Abstract: There is disclosed an entertainment apparatus on which a program for an older version of the apparatus can be executed. In a normal mode, an MPU(100) operates as a main CPU:and a GP(110) operates as a graphics processor, and an IOP(120) operates as a subprocessor for input and output. In a compatible mode in which a program for an older version of the apparatus is executed, the IOP(120) capable of executing the program for the older version of the apparatus operates as a main CPU, and the MPU(100) and GP(110) emulate a graphics processor for the older version of the apparatus.

Abstract: In a video reproducing apparatus, operating devices and recording devices are connected with a simple structure to record game information while operating the game, and a plurality of small capacity of external secondary memory means can be used as a large capacity of external secondary memory means. The main body of the video game machine is connected to a plurality of the operating devices with a serial interface so that serial data is communicated bidirectionally in accordance with a predetermined communication procedure while at the same time connecting recording devices to the serial interface respectively corresponding to a plurality of operating devices to allow the main body of the game machine to write predetermined data into and read it from recording devices in accordance with a communication procedure.

Abstract: A data format is provided capable of assigning a desired color lookup table (CLUT) to a texture pattern of each polygon drawn on a two-dimensional display screen. Assuming that TPF represents a pixel depth of the texture pattern, when TPF is 00, 01, and 10, the format (CLUT) is applied of a 4-bit mode, an 8-bit mode, and 16-bit mode respectively, whereby its related command is decreased in word length and thus requires less storage in a source video memory.

Abstract: In a video reproducing apparatus, operating devices and recording devices are connected with a simple structure to record game information while operating the game, and a plurality of small capacity of external secondary memory can be used as a large capacity of external secondary memory. The main body of the video game machine is connected to a plurality of the operating devices with a serial interface so that serial data is communicated bidirectionally in accordance with a predetermined communication procedure while at the same time connecting recording devices to the serial interface respectively corresponding to a plurality of operating devices to allow the main body of the game machine to write predetermined data into and read it from recording devices in accordance with a communication procedure.

Abstract: An image processing system for producing an image from three-dimensional image data. The system uses a command generator to generate one or more plotting commands for producing the image, and features a coordinate calculator for transforming the three-dimensional data into two-dimensional data. The coordinate calculator operates as a coprocessor of the command generator, and as such does not require use of the system bus to perform its functions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating images wherein access to a main memory is minimized during a translation of an image of a 3D object or the like on a display screen to increase the speed of the translation process. A string of draw commands for drawing an image is preceded by an offset draw command which indicates offset values for the coordinates of the vertices of the image, and the image is translated on the display screen in accordance with the offset draw command. A header portion of each of the offset draw command and the draw commands that constitute the draw command string includes data indicating the address on the main memory of the next draw command to be executed.

Abstract: In an apparatus provided with a frame memory for sequentially reading image data written in the frame memory for image display data, an image processing apparatus includes: a recognizing section for recognizing whether the image data written in the frame memory are image data in which each pixel is written with a first bit number or image data in which each pixel is written with a second bit number that is different from the first bit number; a first image data reading section for reading the image data from the frame memory, regarding each pixel as being expressed by the first bit number; a second image data reading section for reading the image data from the frame memory, regarding each pixel as being expressed by the second bit number; and a switching section for switching the first image data reading section and the second image data reading section on the basis of the recognition information from the recognizing section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a geometry transfer engine (GTE) acting as a graphical transformation engine for converting three-dimensional image data of TMD format into two-dimensional image data by perspective view transformation, and a graphics processing unit (GPU) acting as a drawing device for transferring the two-dimensional image data in a given transmission standard to draw an image on a two-dimensional display screen. A structure of the three-dimensional image data, excluding the information to be perspective view transformed, is arranged identical to that of the given transmission standard of the two-dimensional image data.

