JPH1147447A - Game device and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game device which can carry out a game having complicated branch paths, continuously, even through a new branch path is reselected after a predetermined branch path is selected. SOLUTION: A game derive which carry out a game in which a player character moves wile any of several branch courses is selected during the game, comprises a determining means 38 for selecting and determining a branch course in accordance with data of motion of the player character which moves in a branch zone of the branch course. The determining means 38 reselects a branch course in accordance with data of motion of the player character which moves in the reverse direction in the above-mentioned branch zone.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game device in which a player character moves while selecting a course branched into a plurality of courses to play a game, and an information storage medium in which information for the game is stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of display objects are arranged in an object space, which is a virtual three-dimensional space, and an image viewed from a given viewpoint is generated as a game image and displayed on a display. Are known, and are very popular as game devices for experiencing so-called virtual reality.

[0003] Taking a game device as an example to enjoy a driving game, a player enjoys the game by driving a car operated by the player on a course in an object space. In such a game, the degree of interest or excitement strongly depends on the shape and effect of the course arranged in the object space. Therefore, when the course is created, the shape of the course is designed with devising so as to further enhance the fun and excitement of the game.

In particular, conventionally, a plurality of elaborate branch courses have been arranged in an object space, and a player drives a car while selecting a desired course at a course branch point to play a game at each branch course. Game devices for enjoying are known.

[0005] However, in the conventional game apparatus, once a moving body, such as a car, which is controlled by a player once selects one branch course and enters the course, the other course is selected again thereafter. Therefore, there is a problem that even if the player does not like the course, the player must continue the game.

[0006] In particular, for a player who repeatedly challenges the game, if it is found that the branch course once selected is the course which has already passed in the previous game, the other course is re-selected and the course is selected. It is thought that there are many cases where the player wants to challenge the game, but no game device satisfying such a demand has hitherto been available.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to move a course in a reverse direction in a game having a plurality of branch roads even if a predetermined branch road is once selected. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game device and an information storage medium capable of re-selecting the other branch road and continuing the game.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game apparatus in which a player character moves and plays a game while selecting a plurality of branched courses. Branch determination means for selecting and determining a branch course based on the movement data of the player character moving in the branch area of the player character, wherein the player character is formed so as to be movable in a reverse direction at least in the branch area of the course, The determining means performs a re-selection of a branch course based on movement data of the player character moving in the reverse direction in the branch area.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a player character moves while selecting a plurality of courses, and further allows the player character to move in a reverse direction at least in a branch area of the course to play a game. A computer-readable information storage medium storing information, wherein the information for playing the game is a branch for selecting and selecting a branch course based on movement data of the player character moving in a branch area of the course. The information for determination includes information for performing reselection determination of a branch course based on movement data of the player character moving in the reverse direction in the branch area. I do.

Here, the course is a virtual 3
It is preferable to arrange so as to be arranged in an object space which is a dimensional space.

According to the present invention, when the player character moves and plays a game while selecting a branched course, he or she does not like the branched course once selected by the player character and reselects the other branched course. Is desired, the player character can be moved in the opposite direction, and the desired branch course can be selected again. As a result, it is possible to provide a game device having a higher degree of freedom, which allows a player to play a game while selecting a course according to the player's desire, and an information storage medium for playing the game.

[0012] In particular, each of the branch courses is often designed with elaboration so as to further enhance the fun and excitement of the game. Therefore, as in the present invention, the player reselects the branch course. By configuring so as to advance the game, it is possible to provide a game device and an information storage medium that allow the player to enjoy more courses.

Here, it is preferable that the invention of claim 1 is configured as in the invention of claim 2.

That is, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a branch determination zone is set in a branch area of the course from a branch point to an upstream side thereof, and a player character can at least perform the branch from each branch course. It is formed so as to be movable in the reverse direction to the determination zone, and the branch determination means determines the selection of the course based on movement data of the player character in the branch determination zone.

Preferably, the invention of claim 6 is configured as in the invention of claim 7.

That is, the invention of claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein information for setting a branch determination zone in a branch area of the course from a branch point to an upstream side thereof,
Information for enabling the player character to move in the reverse direction from each branch course to at least the branch determination zone, wherein the information for branch determination is movement data of the player character in the branch determination zone. , And includes information for determining the selection of the course.

