Abstract: A string display system for displaying display target strings includes a storage unit 50 that correlates and stores detection target strings and display numbers, a display time determination unit 56 that provisionally determines display times of the display target strings, and a detection unit 52 that detects the detection target strings included in the display target strings. The display time determination unit 56 conducts processing where, when the detection target strings are detected, the display numbers of the detection target strings are read from the storage unit 50, and the display times of the display target strings are shortened in accordance with the read display numbers. The string display system further includes a display unit 58 that displays the display target strings over the shortened display times of the display target strings.

Abstract: To provide an image processing apparatus that enables display of a situation where all or a part of a display image changes using simple image processing. A first texture image, a second texture image, display priority of each pixel constituting the first texture image and a threshold value of the display priority are stored in advance. The second texture image is drawn on a predetermined polygon (S205), and the first texture image is further drawn thereon in accordance with the result of comparison between the display priority and the threshold value (S206).

Abstract: In providing a gun shooting game allowing selective use of one or more types of controller among multiple types of controller, the effect of difference between controllers on the game can be diminished. A gun shooting game device 10 allowing selective use of one or more types of controller among multiple types of controller includes a target display unit 100 for displaying a target, a controller type determination unit 102 for determining the type of a currently used controller, a hit determination unit 103 for determining whether or not a bullet has hit the target based on data supplied by the controller, and a range extent control unit 104 for controlling the extent of a range in which the bullet is determined as hitting the target among supplied data based on the controller type.

Abstract: A game device for adjusting the progress rate of simulation with the use of a conventional program module for environmental processing is provided. In the game device, a microprocessor (14) selectively performs, in accordance with a game operation provided by a player of a game, either a process for producing environment information which is a basis for a game image of the subsequent predetermined update cycle, and producing a main game image based on the environment information, or a process for repeatedly producing the environment information plural times, and producing a sub game image based on the last produced environment information among the information produced plural times in a shorter time than the main game image.

Abstract: In order to represent, as a video, changes in the light-and-shade patterns of an image with a reduced demand for storage capacity and a relatively small amount of preparation, light-and-shade pattern data representing the light-and-shade pattern to be added to an original image and constructed by assigning a palette number to each image region obtained by dividing the original image is prepared. A plurality of palette data constructed by assigning color information having brightness difference to each palette number are generated, the plurality of palette data being different from each other. A plurality of light-and-shade images each based on the light-and-shade pattern data and one of the palette data generated at the palette data generating step are translucently blended, in sequence, into the original image.

Abstract: A gaming device that can enhance reality of sound effects as they relate to motion of a gaming character object in a gaming space is provided. The gaming device includes an operation input portion (26) directing that the gaming character object disposed in the gaming space be moved on a moving plane of the gaming space, a control portion (24) counting the number of times a predetermined portion of the gaming character object makes contact with the moving plane according to directions given by the operation input portion (26), and a sound output portion (30) producing an output of a sound corresponding to a count taken by the contact count counting means when the predetermined portion of the gaming character object makes contact with the moving plane.

Abstract: To provide a game apparatus that enable notifying a player of a predetermined position by displaying a marker object designating a predetermined position in accordance with the position of an operation target object in a game space, a game apparatus that displays an image related to a three-dimensional game space (50) where a player game character (52) as an operation target object is arranged, includes position control means for controlling the position of the player game character (52) in the three-dimensional game space (50) on the basis of an operation signal, and marker object arrangement means for arranging in the three-dimensional game space (50) a marker object (64) designating a predetermined position (path to another area) in the three-dimensional game space (50) in accordance with the position of the player game character (52).

Abstract: To provide an image processing apparatus that enables display of a situation where all or a part of a display image changes using simple image processing. A first texture image, a second texture image, display priority of each pixel constituting the first texture image and a threshold value of the display priority are stored in advance. The second texture image is drawn on a predetermined polygon (S205), and the first texture image is further drawn thereon in accordance with the result of comparison between the display priority and the threshold value (S206).

Abstract: A plurality of tasks are set in a speech synthesizing process, in which at least one of speakers, emotion or situation at the time speeches are made, and contents of the speeches, is different, and word dictionaries, prosody dictionaries, and waveform dictionaries corresponding to respective tasks are organized. When a character string to be synthesized is input with the task specified through, for example, a game system, a speech synthesizing process is performed using the word dictionary, the prosody dictionary, and the waveform dictionary corresponding to the specified task. Therefore, a speech message can be generated depending on the personality of a speaker, the emotion or situation at the time when a speech is made, and the contents of the speech.

Abstract: A game device for adjusting the progress rate of simulation with the use of a conventional program module for environmental processing is provided. In the game device, a microprocessor (14) selectively performs, in accordance with a game operation provided by a player of a game, either a process for producing environment information which is a basis for a game image of the subsequent predetermined update cycle, and producing a main game image based on the environment information, or a process for repeatedly producing the environment information plural times, and producing a sub game image based on the last produced environment information among the information produced plural times in a shorter time than the main game image.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus that can produce an image representing an unsteady object without involving an increased load of computing operations is provided. The image generating apparatus includes a control portion (11). The control portion (11) generates display image data to be displayed on a screen based on information on at least one three-dimensional object disposed in a three-dimensional space and information on a viewpoint position. Of the display image data, image area identification data identifying an image area corresponding to the three-dimensional object is stored in memory. Image defocusing processing is applied at least locally to the display image based on the image area identification data.

