GB2363584A

GB2363584A - Vibrating game controller for computer game system.

Info

Publication number: GB2363584A
Application number: GB0121324A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Satoshi Nishiumi; Kazuo Koshima; Keizo Ohta
Original assignee: Nintendo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nintendo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-07-17
Filing date: 1998-07-10
Publication date: 2002-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-10
Also published as: GB0121324D0; GB2363584B

Abstract

A computer video game system includes a vibrating controller. A CPU detects a vibration generating condition when a player collides with or contacts an enemy or stationary object. Upon detection of the vibration generating condition, a vibration source in the controller is driven to generate vibration of the controller.

Description

2363584

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Video Game System BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

This invention relates to video game systems More specifically, this invention relates to a novel video game system having a vibration source provided within a controller to supply operating signals to a video game machine, generating vibrations in response to game images.

Description of the prior art

The conventional business-use video game machines involves so-called a bodily- sensible game machine already placed in practical use, which is adapted to cause vibration on a player's seat or tilt in the seat in order to enhance interest in a game further more.

Meanwhile, there is a controller, disclosed, e g in Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No 562-194389 laid open on December 10, 1987, which has an electromagnet arranged within a joystick lever to cause vibration on the joystick lever due to the actuation of the electromagnet It may be considered that such a game is available that vibration is transmitted to a player's hand by connecting a controller generative of vibration to a home-use video game machine.

In the prior art, however, there is no disclosure as to interrelations between the game images displayed on a display and vibration caused therefor It is therefore difficult for such a prior art to utilize for a home-use video game system Further, the above- mentioned bodily-sensible game machine is to generate vibration on the seat and cannot be utilized for a home-use video game system without having such a seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a video game system which is capable of transmitting vibration to a player in a manner related to game images.

This invention is a video game system, having a video game machine and a controller, wherein the video game machine includes a processing means for generating game images displayed on a display depending upon an operating state of the controller and according to a game program memorized in the memory medium, the controller being used in a state of being gripped by a hand of a player, and comprising: a plurality of operating switches for designating a movement or motion of a player object; a vibration source for generating mechanical vibration; and a drive circuit for driving the vibration source in response to a command signal supplied from the video game machine; the memory medium comprising: a player object image generating program for generating an image of the player object that is varied in response to operation of at least one of the operating switches; an other object image generating program for generating an image of at least one other object that is present around the player object; a vibration generating condition detecting program for detecting a vibration generating condition based on a display state of the player object image and the other object image; and a vibration control program for generating data to control the vibration source in response to detection of the vibration generating condition according to the vibration generating condition detecting program; and the processing means generating the game images according to the player object image generating program and the other object image generating program, and causing through the drive circuit the vibration source to generate, according to the vibration control program, mechanical vibration at timing synchronous with generation of frames on the display.

'' ''-, r _ This invention is a video game system, having a video game machine and a controller for supplying an operating signal thereto, wherein the controller is used in a state of being gripped by a hand of a player, and comprises a plurality of operating switches for, designating a movement or motion of a player object, a vibration source for generating mechanical vibration, and a drive circuit for driving the vibration source in response to a command signal supplied from the video game machine, the video machine, comprising: a player object image generating means for generating an image of the player object that is varied in response to operation of at least one of the operating switches; a vibration generating condition detecting means for detecting a vibration generating condition based on an operating state of the operating switches of the controller; and a vibration generating means for causing through the drive circuit the vibration source to generate mechanical vibration at timing synchronous with generation of frames on a display, in response to detection of the vibration generating condition by the vibration generating condition detecting means.

The vibration generating condition is detected depending upon a state of the player object image and other object images (e g whether they are in hitting or the like) If this condition is detected, the vibration source included in the controller is driven by the drive circuit.

Also, it is possible to generate vibration depending upon a state of the operating switches of the controller, regardless of a state of the player object and the other objects.

According to this invention, vibration can be generated by the vibration source of the controller depending upon a state of game images Accordingly, game play is possible with further realism.

The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF Tl HE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic illustrative view showing a video game system according to one embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing in detail the video game machine in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a block diagram showing in detail a controller control circuit in Figure Figure 4 is a block diagram showing in detail the controller control circuit and vibration cartridge in Figure 2; Figure 5 is an illustrative view showing in detail the vibration cartridge; Figure 6 is a circuit diagram showing a vibration generating circuit included in the vibration cartridge; Figure 7 is an illustrative view showing a memory map in an external ROM; Figure 8 is an illustrative view showing a memory map in a RAM; Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an overall operation in the Figure 1 embodiment; Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a vibration generating condition detecting subroutine; Figure 11 is a flowchart showing a hit determining subroutine; Figure 12 is a flowchart showing a vibration generating subroutine; Figure 13 is an illustrative view showing collision of a player object against an enemy object; Figure 14 is an illustrative view showing collision of the player object against a stationary object; Figure 15 is a graph showing a vibration pattern to generate intense and brier vibration; Figure 16 is a graph showing a vibration pattern to generate weak and long vibration; and Figure 17 is an illustrative view showing a memory map in the RAM of an embodiment in this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure 1, a video game system in this embodiment includes a video game machine 10, a ROM cartridge 20 as one example of a memory medium, a display 30 connected to the video game machine 10, and a controller 40 The controller 40 is detachably mounted with a vibration cartridge 50.

