Abstract: A method for executing software which is stored in an external memory attached to console equipment having a CPU uses software assets advantageously. The console equipment is designed to bank switch from a BIOS ROM included in the console equipment to the software stored in the external memory during an initialization routine, to check the genuineness of the software during a security check routine, and to execute the software by the CPU of the console equipment during a program executing routine if the software is judged to be genuine during the security check routine. In some embodiments of the method, the program is executed by the CPU during the program executing routine after the security check routine, at least, has been skipped. In other embodiments, the security check is always forced to be successful. Circuitry for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shooting unit support device permits a shooting unit to be repositioned freely with respect to a game display unit, and can detect a displacement position of the shooting unit. A game device using the shooting unit support device enables a player to attack enemies while avoiding attack by the enemies by repositioning the shooting unit with respect to game images, whereby the game play is made realistic and does not take much time to destroy enemies. The shooting unit comprises a support 17 which supports a gun 14 used in a game device 10 opposed to an image display device 12 of the game device 10, an interconnection member 18 and a support rod 19 which permit the support 17 to be moved to reposition a gun 14 relative to the image display device, and a variable resistor 20 which detect a replacing position of the support 17.

Abstract: A game machine for playing a ball throw, in which a player throws a ball at a target arranged in a board. The game machine comprises an element for attaching the target to the board, the target swinging from a given vertical position to a given horizontal position, a unit for providing a holding force to the target positioned at the vertical position, and a control unit for decreasing stepwise or continuously the holding force in accordance with an elapsed time of a ball-throw game. The probability for knocking down the targets is properly adjusted.

Abstract: A convertible peripheral input device comprises a control pad and a multiaxis input device selectably mounted on either side of the control pad so that the multiaxis input device can be positioned for right-hand use or left-hand use according to the user's preference. The multiaxis input device can be rotated from one position to another by use of a hinge mechanism with two points of rotation; one for rotation of the multiaxis input device 180 degrees relative to the hinge mechanism and the second point of rotation allowing the hinge mechanism to rotate 180 degrees relative to the control pad bottom surface. The rotatable hinge mechanism may be used with videogame control pads and joysticks as well as keyboards with mouse controllers.

Abstract: An image output system and method which outputs high-resolution, high-quality images, while using a limited amount of frame memory. A CPU 1 reads and executes a program stored in a ROM 2, and writes image data, read from the ROM 2 or obtained by calculating data contained in the ROM 2, into a frame memory 6. The image data stored in the frame memory consists of length values and color data for the pixels to be displayed on an output screen. By storing image data according to length values and color data, the amount of data to be stored in the frame memory is reduced. The image data stored in the frame memory 6 is converted to the image display signal for each pixel, based upon length values and color data. The image display signal is then sent to the image display system 14 via the video signal generation means 13.

Abstract: A game apparatus and a method of replaying a game display a moving entity which moves in a given area on a display screen. The game apparatus has a memory for storing, for a predetermined period of time, absolute coordinates in the predetermined area of a moving entity which moves in the predetermined area in response to a control signal entered by an operator while a game is in progress, and a display data generating unit or reading the absolute coordinates from the memory in response to a replay request from the operator and processing the absolute coordinates into display data depending on processing information supplied from an input unit by the operator.

Abstract: In a method for developing attractions in a shooting game system with which players can experience gun fights between the targets and players themselves, the present invention provides a method for developing attractions in a shooting game system with which the shooting game system can be easily installed in a short period anywhere and game quality can be always adjusted in the most suitable state. Namely, the method for developing attractions comprises the steps of producing various types of targets by combining fundamental mechanisms, each of which is used for a unit operation; incorporating unified control equipment and peripherals in the produced target to make them a target unit; embedding the above-described target unit in a target unit case so as to serve also as an indoor partition and posts; arranging the embedded target units in the designated rooms of the attraction hall.

Abstract: An effect control method, an effect control device with the following configuration is provided on a karaoke system, which is one of audio regenerator or synthesizer systems.

