JP3763776B2 - game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game machine capable of experiencing an actual game.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Among conventional game machines, there is known a game machine that uses an input device that imitates the shape of a game tool such as a baseball bat or table tennis racket (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-104636). For example, a table tennis game machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-104636 has a game player swing an input device having the same shape as an actual table tennis racket in the same manner as an actual table tennis racket, and experience an actual table tennis game. Is. In this table tennis game machine, an acceleration sensor (piezoelectric buzzer) is attached to the input device, the timing of the swing and the speed of the swing are judged based on the movement acceleration of the swing detected by the acceleration sensor, and the game player's receive (returning ball) is It was determined whether it was valid.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the player returns the ball based only on the swing timing and the swing speed, the conventional table tennis game machine cannot determine the forehand swing or the backhand swing performed by the game player. If the swing speed was appropriate, it was considered an effective return ball. Further, since the swing is effective if the timing and speed of the swing match, there is a problem that an invalid swing such as a back swing is also effective. For this reason, conventional game machines have been used to reduce the fun of the game.
In addition, there are batting methods that give various changes to the ball, such as a drive batting method and a cut batting method, which are basic swings in table tennis games. However, conventional table tennis game machines cannot discriminate the batting method. Therefore, the ball could not be changed and the actual game could not be experienced.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and to provide a game machine that can determine how an input device is shaken so that a game player can experience an actual game. It is.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input device that is shaken by a game player facing a monitor screen, an acceleration sensor and a geomagnetic sensor mounted inside the input device, and the two sensors that output the output device. In a game machine comprising a computer that simultaneously receives electrical signals, determines how the input device is shaken based on these signals, and displays an image of a ball game corresponding to the shake on the monitor screen The input device is formed in the shape of a racket for ball games, the acceleration sensor is formed of an acceleration sensor that outputs a speed signal according to the moving direction and acceleration of the input device, and the geomagnetic sensor is mounted on a horizontal plane. While forming from a geomagnetic sensor that outputs an angle signal according to the angle formed by the racket-shaped input device,
A storage device in which forehand geomagnetic signal data is input as home position data; and when the input device is shaken, the computer outputs an angle signal output by the geomagnetic sensor and the home position data of the storage device. To determine whether the forehand is due to the forehand , and further, the angle signal output from the geomagnetic sensor for the forehand is detected as an acute angle, and the acceleration sensor When the output speed signal detects that the acceleration is in the upward direction, the drive hitting method, when the angle is an obtuse angle and the acceleration is in the downward direction, the cut hitting method, and when the angle is vertical and the acceleration is If it is only in the forward direction, it is judged as a straight hitting method, and the trajectory of the ball corresponding to these hitting methods is determined. To display on the screen of the serial monitor.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a game machine of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input device of the game machine.
In FIG. 1, an input device 10, a display device (monitor) 12, and an audio device 14 are connected to a game machine body 16. The input device 10 is actually swung by a game player, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the movement and inputs it to the game machine body 16. The display device 12 displays a game image on a monitor screen. The sound device 14 outputs sound effects in accordance with the game image. Inside the game machine body 16, there are a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 18, a storage device (ROM) 20, an image processing unit 22, a RAM (Main Memory) 24, a display device 10, an acoustic device 14, and an input device 12. Each control unit is provided (not shown). The storage device 20 has a game program 26, game image data 28, and home position data 30.
[0007]
The input device 10 simulates a game tool used in an actual game (FIG. 2). Examples of game equipment include table tennis rackets, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, baseball bats, and kendo bamboo swords. In this embodiment, an input device having the shape of a table tennis racket (shake hand) is used. The game machine will be described below as a table tennis game machine.
[0008]
The housing 32 of the input device 10 has a table tennis racket shape. The housing is formed of two split members, and the two members are fixed by a plurality of pairs of fixing members 38 and 39. Reference numeral 34 denotes a portion that hits the hitting surface portion of the table tennis racket (hitting surface portion), and 36 denotes a portion that hits the grip portion of the table tennis racket (grip portion). Reference numeral 36 a denotes the tip of the grip part 36.