The controller 40 is structured by a plurality of switches or buttons provided on the housing 41 formed graspable by both or one hand Specifically, the controller 40 includes handles 41 L, 41 C, 41 R downwardly extending respectively from a left end, a right end and a center of the housing 41, providing an operating area in an upper surface of the housing 41 In the operating area, there are provided an analog-inputtable joystick (hereinafter referred to as "analog joystick") 45 at a central lower portion thereof, a cross-shaped digital direction switch (hereinafter called "cross switch") 46 on the left side, and a plurality of button switches 47 A, 47 B, 47 D, 47 E and 47 F on the right side.

The analog joystick 45 is used to input a moving direction and/or moving speed or moving amount of a player object (an object operable by a player through the controller 40) determined by the amount and direction of inclination of the joystick The cross switch 46 is used to designate a moving direction of the player object, in place of the joystick 45 The button switches 47 A and 47 B are used to designate a motion of the player object Button switches 47 C 47 D are used to switch over a visual point of a three-dimensional image camera or adjust speed or the like of the player object A start switch 47 S is provided nearly at a center of the operating area This start switch 475 is operated when starting a game A switch 47 Z is provided at a backside of the central handle 41 C This switch 47 Z is utilized, for example, as a trigger switch in a shoot game.

Switches 47 L and 47 R are provided on a side surface at upper left and right of the housing 41.

Incidentally, the above-stated button switches 47 C 47 F can also be used to control the moving speed (e g acceleration or deceleration) of the player object in a shoot or action game, besides for the purpose of switching the camera visual point However, these switches 47 A 47 F, 47 S, 47 Z, 47 L and 47 R can be arbitrarily defined in their function depending upon a game program.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the video game system of the Figure 1 embodiment.

The video game machine 10 incorporates therein a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 11 and a coprocessor (reality coprocessor: hereinafter referred to as "RCP") 12 The RCP 12 includes a bus control circuit 121 for controlling buses, a signal processor (reality signal processor; hereinafter referred to as "RSP") 122 for performing polygon coordinate transformation, shading treatment and so on, and a rendering processor (reality display processor; hereinafter referred to as "RDP") 46 for rasterizing polygon data into an image to be displayed and converting the same into a data form (dot data) memorable on a frame memory.

The RCP 12 is connected to a cartridge connector 13 for unloadably loading a ROM cartridge 20 having an external ROM 21 incorporated therein, a discdrive connector 197 for detachably mounting a disc drive 29 and a RAM 14 Also, the RCP 12 is connected with DAC (Digital/Analog Converters) 15 and 16 for respectively outputting a sound signal and video signal to be processed by the CPU 11 Further, the RCP 12 is connected with a controller control circuit 17 to serially transfer operating data on one or a plurality of controllers 40 and/or data of the vibration cartridge 50.

The bus control circuit 121 included in the RCP 12 performs parallel/serial conversion on a command supplied in a parallel signal from the CPU via a bus, to thereby supply a serial signal to the controller control circuit 18 Also, the bus control circuit 121 converts a serial signal inputted from the controller control circuit 17 into a parallel signal, giving an output to the CPU 11 via the bus The data representative of an operating state (operating signal or operating data) read out of the controller 40 A 40 D is processed by the CPU 11, and temporarily stored within a RAM 14, and so on In other words, the RAM 15 includes a storage site for temporarily memorizing the data to be processed by the CPU 11, so that it is utilized for smoothly reading and writing data through the bus control circuit 121.

The sound DAC 15 is connected with a connector 195 provided at a rear face of the video game machine 10 The image DAC 16 is connected with a connector 196 provided at the rear face of the video game machine 10 The connector 195 is connected with a speaker 31 of a display 30, while the connector 196 is connected with a display 30 such as a TV receiver or CRT.

The controller control circuit 17 is connected with a controller connector provided at the front face of the video game machine 10 The connector 18 is disconnectably connected by a controller 40 through a connecting jack The connection of the controller to the connector 18 places the controller in electrical connection to the video game machine 10, thereby enabling transmissionlreception or transfer of data therebetween.

The controller control circuit 17 is used to transmit and receive data in serial between the RCP 12 and the connector 18 The controller control circuit 17 includes, as shown in Figure 3, a data transfer control circuit 171, a transmitting circuit 172 a ('' receiving circuit 173 and a RAM 174 for temporarily memorizing tansmission and reception data The data transfer control circuit 171 includes a parallel/serial converting circuit and a serial/parallel converting circuit in order to convert a data format during data transfer, and further performs write/read control on the RAM 174 The serial/parallel converting circuit converts the serial data supplied from the RCP 12 into parallel data, supplying it to the RAM 174 or the transmitting circuit 172 The parallel/serial converting circuit converts the parallel data supplied from the RAM 174 or the receiving circuit 173 into serial data, to supply it to the RCP 12 The transmitting circuit 172 converts the command for reading signals from the controller 40 and the writing data (parallel data) to the vibration cartridge 50, into serial data to be delivered to channels CH 1 CH 4 corresponding to the respective controllers 40 The receiving circuit 173 receives, in serial data, operational state data of the controllers inputted through corresponding channels CH 1 CH 4 and data read from the vibration cartridge 50, to convert them into parallel data to be delivered to the data transfer control circuit 171 The data transfer control circuit 171 writes into the RAM 174 data transferred from the RCP 12, data of the controller received by the receiving circuit 183, or data read out of the RAM cartridge 50, and reads data out of the RAM 174 based on a command from the RCP 12 so as to transfer it to the RCP 12.

The RAM 174, though not shown, includes memory sites for the respective channels CH 1 CH 4 Each of the memory sites is stored with a command for the channel, transmitting data and/or reception data.

