U.S. Pat. No. 7,850,525

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following embodiment to be described, a game device having a data processing function (computer function) executes a game application program such that a game-player can play an electronic game, and the story of the game application program is, in summary, that a ninja aims to infiltrate into enemy facilities without being discovered by the enemy.

First, the configuration of the game device is described.FIG. 1is a block diagram of an electronic game device according to the present invention. A game device100is provided with: a program data storage device or a storage medium (including for example an optical disk and optical disk drive, and a flash memory)101in which a game program and data (including video data and music data) are stored; a CPU102for carrying out such tasks as execution of the game program, control of the entire system, and coordinate calculations for image display; a system memory103for storing programs and data necessary for the CPU102to carry out processing; a boot ROM104for storing programs and data necessary when the game device100is started up; and a bus arbiter105for controlling the flow of programs and data between the various blocks of the game device100and externally connected devices, these components being each connected to a bus.

A rendering processor106is connected to the bus, and video (movie) data read out from the program data storage device or storage medium101, as well as images to be generated in response to an operation by the game-player or the progress of the game are displayed on a display monitor110by the rendering processor106. Graphics data and the like necessary for the rendering processor106to generate images are stored in a graphics memory (frame buffer)107.

A sound processor108is connected to the bus, and music data read out from the program data storage device or storage medium101as well as sound effects and voices to be generated in response to an operation by the game-player or the progress of the game are output from a speaker111by the sound processor108. Sound data and the like necessary for the sound processor108to generate sound effects and voice are stored in a sound memory109.

A modem112is connected to the game device100, and the game device100can communicate with other game devices100and a network server via a telephone wire (not shown in drawings). The game device100is also connected to: a backup memory113(including a disk storage medium and storage device) in which information concerning the game at a midway process and program data inputted and outputted via the modem are recorded; and a controller114that inputs to the game device100information for controlling the game device100and externally connected devices in accordance with an operation by an operator. The CPU102and the rendering processor106constitute an image computation process unit. It should be noted that the units described above as the components of the game device may be provided in other game devices or servers. An electronic amusement system, that is, an electronic amusement device according to the present invention, may be achieved by a game-player's game device terminal and a server.

FIG. 2shows one scene of a video image displayed on a monitor, the scene involving a story in which a player character operated by the game-player approaches enemy characters (opponents) while striving not to be noticed and then defeats the enemy characters. The drawing shows a sound radar image (screen) according to the present invention at the upper right thereof. The sound radar screen is distinguished from the center image of the game.

FIG. 3shows an image of the sound radar screen. A center12indicates a sound source and shows a manner in which a ripple14of sound from the sound source spreads out while enlarging the circles. Triangle symbols16displayed on the sound radar image indicate enemy characters which are defined as enemies of a player character operated by the game-player in the story of the game. The player character and the enemy characters are located in a virtual space (a space of three dimensional coordinates) defined by the game program. In accordance with an operational input from the controller, the player character moves and runs in a predetermined direction and acts so as to carry out a predetermined attack on the enemy characters. The enemy characters are displayed apart from the sound source according to the distance in the virtual space between the sound source and the enemy characters.

The CPU102, which is one data processing device, achieves data processing means (sound radar image processing means) based on the game program and various types of data. As shown inFIG. 4, the data processing means achieves: a sound source coordinate position calculation unit that calculates the coordinate position of the sound source based on an event input, which is inputted to the game device100by the game-player operating the controller; a sound source intensity calculation unit that calculates sound source intensity, that is, the intensity of a sound; a tone determination unit that determines tone; a sound radar screen processing unit that executes processing for generating the sound radar screen and displaying the sound radar on a monitor; a total alarm level parameter calculation unit for target bodies; and a movement mode processing unit for target bodies. Each unit is defined by commands and data of the game application program.

