MXPA00002994A - Entertainment system and supply medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A main memory (84) stores an operation guidance program for displaying an operation guidance on a display monitor (6) and enabling control members of a manual control input device (2) to emit continuous or flickering light in relation to the operation guidance. Based on a command from the manual control input device (2), a CPU (82) executes the operation guidance program stored in the main memory (84). The operation guidance program enables the control members to emit continuous or flickering light sequentially and displays an operation guidance for at least the control members which are emitting continuous of flickering light on the display monitor. Not only the operation guidance is displayed on the display monitor (6), but also visual sensations are given to the game player by controlling the control members to emit continuous or flickering light on the manual controlinput device (2).

Description

ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND MEANS OF SUPPLY TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an entertainment system that includes a video game machine for displaying an image of game characters, etc. on a display monitor to produce a video game in response to control input commands entered manually by the player through a manual control input device, a means of supplying a program and data on an operation guide for the manual control input device in relation to each video game that can be played, for an entertainment system of this type. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional video game apparatus for displaying game characters, etc. created by computer graphics (CG) systems in a display monitor such as, for example, a television receiver or the like to perform the video game each have at least one manual control input devices peculiar to the game apparatus of video in question. For example, if a user or a player plays an action game, the player moves, presses or rotates several control members in a manual control input device with fingers or hand to move some game characters or a object displayed on the screen of a display monitor. In recent years there have been a large number of game programs developed for entertainment systems that include these video game apparatus. These game programs include many action game programs, combat game programs, car racing game programs, sports game programs, etc. These game programs are supplied to the video game entertainment systems from randomly accessible recording media such as, for example, CD-ROMs, memory cards, etc. or networks. When several video games are played in accordance with the game programs, various functions are assigned to the control members in the manual control input device according to the game programs. Accordingly, different game programs are usually accompanied by respective user manuals printed which show how the characters and objects of the player are displaced when the user or player operates the control members on the manual control input device in certain ways. According to the recent trend of video games, the characters and player objects displayed move in more complex patterns than before, which requires the player to operate control members in the manual control input device according to more complex patterns as well. The user manuals must necessarily contain more explanations and instructions to teach the player how to operate the control members. The player often finds that the user's manual is tedious to read before playing the video game or when playing it. One way to replace the printed user's guide is to provide the player with a voice guidance to provide the player with audible training details. However, the voice guidance is not effective because access to any desired point of the guide is not easy or fast, and the player must be in a quiet environment in order to properly understand the voice guidance. According to an alternative scheme, an operations guide is displayed on the display monitor to provide the player with a visual aid to understand the instructions of the game. The visual operation guide presented only on the display monitor is not sufficient to allow the player to easily understand how to operate control members in complex patterns. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a supply means for supplying a program of operation and data guidance to display an operation guide on a display monitor and also to visualize a visual guidance on a manual control input device for offer visual sensations to the user or player in relation to the operation guide, and an entertainment system supplied with the operation guidance program and data from the supply means to allow the user or player to visually recognize the operation guide on the display monitor and the manual control input device to carry out the video game. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION An entertainment system in accordance with the present invention includes a manual control input device for inputting control commands, the manual control input device has several control members, a display monitor for displaying an image of game, a video game machine for generating an image of a game character to be displayed on the display monitor in response to control commands entered by the manual control input device to carry out the video game, a means memory for storing an operation guide program for displaying an operation guide on the display monitor and for allowing the control members of the manual control input device to emit a continuous or blinking light, and a processing device for executing the operation guide program stored in the memory medium based on commands of c ontrol entered by the manual control input device. A supply means in accordance with the present invention provides a program of operation and data guidance to display an operation guide on a display monitor and to allow control members of a manual control input device to emit light, i.e. , continuous or blinking light, in relation to the operation guide. The operation and data guide program can not only display the operation guide on the display monitor, but also produce a visual guide to offer visual sensations to the user by controlling the control members e? the sense that they emit continuous or blinking light in the manual control input device. An entertainment system supplied with the operation and data guidance program allows the user to visually recognize an operation guide for performing a video game on both the display monitor and the manual control input device. The aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention they are shown by way of illustrative example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a view of a video game apparatus as an entertainment system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a circuit arrangement of the video game apparatus; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a manual control