[0009]
Two different sensors 40 and 42 (signal output means) are attached and fixed to the printed circuit board 44 inside the ball striking face 34 side. The printed circuit board 44 is attached to the fixing member 39. Reference numeral 46 denotes an input line (code) for inputting an electric signal output from the sensors 40 and 42 to the game machine body 16. Note that all the above devices are electrically connected.
[0010]
The sensor 40 is an X-axis Y-axis biaxial acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor 40 detects the moving direction and acceleration (or moving speed) of the input device 10 when the input device 10 is swung. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the moving direction of the input device detected by the acceleration sensor. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the tip 36a of the grip portion 36 is facing the front of the drawing. 34a is a forehand (right-handed player's right-hand swing) striking surface, and 34b is a backhand (right-handed player's left-hand swing). In FIG. 3, when the input device 10 is swung by the forehand, the position of the monitor screen corresponding to the input device 10 is indicated by a monitor screen 48a, and when the input device 10 is swung by the backhand, it corresponds to the input device 10. The position of the monitor screen is indicated by a monitor screen 48b.
[0011]
The acceleration sensor 40 detects in which direction from the direction (a) to the direction (d) in FIG. 3 the input device 10 is swung, and outputs an electrical signal (acceleration signal) according to the direction and the speed thereof. . The (a) direction and (b) direction indicate the front-rear direction of the input device, and the (c) direction and (d) direction indicate the vertical direction of the input device.
For example, if the game player swings the forehand toward the monitor screen 48a, the direction (a) indicates the traveling direction (swing movement direction) of the hitting surface 34a. On the other hand, the (b) direction, which is the reverse of the (a) direction, indicates the direction of the backswing taken before the swing. Further, the direction (c) indicates that the swing is based on the drive hitting method. In the drive hitting method, swinging is performed so that the racket is lifted from below to upward.
On the other hand, if a backhand swing is made toward the monitor screen 48b, it is opposite to the case of the forehand, so the direction (b) indicates the traveling direction (swing movement direction) of the striking surface 34b, and (a) The direction indicates the direction of backswing. The direction (d) indicates the swing direction of the cut hitting method. The cut hitting method swings from the top to the bottom so that the bottom of the ball is rubbed with a racket.
[0012]
The acceleration sensor 40 detects the acceleration (swing momentum) together with the directions (a) to (d). Therefore, when the game player swings the input device 10, the acceleration sensor 40 outputs an electrical signal in accordance with the movement direction (a) to (d) and the acceleration.
[0013]
The sensor 42 is a geomagnetic sensor that detects geomagnetism (or magnetic field) in the X and Y directions. The geomagnetic sensor 42 defines a horizontal plane and outputs an electrical signal according to the angle (or inclination) of the input device with respect to the horizontal plane. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the angle of the input device. Note that FIG. 4 is considered similarly to FIG. The front end 36a of the grip portion 36 faces the front of the drawing, 34a is a forehand hitting surface, and 34b is a backhand hitting surface. Further, the position of the monitor screen corresponding to the input device 10 when the input device 10 is swung by the forehand is indicated by a monitor screen 48a, and the monitor screen corresponding to the input device 10 when the input device 10 is swung by the backhand. Is shown on the monitor screen 48b.