Figure 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of the controller 40 and the vibration cartridge 50 The housing of the controller 40 incorporates an operating signal processing circuit 44, etc in order to detect an operating state of the joystick 45, switches 46, 47, ec.

and transfer the detected data to the controller control circuit 17 The operating signal processing circuit 44 includes a receiving circuit 441, a control circuit 442, a switch signal detecting circuit 443, a counter circuit 444, a joyport control circuit 446, a reset circuit 447 and a NOR gate 448 The receiving circuit 441 converts a serial signal, such as a control simnal transmitted from the controller control circuit 17 or writing data to the vibration cartridge 50, into a parallel signal to supply it to the control circuit 442 The control circuit 442 generates a reset signal to reset ( 0), through the NOR gate 448, count values of an X-axis counter 444 X and a Y-axis counter 444 Y within the counter 444, when the control signal transmitted from the controller control circuit 17 is a signal for resetting X, Y coordinates of the joystick 45.

The joystick 45 includes X-axis and Y-axis photo-interrupters in order to decompose a lever inclination into X-axis and Y-axis components, generating pulses in number proportional to the inclination The pulse signals are respectively supplied to the counter 444 X and the counter 444 Y The counter 444 X counts a number of pulses generated in response to an inclination amount when the joystick 45 is inclined in the X- axis direction The counter 444 Y counts a number of pulses generated responsive to an inclination amount when the joystick 45 is inclined in the Y-axis direction Accordingly, the resultant X-axis and Y-axis vector determined by the count values of the counters 444 X and 444 Y serves to determine a moving direction and a coordinate position of the player object or hero character or a cursor Incidentally, the counter 444 X and the 444 Y are reset, when a reset signal is supplied from the reset signal generating circuit 447 upon turning on the power or a reset signal is supplied from the switch signal detecting circuit 443 by simultaneous depression of predetermined two switches.

The switch signai detecting circuit 443 responds to a switch-state output command supplied at an interval or a constant period (e g a 1/30 second interval as a TV frame period) from the control circuit 442 to read a signal varying depending upon a depression state of the cross switch 46 and the switches 47 A 47 Z The read signal is delivered to the control circuit 442 The control circuit 442 responds to a read-out command signal of operational state data from the controller control circuit 17 to supply in a predetermined data format the operational state data on the switches 47 A 47 Z and count values of the counters 444 X and 444 Y to the transmitting circuit 445 The transmitting circuit 445 converts the parallel signal outputted from the control circuit 442 into a serial signal, and transfer it to the controller control circuit 17 via a converting circuit 43 and a signal line 42 The control circuit 442 is connected with a joystick control circuit 446 via an address bus and a data bus as well as a port connector 46 The joyport control circuit 446 performs data input/output (or transmission/reception) control according to a command from the CPU 11 when the vibration cartridge 50 is connected to the port connector 46.

The vibration cartridge 50 is structured by connecting the RAM 51 to the address bus and data bus and connecting the RAM 51 with a battery 52 The RAM 51 is a RAM having a capacity (e g 256 k bits), for example, of lower than a half of a maximum memory capacity accessible through the address bus The RAM 51 is to store backup data in relation to a game, and keeps backup data by the application of electric power from the battery 52 even if the vibration cartridge 50 is withdrawn from the port connector 449 This vibration cartridge 50 incorporates a vibration generating circuit 53 therein.

Now the vibration cartridge will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 5.

The vibration cartridge 50 includes a case 501 and a back lid 502 attached to the case 501.

The vibration cartridge 50, formed by this case 501 and the back lid 502 is dismountablyv mounted in an opening portion of the controller 40 shown in Figure 1.

The case 501 has a substrate 503 accommodated therein On the substrate 503 are mounted, besides the afore-mentioned RAM 51 and a backup battery 52, a battery 504 and a driving circuit 505 that constitute the vibration generating circuit 53 of Figure 4.

Incidentally, the substrate 503 has a plurality of terminals 506 at an edge portion toward this so that the terminals 506 are to be connected to a connector (not shown) formed at an opening portion of the above-stated controller 40 Through these terminals 506 are received data and addresses supplied from the CPU 11 (Figure 2), that is, the controller control circuit 17 of the video game machine 10.

The back lid 502 is fixed with a vibration source 507 constituting the vibration generating circuit 53 In this embodiment, the vibration source 507 employs a motor to generate vibrations However, it is of course possible to utilize, besides a motor, other devices, such as a solenoid, for generating vibration by the application of power.

Incidentally, "FM 16 ", "FM 23 ", "F, "FM 25, "FM 29 " or "CM-5 ", etc made by Tokyo Parts Industry Co, Ltd are available as a vibration generating motor Where using an "FM" motor, an eccentric member is attached to a rotary shaft built in a cylindrical case When the rotary shaft is rotated, the eccentric member is rotated to cause vibration on the case.

When a "CM" motor is used, an armature coil is eccentrically arranged By rotating the armature, vibration is caused Incidentally, if a solenoid is used, vibration occurs due to reciprocal movement of a magnetic core provided within the solenoid.

In any of the cases, the vibration source 507 structured as above is applied by power from the battery 504 and driven by the driving circuit 505, thereby causing vibration The power consumed by the oscillation source 507 is comparatively great.

Accordingly, in this embodiment the battery 504 was provided separately from the backup battery 52 (Figure 4) Due to this, when the battery 504 is consumed, a battery lid removably fitted to the back lid 502 can be opened to allow the battery 504 to be exchanged with a new one Note that the two batteries 52 and 504 may be a same one for common use.