Abstract: A direction control method and apparatus control the direction of a traveling object on a monitor, for example, in a video game device. An object having, for example, two elements to be directionally controlled with each of the elements being controllable in a rotational direction is displayed along with its background in a traveling state on a monitor. The object includes, for example, a war tank (31) used in a war game of a game device. The two elements to be directionally controlled includes a body (32) and a sight (33) of the tank (31). A target angle .theta. is designated by a single direction input unit 20(A) for the vehicle body (32) and the sight (33). The rotational direction of the sight (33) is controlled on the basis of the target angle .theta.. The rotational angle of the vehicle body (32) is controlled following the sight (33) on the basis of the traveling velocity of the tank (31) and the rotational angle Ya of the sight (33).

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a low-cost disc playback system which reduces the time the user has to wait for a disc to be played back. To achieve this objective, the system mounts a disc, added to the rack 1, onto the player 2, reads the beginning part data of the disc, and stores it in the fixed disk unit 5. The user gives a disc playback instruction from the instructing means 6. Then, the system reads the beginning part data of the requested disc from the fixed disk unit 5, and sends it immediately to the outputting means 3. While the beginning part data is being played back, the system mounts the requested disc onto the player 2 and starts reading data from it. The system switches the beginning part data, sent from the fixed disk unit 5 to the outputting means, to the part of data on the disc corresponding to the beginning part data when they are synchronized.

Abstract: A control pad with two input ports for establishing a connection with two three-axis input devices permits six-axis game play. The control pad contains a microprocessor which determines whether one or two three-axis input devices are connected and generates an address signal for communication with the game console to inform the console microprocessor on power up the exact nature of the peripheral input devices which are attached. The present invention also includes a thumb-operable rotor assembly which allows single-handed three axis control of computer games.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simulating multi-stage speed change shift lever operating device capable of simulating an operation similar to that of a driver riding in an actual vehicle and operating a shift lever of a manual speed change gear in multi-stage speed changing operation. The shift lever 2 is oscillatably pivoted around the pivot shafts 6 at the oscillation supporting member 24 in a forward or rearward direction, the returning resilient roller 35 pivotally supported at the oscillation supporting member 24 through the projecting shaft 29 is held by a pair of right and left bolts 39 pivotally fixed to the front plate 8, and the lower end 4 of the shift lever 2 bypasses around the outer circumferences of a pair of forward or rearward resilient guide rollers 19 and the guide rollers 21.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing data recorded on a disk (10) has a head part (12) for reading data from the disk, storage parts (17, 18) for storing the data read by the head part, and a control part (15) which pre-reads the data from the disk and stores the pre-read data to the storage parts so that the reproducing apparatus can output the data continuously to the outside during the seeking operation of the head part, and controls the outputting of the data from the storage parts to the outside.

Abstract: In a method for developing attractions in a shooting game system with which players can experience gun fights between the targets and players themselves. The shooting game system can be easily installed in a short period anywhere and game quality can be adjusted in the most suitable state. The method for developing attractions includes the steps of producing various types of targets by combining fundamental mechanisms, each of which is used for a unit operation; incorporating unified control equipment and peripherals in the produced target to make them a target unit; embedding the above-described target unit in a target unit case so as to serve also as an indoor partition and posts; and arranging the embedded target units in the designated rooms of the attraction hall. The method for developing attractions alternatively includes inputting information regarding the arrangement of the targets, displaying the arrangement on a screen, and the interaction between the targets and the players.

Abstract: In a moving picture decoding apparatus, an output section is provided with a circuit for making a logic sum of control signals for renewing a picture data output, as a control signal for determining a picture data to be next outputted in a selected mode. Thereby, according to a request, newly decoded picture data is discarded or an inputted picture data is discarded without being decoded, and picture data which is currently being outputted is outputted again. In response to a control signal for renewing the output, decoded picture data to be outputted subsequently is outputted and picture data which is currently being outputted is discarded.

Abstract: A television game set comprises an operation button used to operate a game, a game control section for controlling the game, a display section for displaying the progress of the game, and a connector to which either a game cartridge storing a game program therein or a tuner cartridge for receiving television broadcasting is coupled. At least one terminal of the connector is used to handle a cartridge changeover signal. The other terminals of the connector are changed in function on the basis of the cartridge changeover signal received on the one terminal as to handle either game signals or tuner signals.

Abstract: An arcade game which can have simulated objects, such as race horses traversing a stimulated race track, can further have video images generated which will represent the same positional relationship of the objects. The track can positionally sense the actual position of the moving objects and an image forming circuit can be responsive to the positional data to generate computer images from a variety of angles based on background images of the track and of the individual horses to project a realistic computer image for observers.