[0014]
Considering the angle of the input device when swinging by the swing hitting method, that is, the drive hitting method, the cut hitting method, and the straight hitting method, the angle of the input device is roughly divided into three as shown in FIG. When the forehand is swung toward the monitor screen 48a in FIG. 4, the angle A formed by the center line 50 of the input device 10 and the horizontal plane 52 in the state (1) in the figure (solid line part in the figure) is an acute angle. If there is acceleration in the direction, the driving method is used. Similarly, the angle A in the state (2) (dashed line portion in the figure) is an obtuse angle, and when there is acceleration in the downward direction, the cut hitting method is used. Further, in the case of the angle (vertical) in the state (3) (dotted line portion in the figure), since the acceleration is only in the forward direction, the straight driving method is used.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the hitting surface 34a swung by the forehand (a) and the hitting surface 34b swung by the backhand (a) in the figure are opposite surfaces. Accordingly, when swinging backhand toward the monitor screen 48b in FIG. 4, the angle B of the input device 10 in the state (1) is an obtuse angle, and when there is a downward acceleration, the cut hitting method is used. . When the angle B in the state (2) is an acute angle and there is an upward acceleration, the driving method is used. Straight hitting is the same as forehand.
As described above, the forehand or the backhand can be discriminated based on the angle of the input device 10 in the state (1) or (2) detected by the geomagnetic sensor 42, and further, the acceleration sensor 40 detects the vertical acceleration. Thus, it is possible to determine whether the drive hitting method or the cut hitting method is swung by the swing of the forehand or the backhand.
[0015]
The acceleration sensor 40 outputs an electrical signal (acceleration signal) according to the moving direction and acceleration of the input device 10, and the geomagnetic sensor 42 outputs an electrical signal (geomagnetic signal) according to the angle of the input device 10, and the acceleration signal. And an input signal composed of a geomagnetic signal from the input device 10 to the game machine body 16. Based on the input signal, the game machine body 16 determines how the input device 10 is shaken and determines whether the swing (receive) is valid.
[0016]
Next, an input signal processing operation performed in the game machine main body will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the game machine main body that has received the input signal. In this flowchart, a case is considered where the game player receives the ball in the monitor screen 48 by the forehand drive hitting method. A suitable receive is a forehand swing. It is assumed that the game player uses the front surface of the input device 10 (for example, the hitting surface 34a shown in FIGS. 2 to 5) as the forehand hitting surface.
In step S <b> 10, the game machine body 16 receives an input signal input from the input device 10. Subsequently, in step S <b> 11, the CPU 18 of the game machine body 16 determines whether or not the input signal is within the return ball timing range set in the game program 26 of the storage device 20. If it is determined that the signal is before the timing range, the process returns to step S10 to receive a new input signal. Note that the input signal after the timing range has passed is processed as invalid. For input signals in the timing range, the process proceeds to step S12.
[0017]
In step S12, it is determined whether an acceleration signal exists in the input signal. When the acceleration signal cannot be confirmed, the game player treats it as not swinging, finishes playing, adds 1 point to the character side, and starts playing the next new service game. If an acceleration signal is found, the process proceeds to step S13.
[0018]
In step S13, it is determined whether the game player's swing is forehand based on the geomagnetic signal in the input signal. It is assumed that forehand geomagnetic signal data is input to the storage device 20 as home position data 30. The CPU 18 compares the data of the geomagnetic signal in the input signal with the home position data 30 to determine whether or not it is a forehand swing. In the present embodiment, since the forehand swing is performed, the forehand geomagnetic signal exists in the input signal. Therefore, it is determined as a forehand swing.
In the case of an input signal not corresponding to the home position data 16, the CPU 18 determines that the backhand has been swung and processes it as a return ball miss. In this case, the play is ended and 1 point is added to the character side to start the next new service game, or the ball is returned as a chance ball.
[0019]
In step S14, it is determined whether there is a backswing acceleration signal (acceleration signal in the direction (b) shown in FIG. 3) in the input signal. When a backswing acceleration signal is found, the game player determines that the player has missed, ends the play, and adds 1 point to the character side. And a new service game is started. If not found, it is determined as a swing and the process proceeds to step S15.