Here, the branch determination zone is:
The section from the start position of the branch course on the course to the upstream side of the predetermined distance, that is, the section where the moving player character can select any branch course.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the position data of a plurality of hit check points set along the course, and the course and the player character set corresponding to each of the hit check points. Based on the current position of the player character and the accompanying data of the hit check point close to the current position. Hit check means for checking,
Wherein when the player character is located in the branch determination zone, the branch determination means performs the course selection determination based on the current position and the position data of the first hit check point of each branch course. It is characterized by.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the position data of a plurality of hit check points set along the course, and the course and the player character set corresponding to each of the hit check points. For checking the hit between the course and the player character on the basis of the check point data including the accompanying data for hit checking with the player character, the current position of the player character, and the accompanying data of the hit check point close to the current position. And the information for branch determination, when the player character is located in the branch determination zone, based on the current position and the position data of the first hit checkpoint of each branch course, the information of the course It is characterized by including information for making a selection determination.

That is, there are objects for restricting the movement of the player character arranged on both sides of the course set in the object space, for example, obstacles, walls of the course, and the like. It is necessary to judge a collision with the player character moving on the course, that is, to perform a hit check. If such a hit check is to be performed properly, the hit check must be performed on all objects existing in the three-dimensional object space, and the load on the CPU becomes extremely heavy, which is not practical.

For this reason, virtual hit check points are set at predetermined intervals along the course, and associated data for performing a hit check is set for each hit check point. A method of performing a hit check is adopted. The hit check points are set at predetermined intervals along the course direction, usually as a center point at the center of the course. The hit check accompanying data is set as distances lR and lL to obstacles such as walls on both sides with respect to center points provided at predetermined intervals along the course.

Then, it is determined from the current position of the player character in the world space in the object space which hit check point is closest, and the accompanying data of the closest hit check point and the movement data of the player character, especially The hit check described above is performed based on the current position data.

By doing so, the load on the CPU can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where a hit check is performed between the player character and all three-dimensional objects.

In the present invention, by utilizing such a hit check point, the player character can determine the branch area,
Particularly, when the vehicle passes through the branch determination zone, the selection of the next course to branch is performed based on the current position and the position data of the first hit check point of each branch course.

As described above, by using the head position of the hit check point preset in each branch course for the branch determination, it is less necessary to create special data for the branch determination. Therefore, the amount of data for the CPU can be reduced and the load on the CPU can be reduced.

Here, it is preferable that the branch determination is performed such that the distance between the current position of the player character and the position data of the first hit check point of each branch course is calculated, and the branch course having the shortest distance is selected. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the plurality of courses set in the object space are the first course data before branching and the plurality of second courses after branching. And the course data of the course, wherein the storage means stores the checkpoint data for each of the courses and the position data of adjacent checkpoints of other courses connected before and after each of the courses. And the accompanying data is configured to include the event data for the branch determination instruction, and the branch determination unit includes the event data in the accompanying data of the hit check point used for the hit check. On the condition that they are included, the position data of the adjacent hit check point of each branch course is copied to the top hitch of each branch course. Read the position data of Kkupointo, and performing selection determination of the course.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, the plurality of branched courses set in the object space are the course data of the first course before the branch and the course data after the branch. A plurality of course data of the second course are combined, and the course data of the first and second courses are the checkpoint data created for each course, and the checkpoint data before and after each of the courses. And the position data of an adjacent check point of another course connected to the other course, the accompanying data includes the event data for the branch determination instruction, and the information for branch determination includes a hit check used for the hit check. Provided that the event data is included in the accompanying data of the point, the position data of the adjacent hit check point of each branch course is Read the position data of the head hit checkpoint, characterized in that it includes information for selecting the determination of the course.

That is, if a complicated course that branches into a plurality of courses is developed as a whole from the beginning, the course shape design becomes very complicated work, and the game design period can be shortened. Hindered. Therefore, in the present invention, the courses to be branched are divided, and the course data is created for each course. Here, the course data is data for specifying the shape and the like of each course.

As a result, the course design and creation can be simplified, and the influence of the design change of one course on the design of another course can be minimized.