11 - Also, a power line may be included in a controller cable (not shown) so that power is supplied through the power line from the image processing apparatus main body or video game machine 10 via the terminals 506 to the vibration source 507 In such a case.

it is needles to say that the capacity of the power line be appropriately determined in consideration of power required for the vibration source 507.

Further, in this embodiment, the vibration source 507 was mounted on the back lid 502 so that the vibration caused by the vibration source 507 is readily delivered to a player's hand, without attenuation That is, the vibration caused by the vibration source 507 is transmitted through the back lid 502 to the opening portion of the controller 40 in contact with the back lid 502, thus vibrating the controller 40 itself As a result, the vibration caused by the vibration source 507 is transmitted to the player's hand gripping the controller 40 It is therefore possible to provide the vibration source 507 at an arbitrary position within the case 501, provided that the vibration by the vibration source 507 is transmitted through the controller 40 to the player's hand.

Incidentally, this embodiment provided the vibration source 507 in the controller by mounting the vibration cartridge 50 on the controller 40 However, the vibration generating circuit 53 (Figure 4), i e the vibration source 507, driving circuit 505, battery 504, etc may be built in the housing of the controller 40 without using a vibration cartridge 50.

Now, the driving circuit 505 constituting the vibration generating circuit 53 will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 6 Tne driving circuit 505 includes a decoder comprising a NAND gate 510 This NAND gate 510 receives address data A 2 A 14 through an address bus, i e the terminals 506 (Figure 5) from the CPU 11 (Figure 2) of the video game machine 10 In the game machine system of this embodiment when all the addresses AO A 15 are "" that is, when the CPU 11 designates an address range FFFF, a vibration mode is established to output data from the CPU 11 to drive a vibration source 507 That is, if the CPU address FFFF is designated, the output of the decoder, i e.

NAND gate 510, becomes " O " This output of the NAND gate 510 is supplied to a NAND gate 511 Since the NAND gate 511 is further supplied with a write signal- WE and a chip enable signal CE from the CPU 11, the NAND gate 511 responds to the output of the NAND gate 510 and the signals-WE and CE, to supply a latch signal to a latch 512.

Consequently, when the CPU 11 designates the FFFF address, i e in the vibration mode, the latch 512 latches CPU data DO through the data bus or terminals 506 This CPU data DO is outputted as " 1 " when vibration is to be caused by the vibration source 507, and " O " when no vibration is to be generated The latch 512 has an output connected to a base of a drive transistor 514 through a resistor 513 When the output of the latch 512 is " 1 ", the transistor 514 is turned on, whereas when the output is " O " the transistor is turned off.

The turning-on of the transistor 514 causes a drive current to flow from the battery 504 to the vibration source 507 (vibration motor) Thus, vibration is generated by the drive source 507.

Figure 7 is a memory map showing a memory space of the external ROM 21 incorporated in the ROM cartridge 20 (Figure 1) The external ROM 21, for example, includes a plurality of memory areas (hereinafter referred to merely as "area") such as a program area 22 a character code area 23, an image data area 24 and a sound memory area 25, as shown in Figure 5, thereby previously storing various program in a fixed manner.

The program area 22 is stored with programs required to process for game images, and game data and the like in accordance with a game content Specifically, the program area 22 includes memory areas 12 a 22 p to previously store operating programs for the CPU 11 in a fixed manner A main program area 22 a is stored with a main routine 13 - processing program, for example, for a game shown in Figure 9 stated later A control pad data determining program area 22 d is stored with a program for processing operational data on the controller 40 A write program area 22 c is stored with a write program by which the CPU 11 causes the RCP 12 to perform writing into a frame memory and Z buffer For example, the write program area 22 c is stored with a program to write, into an image data area 201 (Figure 8) of the RAM 14, chrominance data as image data based on texture data for a plurality of movable objects or background objects to be displayed in one background scene A move program area 22 d is stored with a control program by which the CPU 11 causes the RCP 12 to vary the position of a moving body in a three-dimensional space A camera control program area 22 e is stored with a camera control program that controls as to in which direction and/or position the movable objects including player object or the background objects are to be photographed in the three-dimensional space A player object program area 22 f is stored with a program that controls display of an object operated by the player An enemy object program area 22 g is stored with a program that controls display of an enemy object to make attacking on the player object A background program area 22 h is stored with a background creating program by which the CPU causes the RCP 12 to create a three-dimensional background scene.

The character code area 23 is an area to store a plurality of kinds of character codes, e g a plurality of kinds of character dot data corresponding to codes The character code data stored in the character code area 23 is utilized to display an instructing text to the player in the process of a game.

An image data area 24 is stored with image data, such as coordinate data of a plurality of polygons for each of the background object and/or movable objects, and texture data, and also a display control program to display these objects stationary at a predetermined position or in a moving state.

A sound memory area 25 is stored with sound data, such as phrases for outputting in sound the above message, effect sounds, game musics, etc, in a manner appropriate for a scene.

Incidentally, the memory medium or external memory device may use various kinds of memory mediums, such as CD-RO Ms or magnetic discs, in place of or in addition to the ROM cartridge 20 In such a case, a disc drive 29 (Figure 2) is provided in order to read or write, if required, various data (including program data and data for image presentation) for a game from or onto an optical or magnetical disc memory medium such as a CD-ROM or magnetic disc The disc drive 29 reads data out of a magnetic disc or optical disc magnetically or optically memorizing program data similarly to the external ROM 21, and transfer the same data to the RAM 14.