input device of the video game apparatus; Figure 4 is a plan view of the manual control input device illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of a control member of the manual control input device; Figure 6 is a plan view in another control member of the manual control input device; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a specific control member structure; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of another specific control member structure; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a video game machine of the video game apparatus; Figure 10 is a block diagram of a circuit arrangement of the video game machine; Figure 11 is a flow chart of an operation sequence of the video game apparatus; Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a guiding process in the operation sequence illustrated in Fig. 11; Figures 13A to 13C are views of images displayed on a display monitor when the guidance process illustrated in Figure 12 is executed; Figure 14 is a flow diagram of an operation sequence that is carried out by the manual control input device when the guidance process illustrated in Figure 12 is executed; Fig. 15 is a view showing the manner in which the control member of the manual control input device emits continuous or blinking light; Figures 16A to 16C are views of other images displayed on the display monitor when the guidance process illustrated in Figure 12 is executed; Figures 17A to 17C are views of other images displayed on the display monitor when the guiding process illustrated in Figure 12 is executed; Figure 18 is a view of an image displayed on the display monitor, illustrating another guidance process; Figure 19 is a flow diagram of another guide process; Figure 20 is a view of a command selection image displayed when the guidance process illustrated in Figure 19 is executed; Figure 21 is a view of a data table referenced when the guiding process illustrated in Figure 19 is executed; Figures 22A to 22C are views of images displayed on the display monitor when the guiding process illustrated in Figure 19 is executed; and Figure 23 is a view of a specific example of IDs as well as continuous or blinking light information of control members of the manual control input device. PREFERRED MODE OF THE INVENTION Next with reference to the drawings, a modality will be described in which an entertainment system according to the present invention is applied to a video game apparatus for playing a video game, and an embodiment in the which means of supply according to the present invention is applied to a supply means where a program and data executed by the video game apparatus are registered. As shown in Figure 1, a video game apparatus 1 comprises a manual control input device 2, a video game machine 4 for reading a game program in response to the control action by the user entered. through the manual control input device 2 and that generates a game character or characters and a background image in accordance with the CG-based image processing, for example, and a display monitor 6 such as a receiver television or the like to display the game character or characters and the background image generated by the video game machine 4. The manual control input device 2 and the video game machine 4 are connected to each other through a cable 3, and the video game machine 4 and the display monitor 6 are connected to each other through a cable 5. Alternatively, control and data signals can be transmitted between the manual control input device 2, the video game machine 4, and the display monitor 6 through wireless communications, instead of employing cables 3, 5. Figure 2 shows in block form a circuit arrangement of the video game apparatus 1. Particularly, details of the manual control input device 2 as well as circuit details of the video game machine 4 will be described below which will be described later. Details of the display monitor 6 will not be described because they are well known in the art and have no direct relevance to the present invention. The manual control input device 2 comprises several switches 20?, 202, 20n having respective control members 200 ?, 2002, 200n such as buttons, levers, etc., a parallel I / O interface (PIO) 21 to be supplied with control signals from the switches 20 ?, 202, 20n, an in-chip IC-computer 22 including a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM) manufactured on a single chip, a serial interface AND / OR (CIO) 23 for performing serial communication with the video game machine 4, and a motor gear 24 for supplying a pulse current to a drive motor 25 for vibrating the control input device 2 manual based on a vibration generation command adaptively issued from the video game machine 4. The switches 20 ?, 202,, 20n include, in addition to the control members 200 ?, 2002,, 200n, respective amplifiers 201 ?, 2012,, 201n to amplify the signals of impulse to allow the control members 200-L, 2002,, 200n to emit a continuous or blinking light, and respective light emitting elements 202? 2022,, 202n as for example light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for example, for emitting light through the control members 200 ?, 2002,, 200n based on the amplified pulse signals from the amplifiers 200 ?, 2002,, 200n.

The video game machine 4 has an SIO 41 to carry out serial communication with the manual control input device 2. When a connector 7 is connected to the video game machine 4, the SIO 41 and the SIO 23 of the manual control input device 2 are connected to each other through the connector 7 for bidirectional serial communication between the manual control input device 2 and the video game machine 4. The video game machine 4 it also has an energy supply 42 for applying a power supply voltage to the drive impeller 24 of the manual control input device 2. A game program read on the video game machine 4 contains a process for selecting a video game or an operation guide. If the operation guide is selected, then the display monitor ß displays the operation guide, and the control members 200x, 2002,, 200n emit a continuous or blinking light relative to the operation guide displayed to provide the user or to the player a visual guide based on visual sensations produced by the continuous or blinking light emitted. The game program also contains a process that displays the operation guide on the display monitor 6 when the operation guide is selected, allows the 200? 