Abstract: In a race game comprising a preliminary round and a main race, a player can start the game without waiting for other players, the boredom of waiting time is eliminated, and skillful players can be satisfied with the game. An image processing device for generating game images, and a plurality of game units each provided respectively with communications control devices connected to this image processing device, which control communications with other devices, are provided, and the communications control devices are connected to each other. When any of the players inserts a coin, the corresponding communications control device immediately starts a preliminary round, and when this preliminary round is completed, it displays a demonstration screen during the waiting period before the start of the main race.

Abstract: A memory device in which a plurality of data can be read out by giving one address and a plurality of data can be read out without adding more address lines is provided, and therefore, the circuit integration is not degraded. The memory device includes: m memory array banks, each including row and column address decoders; a first circuit for receiving one address and generating m row addresses and n column addresses by shifting the one address by a predetermined value for each of the m row and n column addresses; and a second circuit for inputting each of the generated m row and n column addresses to the corresponding row and column address decoders of the m memory array banks.

Abstract: Videogame systems and methods are provided to enhance the capability of the videogame system controller and data storage to provide graphic character element storage and processing. A display list technology utilizes an intentionally generated, location-specific vertical interrupt to implement a routine to modify or to alter existing graphical character elements. A second technique involves the definition of a small portion of the graphics map which is displayed differently than the balance of the graphics map because the stored priority bit is expressed in the defined area, but suppressed and replaced in all other areas. The third technique employs a virtual character element library to map the character elements appearing on the display, and recognizes available space within the video random access memory character element storage to provide a dynamic memory space.

Abstract: The virtual image generation apparatus (1000) is a virtual image generation apparatus for a game unit or the like, and comprises a plurality of (for example, two) input means (11: control levers, joysticks, or the like) for generating codes associated with operating direction, decoding means (101: a CPU, controller, or the like) for inputting codes generated through operation of the plurality of input means and assigning a control profile for a movable object associated with a combination of a plurality of input codes, and image generation means (101, 108-117: a CPU, geometalyzer, graphic controller, or the like) for generating virtual images whereby the movable object control profiles assigned by the decoding means are reflected in relative motion of the movable objects within virtual space.

Abstract: A control-key device is provided for use as a controller for a video game including a direction specifying key mounted on a housing which an operator manipulates to control the play of a video game, where the surface of said direction specifying key comprises a combination of concave portions to facilitate use of the direction specifying key. The unit preferably comprises a push button and a housing including a hole through which the push button protrudes. The housing extends along a plane wherein said plane intersects a plane perpendicular to an axis of said push button at a predetermined angle, and said plane of said housing also extending parallel to a plane defined by the surface of said push button.

Abstract: An image output apparatus capable of realizing asynchronous data access by a host controller in response to an image data transfer request from the host controller, by adding a minimum amount of circuitry to the image output apparatus without using an external data buffer. The image output apparatus includes: a storage device for storing image data; a display circuit for sequentially reading the image data from the storage device and converting the image data into image data capable of being displayed; a timing controller for controlling the operation timing of the display circuit; and an output circuit for changing an operation mode of the timing controller in response to a data transfer request from the host controller and allowing the image data corresponding in amount to the data transfer request to be outputted asynchronously.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are proposed for the high speed generation of a model, such as a plane picture in animation, for which an outline is drawn. In the image processing apparatus, for using computer graphics to generate a polygon model in three-dimensional coordinate space, a first model, for which the normal vectors of polygons are directed outward, and a second model, in which the first model is included and for which the normal vectors of polygons are directed inward, are synthesized as a single model. The direction of the normal vector of a polygon is employed in the hidden surface removal process to determine whether the polygon should be displayed. That is, when the normal vector of a polygon includes an element extended in the direction of the viewpoint, the pertinent polygon is displayed; but when the normal vector of a polygon does not include an element extended in the direction opposite to that of the viewpoint, the pertinent polygon is not displayed.

Abstract: An electronic game device comprises a game implementing module (30) for implementing a game; a storing module (36) for storing game results for each player; a calculating module (34) for (i) reading out a game result of the player stored in the storing module, (ii) adding the game result achieved in the game to the game result read out from the storing module, and (iii) newly storing this sum value in the storing module; and a display module for displaying the newly stored game result (13). The game device may also comprise a characteristics value storing module for storing characteristics values relating to the output device for each of the identification symbols; a reading module for reading out characteristics values corresponding to an identification symbol input by a player from the characteristics value storing module; and setting module for setting the characteristics of the output device on the basis of the characteristics values thus read out.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of displaying guidance and of setting the operating environment for an application program when the capability of a computer system is different from the operating environment expected by the application program. The image processing apparatus comprises: a CD-ROM drive 8 for loading an application program; a main processing unit 2 for forming graphic signals by executing the application program; and a display 3 for displaying the graphic signals. The main processing unit comprises: a determining unit 211 for determining whether or not the main processing unit 2 has provided the operating environment expected by the application program; a display control unit 212 for displaying guidance on the display 3 based on the results of the determination of the determining unit 211; and a setting unit 213 for allowing the operating environment of the application program to be set by the main processing unit 2.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a game device comprising a body moving mechanism for rapidly moving a body in accordance with the game program development. In order to achieve such aim, the game device according to the present invention comprises a handle unit for operating the movements of a virtual vehicle in a game program, and controls the movements of such vehicle in correspondence with the operating signal from the handle unit. For these purposes, a movable body is supported by a fixed body in a freely tilting position. The pulley of the handle unit rolls along a belt when the rotation torque of the AC servomotor is high, and the rudder input from the steering wheel is directly communicated to the movable body.