Figure 8 is a memory map showing a memory space of the RAM 14 The RAM 14 includes an image data area 201 and a program area 202 The image data area 201 includes, though not shown, a frame memory area for temporarily storing 1 frame of image data and a Z buffer area for storing the depthdata on a dot basis in the frame memory area The program data area 202 is an area for temporarily storing a program.

Tfe program data, allocated to the area (Figure 7) of the ROM 21, is temporarily memorized, as required, on the program data area 202 so that the CPU 11 and the RCP 12 (Figure 2) can proceed with a game by accessing to the program area of the RAM 14.

Similarly, the image data area 201 is an area for temporarily memorizing, as required, the image data stored in the ROM 21, which can be directly accessed by the CPU 11 or the RCP 12 That is the image data area 201 memorizes coordinate data and texture data of a olurality of polygons constituting stationary objects and/or movable objects stored for game image display, in the external ROM 21 Prior to image processing, one course or - stages of data, for example, is transferred from the external ROM 21 to the image data area 201.

A controller data memorizing area 141 temporarily memorizes operating state data representative of an operating state read from the controller 40.

Also, a flag/register area 142 sets a flag as required or memorizes a variable or constant while the CPU 11 is executing a program The flags that can be set in this flag/register area 143 includes a vibration game flag F 1, a hit flag F 2, a preceding-fr-ame flag F 3 and a vibration flag F 4.

The vibration game flag F 1 is to represent as to whether a game now being played includes a scene that vibration is to be generated by the vibration source 507 of the vibration cartridge 50 The vibration game flag F 1 is set at " 1 " when such a scene exists, and " O " for a case other than that case The hit flag F 2 is set at " 1 " when two objects becomes collision or contact due to a hit determining routine (Figure 11) stated later, and " O " for a case other than that case The preceding-frame F 3-is to set whether the hit flag F 2 is set to " 1 " at a frame previous by 1 frame on the display 30, that is, whether two objects came into collision or contact with each other at an immediately preceding frame.

The preceding frame F 3 is set at " 1 " when a hit determination is made at the immediately preceding frame, and " O " for a case other than that case The vibration flag F 4 is set at " 1 " when vibration is to be generated by the vibration source 507, and " O " for a case other than that case.

A variable n_add is an increment value for each frame, to increase a count value n of a counter CT in a vibration generating condition detecting routine (Figure 10) stated after, while a variable naddm is a value varied by the increment value n_add The counter CT has a data size of 32 bits, so that it drives vibration source 507 (Figure 5) to generate vibration when its count value N exceeds " 255 " as in a 256 ( 8- bit binary) counter.

16- Variables ax, ay and az are respectively acceleration components in directions of an X- axis, Y-axis and Z-axis of the player object Variables fx, fy and fz are values respectively multiplied of the acceleration components ax, ay and az by constants accx, accy and accz.

Incidentally, the variables nadd and n_add_m may be a constant In the embodiment, the variable n_add is set at " 255 " or " 150 " Meanwhile, the variable n_add m is set, for example, at " 20 " or " 10 ".

Figure 9 is a main flowchart for the video game system of this embodiment If a power is turned on, the CPU, at a first step 51, sets the video game machine 10 into a predetermined initial state For example, the CPU 11 transfers a start program, among the game programs stored in the program area 22 of the external ROM 21, to the program area 202 of the RAM 14, and sets each parameter at an initial value, thereafter sequentially executing steps of Figure 9.

The operation of the main flowchart of Figure 9 is executed, for example, every 1 frame ( 1/60 second) or every two or three frames, wherein steps 52 514 are repeatedly executed before the course is cleared If the game becomes over without success of course clear, a game-over process is effected at a step 515 following the step 514 If course clear is successfully done, the process returns from the step 513 to the step 51.

That is, at the step Si, display is made for a game course screen and/or course choosing screen However, where a game is started after turning on a power, a first course screen is displayed If the first course is cleared, a next course is set.

Following the step 51, a controller process is effected at a step 52 In this process, it is detected whether any of the joystick 45, the cross switch 46 and the switches 47 A - 47 Z of the controller 40 is operated or not Detected data (controller data) on this operating state is read in and the controller data thus read is written into the controller 17- data area 141 of the RAM 14.

At a step 53, a process for displaying the player object is performed This process is basically to vary the position, direction, shape and location of the player object depending upon an operating state of the joystick 45 manipulated by the player and the presence or absence of attacks by an enemy For example, polygon data to be varied is determined by calculation based on a program transferred from the memory area 22 f (Figure 7) of the external ROM 21, polygon data of the player object transferred from the memory area 24, and controller data, i e an operating state of the joystick 45 A plurality of polygons thus obtained are given colors due to a picture data.

At a step 54, a camera process is performed For example, calculation is made for a visual point to the respective objects such that a visual line or field as viewed through a camera finder is in an angle at which the player designates by a joystick 45.

At a step 55, an enemy object process is performed This process is effected based on the polygon data of an enemy object transferred from the memory area 22 g and the memory area 24 (Figure 2) and according to a program partly transferred For example, an enemy object is determined in display position and/or shape by calculating the polygon data such that the enemy object moves to attack the player object or block against its advancing while judging movement of the player object, thereby displaying an enemy object image thus varied Due to this, the enemy object will move such that it has a certain effect upon the player object.

At a step 56, a background (stationary) object process is performed This process is to calculate a display position and shape of a stationary object based on a program partly transferred from the memory area 22 h and polygon data of a stationary object transferred from the memory area 24 (Figure 2).