The “event input” refers to data representing commands which are given to the game program via the controller so that the player character runs or jumps. For example, when the player character jumps, a jumping sound is produced, and the sound source coordinate position calculation unit, handling this jump as the sound source, stores the position where the player character jumps as a sound source position in a predetermined region of a memory. Also, the “event” herein can also include events other than those made by the player character itself, e.g., an event in which the player character throws a stone and the stone collides with the ground or a water surface. In this example, a point of collision between the stone and the ground constitutes the sound source coordinates.

FIG. 5is a block diagram showing regions of the system memory103, in which position information relating to sound sources is stored in a sound source position memory region. Based on predetermined arithmetic expressions, the sound intensity calculation unit calculates the intensity of sound based on event input information and other data (such as the player character's speed and the characteristics of the surface on which the player character is present, for example, whether it is a floor surface where sound is likely to be produced or a grass field surface where sound is unlikely to be produced). The sound intensity is stored in a sound intensity memory shown inFIG. 5.

The sound radar screen processing unit generates the sound radar screen shown inFIG. 3. The maximum reachable range of a sound is defined by the maximum distance from a sound source based on the intensity of the sound. Data and parameters necessary for generating the sound radar screen are stored in the game program. The tone determination unit determines the tone of sound produced from the sound source, for example a sound of a person running, a sound of water splashing, or a metallic sound, and stores the tone in a memory. Tone and sound intensity are examples of the characteristics of sound.

The total alarm level parameter calculation means are means for calculating the level of an alarm which sound produced from a sound source gives to enemy characters. The “alarm level” corresponds to a level at which a sound is perceived by an opponent character. The alarm level is defined by parameters. As shown inFIG. 5, the parameter values are temporarily stored in the system memory.

The alarm levels, being the level of sense of alarm that the enemy characters feel, include, for example, inattention (normal), cautiousness (attentive), vigilance (investigating), and assurance (attacking). The “inattention” refers to a state in which the enemy character does not need to react even when there is a sound, the “cautiousness” refers to a state in which the enemy character needs to turn its face toward a sound, the “vigilance” refers to a state in which the enemy character needs to advance toward a sound, and the “assurance” is a state in which the enemy character needs to fire a weapon toward a sound source. As described above, the movement modes of enemy characters are determined based on the total parameter values of alarm levels. The total parameter values of alarm levels and the movement modes (motion data of the enemy characters) are defined in, for example, a table format in the game program.

The total parameters of alarm levels are defined for example by multiplying a parameter “a” relating to a sound intensity by a parameter “b” relating to a tone. Higher parameter values are set for higher sound intensities, and higher parameters are set for sounds with tones that are recognized by the enemy more easily (e.g., a sound of an explosion). The sound intensity should be determined at the position of the enemy character and the sound intensity is calculated by attenuating the initial intensity of a sound from a sound source in accordance with the position of the sound source and the position of the enemy character.

By providing on the sound radar screen processing unit the movement modes of enemy characters according to alarm levels, the symbols of enemy characters move in the determined modes on the sound radar screen. At this time, the colors of the triangular symbols of the enemy characters may be changed in accordance with the alarm levels. The total alarm level parameter values become higher for enemy characters that are closer to the sound source.

Next, data processing operations executed by the data processing device is described according to a flowchart shown inFIG. 6. First, when the game program starts, the CPU102calculates the position coordinates of a sound source in the virtual space (S100).

Then the intensity of the sound generated from the sound source is calculated (S102). Next, the maximum reachable range of the sound is calculated based on the intensity of the sound at the sound source (S104). The maximum reachable range of a sound is defined using a spherical surface. Then the distance between the position of the enemy character and the sound source is calculated and this distance is compared to the diameter of the maximum sphere defining the maximum reachable range (S106). This comparison is repeated for all the characters that should be displayed on the sound radar.

For each enemy character inside the spherical surface, the initial intensity at the sound source is attenuated based on the distance between the enemy character and the sound source, and then a parameter value (parameter “a”) relating to the sound intensity is calculated based on the attenuated value (S108). At S110, the tone of the sound produced from the sound source is determined and a parameter value (parameter value “b”) relating to the tone is determined. Based on these parameters, e.g., by multiplying these parameters, the total parameter values are calculated (S112). Based on the total parameter values, the alarm level of each enemy character inside the spherical surface is selected from multiple stages in the table stored in the game program. Then the movement mode of each enemy character is determined in accordance with the selected stage of alarm level (S114).