In creating such independent course data for each course, the above-described checkpoint data is created for each course. That is, checkpoint data including position data of a plurality of checkpoints set along each course and accompanying data for hit check set corresponding to each hit checkpoint is created for each course. Is stored. Further, the accompanying data is configured to include event data for branch determination. The event data is set in the vicinity of the connection area between each course and the check point at which the course determination operation is started. Therefore, such event data is not set at checkpoints in the course where no branch determination is required.

The branch determination means determines whether or not the event data is included in the accompanying data of the hit check point used in the hit check. If the event data is included, the branch determination means determines whether the current data of the player character is present. Based on the position and the position data of the adjacent hit point (the first hit check point) of each branch course, the selection of the branch course is determined.

In this way, even when a course that branches into a plurality of courses is divided into a plurality of courses, it is possible to easily select a branch path in the branch area of the course without increasing the load on the CPU. Becomes

Here, it is preferable to use the first hit check point of the branch course as the adjacent hit check point of each branch course.
If it is effective for position determination, hit checkpoints in the second group from the beginning, the third group,... May be used.

In addition, a dummy hit check point may be set on the connection end side of each course in addition to the check point actually set on the course.
According to the present invention, it is possible to use such a hit check point for a dummy as necessary, but actually, a substantial hit check point set on the course closest to the connection end of the course is used. It is preferable to use points.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the branch check zone of the first course covers a hit checkpoint row on the end side of the first course, and the first course is located on the downstream side. A movement restriction area for forming a plurality of branch roads for leading to the second course is set, and the branch determination unit determines a current position of the player character on the branch road and an adjacent hit check point of each branch course. The selection of the course is performed based on the position data.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect,
In the branch determination area of the first course on the upstream side, a hit checkpoint row on the end side of the first course is covered,
For setting a movement-restricted area for forming a branch for guiding the course to a plurality of second courses on the downstream side, and the information for determining a branch includes a player character on the branch. On the basis of the current position and the position data of the adjacent hit check point of each branch course.

According to the present invention, when branching from the first course to a plurality of second courses, the first course is added to the plurality of second downstream courses in the branch determination zone of the first course. A movement regulation area that forms a branch for leading to the course is set.

As a result, the player character moves to a desired branch road through each branch road.

At this time, the movement regulation area is set so as to cover the hit check point row on the end side of the first course. For this reason, the difference in the distance from the adjacent hit check point of the second course in the branch road becomes clear. Therefore, in the vicinity of the connection end between the first course on the upstream side and the second course that branches off, the distance between the player character and the adjacent hit check point of the second course is determined by the distance between the player character and the adjacent hits of another branch course. Clearly shorter than the distance to the checkpoint. That is, in the vicinity of the connection end of each course in each branch road,
The distance between the current position of the player character and the adjacent hit check point of each course can be clearly differentiated, thereby making it possible to perform more accurate branch road selection determination.

[0041]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case will be described as an example where the present embodiment is applied to a rafting game in which a boat goes down a river. However, the game to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, 3
The player controls the rafting boat 70 on the course 10 that is set in the three-dimensional object space and branches into a plurality of courses while watching the game screen displayed on the display,
It is configured to perform a river-down game while selecting a desired branch course. That is, the course 10 is set as a river descending by the boat 70, and the boat 70 moving on the A course 20 can arbitrarily select the B course 22 and the C course 24, which are branched into two, at the location shown in FIG. And it is configured to go down the river.

Here, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the boat 70 moves toward the C course 24 as indicated by the arrow 100, it is determined programmatically that the C course 24 has been selected from the movement data of the boat 70, and the boat goes down the C course 24 on the display. The game screen will be displayed.

Normally, once one branch course is selected in this way, the player cannot subsequently select the other branch course again.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the boat 7
0 is formed so that one of the selected branch courses can be moved in the reverse direction to the branch area 12 on the upstream side, and is configured so that the other branch course can be selected again.

For example, when the C course 24 is selected as shown in FIG. 1 (A), then, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the boat moves from the position on the C course 24 shown by 70-1. The boat 70 is made to run backward to the position of the branch area 12 of the A course indicated by 70-2, and thereafter, the direction of the boat 70 is changed to the other course, that is, the B course 22, and the course 22 is selected again.

As a result, even if the player does not like the course immediately after selecting the branch course, the player can immediately reverse the boat 70 between the branch areas 12 and select the other course again to enjoy the game. Becomes possible.