2002,, 200n control members of the manual control input device 2 to emit a continuous or blinking light in relation to the operating guide displayed to provide the user or the player with a visual guide based on the visual sensations produced by the continuous or blinking light emitted. Before describing structural details to allow the control members 200 ?, 2002,, 200n to emit a continuous or blinking light, the appearance and components of the manual control input device 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. and 4. As shown in Figure 3, the manual control input device 2 has a frame 53 comprising an upper member 51 and a lower member 52 connected and joined together by means of fasteners such as, for example, screws . A pair of first and second grips 54, 55 project from one side of respective assumed ends of the frame 53. The first and second grips 54, 55 have a shape such that they can be grasped in the palms of the left and right hands of the user or player when the manual control input device 2 is connected to the video game machine 4 and the video game is played through this. The first and second grips 54, 55 are progressively spaced apart from each other towards their distal and downwardly sloping ends of the frame 53. To allow the player to grasp the first and second grips 54, 55 comfortably for a long period of time, the first and second grips 54, 55 are tapered from their attachment to the frame 53 to their distal ends, and have external arc-shaped peripheral surfaces and arc-shaped distant end surfaces. The manual control input device 2 has a first control pad 57 positioned at one end of the frame 53 and comprises from the first to the fourth control member 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d that they can be depressed. The first to fourth oppressive control members 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d project on a top surface of the frame 53 and are arranged in a cross pattern. The first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d are integrally formed with an angularly supported mobile control body for angular movement about its center, and positioned around the center of the angularly mobile control body. The first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 56a, 56b, 56c, 5βd are integrally connected to each other by the angularly mobile control body. The first control pad 57 includes switch elements as input signal elements associated respectively with the first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 56a, 56b, 5ßc, 56d. The first control pad 57 functions as a controller to control the direction of movement of a character or game object (hereinafter collectively referred to as the displayed character) displayed on the display monitor screen 6. When the player selectively presses the first to the fourth oppressive control member 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d to turn on or off switch elements associated respectively with the first to fourth oppressive control members 56a, 5b, 56c, 56d, the displayed character moves in the corresponding direction the oppressed control member oppressed 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d. The manual control input device 2 also has a second control pad 60 placed at the other end of the frame 53 and comprising the first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d. The first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d are projected onto the upper surface of the frame 53 and are arranged in a cross pattern. The first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d are constructed as independent members, and associated with respective switch elements placed on the second control pad 60. The second control pad 60 serves as a unit Function establishment / realization to establish a function for a displayed character and perform a function of a displayed character. Specifically, when the player selectively presses the first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d, the corresponding element of the switch elements is activated to establish a function for a displayed character and perform a function of the displayed character, said function is assigned to the corresponding switch element. The manual control input device 2 also has a third control pad 61 and a fourth control pad 62 positioned respectively at opposite corners defined between the frame 53 and the distal ends of the first grip 54 and the second grip 55 attached to the frame 53 The third control pad 61 and the fourth control pad 62 have respective rotating control members 63, 64 that rotate 360 ° around control levers, and respective signal input elements such as for example variable resistors or the like which can to be operated by the rotary control members 63, 64, respectively. Specifically, the rotary control members 63, 64 are mounted on the tips of the control levers normally focused to return to their neutral positions through pressure members, and can rotate 360 ° about the axes of the control levers. The third control pad 61 and the fourth control pad 62 can move a displayed character while rotating said character or while changing its speed, and can carry out an analog type action such as changing the shape of a displayed character, when the player rotates the rotary control members 63, 64. Accordingly, the third control pad 61 and the fourth control pad 62 are used as a control unit to send commands for a displayed character in order to perform the movement or action. Alternatively, the third control pad 61 and the fourth control pad 62 can be used as a control unit to move a character visualized in an analogical way in a two-dimensional space of a signature related to the way in which the player handles an object represented by the displayed character. The manual control input device 2 also has a fifth control pad 65 and a sixth control pad 66 positioned on one side of the remote frame 53 of the first grip 54 and second grip 55 and positioned respectively on the opposite ends of the frame 53. The fifth control pad 65 and the sixth control pad 66 have respective pairs of oppressive control members 67a, 67b and 68a, 68b and respective switch elements associated respectively with the oppressive control members 67a, 67b and 68a, 68b. The fifth control pad 65 and the sixth control pad 66 serve as a function setting / embodiment unit to establish a function for a displayed character and perform a function of a displayed character and perform a function of a displayed character. Specifically, when the player selectively presses the oppressive control members 67a, 67b and 68a, 68b the corresponding switch element of the switch elements is activated to establish a function for a displayed character and perform a function of a displayed character, said function is assigned to the corresponding switch element. As shown in Figure 4, the manual control input device 2 has a start switch 69 and a selection switch 70 positioned in parallel positions between the first control pad 57 and the second control pad 60 on the surface upper frame 53. The boot switch 69 starts the video game when it is pressed, and the selection switch 70 selects a difficulty level of the video game. The manual control input device 2 also has a mode selection switch 71 and a mode indicator 72 positioned between the third control pad 61 and the fourth control pad 62 on the upper surface of the frame 53. The selection switch in mode 71 selects a control mode of the third control pad and fourth control pad 61, 62 when depressed, and the mode indicator 72 indicates a selected control mode of the third control