Abstract: A video game apparatus produces a image of a player character whose motion is operated by a player and a scene image which changes according to the motion of the player character, and displays the produced player character image and scene image on a display unit. The video game apparatus further produces sound effects according to the motion of the player character. The video game apparatus produces a first scene image subjectively viewed by the player character when the player character is stopped in a movable state, and a second scene image objectively viewing the motion of the player character when the player character is moved, and displays the produced one of the first and second scene images on the display unit. The video game apparatus produces different sound effects depending on which of the first and second scene images is displayed.

Abstract: On displaying, in a video game device, an image of a player character and images of non-player characters, together with one type of background image from at least two or more switchable types of background images, the background images are changed from one to another only while the player character disappears after completion of a particular operation mode.

Abstract: Upon making an input selection request to a player, an idle time for an expected command input from the player is calculated, and further, an elapsed time after making the input selection request is counted. If no command input is given from the player within a lapse of the idle time, expression of a character image being displayed is changed, and further, the idle time is shortened for the next input selection request.

Abstract: A video game with a main game process and a subsequent ending process including, if an interrupt request of a game character calling to a player character occurs, acquiring a progress of game at that time, and acquiring the voice message data of calling in accordance with an emotional value. Further, it includes outputting the intonation, volume or total average pitch of the voice message data, as required, variably in accordance with a game scene, a conversation context or a state of the game character. The voice message of calling to the player character is varied in accordance with the progress of game.

Abstract: A game device is a turn-table adapter having a clip mountable on a case, a shaft passing through one arm of the clip, an operation disk coaxially provided to the shaft at one end thereof, and a press-in disk coaxially provided to the shaft at another end thereof. Another arm of the clip is optionally provided with a bump to be fitted to a hole formed on the case to serve as an element necessary for assembling the game device. A bottom surface of the press-in disk opposite to a press-switch is formed with a bump which engages the press-switch to thereby depress the press-switch.

Abstract: There is provided an input apparatus for game systems, which are simplified in construction. The input apparatus has a base (21) having a plurality of panel-attaching sections (26), a plurality of foot panels (50) arranged respectively at a plurality of panel-attaching sections (26), and tape switches (30) not only arranged between a panel supporting surface (27a) formed on each of a plurality of panel-attaching sections (26) and each of the foot panels but also outputting a predetermined detection signal responsively to changes in pushing load onto each foot panel (50). The tape switch (30) has a sensing element (31) and an elastic-material-made coating member (32) covering the sensing element (31) and functioning as a medium transmitting a load applied to each foot panel 50 to the sensing element (31). The coating element (32) supports the foot panel (50) by contacting with each foot panel (50).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a novel video game in which dancing is used as a factor in the behavior of a character, a machine for the video game, and a medium in which a program for the video game is recorded, and makes it possible to dance characters 611 and 612 displayed using 3-D polygons in time with music, to evaluate their dance skills based mainly on whether dance actions are in time with the music, and to proceed with a story by winning matches with a computer or to match with other players.

Abstract: By using a unique display control technique, game images are provided, in which characters can be displayed in different poses with a limited-capacity memory area. Both image data corresponding to each of a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing a character to be displayed in a game image and further image data for representing different pictures in connection with at least part of the blocks are prepared. And the display pose of the character displayed in the game image is changed by switching a combination of the prepared image data. By way of example, color of at least part of the character displayed in the game image is changed on the basis of the combination of the same image data, thereby representing a plurality of types of characters. The color within the block mapped uppermost in the game image among the blocks constituting the character is kept unchanged regardless of changing of the color with respect to the remaining blocks.

Abstract: In an image display method used in a game device to display a fluid which is virtually caused along a three-dimensional surface, the three-dimensional surface is mapped onto a flat plane on which a flow of the fluid is calculated to obtain calculation results. The calculation results are remapped onto the three-dimensional surface. A flame is moved along the three-dimensional surface together with the flow of the fluid and flame colors are also changed in consideration of a density of the fluid.

Abstract: A message-creating game machine includes at least one storage unit among a first storage unit for storing a plurality of images displaying character strings constituting sentences, a second storage unit for storing a plurality of images displaying character strings constituting words, and a third storage unit for storing a plurality of monosyllabic character images. The game machine also includes a display unit for displaying characters, a character-image-display control unit for displaying the character images stored in the storage unit on the display unit, a selecting unit for selecting at least one character image from among the character images displayed on the display unit, and a message-synthesizing unit for synthesizing a message from the selected character image.

Abstract: A video game with a main game process and a subsequent ending process including, if an interrupt request of a game character calling to a player character occurs, acquiring a progress of game at that time, and acquiring the voice message data of calling in accordance with an emotional value. Further, it includes outputting the intonation, volume or total average pitch of the voice message data, as required, variably in accordance with a game scene, a conversation context or a state of the game character. The voice message of calling to the player character is varied in accordance with the progress of game.