Such a course selection decision operation of the boat 70 is basically performed by using the movement data of the boat 70, in particular, its current position and the course data for specifying the course position of each of the courses 20, 22, 24. Do it.

In this embodiment, such a boat 70
Is adopted using a check point set in advance for hit check on the course 10. As a result, it is possible to greatly reduce an increase in the load on the CPU caused by the branch determination and to reduce peculiar data for the branch determination.

Hereinafter, checkpoints used for this branch determination will be described.

(Meaning of Check Point) When the boat 70 as a player character goes down the river while moving on the course 10 set in the three-dimensional object space, the boat 70 moves along the course 10. It is important to determine whether you are doing it.

In particular, a hit check is performed to determine whether the boat 70 has collided with a wall provided on both sides of the course or other obstacles, and the result of the hit check is reflected in the game effect. However, it is important to increase the reality of the game.

To perform such a hit check properly, all the three-dimensional objects existing in the three-dimensional object space must be hit checked for collision with the boat 70. CP
As mentioned above, the burden on U becomes extremely large and is not real.

For this reason, as shown in FIG.
A virtual checkpoint sequence 300 is set along the center of the checkpoint, and checkpoints called center points are set on the checkpoint sequence 300 at regular intervals.
The checkpoint sequence 300 can be arranged at a position deviated from the center of the course 10, but is preferably arranged at the center of the course in order to reduce the load of the hit check calculation.

Since the hit check points are virtually arranged, they are not displayed on the display.

Then, for each hit checkpoint,
The three-dimensional position coordinate position (x, y, z) in the world coordinate system is set, and the distances lR and lL from the hit check point to the left and right obstacles are set as accompanying data.

Then, from the current position of the boat 70, which is the player character, in the world coordinate system, it is determined which hit check point is closest, and based on the accompanying data of the closest hit check point, course 1 is determined.
A hit check is performed with obstacles on both sides of the zero.
By doing so, the load for hit checking can be greatly reduced.

(Selection of Hit Check Point) Since such calculation is performed for each frame calculation on the game screen, the next check point can be smoothly calculated based on the position of the boat 70 newly calculated for each frame. Needs to be detected.

For this reason, when the hit check point is obtained for each frame, several hit check points before and after this hit check point are selected as hit check points in the next frame. Here, three items before and after are selected.

Then, from the position of the player character (boat 70) in the next frame, the closest check point among the plurality of check points to be selected is calculated, and the accompanying data of this hit check point is calculated. The hit check described above is similarly performed.

By doing so, the number of hit check points to be selected can be reduced for each frame, the load on the CPU can be reduced by that amount, and a quick hit check operation can be performed.

For example, in FIG. 2, assuming that the boat is located at 70-1 in the predetermined frame, the hit check point in this case is (k + 1). Therefore, hit checkpoints to be selected in the next frame are three points before and after that, that is, (k−
2) to (k + 4), for a total of seven points. The hit checkpoints on the upstream side of the course 10 are also included in the selection targets because the boat 70 is configured to be able to run backward on the upstream side in the present embodiment.

Then, in the next frame, the boat moves 70-2.
Then, the hit check point (k + 2) closest to this position is selected from the seven selection targets, and the hit check operation is performed.

Then, similarly, a total of seven hit check points including three points before and after this (k + 2) point are to be selected in the next frame.

Therefore, in the next frame, the boat moves 70-3.
, The closest hit check point (k + 4) is selected as the closest point, and the hit check operation is performed.

In this embodiment, three hit check points before and after the hit check point selected in the current frame are selected. However, when the moving speed of the boat 70 as the player character is high, It is only necessary to select a slightly larger number of hit checkpoints as selection targets, and to set a smaller number of hit checkpoints as selection targets in the later case.

(Structure of hit checkpoint data)
FIG. 3 shows each course 20, 2 in the present embodiment.
Examples of hit checkpoints set at Nos. 2 and 24 are shown. In particular, FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of hit check points near the joint area of each of the courses 20, 22, and 24.

Here, each course 20, 22, 24
Are provided with a predetermined number of dummy checkpoints, here three dummy checkpoints, for setting a plurality of checkpoints to be selected in the next frame described above. (M + 1) ... (m + 3) for course 20, 0 for courses 22 and 24,
Three check points 1 and 2 are set as dummy check points off the course.

In each of the courses 20, 22, and 24, a predetermined range from the connection end is set as a branch determination zone.