[0020]
In step S15, a swing hitting method is determined. Since the game player swings by the driving hitting method, the acceleration signal in the upward direction (direction (c) in FIG. 3) and the geomagnetic signal at the angle A of the input device 10 in FIG. 4 (1) are included in the input signal. Exists. Therefore, in step S16, it is determined that the swing of the game player is based on the drive hitting method. Further, since there is no signal other than the drive hitting method in the input signal, the straight hitting method determination in step S17 and the cut hitting method determination in step S18 are not performed.
[0021]
In step S19, the CPU 18 calculates and determines the movement parameter of the game player's return ball based on the batting method (drive batting method) determined in step S17, the swing timing, the acceleration signal relating to the swing momentum, the geomagnetic signal, and the like. Further, the game image data 28 corresponding to the calculated movement parameter is extracted from the storage device 20 and generated and output to the display device 12. As a result, an image representing the trajectory of the return ball by the drive is displayed on the monitor screen 48 of the display device 12. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a ball trajectory for each swing hitting method in actual table tennis play. When viewed from the side of the ping-pong table (table) 54, the ball trajectory for each swing hitting method draws (1) drive trajectory, (2) cut trajectory, and (3) straight trajectory as shown in FIG. These trajectories are represented on the monitor screen 48 by a trajectory as shown in FIG. 8, for example. In FIG. 8, the trajectory (1) indicates a drive trajectory, the trajectory (2) indicates a cut trajectory, and the trajectory (3) indicates a straight trajectory. The game player feels the actual play by feeling the trajectory of the ball (1) in FIG. 8 displayed on the monitor screen as a trajectory by the drive hitting method in which he swings.
[0022]
Also, the swing hitting method may be displayed on the screen with characters or the like. Further, different sound effects may be output from the acoustic device 14 for each batting method.
[0023]
In this embodiment, a table tennis game machine has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the input device may be a game machine having a shape imitating a baseball bat, a tennis racket, a badminton racket, a kendo bamboo sword, or the like.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to determine how to shake the input device based on the acceleration signal and the geomagnetic signal output from the acceleration sensor and the geomagnetic sensor attached to the input device. It is possible to display various changes on the monitor screen. As a result, the game player can enjoy playing with various swings and can experience the actual play.
In addition, since the invalid swing can be eliminated, the game is not lost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a game machine of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input device of the game machine.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a moving direction of the input device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an angle of an input device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a hitting surface of the input device.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a game machine that has received an input signal.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a ball trajectory for each swing hitting method in actual table tennis play.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a trajectory of a ball for each swing hitting method displayed on a monitor screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Input Device 12 Monitor 16 Game Machine Body 18 CPU
40 Acceleration sensor 42 Geomagnetic sensor

Claims (2)

An input device that is shaken by a game player facing the monitor screen, an acceleration sensor and a geomagnetic sensor mounted inside the input device, and an electrical signal output by the two sensors are simultaneously received, and based on these signals In a game machine comprising a computer that determines how the input device is shaken and displays an image of a ball game corresponding to this shake on the screen of the monitor,
The input device forms an outer shape in a racket shape for ball games,
The acceleration sensor is formed from an acceleration sensor that outputs a speed signal according to the moving direction and acceleration of the input device,
While forming the geomagnetic sensor from a geomagnetic sensor that outputs an angle signal according to the angle formed by the racket-shaped input device with respect to a horizontal plane,
A storage device is provided in which forehand geomagnetic signal data is input as home position data.
When the input device is shaken, the computer collates the angle signal output from the geomagnetic sensor with the home position data of the storage device ,
The velocity signal output from the acceleration sensor is detected by determining whether the forehand is a forehand, and further detecting that the angle between the input device and the horizontal plane is an acute angle based on the angle signal output from the geomagnetic sensor. If the acceleration is detected to be upward, the drive hitting method is used. If the angle is obtuse and the acceleration is downward, the cut hitting method is used. The angle is vertical and the acceleration is only forward. In this case, the game machine is characterized in that a straight hitting method is determined, and a ball trajectory corresponding to these hitting methods is displayed on the screen of the monitor.   2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a table tennis or tennis or badminton model racket.

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