Abstract: An input device comprises a board 14B whereon a player stands with both feet, and supporting the board such that it can oscillate, and it supplies oscillatory information when the player causes the board to oscillate to the game machine. In the supporting mechanism, the central axis of oscillation is positioned on the lower portion of, or below the board. The center of rotation of swinging movement in the supporting mechanism is positioned below the board 14B. The object is to make the swinging movement of the board, when the player is standing on the board, such as skis, skateboard, or the like, and playing the game, as close as possible to a swinging movement in real life, thereby increasing realism and improving the player's interest in the game.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and image processing method capable of reducing a load for drawing, diversifying image representation and smoothing character motion. An image processing means (2) synthesizes background image data (3d) composed of movie image with character data (4d) composed of solid image of polygon data and supplies to a display (6). An image (60) produced by synthesizing the background image (3) with the character (4) is displayed on the display (6). A simple model (5d) composed of three dimensional data for determining the precedence in erasing a negative face between the background image data (3d) and character data (4d) is set in part of the background image data. The image processing means (2) determines a portion in which the character (4) is hidden by the background (3) based on the simple model and erase a corresponding portion. This erase processing enables a screen to be represented three-dimensionally.

Abstract: In an image processing device composed such that it can display a prescribed object whilst changing the shape of said object, there are provided: a first memory for recording information for first polygons 201 which form said object, and a second memory for recording information for second polygons 202, which form said object and are linked to said first polygons; and when the shape of said object is changed, the shapes of said second polygons are changed such that no gaps are produced between said first polygons 201 and said second polygons 202. Using computer graphics in a video game, or the like, it is possible to achieve a more realistic object representation, wherein joint regions move in a natural manner.

Abstract: An image processing method whereby an image of object generated in real time in a pre-generated background image by giving operators an impression of depth or distance can be synthesized and a storage medium for storing the image processing program are provided. In the present invention, image data of a pre-generated image, such as a background image, includes image data, which is texture data or color data, and Z data indicating a depth in a screen. Then, the data of the pre-generated image like a background image is recorded on a storage medium in advance. The Z data of real timely generated image is compared with the Z data of the background image, and the image data, which is foremost in the screen, is written in a frame buffer. It becomes possible to synthesize the image of real timely generated object in the background image with giving an impression of depth or distance by adding the Z data to the data of pre-generated image.

Abstract: To achieve a more realistic and richer shifting field, such as water surface over which a jet-ski or other object travels, thereby heightening the interest and ambiance of the game. An image processing device for processing image data for moving an object such as a watercraft over a water surface in three-dimensional space. Comprises means for cyclically shifting the height at given positions of the water surface over time (CPU 101) and means for moving the watercraft while contacting the water (CPU 101). Determination of contact between watercraft and water surface, watercraft tilt correction, boat wake drawing processing, and the like are performed by the CPU 101.

Abstract: When a car turns, a visual point position CP and a sight line direction T are moved (from CP′ to CP and from T′ to T) in accordance with a turning angle of the car, and a displacement u of the visual point position (CP″) is made different from a displacement v of the sight line direction (T″). A ratio of the visual point position displacement u to the sight line direction displacement v is about 1:5.

Abstract: A geometry processor 10 has an image processing device having a matrix computing unit 14 that is connected to a vector bus VB through which coordinate conversion target data is supplied and a matrix bus MB through which coordinate conversion matrix is supplied, and that performs multiplication of the coordinate conversion target data by the coordinate conversion matrix, wherein the processor is provided with a switching unit 24 that supplies a mixture ratio S28 to the vector bus VB and interpolation computation target data S18 to the matrix bus MB, and wherein the matrix computing unit 14 performs interpolation computation of the interpolation computation target data S18 in accordance with the mixture ratio S28. According to this invention, the interpolation computation needed for a subdivision surface process and other processes may be performed using the matrix computing unit 14 provided in the geometry processor, normally for the purpose of coordinate conversion.

Abstract: An image processing method is for fogging an object 12 in a three-dimensional space, which is observed at a view point. A fog density of the object observed at the view point is computed based on a distance d between a fog base plane 10 set in the three-dimensional space and the object 12. The image processing method can provide realistic images.

Abstract: A storage medium for a game relating to the present invention contains: (1) a game program for calling up drawing functions for prescribed scenes in accordance with the progress of the game; (2) animation data including sprite data forming two-dimensional still images, and motion data capable of generating animations by causing the sprites to change with each frame; and (3) a drawing program for generating rendering data (drawing commands) positions, colours, texture co-ordinates, and the like, for each sprite in a frame (display screen), according to the animation data specified by the drawing function. In general terms, animation data is data capable of generating moving images (animations) of characters as intended by a designer, and this animation data can be developed separately from the game program.