Next, the structure of hit check point data will be described.

FIG. 4A shows hit check point data of the A course 20, and FIG. 4B shows hit check point data of the B and C courses 22 and 24.

Each of the courses 20, 22, and 24 is set with unique hit check point data as shown in FIG.

The hit check point data of each course includes the position (x, y, z) of each hit check point in the world coordinate system and the accompanying data. As described above, the accompanying data includes data for performing a hit check with an obstacle in an area including the hit check point. Normally, it includes the distances lR and lL from the hit check point to obstacles existing at both ends of the course. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, there is an obstacle 74 at the center of the course where the boat 70 cannot enter. In this case, the information includes data for specifying the position of the obstacle.

A check point near the joining area of each of the courses 20, 22, and 24, for example, as shown in FIG. Event data to be included.

When the CPU calls the event data, a branch determination operation is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of hit check points in the branch area 12 of the course 20 on the upstream side are
By setting an obstacle area in which the boat cannot move, the course 20 is partitioned into left and right areas so that the boat 70 can pass only one of the right and left areas 11B and 11C. That is, these areas 11B and 11C function as guide flow paths for the downstream branch courses 22 and 24. In this manner, near the end of the upstream course 20, the boat 70 approaches one of the branch courses, so that the branch determination can be made more reliably. Here, as the area 74, the hit check point is covered with a three-dimensional object representing a rocky mountain.

FIG. 5 shows hit check point data for branch determination set in association with each of the courses 20, 22, and 24. 5A shows the data of the course 20, FIG. 5B shows the data of the course 22, and FIG. 5C shows the data of the course 24.

In FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, data shown in FIG. 4A of the course 20 is stored in the area indicated by A, and the data shown in FIGS. The data shown in FIG. 4B of the courses 22 and 24 are set and stored in the areas B and C shown in FIG.

At the end of the data shown in FIG. 5A, the position data of the hit check points at the leading ends of a plurality of courses branching from the course 20, here, the B course and the C course, ie, adjacent to each other. The position data of the closest hit check point of the course is stored. For example, taking FIG. 3 as an example, the position data of the third hit check point is stored as the position data of the hit check point at the tip of the B course 22, and the C course 24 is stored.
, The position data of the third hit check point is similarly stored.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the B course 2
At the beginning of the position 2, the position data of the final check point M of the upstream A course 20 is stored, and at the end of this data, the tip of the D course and the E course branched from the B course is checked as described later. Point position data is stored.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5C, at the beginning of the data of the C course 24, the position data of the last checkpoint M of the upstream A course 20 is stored, and at the end of this data. Stores position data of the first check point of the F and G courses branching from the C course.

The data shown in FIG. 5 configured as described above is used not only for the hit check operation of the boat 70 moving on the course 10 but also for the branch determination operation.

(Branch Judgment) The details of the branch judgment will be described below.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a system for performing a hit check and a branch judgment of the game apparatus of the present invention.

The apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a course data storage means 30, a current position calculation means 32, a hit check point storage means 34, a hit check point calculation update means 36, a hit check means 38, a branch determination And means 40.

The course data storage means 30 stores the course data of each of the courses 20, 22, 24,... Constituting the course 10. Here, each course 20, 22,
The data for hit check and branch determination shown in FIG.

The current position calculating means 32 stores the current position (x, y, z) of the boat 70 as a player character in the world coordinate system in each frame of the image based on an input signal from the player and a predetermined game program. The calculation is performed in synchronization, and the calculation result is output to the calculation updating means 36, the branch determination means 40 and the hit check means 38.

The hit check point storage means 34
Inside, the hit checkpoint used in the previous frame is updated and stored. The hit check points stored here are used to specify a plurality of hit check points to be selected in the next frame. Here, three hit check points before and after the updated and stored hit check points, that is, a total of seven hit check points are to be selected.

The hit check point calculation updating means 36 is based on the hit check points stored in the storage means 34 based on the position data (x, y, z) of the boat 70 calculated for each frame. A total of seven hit checkpoints to be selected, three each before and after, are specified, and the closest hit checkpoint is selected from these. For example, as shown in FIG.
Data of a total of seven hit checkpoints from 3) to (k + 3) are specified as selection targets, and the current position calculation means 32 sends the current position (x ', y', z) of the boat indicated by 70-2 in FIG. When ()) is output, the closest (k + 2) hit check point is selected and output to the branch determination means 40 and the hit check means 38. Further, a data update operation of writing the hit check point (k + 2) as data for specifying a new selection target in the storage unit 34 is performed.