Abstract: A speech synthesizing method includes determining the accent type of the input character string, selecting the prosodic model data from a prosody dictionary for storing typical ones of the prosodic models representing the prosodic information for the character strings in a word dictionary, based on the input character string and the accent type, transforming the prosodic information of the prosodic model when the character string of the selected prosodic model is not coincident with the input character string, selecting the waveform data corresponding to each character of the input character string from a waveform dictionary, based on the prosodic model data after transformation, and connecting the selected waveform data with each other. Therefore, a difference between an input character string and a character string stored in a dictionary is absorbed, then it is possible to synthesize a natural voice.

Abstract: An image processing device capable of expressing a highlight with a relatively light processing load is provided. The device includes a light source position acquisition unit for acquiring the position of a light source, a viewpoint position and viewing direction acquisition unit (64) for acquiring a viewpoint position and a viewing direction, a highlight position calculation unit for calculating the position of a highlight appearing on the surface of an object based on the viewpoint position, a highlight intensity calculation unit for calculating intensity of the highlight based on the light source position and the viewing direction, and a semitransparent composition unit (70) for performing semitransparent composition of an image representing the highlight onto the image representing the object based on the position calculated by the highlight position calculation unit and the semitransparent composition rate corresponding to the intensity calculated by the highlight intensity calculation unit.

Abstract: There is provided a game device that can improve reality of a game field, by causing change in an image for a game field due to various reasons, such as change in viewpoint, with a simple method. With a game device, in display processing executed by a control section (11), rendering control section (13), display storage section (14) and display section (1), a game control section (3) carries out processing of game content performed inside a game field based on player operations, a composition rate change section (33) changes an image composition rate, a display control section (34) generates a composite image combining a plurality of image data based on the image composition rate, and a game field is displayed using the composite image.

Abstract: In order to provide a game system capable of directly enhancing an incentive to play a game a lot, in a game system, a first game device accommodates a portable storage medium, generates information relating to an amount a player plays, and writes game parameters for information relating to the play amount to the portable storage medium. A second game device also accommodates the portable storage medium, reads game parameters stored on the accommodated storage medium, and carries out prescribed game processing based on the read-out game parameters.

Abstract: In order to output event content of a related match during execution of a main match, there is provided a virtual start time decider for deciding virtual start times for a plurality of matches, a related match selector for selecting, from the plurality of matches, at least one match, taking place at least partially at the same time as a main match a player's team is taking part in, as one or more matches related to the main match based on virtual start times for each match, a related match simulator for simulating the related matches, event storage unit for storing event time and event content for prescribed types of events occurring in the related matches, a main match executor for executing the main match, an event time arrival monitor for monitoring for arrival of the event time stored by the event storage unit during execution of the main match, and an event content output unit for outputting event content corresponding to the event time when it is determined that the event time has arrived during executi

Abstract: In a game program production method which can create game programs, a plurality of different partial scenarios different from one another are prepared and one story is formed by successively linking partial scenarios from first to fourth ones selected substantially randomly from the partial scenarios by the use of pseudo-random numbers. Thus, a wide variety of stories can be written in this way by combining many and various partial scenarios. Thus, the method is realized by a game system and a recording medium with which players can enjoy games that are rich in variety.

Abstract: A signal input device allowing a user to input a coordinate command into a computer such as a game machine, without requiring a platform such as a desk, while the user holds the device with his hand, and to easily maintain an adequate positional relationship between his fingers and the pointing device. The device comprises a trackball (12), a grip (24), a trigger (16), and a trackball base (26). The user holds the grip (24) with his hand while placing the forefinger of that hand on the trigger (16) wherein a portion between the base and the second joint of the forefinger of the hand extends straight. The trackball base (26) having a track ball (12) mounted on its upper surface is mounted on the upper end of the grip (24) such that it abuts on the side of at least a portion between the base and the second joint of the user's forefinger of the hand holding the grip (24).

Abstract: In providing a gun shooting game allowing selective use of one or more types of controller among multiple types of controller, the effect of difference between controllers on the game can be diminished. A gun shooting game device 10 allowing selective use of one or more types of controller among multiple types of controller includes a target display unit 100 for displaying a target, a controller type determination unit 102 for determining the type of a currently used controller, a hit determination unit 103 for determining whether or not a bullet has hit the target based on data supplied by the controller, and a range extent control unit 104 for controlling the extent of a range in which the bullet is determined as hitting the target among supplied data based on the controller type.

Abstract: Proper recognition of a position can be achieved even when a predetermined part of a player moves rapidly. An image of a player is captured by a camera unit, and from this image the head position of the player is recognized, so that the game proceeds based on the recognized result. At this time, a base position group is selected in principle from a difference between the latest and immediately preceding player images within a selection range corresponding to the previously recognized position (S207), and the selection range is changed exceptionally to reselect the base position group from the difference (S210).