pad 61 and fourth control pad 62. The mode indicator 72 comprises a light emitting element, such as an LED or the like. When the mode selection switch 71 is depressed, you can select a control mode to allow a command signal to be input from the third control pad 61 and the fourth control pad 62 or a control mode to prevent a command signal is input from the third control pad 61 and fourth control pad 62. When the mode selection switch 71 is depressed, it can also select a control mode to allow the input of a command signal from the third control pad and fourth control pad 62 and for selecting the function of the first to fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d of the second control pad 60 or the function of the oppressive control members 67a, 67b and 68a , 68b of the fifth control pad 65 and sixth control pad 66. According to the control mode selected by the mode selection switch 71, the mode indicator 72 flashes and changes its indicator light. tion. The rotary control members 63, 64 can rotate 360 ° around the control levers. When the rotary control members 63, 64 are rotated, a central processing unit in a control system (to be described later) within the video game machine 4 acquires input data according to the rotation of the rotary control members 63 , 64, and determines a movement pattern in accordance with the acquired data. After having established a movement based on the movement pattern, the central processing unit controls a graphics generation system for moving a displayed character in accordance with the movement established based on the rotation of the rotary control members 63, 64. The control members illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 emit a continuous or blinking light with the circuit arrangement illustrated in Figure 2. For example, the first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c , 59d of the second control pad 66 illustrated in FIG. 3 are respectively associated with the switches 20l7 202, 20n illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the switches 20 ?, 202, 20n, the light-emitting elements 202i, 2022,, 202n, which are placed below the respective control members, emit a continuous or blinking light based on continuous light impeller signals or blinking light generated under the control of the central processing unit in the video game machine 4, that is, generated when the game program is executed by the central processing unit. The continuous or flashing light emitted passes through the first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d. Accordingly, the player sees whether the first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d emit steady or blinking light. In fact, each of the first, second, third, fourth oppressive control members 59a, 59b, 59c, 59d is constructed as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, or 8. Figure 5 shows a member structure. control wherein the control member also performs a light duty function that includes a portion for emitting an opalescent light. As shown in Figure 5, the control member has a molded circular base of transparent plastic that includes a triangular area 100 coated in an opalescent color and a remaining area 101 coated in an ornamental color. Figure 6 shows the structure of a control member in which a ring-shaped pattern is illuminated around the control member. As shown in Figure 6, a ring-shaped area around the control member is molded of transparent polycarbonate and serves as a light guide in the form of a ring-shaped illuminated area 102. The control member structure illustrated in FIG. Figure 6 preferably incorporates a single light source. Other control member structures are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. Each of the control member structures illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 comprises a flexible key 104 and a key cover 103, of a conventional nature, molded of elastomer and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) and combined in a control member 110 in accordance with double molding. In double molding, two parts of material are molded simultaneously in a mold. Specifically, the key cover 103 of ABS and the flexible key 104 of elastomer are molded simultaneously in a mold, such that the key cover 103 and the flexible key 104 are integrally combined with each other. The flexible key 104 serves as a light guide for illuminating the key cover 103 with a light guided through the flexible key 104. As shown in figures 7 and 8, a plurality of LEDs 108a, 108b are placed around a switch 107 on a printed circuit board 105. When the switch 107 is depressed by a pressure device 106 mounted at a lower end of the control member 110, the LEDs 108a, 108b emit a continuous or blinking light. Accordingly, when the control member 101 is depressed, a continuous or blinking light emitted by the LEDs 108a, 108b passes through a flexible key 104 as a light guide to the key cover 103. The player can thus see if the control member 101 itself emits a continuous or blinking light. The key cover 103 can be made of PC (polycarbonate) instead of ABS. Details of a structure and operation of the video game machine 4 will be described below with reference to figures 9 and 10. The video game machine 4 has a substantially rectangular box housing a disk loading unit 75 in a manner substantially central for loading an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or the like as a registration means for supplying the game program. The box supports a reset switch 76 for resetting the video game, a power supply switch 77, and a disk control switch 78 for controlling the loading of the optical disk in the disk loading unit 75., and has two slots 79a, 79b. Two manual control input devices 2 may be connected to the respective slots 79a, 79b in such a way that the video game can be played on the video game machine 4 by two users or players. A memory card device and a portable electronic device may also be connected to the slots 79a, 79b. The video game machine 4 may have more or less than two slots 79a, 79b. As shown in Figure 10, the video game machine 4 has a control system 81 connected to a system bus 80, and a graphics generation system 86, a sound generation system 91, and a system optical disc control 95 connected to the control system 81 through a system bus 80. The manual control input device 2 inputs user or player commands through the SIO 41 (see figure 2) to the gaming machine of video 4. The optical disk control system 95 has an optical disk drive 96 where, for example, a CD-ROM according to the present invention is loaded. The CD-ROM stores a program and data to provide an operation guide in order to explain the functions of the control members of the manual control input device 2 while causing the control member to emit a continuous or blinking light in the display monitor 6, and also to cause the corresponding control members to emit a continuous or blinking light in the manual control input device 2 to thereby produce visual sensations for the player.

