each voice sound group data is divided into a specific plurality of data portions. Each piece of data is assigned with a specific address. For example, addresses 1 through 10 are assigned to voice sound group strikes, addresses 11 through 39 are assigned to voice sound group type-outs, and addresses 100 through 119 are assigned to voice sound group three outs.

The reference area 42 includes a ROM having a predetermined air capacity, and stores a head address and a plurality of data portions of each voice sound group data. Each voice sound group data partially transmits each data portion to the sound CPU 5. Thus, the number of data portions coincides with the number of partial data transmissions for each voice sound group. For example, a voice sound strike is divided into 10 data parts. Therefore, the voice sound group strike is completely transmitted in 10-part data transmission. However, it should be noted that although the number of partial data transmissions is not required to be equal to the number of data portions, each voice sound group data can be transmitted in fewer times than the number of data portions. In the above embodiment, the amount of data that can be transmitted in one-part data transmission is 80H (equivalent to 128 bytes).

The sound sound group is determined according to the command signal generated by the development of the game and the operation of the operation device 1. For example, in the case where the pitched ball is a strike, the main CPU 3 designates a voice sound group strike having a head address of 1 and a partial transmission number of ten. Moreover, if the strike is a third strike, the main CPU 3 also designates a voice sound group batter out with a head address of 11 and a partial transmission number of 29. Furthermore, if three people are neighbors in the above example, the CPU 3 also specifies a voice sound group three out with a head address of 100 and a partial transmission number of 20.

The arranging area 43 includes a RAM and stores voice sound groups, i.e., strikes, batter-outs, and three-out data, which are designated in the designated order of the main CPU 3. The main CPU 3 partially transfers these sound sound group data to the sound CPU 5 in the designated order.

The resettable interrupting timer 33 sets the interruption time to partially transmit the voice sound data, for example at intervals of 1/60 second. More specifically, the main CPU 3 allocates, for example, 10% of each 1/60 second to partial transmission of voice sound data and the remaining 90% of 1/60 second to game processing.

The partial transmission of voice sound data is effective in eliminating the problem of game evolution, i.e., the game program undesirably interrupting for an effective long time to transmit the voice sound data at once. Therefore, the game front responds quickly to the operation of the operating device 1. The interruption number counter 34 is applied to count the number of interruptions or partial transmissions.

3 is a flowchart showing the designation operation of the voice sound group under the attacking scene of the baseball game that the ball pitched by the pitcher is to judge.

First, it is determined whether or not the pitcher has thrown the strike ball (step S1). If the judgment is no in step S1 (that is, the pitcher did not throw the strike ball), the CPU 3 proceeds to step S1 in which the ball declaration routine is executed. Conversely, if the judgment is YES in step S1, the CPU 3 assigns the voice sound group strike by specifying the head address of the reference area 42 and the number of partial transmissions (1, 10), and the strike voice sound. The process proceeds to step S5 in which data is transferred from the voice sound data area 41 to the array area 43.

Next, if the pitched ball is a strike, it is further determined in step S7 whether or not it is a third strike. If the judgment is no in step S7, the CPU 3 proceeds to step S9 in which the next pitch routine is executed. Conversely, if the judgment is YES in step S7, the CPU 3 assigns the voice sound group batter out by specifying the head address of the reference area 42 and the number of partial transmissions 11 and 29, and the batter out speech sound. The process proceeds to step S11 in which data is transferred from the voice sound data area 41 to the array area 43.

After that, when the batter is out, it is determined in step S13 whether or not it is three out. If the judgment is NO in step S13, the CPU 3 proceeds to step S15 in which the outcount declaration routine is executed. In the out count declaration, one-out or two-out voice sound data is transferred from the data area 41 to the arrangement area 43. Conversely, if the determination is found to be YES, i.e., three out, in step S13, the CPU 3 designates the voice sound group three out by specifying the head address of the reference area 42 and the number of partial transmissions 100,200. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 17 in which the three-out voice sound data is transferred from the voice sound data area 41 to the array area 43.

Here, it should be noted that at the start of the game routine the interrupting timer 33 is started and the interrupting number counter 34 is reset to one.