Abstract: In a video reproducing apparatus, operating devices and recording devices are connected with a simple structure to record game information while operating the game, and a plurality of small capacity of external secondary memory means can be used as a large capacity of external secondary memory means. The main body of the video game machine is connected to a plurality of the operating devices with a serial interface so that serial data is communicated bidirectionally in accordance with a predetermined communication procedure while at the same time connecting recording devices to the serial interface respectively corresponding to a plurality of operating devices to allow the main body of the game machine to write predetermined data into and read it from recording devices in accordance with a communication procedure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating image data are provided. A memory and a data processor are coupled with a system bus. In certain embodiments a data expanding apparatus is also coupled to the system bus and compressed data are transferred to the data expanding apparatus via the system bus and decompressed data are transferred therefrom to the memory without passing the compressed data through the data processor. Also in certain embodiments, an image data generation command string is transferred from the memory to an image data generation device via the system bus without passing the image data generation command string through the data processor.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for generating an image which make it possible to prepare texture images of normal brightness and to generate a texture-mapped image as an image brighter than the original texture images.In a system for mapping texture images prepared in advance onto polygonal areas obtained by a drawing process with brightness calculated for each of the polygonal areas, a brightness level lower than the maximum brightness level that can be rendered by the system is used as the maximum brightness level of the texture image prepared in advance, and the rendering of brightness during the mapping of the texture images onto the polygonal areas can be performed with brightness higher than the original brightness of the texture images.

Abstract: A data format is provided capable of assigning a desired color lookup table (CLUT) to a texture pattern of each polygon drawn on a two-dimensional display screen. Assuming that TPF represents a pixel depth of the texture pattern, when TPF is 00, 01, and 10, the format (CLUT) is applied of a 4-bit mode, an 8-bit mode, and 16-bit mode respectively, whereby its related command is decreased in word length and thus requires less storage in a source video memory.

Abstract: Data of a recording medium in a storage device is read out for every sector and is stored in a ring buffer under the control of a CPU which can vary the speed of readout from the buffer as the load on the system varies. Data stored in the ring buffer is read out for every frame and is outputted to an output device. When data read out from the recording medium is to be reproduced in real time, the data can be reproduced substantially at a speed corresponding to a reading speed of the data from the recording medium, with a minimum of data loss and enhanced temporal quality.

Abstract: Drawing instructions and control instructions generated by a CPU are transferred to a drawing device sections, which generates an image by sequentially performing drawing operations in accordance with the drawing instructions and the control instructions. Each of the drawing instructions and the control instructions has a data structure consisting of a header portion and an instruction data portion. The header portion has a command identification code for indicating of what kind the instruction is. A drawing instruction sequence is formed in which the drawing instructions and the control instructions are arranged in the order of drawing and control procedures, and DMA-transferred to the drawing device section by a sorting controller. The drawing device section performs drawing and control operations in the order in the drawing instruction sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus and method which map a texture image onto a polygonal area in which the mapped image can have a dynamic brightness range greater than the dynamic brightness range of the original texture image. The brightness levels of the pixels of the texture image are ascertained and reduced, and the polygonal area onto which the texture image is mapped is shaded by multiplying the reduced brightness levels of the pixels by a shading factor, wherein a shading factor greater than 1 produces a mapped texture image which has a dynamic brightness range that is greater than the dynamic brightness range of the texture image.

Abstract: A drawing data producing apparatus having a plurality of sequence tables into which sequence data indicating processing sequences of a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing a picture are written every objects constituting the picture with information in a Z-direction in three dimensional coordinates of representative pixels of the respective blocks being as addresses; and a sorting control section for carrying out, in a stepwise manner, Z-sorting of a plurality of sequence tables therebetween, to produce drawing data by stepwise Z-sorting of a plurality of sequence tables therebetween. Thus, even in the case where objects physically divided are present at depths close to each other, this drawing data producing apparatus excludes interference of polygon unit, thus making it possible to produce drawing data of excellent picture quality.

Abstract: Image data is processed by dividing an entire screen into a predetermined number of unitary blocks of pixels, then storing data of the divided screen blocks from an image data recording medium into memories, and processing the data for displaying the image on a predetermined display means. Out of the entire data of the divided screen blocks, the data of some blocks usable in common for the screens and the data of the other divided screen blocks are sequentlly read from the recording medium and are stored in the memories. The kinds of the color data usable for the entire screen are limited in accordance with the kinds of colors usable for each of the divided screen blocks, and the color data usable for each of the divided screen blocks is selected out of the limited color data usable for the entire screen, so as to display a satisfactory image in which boundaries between the divided screen blocks are not conspicuous.