Based on the new hit check point determined by the operation updating means 36, the hit check means 38 and the branch determination means 40 store the position data of the hit check point and the associated hit check point from the course data storage means 30. Read data.

The hit check means 38 determines the position of the boat 7 based on the position data and the accompanying data of the hit check point read in this way and the current position of the boat 70 calculated by the current position calculating means 32.
A hit check operation is performed to determine whether or not 0 collides with an obstacle existing on both the left and right sides of the course 10 or the course.
Output this result. This hit check output is used for a game effect on a game screen displayed on the display.

The branch determination means 40 determines whether or not the accompanying data of the hit check point read from the course data storage means 30 includes event data for branch determination instruction.

When this event data is included, the current position of each boat 70 and the position data of the first check point of each branch course included in the data shown in FIG. The distance from the first checkpoint position of the branch course is obtained, and it is determined that the branch course with the shorter distance is currently selected.

In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Obstacles 74 are set to 1B and 11C. Therefore, when the boat 70 moving on the course 20 enters the branch determination zone, the boat 70 moves to one of the guide flow paths 11B and 11C according to the player's will, so that the boat 70 entering the branch zone It is clear whether the current position is closer to the first check point 3 of the branch courses 22 and 24 on the downstream side. Thereby, the branch determination means 40 determines that the boat 70 has a plurality of branch courses 2.
It is possible to accurately determine which of 0 and 24 is selected. Then, when the boat 70 goes outside from the terminal side of the course 20 on the upstream side, the game apparatus continuously moves to the branch course determined by the branch determination means 40. At this time, the first check point on the branched course is determined by the start position data of the B course or C course check point included at the end of the data shown in FIG.

Even if the boat 70 once enters one of the branch courses, for example, the B course 22, the boat 70 reverses the branch course 22 to the branch determination zone 11 of the A course on the upstream side, and the other branch course. It is configured so that you can enter the course.

In this case, the branch determination means 40 makes a selection determination of a branch course based on the movement data of the boat 70 in the reverse direction in the same manner as in the case of the forward direction described above.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to make a branch determination of a course by using data used for hit check, so that an increase in data for branch determination is minimized, and Can also be reduced.

When the vehicle runs backward from the downstream branch course, for example, from the B course 22 to the upstream A course 20,
When the boat 70 goes outside from the start end side of the downstream course 22, it moves continuously to the upstream A course. At this time, the first check point on the branched course is determined by the final position data of the check point of course A included on the start end side of the data shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the whole course 10. The whole course 10 is divided into a plurality of branch courses,
In the figure, courses 20, 22, 24 at the location shown in (1)
Is connected. Similarly, at locations shown in (2) and (3), respectively, courses 22, 26, 27, courses 24, 28, 29
Is connected. At this time, in the present embodiment, the courses are connected in order from the upstream to the downstream. That is, courses are connected in the order of (1), (2), and (3), for example.
Here, the points (1), (2) and (3) are branch areas where the course branches into a plurality.

Further, each of the courses 20, 22, 24,.
5 is created and written and stored in the course data storage means 30.

Thus, according to the present embodiment,
Even if the course branches into a complex shape, each branch course can be individually designed and created, so that the entire course can be easily created within a short design period.

Next, an example of an image generating apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied will be described.

FIG. 8A shows an example of a functional block diagram in the case where the present embodiment is applied to a course data creation tool, which is one of the image generation apparatuses. The developer has keyboard 2
The user inputs various data necessary for creating the course data and gives various instructions to the course data creation tool using operating means such as the mouse 202 and the mouse 202.

The processing section 210 includes the course data creation section 21
2 and an image generation unit 214 that generates an image based on the course data created by the course data creation unit 212. The processing unit 210 is configured by hardware such as a CPU, a DSP, and an IC dedicated to image generation.

The information storage medium 216 stores a course data creation program and various data necessary for executing the program. This information storage medium 216
For example, FD, CDROM, IC card, D
A VD, a hard disk or a memory can be used.

