| Music game device, music game system, operation object, music game program, and music game method -> Monitor Keywords |
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Music game device, music game system, operation object, music game program, and music game methodRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Player-actuated Control Structure (e.g., Brain-wave Or Body Signal, Bar-code Wand, Foot Pedal, Etc.)Music game device, music game system, operation object, music game program, and music game method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070197290, Music game device, music game system, operation object, music game program, and music game method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a music game apparatus which displays images following the motion of an operation article and the related arts. BACKGROUND ART [0002] A music conducting game apparatus is disclosed in Patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Published Application No. 2002-263360). This music conducting game apparatus is provided with a phototransmitter unit at the tip of a baton controller, and a photoreceiver unit in a lower position of a monitor. The motion of the baton controller is detected by such a configuration. [0003] When a game is started, an operation guidance image is displayed on the monitor in order to instruct the direction and timing of swinging the baton controller while the sound of music performance is output. This sound of performance is output irrespective of the manipulation of the baton controller. On the other hand, a baton responsive sound is output only when the baton controller is manipulated in accordance with the direction and timing as instructed. This baton responsive sound corresponds to fragments into which a certain performance part is divided by a predetermined length. As a result, each time the player manipulates the baton controller in accordance with the direction and diodes as instructed, the baton responsive sound corresponding thereto is output. [0004] Patent document 2 (Japanese Patent Published Application No. Hei 10-143151) discloses a conducting apparatus. In this conducting apparatus, while a mouse is manipulated in the same manner as a baton, music parameters such as a tempo, an accent and dynamics are calculated with reference to the trajectory of the mouse. Then, the music parameters as calculated are reflected in the music and image as output. For example, in the case where the motion picture of a steam train is displayed, the speed of the steam train is controlled to follow the tempo as calculated, the variation of the speed is controlled to follow the accent as calculated, and the amount of smoke of the steam train is controlled to follow the dynamics as calculated. [0005] As explained above, it is apparently the main purpose of the music conducting game apparatus of Patent document 1 that the player plays music performance. On the other hand, in the conducting apparatus of the Patent document 2, since it is the main purpose that the player plays music performance, the moving information of the mouse is converted into music parameters which are then reflected in the music and image. [0006] As has been discussed above, in the case of the conventional apparatuses having the main purpose of playing music performance by the player, the image which is displayed (a steam train in the case of the above example) is not interesting enough, and little importance is attached to such an image that can be enjoyed by the player. [0007] Furthermore, with respect to the baton controller and the mouse which are the operation articles manipulated by the player, there are the following facts. The baton controller of Patent document 1 is provided with the phototransmitter unit, and thereby it is indispensable to use an electronic circuit. Accordingly, the cost of the baton controller rises, and it can be the cause of trouble. Still further, the manipulability is degraded. Particularly, since the baton controller is used by swinging, it is desirable to dispense with an electronic circuit and simplify the configuration. In addition to this, the mouse of the Patent document 2 can be moved only on a plane surface so that there are substantial restrictions on the manipulation, and in addition to this there are the same problem as in the baton controller of Patent document 1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a music game apparatus and the related arts in which the player can enjoy images, which are displayed in synchronization with the manipulation of an operation article, together with music by manipulating the operation article having a simple structure, while automatically playing the music without relation to the player. [0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a music game apparatus operable to automatically playing music, comprises: a stroboscope operable to irradiate an operation article manipulated by a player with light in a predetermined cycle; an imaging unit operable to generate a lighted image signal and an unlighted image signal by capturing images of the operation article respectively when said stroboscope is lighted and unlighted; a differential signal generating unit operable to generate a differential signal between the lighted image signal and the unlighted image signal; a state information calculating unit operable to calculate the state information of the operation article on the basis of the differential signal; a guide control unit operable to control the display of a guide for the manipulation of a cursor, which moves in association with the operation article, in a timing on the basis of the music; a cursor control unit operable to control the display of the cursor on the basis of