Abstract: Disclosed are an antialiasing method and an image processing apparatus using the same, capable of high-quality image display without any significant reduction in processing speed and without any significant increase in the apparatus scale. Pixel data contains information on a subpixel mask indicative of region which a polygon occupies within a pixel. Based on data sets consisting of the subpixel masks and color data contained in the pixel data, display colors are determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Abstract: When program data is distributed to users across an open network, such as the Internet, a licensing agreement concluded between a server for the program data and a manager is maintained and the unauthorized copying of program data is prevented. Therefore, to fulfill such the situation, a program data distribution system includes an open network; a file server, connected to the open network, for distributing encrypted program data; a key server, connected to the open network, for distributing a decryption key used to decode the encrypted program data; and a terminal, connected to the open network, for processing program data, the terminal employing the decryption key distributed by the key server to decode the encrypted program data obtained from the file server.

Abstract: A computer graphic system wherein image element data can be processed efficiently at a high speed, and images of higher quality are produced at a lower cost than conventional. An image processor for dividing a screen into regions (fragments) of predetermined sizes and processing data on every divided region (fragment), wherein pieces of information on image constituting elements are rearranged in a direction vertical to a scanning line (ST1), the pieces of information on the image constituting elements are rearranged in a direction parallel to the scanning line (ST2), and image processing for opaque polygons, polygons with transparent pixels, and semitransparent polygons is performed in the order of mention on the basis of the rearranged pieces of information (ST3 to ST6).

Abstract: The present invention is characterized by first performing the necessary rendering in the frame period, then during the remaining time of that frame period, rewriting the texture data in the texture buffer memory. The image rendering process for each frame is performed first, then after the rendering process has been completed for the frame, if there is remaining time, that time is used to rewrite the texture data. Therefore, the rendering process is not interrupted, the displayed image is not interrupted or frozen, and it is possible to rewrite the texture data in the small-capacity texture buffer memory and make it possible to use virtually a lot of texture data to render one scene.

Abstract: The gun-shaped controller comprises a controller 1 in the shape of a gun and a trigger lever 7, and a cross-shaped directional key 9 to be operated with a player's finger is arranged in the upper part of a grip 4. By comprising the cross-shaped directional key 9, it is possible to move the character on the screen or the character's visual field with this cross-shaped directional key 9 in addition to the conventional action of shooting targets on the screen. Thus, the gun-shaped controller is compatible with roll-playing games and adventure games.

Abstract: The brightness of the image of a character displayed on a screen is consistently kept optimum even if the view point of a camera is changed, and the image of the character is appropriately shaded and three-dimensional since such shading is characteristic of a game program. The position of a virtual light source is changed with a change of the position of the view point of the camera. The image processing device includes a feature which changes the position of the view point of the camera, a feature which changes the position of the virtual light source with a change of the position of the view point of the camera, and a feature which subjects the image data of when an object is viewed from the view point of the camera to shading of when the virtual light from the light source is projected to the object.

Abstract: An image processing device for realizing more realistic pictures of explosions in video game devices and the like. Objects displaying such pictures of explosions are formed of spherical polygons (R1, R2, R3, . . . ) and planar polygons (S1, S2, S3, . . . ). Pictures of explosions are realized by alternately arranging these spherical polygons and planar polygons with the lapse in time. Preferably, pictures of polygons are realized by arranging the spherical polygons in layers on the boundary of the planar polygons.

Abstract: An electronic game apparatus constituting a body 101, comprising legs 103, and being capable of placement on an arbitrary surface. Further, a portion of the switches 102 of an operating portion are arranged in a location that differs from the surface on which a display panel 100 is provided, making operation easy.

Abstract: The invention comprises establishing means for establishing the state of impact between a vehicle and a road surface specified by polygons in a virtual space, and generating means for generating image data representing a state where a vehicle moves along the road surface whilst maintaining the aforementioned state of impact. The establishing means comprises means for determining impact establishing data at an impact position of the vehicle by interpolation from vertex for the road surface polygons, correcting means for correcting this interpolated impact establishing data in accordance with indentations in the road surface, and specifying means for specifying the impact of the vehicle on the road surface in accordance with the corrected impact establishing data.

Abstract: An information-processing unit is provided, which is connected to an external unit through a connection cable, comprising a connector with multiple contact pins, and a recognition means for sensing a specific contact pin of the multiple contact pins in the connector and recognizing the type of connection cable to be accommodated in the connector. A connector is provided, comprising an upper surface member, rear wall and lower surface member with an open portion formed at the front into which a plug is inserted, as well as a plate member in parallel from the rear wall to the lower surface member, and a contact pin on the upper surface of the plate member, in the vicinity of the lower surface member, and a standing wall at the end of the plate member on the upper surface side of the plate member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device. Particularly, it relates to a video game device which alternately performs a shooting game and a role-playing game. The aim of the present invention is to provide an image processing device to make the operation of a character easier by limiting the movement range of the character to a certain field in a shooting game. The image processing device of the present invention places virtual objects in a virtual space formed within a computer system, proceeds a game while controlling the movement of said virtual objects according to input operations and certain rules, and displays the state within said virtual space as a screen seen from a certain viewpoint, wherein said image processing device sets a movement field of a certain shape 202 surrounding at least one of said virtual objects 100A and limits the movement range of other virtual objects 100A based on this movement field.