The control system 81 controls the movement of a character displayed based on the program and data from the CD-ROM and commands input from the manual control input device 2. The control system 81 comprises a central processing unit 82 , a peripheral device driver 83 for effectively interrupting control and for controlling direct memory access data (DMA) transfer, a main memory 84 comprising a random access memory (RAM), and a read-only memory ( ROM) 85 which stores various programs such as an operating system for operating the graphics generation system 86, the sound generation system 91, etc. At least the game program may be executed in the main memory 84. The central processing unit 82 executes the operating system stored in the read-only memory 85 to control the video game apparatus 1 in its entirety and comprises a RISC- 32-bit CPU, for example. Details of operation of the central processing unit 82 will be described later. When the video game machine 4 is turned on, the CPU 82 executes an operation system stored in the read-only memory 85 for initial control of the graphics generation system 86, the sound generation system 91, etc. When the operating system is executed, the central processing unit 82 initializes the video game apparatus 301 in its entirety to confirm its operation, and then controls the optical disk controller 95 to execute an application program, such as the game of video, registered on the optical disc. As the application program is executed, the central processing unit 82 controls the graphics generation system 86, the sound generating system 91, etc., according to the instructions entered from the player to control in this way the visualization of images and the generation of musical sounds and sound effects. While the video game progresses, the central processing unit 82 allows the manual control input device 2 to emit a continuous or blinking light in relation to the emission of a continuous or blinking light of a character or game object displayed in the display monitor 6. The graphics generation system 86 comprises a geometry transfer engine (GTE) 87 for carrying out coordinate transformations and other processing, a graphics processing unit (GPU) 88 for graphically displaying data from compliant image with commands from the central processing unit 82, a frame buffer 889 for storing image data graphically represented by the graphics processing unit 88, and an image decoder 90 for decoding compressed and encoded image data by an orthogonal transformation, for example a discrete cosine transformation. The GTE 87 has a parallel arithmetic mechanism to carry out several arithmetic operations in parallel between them, and can carry out coordinate transformations and light source calculations and calculate matrices or vectors at high speed in response to a request coming from of the central processing unit 82. Specifically, the GTE 87 can calculate the coordinates of a maximum of 1.5 million polygons per second in the case of a flat shading process to plot a triangular polygon with a color, for example. With the GTE 87, the video game machine 4 can reduce the load on the central processing unit 82 and carry out high speed coordinate calculations. In accordance with a graphic image representation command from the central processing unit 82, the graphics processing unit 88 when graphically representing a polygon or the like in the frame buffer 89. The graphics processing unit 88 may represent graphically a maximum of 360 thousand polygons per second. The buffer 89 comprises a double port random access memory, and is capable of simultaneously storing image data graphically represented by the graphics processing unit 88 or image data transferred from the main memory 84, and reading image data for viewing. The frame buffer 89 has a storage capacity of 1 Mbytes, for example, and is handled as a 16-bit array consisting of a horizontal row of 1024 pixels and a vertical column of 512 pixels. The frame controller 89 has a display area for storing image data to be produced as video output data, a color search table area (CLUT) for storing a CLUT to which reference will be made by the graphics processing unit 88 when graphically representing a polygon or the like, and a texture area for storing texture data to be subjected to coordinate transformations when graphically represents a polygon in a polygon graphically represented by the graphics processing unit 88. The CLUT area and the texture area vary dynamically as the display area varies. The graphics processing unit 88 is able to develop, in addition to the flat shading process, a Gouraud shading process to predetermine colors in a polygon by interpolating its intensities from the colors of the vertices of the polygon, and a process of graphic representation of texture to graphically represent texture data stored in the texture area in a polygon. For the Gouraud shading process of the graphic texture representation process, the GTE 87 can calculate the coordinates of a maximum of 500 thousand polygons per second. The image decoder 90 is controlled by the central processing unit 82 for decoding image data of a moving or static image stored in the main memory 84, and for storing the decoded image in the main memory 84. The reproduced image data by the image decoder 90 are transferred to the frame buffer 89 by the graphics processing unit 88, and can be used as a background for an image graphically represented by the graphics processing unit 88. The sound generation system 91 comprises a sound processing unit (SPU) 92 for generating musical sounds, sound effects, etc., based on commands from the central processing unit 82, a sound buffer 93 for storing waveform data from of the sound processing unit 92, and a speaker 94 to produce musical sounds, sound effects, etc. ., generated by the sound processing unit 92.