The action of each enemy character is selected based on the movement mode. It should be noted that even when the calculation result indicates that sound is perceivable to enemy characters, if the tone of such sound does not give sense of alarm to the enemy characters, the level of parameters indicating the alarm level is set low.

At S116, data processing is executed to create a sound radar image and the sound radar image is displayed on the screen. The maximum reach position of the ripple of sound has been determined in S104. In the video image of the ripple of sound spreading out, the diameters of the circles constituting the ripple increase for each frame. Relative positions of the target bodies relative to the sound source coordinates are calculated and symbols of the respective target bodies are displayed on the sound radar image. The symbols of the target bodies are displayed outside the maximum reachable range of the sound. Since sound does not reach these target bodies, the alarm levels of the target bodies have low parameter values. On the other hand, the parameter values of target bodies closer to the sound source have higher numerical values.

The above-described embodiment provides, for example, the following advantages to a game-player as compared to conventional radar displays. Since the game-player can judge whether or not a sound is perceived by opponents, the game-player can be more careful in the operation of the player character he is operating. The game-player can quickly detect whether or not a sound source is perceived by opponents and can swiftly take a suitable action.

It should be noted that the intensity of sound (a sound volume) can be conveyed to the game-player by, for example, displaying numerical values on the sound radar image and changing the colors of circles constituting the ripple of sound. Also, the sound intensity and the propagation state of sound may be corrected in accordance with the environment of the virtual space (the atmospheric temperature and geographical features, etc). Furthermore, sound may be attenuated by a predetermined value for each frame. In this case, a location where the sound intensity becomes zero defines the maximum reachable range of the sound. Furthermore, a display of tone can be added to the radar image. The color or shape (a thick line, a thin line, etc.) of the ripple (circles) of sound may be changed.

It should be noted that a typical example of sound, which is defined as a sound source, is sound caused by an action of the player character. Naturally occurring sounds (such as sounds caused by a movement of an animal and a collapse of a rock) may be defined as sound sources as needed. For example, if enemy characters run towards a sound produced by a movement of an animal, it is possible to create a condition in which for the player character will not be easily discovered by the enemy characters.

In the present invention, “sound source information,” which indicates the type of sound produced when a certain event has occurred, refers to information including: the type of a sound source itself that produced the sound (e.g., a sound produced by the player character, a warning sound or phrase produced by an enemy and a game object such as a bomb); the meaning which the relevant sound indicates in the game (e.g., a warning sound and an ordinary phrase); the type of action that produced the sound (e.g., a walking sound, sound produced by the movement of a sword and sound of a weapon hitting walls); and the like, and “propagation mode information” of sound refers to information that is not a realistic simulation of an actual sound but that can be set arbitrarily by the game maker, such as intensity (volume), reachable range, reach speed, and image data for displaying the propagation mode on the radar screen.

Also, the sound characteristics information does not have to be set for all events which potentially produce sounds in the game. For example, assuming that a sound of a certain event is set so that it does not affect the actions of the enemy but produces another sound which results from the certain event and which affects the actions of the enemy (e.g., a sound of a throwing star being thrown (a sound effect is actually emitted)) in the game, the original sound can be set so as to be excluded from the definition of “sound characteristics information.” By setting the sound characteristic information as described above, the sound of the throwing star being thrown is not displayed on the sound radar and the enemy does not react to the “sound of the throwing star being thrown” regardless of the conditions in the game.

Further, if the throwing star hits a wall or the like, the resulting impact sound is defined as “sound characteristics information (the location of impact is set as the sound source position coordinates).” Accordingly, when the throwing star hits a wall or the like, sound waves originating from the location of impact and spreading out therefrom are shown on the sound radar and enemies within the reachable range can react to the impact sound in such a way that they increase their alarm levels or change their viewing field ranges toward the position where the impact sound occurred.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be applied to an electronic amusement device.