Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a reality coprocessor. The reality coprocessor performs a conversion process on image data to display a player object or non-player object according to image data transferred from an external ROM to a RAM, and supplies the image signal through the display. The reality coprocessor detects whether or not there exists a non-player object at around the player object on the display in response to an operation of a Z button. If a non-player object is detected, the reality coprocessor selects the non-player object as an attention non-player object. At this time, the hypothetical camera is changed in position and photographing direction such that photographing can be made for the player object directly facing the non-player object.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU detects a camera code of a land object at a foot of a player object. According to the camera code, any one is selected of a first virtual camera, a second virtual camera, . . . , a fifth virtual camera. A selected virtual camera is controlled according to a corresponding camera control program. That is, the plurality of virtual cameras provided in a virtual three dimensional space are to be selected by the camera codes contained in the land objects.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU detects a camera code of a land object at a foot of a player object. According to the camera code, any one is selected of a first virtual camera, a second virtual camera, . . . , a fifth virtual camera. A selected virtual camera is controlled according to a corresponding camera control program. That is, the plurality of virtual cameras provided in a virtual three dimensional space are to be selected by the camera codes contained in the land objects.

Abstract: A brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display device is applicable to a portable game machine, for example. The portable game machine is provided with a reflective type color liquid crystal display device, and displayed colors of a game character and a background are determined on the basis of color data included in color palettes. When a player inputs an instruction for brightness adjustment, a brightness adjusting screen is displayed in response thereto, and the color data included in each of an OBJ color palette and a BG color palette is converted on the basis of an adjustment value (parameter) corresponding to designated brightness, and then, the brightness of the object and the brightness of the background are individually adjusted.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain sound effects by using an optical disc in much the same way an analog record is manipulated. A pressing pressure applied onto a rotatable jog dial is detected by providing a pressure sensing layer to the jog dial. When no pressing pressure is applied onto the jog dial, audio information is played back from an optical disc at a normal tempo. When an end of the jog dial at rest is pressed with a pressing pressure within a predetermined range, a tempo of a playback sound played from the audio information is changed in response to the pressing pressure. When an end of the jog dial at rest is pressed with a large pressing pressure, a tempo of a playback sound played from the audio information is changed in such a manner that playback of a playback sound is stopped eventually.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which displays the status of playback in a way more suitable to the human sense as well as detects and then displays as new information the feature characteristic of audio information such as a music selection. The frequency of occurrence of variations in amplitude of audio information to be played back is measured at each predetermined frequency. The measured frequency of occurrence is displayed in a predetermined area of a display unit as the feature information of beat densities with respect to the playback elapsed time of the audio information to be played back. An index display unit is displayed in a substantially circular playback speed display unit. The amount of audio information to be sequentially played back corresponding to elapsed time is divided by a predetermined value to determine a remainder.

Abstract: A beat density detecting apparatus and an information playback apparatus are provided to detect distinctive characteristics that music or the like has and to provide the same as a novel information volume. Playback data read out from an information recording medium, such as an optical disc, and sub-code data containing the information of an elapsed track time indicating a recording position of the playback data are provided to a beat detecting unit and a beat position detecting unit, respectively. The beat detecting unit detects the number of occurrences of a change in amplitude at each predetermined frequency of the playback data, and the beat position detecting unit detects an elapsed track time from the sub-code data. Further, a beat density computing unit finds the number of occurrences with respect to the elapsed track time as the characteristics information of a beat density.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain editing effects using an optical disc in the same sense as an analog record disc is manipulated. An audio editing apparatus for playing back an optical disc such as a CD is provided with a rotatable jog dial, detecting device for detecting the amount of rotation of the jog dial, and sensing device for sensing the presence or absence of a pressing force on the jog dial. When the jog dial is rotated while being depressed with a predetermined pressing force, processing for providing sound effects is performed on the playback data to be played back from the optical disc in response to the amount of rotation detected by the detecting device. It is thereby possible to provide the same feeling of operation as provided by rotating an analog record disc through hand operations to produce playback sounds.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a CPU that detects a program control code included in a land object in the vicinity of a player object, and then, the CPU determines a kind of the land object. If the land object is “hole”, the CPU executes a “hole operation” subroutine. Similarly, if the land object is “wall”, “door” or “ladder”, the CPU performs “wall operation”, “door operation” or “ladder” subroutine.

Abstract: When any of push-button switches on a handheld controller is pressed in a sound input mode, a video game machine generates and temporarily stores frequency data of a tone corresponding to the depressed switch. When a joystick on the controller is tilted to a predetermined direction, the video game machine changes the generated frequency data according to the amount of tilt of the joystick. It is therefore possible to input various sounds in tone using a limited number of switches. The frequency data stored in the video game machine is read later to be converted into audio signals, and outputted from a speaker incorporated in a CRT display. When a melody based on the inputted sound coincides with a predetermined melody set, the video game machine makes various changes in the progress of the game. For example, a hero character can be warped to a position that is different from the present position, or provided with various items.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU determines straight lines respectively connecting between the player object and a North Pole, target and marker, and determines respective directions of a direction pointing mark, target pointing mark and marker pointing mark to point direction parallel to the straight lines. The player object or other objects are combined with these pointing marks, and displayed on a display.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU detects an action code of a land object existing in front of a hole. If detecting “jump” set as an action code, a height (or depth) of the hole is calculated. When the hole height is greater than a predetermined height, a jump distance is calculated for the player object. The player object is caused to jump in accordance with that distance.

Abstract: A music reproducing apparatus is provided. The apparatus reproduces music on the basis of music data which includes music information representing music to be reproduced and beat information representing a beat of the music and which is recorded on a recording medium. The music information is divided into a plurality of music information pieces whose time length are equal to each other. The beat information is divided into a plurality of beat information pieces. Each of the beat information pieces includes information for designating one of the music information pieces in which the beat of the music is present.

Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a case which accommodates toner containing pigment, a developing roller, a supply roller formed of an elastic member arranged to be pressed against a surface of the developing roller in such a manner as to supply toner to the surface of the developing roller.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU detects a camera code of a land object at the foot of a player object. According to the camera code, a camera is selected from a first virtual camera, a second virtual camera, and so on up to a fifth virtual camera. The selected virtual camera is controlled according to the corresponding camera control program. The plurality of virtual cameras provided in a virtual three dimensional space are selected by the camera codes contained in the land objects.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a case which accommodates toner containing pigment, a developing roller, a supply roller formed of an elastic member arranged to be pressed against a surface of the developing roller in such a manner as to supply toner to the surface of the developing roller. A conveying fin is supported by the case so as to convey toner to the surface of the supply roller wherein the developing roller, the supply roller, and the conveying fin are sequentially disposed in a horizontal direction. The number of revolutions of the conveying fin per unit time is between {fraction (1/50)} and {fraction (1/20)} of the supply roller.