The sound processing unit 92 has an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential PCM) function for reproducing 16-bit audio data encoded as 4-bit differential audio data per ADPCM, a playback function for reproducing the stored waveform data in the sound buffer 93 for the purpose of generating sound effects, etc., and a modulation function for modulating and reproducing the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 93. With these functions, the sound generation 91 can be used as a source of sampling sounds that generates musical sounds, sound effects, etc., based on the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 93 in accordance with commands from the unit processing center 82. The optical disk controller 95 comprises an optical disk unit 96 for reproducing programs and data recorded on a disk optical as for example a CD-ROM or the like, a decoder 97 for decoding programs and data recorded with an added error correction code (ECC), and a buffer 98 for temporarily storing data read from the optical disk drive 96 in order to allow data from the optical disk to be read at high speed. A central processing unit 99 is connected to the decoder 97. Sound data recorded on the optical disc that is read by the optical disc unit 96 includes PCM data converted from analog sound signals, in addition to the ADPCM data. The ADPCM data, recorded as differential data of 4 bits of 16-bit digital data, is decoded by the decoder 97, supplied to the sound processing unit 92., converted there into analog data, and applied to drive the horn 94. The PCM data, recorded as 16-bit digital data, is decoded by the decoder 97, and then applied to drive the horn 96. The optical disc drive 96 reads the program to provide the operation guide based on visual sensations from the CD-ROM which is a specific example of the supply means in accordance with the present invention. The decoder 97 then decodes the program read in this way by the optical disc unit 96. In order to display the operation guide on the display monitor 6 and to allow the control members of the manual control input device 2 emitting a continuous or blinking light in relation to the operation guide displayed, it is necessary that the video game machine 4 execute a program of operation and data guide, in addition to a game and data program. The operation guidance program will be described below. The operation guide program is included in the game program and is executed when it is selected by the user or the player. The game program can be supplied from an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or distributed from a network. In the following description, it is considered that the game program is read from a CD-ROM in the video game machine 4. An operation sequence of the video game apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to the figure 11. In step Sl, the central processing unit 82 of the video game machine 4 reads the game program from the CD-ROM, stores the game program in the main memory (RAM) 84, and executes the game program. The central processing unit 82 displays an image asking the player to select (1) the execution of a video game or (2) an operation guide on the display monitor 6 in step S2. Then, the central processing unit 82 decides whether the execution of the video game is selected or not in step S3. If the execution of a video game is selected, then the control proceeds to step S4, and the central processing unit 82 executes the video game. If the execution of the video game is not selected, then the control proceeds to step S5. In step S 5, the central processing unit 82 decides whether an operation guide is selected or not. If an operation guide is selected, then the control proceeds to step S6, and the central processing unit executes the operation guide. If an operation guide is not selected, then control returns to step S2. The execution of the operation guide in step S6 will be described in detail below with reference to figure 12. After the operation guide is finished, the control proceeds to step S7 where the central processing unit 82 suggests to the player that repeat the operation guide one more time or finish the operation guide. Then, the operation sequence illustrated in Fig. 11 ends. The execution of the operation guide in step S6 comprises a succession of steps illustrated in Fig. 12. In step Sil, the central processing unit 82 displays a global image (for example, a plan view) of the manual control input device 2 on a display screen 6a (see FIG. 1) of the display monitor 6, as shown in FIG. 13A. In Figure 13A, the control members of the second control pad 60 are collectively indicated by Bl, the selection switch 70 by B2, the start switch 69 by B3, the third control pad 61 by B5, and the fourth cushion of control 62 by B6. Accordingly, the control members and switches of the manual control input device 2 are generally indicated by Bi. In step S12, the central processing unit 82 establishes "i" of Bi in 1. After, as shown in Fig. 13B, the central processing unit 82 controls the displayed control members Bl where 1 to emit a continuous or blinking light on the display screen 6a of the display monitor 6 in step S13. In step S14, the central processing unit 82 displays the explanation of the function of the control members Bl emitting a continuous or blinking light on the display screen 6a in a comment area 6b, as shown in FIG. 13C . In step S15, the central processing unit 82 sends the ID and continuous or blinking light information of the control members Bl to the manual control input device 2. Then, the microcomputer 22 of the manual control input device executes a sequence of operations illustrated in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 14, if the ID and blinking continuous light information of the control members Bl are input to Starting from the video game machine 4 in step S21, then the control proceeds to the step S22 where the microcomputer 22 reads the ID and the continuous or blinking light information of the control members Bl. In step S23, the microcomputer 22 supplies a pulse signal to the control members Bl represented by the ID to enable the control members Bl to emit a continuous or flickering light. Specifically, in Fig. 2, the microcomputer 22 supplies the impulse signal to corresponding elements of the light emitting elements 202? 