4 is a flowchart showing an operation for transmitting the partial data of the designated voice sound group to the sound CPU 5. The CPU 3 enters the partial transfer operation in response to the elapse of 1/60 second measured by the interrupting timer 33.

In this routine, first, it is determined in step S21 whether the arrangement area 43 stores the voice sound data for transmission. If the determination is YES in step S21, it is further determined in step S23 whether the current transmission is the initial partial data transmission for the predetermined voice sound group, that is, whether the partial data transmission number is the first (n = 1).

If the judgment is yes (n = 1) in step S23, the CPU 3 sets the partial data transfer number Nd essential for the predetermined sound sound group based on the data stored in the reference area 42. Proceed to S25. After that, the CPU 3 proceeds to step S27. Conversely, if the judgment is NO in step S23, the CPU 3 proceeds directly to step S27 since the current transmission is in the process of transmitting data for the predetermined sound sound group.

In step S27, the n-th order partial data is transferred from the arranging area 43 to the sound CPU 5. After the n-th order partial data transfer, the coefficient of the partial data transfer number n, i.e., the interruption counter 34, is incremented by one in step S29.

Next, it is determined in step S31 whether the incremented transmission number n is less than or equal to the set transmission number Nd. If the determination is YES in step S31, that is, if the current transmission is in the process of transmitting partial data for the predetermined sound sound, the CPU 3 proceeds to step S33 to reset the interrupting timer 33. Return to the main routine.

Conversely, if the judgment is no in step S31, that is, if the current transmission completes the transmission of the data for the predetermined sound sound group, the CPU 3 resets the current partial data transmission number n to 1 (S35). The process proceeds to step S33 thereafter.

If the judgment is no in step S21, that is, no transfer data is stored in the arrangement area 43, the CPU 3 ends the partial data transfer routine.

The loudspeaker 8 generates the sound sound in accordance with the sound signal from the sound CPU 5 for a period longer than the period for transmitting the partial data. Therefore, by utilizing the difference between the sound generation period and the partial data transmission period, the next partial data can be transmitted before the activator 8 ends the generation of the sound based on the previous partial data. Thus, even if a large number of voice sound groups are supplied in series, these voice sounds can be reliably produced by the loudspeaker 8 without giving an intermittent delay to the game player.

In this embodiment, one partial data is transmitted every 1/60 second. However, it is not necessary to set a fixed transmission period. As long as the partial data transmission is executed sufficiently fast compared to the sound production period of the loudspeaker 8, the partial data transmission period can be changed depending on the processing contents of the main CPU 3. For example, when the main CPU 3 is not required to allow a long period for the game development process, it may be possible to transmit a large amount of appropriate partial data or all partial data for a predetermined sound group.

As the invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of its essential features, the embodiments described above are intended to be illustrative only and not limiting, rather than to the detailed descriptions of the scope of the invention. All modifications defined by the appended claims and falling within, or corresponding to, the scope and boundaries of the claims are intended to be embraced by the claims.

Claims (7)

A monitor displaying a game scene; A manipulator operable to generate a command signal according to the operation of the player; A storage unit operable to store data for each of the plurality of voice sound groups in which each voice sound group represents a word in association with the game; A controller operable to produce a new game scene on the monitor in accordance with a command signal generated by a game program and a manipulator installed on the monitor, and to specify data for a sound sound group suitable for the produced scene; And a sound generator operable to generate a sound sound suitable for a new scene based on the specified data. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sound generator comprises: a transducer operable to convert the designated data into voice sound at a rate that maintains the frequency of the data in the audible band; And data operable to transmit the designated data to the converter at a speed faster than the conversion speed at the converter. 3. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein the data is divided into a plurality of data portions, and the data transmitter sequentially transmits the plurality of data portions to the converter at predetermined intervals. 4. A game machine according to claim 3, wherein each data portion is assigned with a particular address, and the controller designates the data by use of the address. The data storage device of claim 4, wherein the storage unit comprises: a data area according to a respective address thereof; And a reference area for storing the head address and the number of data portions of each voice sound group data, and wherein the controller specifies the data by specifying the head address and the number of data portions. 4. The game machine according to claim 3, wherein the transmission of the data portion is performed by temporarily interrupting the production of a new scene. 7. The game machine of claim 6 wherein the controller comprises a timer operable to provide an interruption time.