At a step 57, the RSP 122 performs a rendering process That is the RCP 12 18 - ( performs a conversion process (coordinate transformation process and frame memory rendering process), under control of the CPU 11, on image data for displaying a movable object and a stationary object based on the respective texture data for the movable object, such as an enemy object, the player object, etc and the stationary object, such as a background, memorized in the image data area 201 of the RAM 14 Specifically, colors are put to a plurality of polygons for each of the movable objects and the stationary objects.

At a step 58, the CPU 11 performs a sound process based on sound data, such as of messages, musics, effect sounds, etc.

At a next step 59, the CPU 11 performs a vibration condition detecting process.

That is, the RCP 12 at this step 59 executes a subroutine of Figure 10, based on the image data of the player object and the enemy object or the stationary object or based on the operating data supplied from the controller 40, thereby detecting whether a condition under which vibration is to be generated by the vibration source 507 is established or not.

Incidentally, a vibration condition detecting subroutine will be explained in detail later with reference to Figure 10.

At a next step 510, the CPU 11 responds to a detection of a vibration generating condition by the step 59, to execute a subroutine shown in Figure 12, thereby causing vibration by the vibration source 507 This step 510 will be also explained in detail with difference to Figure 12.

At a step Sl I, the CPU 11 reads the image data memorized in the frame memory area of the RAM 14 as a result of the rendering process by the step 57 This causes the player object, the movable object, the stationary object, and the like to be displayed on a display screen of the display 30 (Figure 1, Figure 2).

At a step 512, the sound data that has been sound processed at the step 58 by the RCP 12 is read out to thereby output a sound, such as a music, effect sound conversation or the like.

It is determined at a step 513 whether the course is cleared or not (course clear detection) If the course is not cleared, it is then determined at a step 514 whether it is game-over or not If it is not game-over, the process returns to the step 52, to repeat the steps 52 F 14 until a condition of game-over is detected If detecting a game-over condition that a number of mistakes permitted for a player reaches a predetermined number of times or the life of the player object is consumed by a predetermined amount, then a game-over process is carried out at a succeeding step 515 to choose game continuation, backup data saving, or the like.

Incidentally, if the condition to clear the course is detected (e g defeating a boss) at the step 513, the process returns to the step 51 after course-clear processing.

Referring to Figure 10, at a first step 5101 of a vibration generating condition detecting subroutine, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the player object hits (collides or contacts) against an influencing object or obstacle (other movable objects, stationary objects such as ground, sea surface, wall, enemy objects, attacking objects, etc) This hit detection is executed according to a subroutine of Figure 11.

At a step 5201 in Figure 11, the CPU 11 determines whether ABS (OBJ 2 x OBJ Ix) S OB Jir is satisfied or not That is, whether two objects are hit against each other on an X-coordinate system or not OBJ 1 is an object to be hit- determined, which in this embodiment is the player object OBJ 2 is an object moving toward OBJ 1, which in this embodiment a fellow object, an enemy object, a stationary object and an attacking object launched by the enemy object OBJ Ix is an X-coordinate value of OBJ 1, while OBJ 2 x is an X-coordinate value of OBJ 2 OBJ 1 x and OBJ 2 x may be on a game space coordinate or player coordinate, provided that they are an X-coordinate value of a same - coordinate system ABS () represents an absolute value of a numeral within () OB Jlr is a value representative of a half length of a side of a cube when OBJ 1 is considered as a cube In other words, OB Jlr is a value indicating a hit range for OBJ 1 If ABS (OBJ 2 x - OB Jlx) <: OB Jlr is satisfied, the process proceeds to a step 5202.

At a step 5202, the CPU 11 determines whether ABS(OBJ 2 y OBJ 1 Y) S OB Jlr is satisfied or not, that is, whether there is hit between two objects on a Y-coordinate system or not OB Jly is a Y-coordinate value of OBJ 1, while OBJ 2 v is a Y-coordinate value of OBJ 2 OB Jly and OBJ 2 y may be on a game space coordinate or player coordinate, provided that they are in a Y-coordinate value on a same coordinate system.

If ABS (OBJ 2 y OB Jly) O OB Jlr is fulfilled, the process advances to a step 5203.

At the step 5203, the CPU 11 determines whether ABS (OBJ 2 z OB Jlz) < OB Jlr stands or not, that is, whether there is a hit between two objects on the Z coordinate system or not OB Jlz is a Z-coordinate value of OBJ 1, while OBJ 2 z is a Z-coordinate value of OBJ 2 OB Jlz and OBJ 2 z may be on a game space coordinate or player coordinate, provided that they are in a Z-coordinate value on a same coordinate system.

If ABS (OBJ 2 z OB Jlz) _ OB Jlr is satisfied, the process proceeds to a step 5204.

At the step 5204, the CPU 11 determines that there is a hit between OBJ 2 and t OBJ 1, and sets a hit flag F 2 in the flag area 142 of the RAM 14 to " 1 ".

On the other hand, if ABS (OBJ 2 x OB Jlx) OB Jlr is not satisfied at the step 5201, the process returns to a former routine If ABS (OBJ 2 y OB Jly) < OB Jlr is not profiled at the step 5202, the process returns to the former routine If ABS (OBJ 2 z - OB Jlz) < OB Jlr is not satisfied at the step 5203, the process returns to the former routine.