2022, ...., 202n of the switches 20 ?, 202,, 20n through the amplifiers 201 ?, 2012, 201n. In step S24, the control members Bl emit a continuous or blinking light for a predetermined period of time. In Figure 15, the control members of the manual control input device 2 corresponding to the control members Bl displayed on the display screen 6a are illustrated by emitting a continuous or blinking light. Referring again to FIG. 12, the processing of step S13 is repeated until it reaches a predetermined number n in steps S16, S17. If "i" = n in step S16, then the operation guide illustrated in FIG. 12 ends. Images displayed on the display screen 6a in the processing from step S13 after "i" = 5 in step S17 they are shown in Figures 16A to 16C. Figure 16A shows a global image of the manual control input device 2 displayed on the display screen 6a of the display monitor 6. Figure 16B shows the third control pad B5 which emits a continuous or blinking light in step S13. Figure 16C shows the explanation of the function of the third control pad B5 which emits a continuous or blinking light on the display screen 6a in the comment area 6b in step S14. Then, the central processing unit 82 sends the ID and blinking continuous light information of the third control pad D5 to the manual control input device 2 in step S15. Then, the control passes to the operation sequence illustrated in Figure 14, where the microcomputer 22 enables the corresponding third control pad 61 of the manual control input device 2 to emit a continuous or blinking light for a predetermined period of time . In step S13 illustrated in figure 12, after visualization of the control members Bl where "i" = 1 on the display 6a as shown in figure 16A, one (e.g., b51) of the members control b51, b52, b53, b54 (see FIG. 17A) can be controlled to emit a continuous or blinking light as shown in FIG. 17B, and the explanation of control member b51 can be displayed in observation area 6b as it is shown in figure 17C. The display of the continuous or blinking emission of light and the explanation is then repeated in relation to the remaining control members b52, b53, b54. This display mode is especially effective for control pads comprising a plurality of control members such as for example, the first control pad 59 and the second control pad 60. Figure 18 illustrates another guide process for carrying out an operation guide for the manual control input device 2. In accordance with the guidance process illustrated in Figure 18, only control members are displayed on the display screen 6a, and the user or player can select a desired member among the displayed control members. When a visualized control member is selected by the player, his explanation is displayed in the comment area 6b. A pulse signal for emitting a continuous or blinking light can be sent to the manual control input device 2 at any desired time to enable the selected control member in order to emit a continuous or blinking light in synchronization with the display of the Explanation. The guiding process illustrated in Fig. 18 can be carried out in accordance with an operation sequence illustrated in Fig. 19. In the operation sequence illustrated in Fig. 19, commands illustrated in Fig. 20 are displayed on the display screen 6a of the display monitor 6. If one of the displayed commands is selected by the player in step S31, then the control proceeds to step 32 where data corresponding to the selected command is read from a data table illustrated in Figure 21. The data table illustrated in Figure 21 contains the commands and types of control members and their sequences in association with the commands. The data table is read together with the game program in the main memory (RAM) 84 of the video game machine 4. In step S33, corresponding control members are displayed on the display screen 6a as shown in 22A and sequentially emit a continuous or blinking light, and the selected command is displayed in the comment area 6b. If referring to a complex control action such as successively pressing control members, then the number of times each of the control members must be oppressed can also be visualized as shown in Figure 22B. If control members must be simultaneously oppressed, then these control members that must be oppressed simultaneously can be visualized as shown in Figure 22C. In step S34, the central processing unit 82 sends the ID and continuous or blinking light information of the control members to the manual control input device 2. A specific example of the ID and blinking continuous light information sent from the central processing unit 82 is illustrated in FIG. 23. In step S35, the central processing unit 82 decides whether other control members require to emit continuous or blinking light in the display 6a and also in the input device 2 of manual control. If other control members should emit a continuous or blinking light, then the control returns to step S33. If no other control member requires to emit a continuous or blinking light, then the sequence of operation illustrated in Figure 19 comes to an end. With the video game apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention, in accordance with what is described above, the game program is explained not only through the user's manual but also through visual sensations provided to the player by controlling the the control members to produce a continuous or blinking light in the display screen 6a and also in the manual control input device 2. Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention were illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that several changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS An entertainment system comprising: a manual control input device (2) for inputting control commands, said manual control input device having several control members; a display monitor (6) for displaying an image of said manual control input device (2); and a control device that responds to the emission of a continuous or blinking light from one or more of the control members in the displayed image of said manual control input device (2), to provide the corresponding energy to one or several of the control members of said manual control input device (2) to emit a continuous or blinking light in synchrony with said continuous or blinking light emission.
2. An entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises means for controlling said display monitor (6) to display, in addition to the image of said manual control input device (2), a guidance of operation for said control member or said selected control members within the control members that emit continuous or blinking light.
3. An entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein said control member or said control members that emit a continuous or blinking light are selected by a user through said manual control input device (2).