Abstract: A data compressing method which can efficiently compress image data containing color data is provided. A compressed data expanding method which can expand the compressed data at high speed is provided. Image data containing color data are compressed into image data including: address fields code A, code B, code C which hold addresses of color RAMs storing color information corresponding to the color data; classification fields which, when the color RAMs are classified into prescribed categories A, B, C, hold classification information of the categories including the color data; and run length fields RL which hold numbers of successive repetitions of color data. To expand the compressed image data, the classification fields are decoded to determine the categories in which the color data are included.

Abstract: This invention was devised in order to create a favorable playing environment in a video game by automatically providing an optimum viewpoint without placing a burden on the player.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an arithmetic unit, which uses a high speed yet small circuit, using a highly precise method for numerical interpolation that uses Newton-Raphson method.A table for referencing sampling values and operation results is stored successively and alternately in two simultaneously accessible memories 422, 423. A table reference address determining portion 4211 takes the table reference address from the input B. The access control circuit 4212 prepares an address for accessing each memory from the table reference address and reads table values. The interpolation operating portion 4213 interpolates the table value at a precision of half the final precision. The Newton-Raphson operation 4214 performs the Newton-Raphson operation once with the primary interpolated numerical value as the initial value and attains the calculation results with the final precision by precise square convergence.

Abstract: A head mounted display comprising: a display device 2 at the front; a front frame 12 surrounding the forehead; a back frame 14 surrounding the back portion of the head; connecting devices 30A and 30B for connecting the front frame 12 and the back frame 14 in a manner freely movable toward the back and front of the head; belts 16A and 16B placed on the inner surface of both the front frame 12 and the back frame 14 and around the temples; and a belt fastening and loosening device 20 for fastening the belts 16A and 16B and for releasing the fastened belts.

Abstract: Security is ensured by judging agreement with a specific indication, such as a trademark, whose identity is socially recognizable to effectively expel counterfeits from the market. A game machine in which a CD-ROM 17 is mounted on a game machine 10 to play a game based on program information stored in the CD-ROM 17 comprises a recognition sensor 22 reading a trademark indication region 20 on the exterior surface of the CD-ROM 17, and a judging unit judging whether a specific trademark .TM. is displayed in a trademark indication region, the game based on the program information being prevented from starting or if started stopped when the specific trademark .TM. is not displayed.

Abstract: In order to realize the smooth display of a fielder's ball-catching movement, determination of a collision between a batted ball and a fence by an easy method, and an accurate hidden-face treatment for polygons which are located very close to each other, virtual area producing means 31 is provided to produce a collision area for collision determination at a position away from the picture of a ball for a predetermined distance, and determining means 32 is provided to determine at which position in the collision area a fielder is located. When it is determined that the fielder is located in the collision area, picture changing means 33 gradually changes the posture of the fielder from a waiting state to a ball-catching state.

Abstract: By fixing the area of interpolation or by enlarging it at a ratio smaller than the magnification ratio of texture cells in relation to pixels, to provide an image-processing device and method of image-processing whereby the display image is not subject to excessive fuzziness. CPU 1 determines the display position of objects including texture on the display image. A texture calculator 3 calculates and determines the coordinates of the pixels on the actual display image which correspond to each texture cell. On the basis of these coordinates, a texture interpolator 5 extracts texture data from a texture memory 4, and determines the value of each pixel on the actual display image in accordance with this data. The texture interpolator 5 employs a box filter to determine the interpolation area, but since the size of the box filter is fixed at the same size as that of the pixels which constitute the display image, it does not create any excessive fuzziness on the display image.

Abstract: A game device and method for simulating the motion of an object such as a vehicle in a realistic manner, thereby allowing the operator to sense highly realistic motions of the object in at least one dimension. In one aspect of the invention, the game device includes a vehicle simulator for an operator to ride and drive; a motion control mechanism for moving the vehicle simulator; a storage means for retaining a plurality of control data for moving the vehicle simulator in various patterns by assigning the control data respectively to a plurality of flag signals; a basic control means for setting a flag signal which corresponds to an event occurring in accordance with the development of a game by the operator; and a motion control means for reading from the storage means the control data corresponding to the flag signal which has been set, and for giving the control data to the motion control mechanism.

Abstract: A tilting member has a force bearing portion to which operating force is applied, and a supported surface. A supporting member has a supporting projection with which the supported surface of the tilting member may come in contact. When the operating force is applied to the tilting member, the tilting member tilts with respect to the supporting member. The supporting member supports the tilting member at a supporting point where the supporting projection of the supporting member is in contact with the supported surface of the tilting member, about which supporting point the tilting member tilts. The tilting of the tilting member, with respect to the supporting member, establishes a predetermined electrical contact.