At the step 5101 in Figure 10, if it is detected that the player object is not hit by another object, that is, if "NO" is determined at the step 5101, the CPU 11 at a next step 21- 5102 determines whether the player manipulates the controller 40 to start acceleration of the player object or not For example, the acceleration start is effected by depressing an A button 47 a (Figure 1), where the player object is a "jet ski" in a "wave race" Also, if the player object is "Mario", the acceleration start is by inclining the joystick 45 (Figure 1) frontward Accordingly, the CPU 11 at this step 5102 makes reference to the data in the controlller data area 141 of the RAM 14, and determines whether there is an operation of the A button 47 A or joystick 45 or not.

At the step 5102, if "NO" is determine, the CPU 11 at a next step 5103 determines whether the player object ("jet ski" in the "wave race" in this embodiment) is in contact with a water surface or not At the step 5103, the hit detecting subroutine of Figure 11 is utilized in order to determine whether the player object ("jet ski") is in contact with the water surface or not.

In the vibration generating condition detecting subroutine shown in Figure 10, detection is made for any of the three vibration generating conditions, i e any of the steps 5101, 5102, and 5103, as explained above If "NO" is determined at any of the steps 5101, 5102 and 5103, that is, if no vibration generating condition is detected, the CPU 11 resets, at a step 5104 in Figure 10, the register value n_add of the flag/register area 142 of the RAM 14 to " O " At same time, the CPU 11 at next step 5105 clear off the preceding frame flag F 3 of the flag/register area 142 to " O " That is, the count value N of the counter CT is added by " O " for each frame, in order to set the increment value n_add of the counter CT at " O " In other words if "NO" is determined at all the steps 5101, 5102 and 5103, the counter CT is not incremented at all As will be stated later, if the count value of the counter CT exceeds for example " 255 ", vibration will occur Accordingly, in the above case no vibration is generated by the vibration source 507.

Incidentally, since "NO" is determined at the above-mentioned step 5101, the preceding-frame flag F 3 is reset at the step 5105.

If "YES" is determined at any of the steps 5101, 5102 and 5103, a vibration generating condition is established and a vibration generating process is effected according to the corresponding vibration generating condition.

That is, if it is determined, at the step 5101, that the player object is hit against another object, steps 5106 to 5110 are executed to generate intense vibration from the vibration source 507 Meanwhile, an acceleration start is detected at the step 5102, weak vibration is generated by steps Sill to 5113 If the player object (e g "jet ski") is in contact with a water surface is detected at the step 5103, steps 5114 to 5117 are executed to generate weak vibration representing a state that the "jet ski" moves bounding on waves.

If "YES" is determined at the above-mentioned step 5101, that is, if the player object comes into collision or contact with another object is determined, the CPU 11 determines whether the preceding-frame flag F 3 is at " O " or not That is, at this step 5106 it is determined whether the player object collided against another object also at the preceding frame or not If at the step 5106 "YES" is determined, that is, if it is determined there was no collision or contact of the player object at the preceding frame but there is detection at a current frame of collision or contact of the player object with another object, the CPU 11 at a next step 5107 sets the increment value n_add of the flag/register area 142 of the RAM 14, for example, to " 255 " in order to generate intense vibration.

That is, where the player object comes into collision or contact with an enemy object as shown in Figure 13, or where the player object crashes into or contacts an enemy object or stationary object as shown in Figure 14, a greater increment value n_add is set at a step 5107 in order to cause intense vibration.

Then the CPU 11 at a step 5108 sets a variation value nadcid_m of the increment value n_add at " 20 " When there is collision or contact with another object, the increment value nadd is set to " 255 " at the step 5107 and the variation value n_add_m is set to " 20 " at the step 5108 in order to generate intense vibration If the variation value nadd_m is great in value, the increment value n_add becomes " O " in a brief time, while if the variation value n_add_m is small, it takes a long time for the increment value n_add to reach " O " Therefore, when the variation value n_add_m is great, the vibration due to the vibration source 107 continues for a long time At a step 5109 following the step 5108, the CPU 11 sets the preceding-frame flag F 3 to " 1 " That is, since at the current frame the player object is detected of hit, the previous frame flag F 3 is set to " 1 " at this time point.

Incidentally, if "NO" is detected at the above-mentioned step 5106, that is, if the preceding-frame flag F 3 is "i", that is, if there is also a detection of collision or contact of the player object at the preceding frame, the increment value n_add is reset to " O " at a step 5110 That is, when the player object comes into contact or collision with another object also at the preceding frame, the increment value n_add is rendered " O " at the step 5110 in order to prevent vibration from continuously occurring.

At the step 5102, if an acceleration start of the player object is detected, the CPU 11 sets the increment value n_add, for example, to " 150 " at a next step 511 l to generate weak vibration That is, when an acceleration of the player object is started, the increment value n_add of the counter CT is set to " 150 " smaller than the value of the step 5107 in order to generate comparatively small vibration differently from the case of the above-stated hit detection Tne CPU 11 then sets the variation value n_add_m to " 10 " at a step 5112 At a step 511, the preceding-frame flag F 3 is rendered " O " That is, this step 5113 is a step to be executed when "NO" is determined at the above- mentioned step 5101, and accordingly the preceding-frame flag F 3 is rendered " O " in a manner different from that of the above step 5109.

Further, if it is detected at the step 5103 that the player object, i e "jet ski" in this embodiment, is in contact with a water surface, calculations are made for multiplying values fx, fy and fz at a next step 5114 The CPU 11 at a step 5115 calculates a square root (decimal fraction truncated) of "fx X fx + fy X fy + fz X fz" as an increment value n_add of the counter CT That is, at these steps 5114 and 5115, acceleration components ax, ay and az of the player object in the respective X-axis direction, Y- axis direction and Z-axis direction are determined to determine values fix, fy and fz respectively proportional to the acceleration components An increment value n_add in a range of " O " " 255 " is calculated, depending upon these proportional values and multiplying values.