The processing section 210 performs processing based on inputs from the keyboard 200 and the mouse 202 and information stored in the information storage medium 216. Thus, various images necessary for creating the course data are displayed on the display unit 218. According to this course data creation tool, each course 2
Since the course data can be created while checking the shapes and the like of 0, 22, 24..., The design work can be made more efficient. Furthermore,
The data shown in FIG. 5 can be efficiently created for each course.

FIG. 8B is an example in which the present embodiment is applied to a game device. Game controllers 220, 22
The operation means such as 2 is for the player to input operation information. A processing unit 230 that performs the hit check, branch determination, and other game calculations described above based on operation information from the player;
An image generation unit 234 that generates an image based on the calculation result from the game calculation unit 232. This processing unit 23
0 is configured by hardware such as a CPU, a DSP, and an IC dedicated to image generation.

The information storage medium 236 stores the course data created by the above-described processing, for example, the course shown in FIG. 8, the data for each course shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and other data. Programs and the like are stored. As the information storage medium 216, for example, an FD, a CDROM, an IC card, a DVD, a hard disk, a memory, or the like can be used.

On the display unit 238, an image of the course 20 generated based on the course data, an image of the boat (moving body) 70 operated by the player, and the like are displayed. The course data is used for generating images of the course 20 and the boat 70, and is used for calculating the position and direction of the boat 70. Note that a so-called head-mounted display (HMD) can also be used as the display unit 238.

If the game device is for business use, the course data and the game program are stored in an information storage medium such as a memory, and if the game device is for home use, the course data and the game program are stored, for example. CD
-Stored in an information storage medium such as a ROM, a game cassette, and a DVD. In a game device of a type in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a communication line via a host device and a game program or the like is distributed, course data and the game program are stored in an information storage medium of the host device, for example, a magnetic disk device, a memory, or the like. Is stored.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an external view in which the present embodiment is applied to an arcade game device which is one of the image generation devices. The player sits on the seat 250 and the paddle 252
Is operated to move the boat (moving object) projected on the display unit 254 in the object space. In this case, the paddle 252 is connected to the game controller 220 shown in FIG.
222. When two players play a game, the first player has the left side of the paddle 252, the second player has the right side of the paddle 252,
Operate the paddle 252 in cooperation.

FIG. 10 shows the image generator 234 shown in FIG.
2 shows an example of an image generated by. The player operates the paddle 252 in FIG. 9 to move the boat 70 on the A course 20 in the object space. As shown in FIG. 10, the A course 20 branches into B and C courses 22 and 24, and the player selects which course to proceed at his own discretion.

FIG. 11 shows an image when the player has selected the C course and is moving on the C course 24. If the player does not like the selected C course 24, he or she operates the paddle 252 to reverse the course from the C course 24 to the branch determination area of the A course on the upstream side, and selects the other branch course 22. You can fix it. FIG. 12 shows an image when the user is moving on the B course 22 selected by the reselection operation.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a downhill game is performed while selecting a branch course in the course 10 that has been complicatedly branched, when the branch course is selected at a certain branch point, If the player does not like the branch course, the player can reselect the branch course desired by the player, thereby realizing an interesting game more suited to the player's intention.

The present invention is not limited to those described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

For example, the course in which data is created according to the present invention is not limited to a downhill course by rafting as described in the present embodiment. For example, car
Various courses such as ski, snowboard, motorboat, water vehicle, and spacecraft running courses can be created.

The present invention can be applied not only to home and business game machines, but also to simulators, large attraction devices in which a large number of players participate, personal computers,
The present invention can be applied to various devices such as a multimedia terminal and a system board for generating an image.

[0118]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a branch course used in the game device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of hit check points for an actual hit check in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a hit check point set near a branch area of a course.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of hit check point data set corresponding to each course.