the state information of the operation article; and a follow-up image control unit operable to control the display of an image in accordance with guidance by the guide when the cursor is correctly manipulated by the operation article in correspondence with the guide, wherein said follow-up image control unit determines whether or not the cursor is correctly manipulated by the operation article in correspondence with the guide, on the basis of the state information of the operation article and the information about the guide. [0010] In accordance with this configuration, if the cursor is correctly manipulated in correspondence with the guide, the display of the image is controlled in accordance with the guidance by the guide. In this case, since the cursor is manipulated in correspondence with the guidance by the guide, the display of the image is controlled in accordance with the manipulation of the cursor. In other words, since the cursor moves in association with the operation article, the display of the image is controlled in accordance with the manipulation of the operation article. The state information of the operation article is obtained by capturing the image of the operation article, which is intermittently lighted by the stroboscope. Because of this, no circuit which is driven by a power supply need be provided within the operation article for obtaining the state information of the operation article. Furthermore, this music game apparatus serves to automatically play music. [0011] As a result, while automatically playing music without relation to the player, the player can enjoy, together with the music, images which are displayed in synchronization with the manipulation of the operation article by manipulating the operation article having a simple structure. [0012] Also, since the guide is controlled in the timing on the basis of music, the operation article is manipulated in synchronization with music as long as the player manipulates the cursor in correspondence with the guide. Accordingly, the player can enjoy the manipulation of the operation article in synchronization with music. [0013] In this case, the "manipulation" of the operation article means moving the operation article itself (for example, changing the position thereof), but does not mean pressing a switch, moving an analog stick, and so forth. [0014] In the above music game apparatus, the guide is operable to guide the cursor to a destination position in a manipulation timing, and wherein said follow-up image control unit is operable to control the display of the image in correspondence with the direction of the destination position as guided by the guide when the cursor is correctly manipulated by the operation article in correspondence with the guide. [0015] In accordance with this configuration, when the player manipulates the operation article in order to move the cursor to the destination position guided by the position guide in the manipulation timing guided by the guide, the display of images is controlled in correspondence with the direction toward the destination position of the cursor guided by the guide. As a result, it is possible to enjoy, together with music, the images which are synchronized with the cursor which is moving in association with the motion of the operation article. [0016] In the above music game apparatus, said state information calculating unit is operable to calculate the position of the operation article as the state information on the basis of the differential signal, and wherein said follow-up image control unit is operable to determine that the cursor, which moves in association with the operation article, is correctly manipulated in correspondence with the guide if the position of the operation article as calculated by said state information calculating unit is located in an area corresponding to the guidance by the guide within a period corresponding to the guidance by the guide. [0017] In accordance with this configuration, it is possible to determine the correctness of the manipulation of the cursor on the basis of the position of the operation article which can be calculated by a simple process. [0018] In the above music game apparatus, the guide is operable to guide the moving path, moving direction and manipulation timing of the cursor. [0019] In accordance with this configuration, when the player manipulates the operation article in order to move the cursor in the manipulation timing guided by the guide, in the moving direction guided by the guide and along the moving path guided by the guide, the display of images is controlled in correspondence with the guide. As a result, it is possible to enjoy, together with music, the images which are synchronized with the cursor which is moving in association with the motion of the operation article. [0020] In the above music game apparatus, said state information calculating unit is operable to calculate the position of the operation article as the state information on the basis of the differential signal, and wherein said follow-up image control unit is operable to determine that the cursor, which moves in association with the operation article, is correctly manipulated in correspondence with the guide if the position of the operation article as calculated by said state information calculating unit is moved through a plurality of predetermined areas guided by the guide in a predetermined order guided by the guide within a period guided by the guide. [0021] In accordance with this configuration, it is possible to determine the correctness of the manipulation of the cursor on the basis of the position of the operation article which can be calculated by a simple process. 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