4. An entertainment system according to claim 3, wherein said control means comprises means for controlling said display monitor (6) to display a sequence of operations to control members to execute a command, selected by the user, among several commands displayed on said display monitor (6), and to allow the control members in the displayed image of said manual control input device (2) and corresponding control members of said manual control input device (2) to emit a continuous or blinking light in synchrony between them.
5. An entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a means for controlling said display monitor (6) to display a sequence of operations to execute programs as an operation guide based on a selection made by the party. of the user, and to enable control members in the displayed image of said manual control input device (2) and corresponding control members of said manual control input device (2) so as to emit a continuous or blinking light in synchronization between them in accordance with said sequence of operations.
6. An entertainment system comprising: a manual control input device (2) for inputting control commands, said manual control input device having several control members; a display monitor (6) for viewing a game image; a video game machine (4) for generating an image of a game character to be displayed on said display monitor (6) in response to control commands entered by said manual control input device (2) to proceed with a video game; a memory means (84) for storing an operation guidance program for displaying an operation guide on said display monitor (6) and allowing said control members of said manual control input device (2) to emit a light continuous or blinking; and a processing means (82) for executing said operation guidance program stored in said memory means (84) based on control commands entered from said manual control input device (2).
7. 7. An entertainment system according to claim 6, wherein said processing means (82) comprises means for producing a control signal to allow said control means of said manual control input device (2) to emit a continuous light or blinking.
8. 8. An entertainment system according to claim 6, further comprising a registration means (96) storing said operation guidance program, wherein said memory means (84) reads said operation guidance program from said registration means (96) and stores the program of Operation guide read.
9. An entertainment system according to claim 6, further comprising a communication means (41) for communicating with a source, wherein said memory means (84) reads said operation guidance program through said means of communication. communication (41) and stores the operation guide program read.
10. An entertainment system according to claim 6, wherein said memory means (84) stores a program for enabling said control members to emit a continuous or flashing light sequentially and to display an operation guide for at least the control members that are emitting a continuous or blinking light on said display monitor (6).
11. An entertainment system according to claim 6, wherein said memory means (84) stores a program for displaying only said control members on said display monitor (6) and for displaying an operation guide for at least one of the control members that is selected by a user on said display monitor (6).
12. An entertainment system according to claim 6, wherein said memory means (84) stores a program for displaying on said display monitor (6), an operation sequence for control members to execute a command selected by the user among several commands displayed on said display monitor (6).
13. 13. A supply means for supplying an operation and data guidance program to respond to the emission of continuous or blinking light from one or more of the control members in an image of a manual control input device (2) which is visualized by a display monitor (6), to provide power corresponding to one or more of the control members of said manual control input device (2) to emit a continuous or flashing light in synchrony with said continuous or blinking light emission.
14. 14. A supply means according to claim 13, wherein said operation guide program enables said display monitor (6) to display, in addition to the image of said manual control input device (2), a guide of operation for said control member or said control members that emit a continuous or blinking light.
15. 15. A supply means according to claim 13, wherein said control means or said selected control members within the control members emitting a continuous or blinking light are selected by the user through said input device. of manual control (2).
16. 16. A supply means according to claim 15, wherein said operation guidance program enables said monitor (6) to display a sequence of operations for control members to execute a command selected by the user from among several commands displayed in said command. display monitor (6), and enabling control members in the displayed image of said manual control input device (2) and corresponding control members of said manual control input device (2) to emit a continuous light or Flashing in sync between them. .
17. A supply means according to claim 13, wherein said operation guidance program enables said display monitor (6) to display an operation sequence for executing a program as an operation guide based on a selection made by the user , and enables control members in the displayed image of said device manual control input (2) and corresponding control members of said manual control input device (2) so that they emit a continuous or flashing light in synchronization between them in accordance with said operation sequence. .
18. A supply means for supplying a data and operation guidance program for a manual control input device (2) for use in a video game made by a video game machine (4) by displaying a character of play on a display monitor (6) in response to control commands entered by the manual control input device (2), said operation guidance program comprises a program for displaying an operation guide on said display monitor (6) and enabling control members of said manual control input device (2) to emit a continuous light or flashing in relation to said operation guide.
19. 19. A supply means according to claim 18, wherein said operation guidance program includes a routine for enabling said control members to emit a continuous or flashing light sequentially and to display an operation guide for at least the members of control that are emitting a continuous or blinking light on said display monitor (6).
20. 20. A supply means according to claim 18, wherein said operation guidance program includes a routine for displaying only said control members on said display monitor (6) and for displaying an operation guide for at least one of the control members selected by a user on said display monitor (6).
21. 21. A supply means according to claim 18, wherein said operation guidance program includes a program for displaying, in said display monitor (6) an operation sequence for control members to execute a command selected by a user between several commands displayed on said display monitor (6).