5 is an explanatory diagram formed by combining the hit check point data and the data for branch determination shown in FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5A is a course A, FIG. 5B, and FIG.
7 is an explanatory diagram of data of the B course and the C course.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the game device of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an entire course used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of a game device to which the present embodiment is applied;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external view of an arcade game device to which the present embodiment is applied;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image generated according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an image generated according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image generated according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 course 12 branch area 20 A course 22 B course 24 C course 30 course data storage means 32 current position calculation means 34 hit checkpoint storage means 36 hit checkpoint calculation update means 38 hit check means 40 branch determination means 70 boat 220 game controller 222 game controller 230 processing unit 232 game calculation unit 234 image generation unit 236 information storage medium 238 display unit

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A game device in which a player character moves and plays a game while selecting a plurality of courses, and selects a branch course based on movement data of the player character moving in a branch area of the course. The player character is formed so as to be movable in a reverse direction at least in a branch area of the course, and the branch determination means includes movement data of the player character moving in the reverse direction in the branch area. A game device for determining a re-selection of a branch course based on a game program. 2. The branching area according to claim 1, wherein a branching determination zone is set in the branching area of the course from a branching point to an upstream side thereof, and the player character moves in a reverse direction from each branching course to at least the branching determination zone. The game device, which is formed so as to be capable of determining the course selection based on movement data of a player character in the branch determination zone. 3. The hit check between a course and a player character according to claim 2, wherein the position data of a plurality of hit check points set along the course and the hit check points set corresponding to the hit check points. A hit check for performing a hit check between the course and the player character based on the current position of the player character and the accompanying data of the hit check point close to the current position. Means for determining the course selection based on the current position and the position data of the first hit check point of each branch course when the player character is located in the branch determination zone. A game device characterized by performing: 4. The multi-course course set in the object space according to claim 3, wherein the multi-course course data includes a first course data before the bifurcation and a plurality of second course data after the bifurcation. The storage unit stores the checkpoint data for each of the courses, and stores position data of adjacent checkpoints of other courses connected before and after each of the courses. The incidental data is configured to include the event data for the branch determination instruction, and the branch determination unit is configured so that the event data is included in the incidental data of the hit check point used for the hit check. Next, the position data of the adjacent hit check point of each branch course is copied to the first hit check point of each branch course. Read as bets position data, the game apparatus which is characterized in that the selection determination of the course. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the branch determination zone of the first course covers a row of hit checkpoints on the end side of the first course, and the second course includes a plurality of second check points on the downstream side. A movement restriction area for forming a branch road for leading to the course is set, and the branch determination means is based on a current position of the player character on the branch road and position data of an adjacent hit check point of each branch course. A game device for determining the selection of the course. 6. Information is stored in which a player character moves while selecting a course branched into a plurality of parts, and further allows the player character to move in a reverse direction at least in a branch area of the course to play a game. A computer-readable information storage medium, wherein the information for playing the game includes information for branch determination for selecting and selecting a branch course based on movement data of the player character moving in the branch area of the course. The information storage medium, wherein the information for branch determination includes information for performing a reselection determination of a branch course based on movement data of the player character moving in the reverse direction in the branch area. 7. The divergence area of the course, wherein information for setting a divergence determination zone from a divergence point to an upstream side thereof is provided in the divergence area of the course; Information for enabling movement in the reverse direction, and the information for branch determination includes information for selection determination of the course based on movement data of a player character in the branch determination zone. An information storage medium characterized by the following. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein position data of a plurality of hit check points set along the course and a hit check between the course and the player character set corresponding to each of the hit check points. Information for performing a hit check between the course and the player character based on the current position of the player character and the accompanying data of the hit check point close to the current position. When the player character is located in the branch determination zone, the information for branch determination is used for performing the course selection determination based on the current position and the position data of the first hit check point of each branch course. An information storage medium characterized by including the following information. 9. The multi-course course set in the object space according to claim 6, wherein the multi-course course set in the object space comprises: a first course data before the bifurcation; And the course data of the first course and the course data of the second course are connected to the checkpoint data created for each course, and the check point data connected before and after each course. And the position data of the adjacent check point of the course of the course, the accompanying data includes the event data for instructing the branch determination, and the information for branch determination includes the accompanying data of the hit check point used for the hit check. Under the condition that the event data is included, the position data of the adjacent hit check point of each branch course is added to the head hit of each branch course. Read the position data of the checkpoint information standard medium, characterized in that it includes information for selecting the determination of the course. 10. The hit checkpoint sequence at the end of the first course is covered in the branch determination area of the first course on the upstream side,
And information for setting a movement restriction area for forming a branch for guiding the course to a plurality of second courses on the downstream side. The information for branch determination is a player character on the branch. An information storage medium characterized by including information for making a selection judgment of the course based on the current position of the above and the position data of the adjacent hit check point of each branch course.