Abstract: A game system which is capable of ensuring continuity of a game is provided. A game system for paying for recreation value according to progress of a game, has a magnetic information reading device for reading information in an attachable/detachable recording medium, an SRAM for storing state and history of a suspended game corresponding to each of the recording media, and a medal management device for paying for recreation value according to progress of the game. Specifying information for specifying each of the recording media is recorded in each of the recording media, the state and history of the game are stored in the SRAM corresponding to the specifying information, and the rest of the game is continuously progressed by using the state and history of the game which were stored in the RAM corresponding to the specifying information read by the magnetic information reading device.

Abstract: A method and a video game device are provided which are capable of controlling enemy characters who are originally programmed to attack a main character, to injure each other for a predetermined time period when a user instructs a predetermined action to the main character. The predetermined action may be an action of throwing a smoke screen ball.

Abstract: Data link-up between multiple game devices can be more flexibly achieved. A game system (1) comprises a game device for business (2) and a game device for use at home (3), which execute games in accordance with predetermined programs, it being possible to exchange information between these games devices, and the game device for business (2) comprises an information output device for outputting judgement information for judging whether predetermined conditions have been satisfied in the game device for business (2). The contents of the game executed on the game device for use at home (3) are changed based on the judgement information output from the game device for business (2). For example, when a predetermined game result has been achieved in the game device for business, the content of the judgement information is updated, and a hidden element appears in the game device for use at home (3) in correspondence therewith.

Abstract: The distance between a moving character and a fixed character which are displayed in a pseudo-three-dimensional space on a display monitor screen is calculated by identifying one of polygons which make up the fixed character and which contains a point of planar coordinates representing the position of the moving character, and calculating the distance between the moving character and the polygon which has been identified. A polygon representing a mark associated with the moving character is applied to a plane of a polygon of the fixed character by determining a normal vector which is normal to the plane of the polygon at a predetermined position thereon, determining a first vector contained in the plane of the polygon perpendicularly to the normal vector, determining a second vector contained in the plane of the polygon perpendicularly to both the normal vector and the first vector, and determining the rotation matrix from the normal matrix, the first matrix, and the second matrix.

Abstract: A CPU controls a graphic controller based on control programs within a main RAM to extract a series of rhythm sound data for each of multiple mimic percussion instruments from a graphic RAM and correlates these in a time-axial direction for display on a monitor, instruction and display of the operating timing for each sound of the multiple mimic percussion instruments is performed on the monitor, the player performs sequential striking input with the left and right hands, for example, for the rhythm sounds via a rhythm input detecting apparatus corresponding to multiple mimic percussion instruments, while following the operation timing display instructions thereof. The timing thereof is compared with the timing of the display instruction and evaluation is made based on the offset thereof, and the evaluation results are accumulated. Thus, a rhythm-matching game with a high gaming nature is realized, by inputting operation for multiple instruments using multiple hands and feet such as the left and right hands.

Abstract: A portable game machine electronically executes target games and has an input unit, a game processing unit, and a display unit in a housing. A plurality of targets to be hit are displayed on the display unit. First pitching data concerning the vertical displacement of a ball and second pitching data concerning the horizontal displacement of a ball are successively input by a game player through operation keys provided for the input unit. By using the information of the first pitching data and the second pitching data, the game processing unit determines whether the ball has hit one of the targets. Based on the determination result, an image of the target after the ball has been thrown is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A plurality of presentation expressing data produced by different directors according to one game scenario are stored so as to correspond to progress data of the game scenario and identification data of the directors. When one of the directors is selected by a game player, the corresponding presentation expressing data is read out using the identification data of the selected director. CG images are produced based on the read-out presentation expressing data and displayed. If the game player selects another director during the progress of the game scenario, the corresponding presentation expressing data is read out so that CG images are produced based on the presentation expressing data of the different director and displayed.

Abstract: A portable game machine electronically executes target games and has an input unit, a game processing unit, and a display unit in a housing. A plurality of targets to be hit are displayed on the display unit. First kicking data concerning an X coordinate when a ball reaches one of the targets and second kicking data concerning a Y coordinate when the ball reaches one of the targets are successively input by the game player through one of the operation keys provided for the input unit. By using the information of the first kicking data and the second kicking data, the game processing unit determines whether the ball hits one of the targets defined by the X coordinate and the Y coordinate. Based on the determination result, an image of the target after the ball has been kicked is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A game system comprises a storage device which stores data for reproducing music and data which define a performing procedure corresponding to the music, an operation input device for receiving an operation of a player, a reproduction device for reproducing the music based on the data for reproducing the music, and a performing operation instructing device for instructing the player to do performing operations associated with reproduction of the music onto the operation input device based on the data which define the performing procedure. The system further comprises a practice range setting device for setting a practice range on at least one portion of the music according to an instruction from the player, and a practice instructing device for instructing the player to practice the performing operations included in the practice range based on data corresponding to the practice range set through the practice range setting device in the data which define the performing procedure.