At a step 5116, the variation value n_add_m of the increment value n_add is set to, for example, " 10 " That is, where the player object "jet ski" is in contact with the water surface, the variation value n_add_m is set at a relatively small value " 10 " in order to give impact for a comparatively long time In also this case, since "NO" is determined at the above step 5101, the preceding-frame flag F 3 is rendered " O " at a succeeding step 5117.

At a first step 5120 in Figure 12 showing a vibration generating subroutine, the CPU 11 determines whether the vibration game flag F 1 in the flag/register area 142 of the RAM 14 is at " 1 " or not, that is, whether a game now being played is a game involving vibration or not If "YES" is determined at this step 5120, the CPU 11 makes reference to the controller data area 141 of the RAM 14, and determines whether a vibration cartridge (Figure 1, Figure 4) is loaded on the controller 40 or not If this game is a game with vibration and a vibration cartridge 50 is loaded on the controller 40, the CPU 11 determines at a next steo 5122 whether or not vibration has to be forcibly stopped despite a vibration generating condition is established, that is, whether vibration is reset or not.

If "NO" is determined at this step 5122, the CPU 11 renders the count value N of the counter CT as "n + n_add" at a next stem 5123 That is the count value N of the counter CT is increased according to an increment value n_add.

At a next step 5124, the increment value n_add is modified according to a variation value nadd_m That is, the increment value n_add is subtracted by the variation value n_add_m, at this step 5124, at every 1 frame of the display 30 Accordingly, the count value N of the counter CT has an increment value decreasing with progress of frames, and the count value N finally does not increase In other words, the vibration due to the vibration source 507 is initially large (intense) and gradually decreases (weakens) to ultimate no vibration.

At a step 5125, it is determined whether the count value N of the counter CT exceeds " 255 " or not if "YES" is determined at this step 5125, the count value of the counter CT is rendered "n 256 " That is, if it is determined at the step 5125 that the count value N of the counter CT exceeds " 255 ", the count value N is subtracted by " 256 " at a next step 5126 At a step 5127, the CPU 11 sets the vibration flag F 4 at " 1 " Since the count value N of the counter CT exceeds " 255 " is detected at the above step 5125, the vibration flag F 4 at this step 5127 is set at " 1 ".

At a next step 5128, it is determined whether the vibration flag F 4 is at " 1 " or not.

Since vibration is generated by setting the vibration flag F 4 at " 1 " at the above step 5127, the CPU 11 at a next step 5129 outputs " 1 " to all the addresses A 2 A 14 except for an address A 15, and outputs a write signal and a chip enable signal Accordingly, at this step 5129 a recorder or NA ND gate 511 (Figure 6) has an output signal, and the latch 512 latches data bit DO of the CPU 11 Since at the step 5129 vibration has to be generated by the vibration source 507, the data bit DO of the CPU 11 is outputted as " 1 " Accordingly, " 1 " is latched by the latch 512 (Figure 6) In response thereto, the transistor 514 is turned on to supply power from the batterv 504 to the vibration source or vibrating motor 507, thereby causing vibration in the vibration source 107 or vibration cartridge 50, i e on the controller 40.

Incidentally, if "NO" is determined at the step 5125, the vibration flag F 4 is reset at " O " at a step 5130 That is, when the count value N of the counter CT does not exceed " 255 ", the vibration flag F 4 is kept in a reset state.

At the step 5127, when the vibration flag F 4 is not at " 1 ", that is, when the vibration flag F 4 is at " O ", the CPU 11 outputs " O " to the data bit "DO" at a step 5131, in order to stop the vibration Consequently, " O " is latched by the latch 512, and the transistor 514 is turned off Accordingly, the vibration source 507 has no current, and no vibration is generated by the vibration source 507.

For example, if the player object comes into collision or contact with an enemy object or stationary object (Figure 13, Figure 14), " 255 " is set as an increment value n add of the count value N of the counter CT at the step 5107, and " 20 " is set as a variation value n_add_m at the step 5108 The count value N of the counter CT exceeds " 255 " over consecutive 4 frames excepting the first frame as shown in Table 1 and Figure 15.

Therefore, the vibration source 507 is continuously driven over the consecutive 4 frames, and thereafter the count value N exceeds " 255 " every two frames The vibration source 507 generates a comparatively intense vibration driven every two frames.

Table 1

INTENSE VIBRATION EXAMPLE FRAME N n_add nadd_ m VIBRATION SIGNAL 1 255 255 20 O 2 234 235 20 1 3 193 215 20 1 4 132 195 20 1 51 175 20 i 1 6 206 155 20 i O 7 35 135 20 1 8 200 115 20 O 9 39 95 20 1 114 75 20 O 11 169 55 20 O 12 204 i 35 20 O 13 219 15 20 O 14 219 O 20 1 O 219 O 20 O 16 219 O 20 O 17 219 O 20 O 18 219 O 20 O 19 219 O 20 O 219 O 20 O However, when starting an acceleration for the player object, comparatively weak vibration is generated Accordingly, " 150 " is set as an increment value n_add at a steo Sill, and " 10 " is set as a variation value n_add_m at a step 5112 Consequently, in this case the count value N exceeds " 255 " every two frames as shown in Table 2 (Figure 16) so that the vibration source 507 is driven every two frames and the following 2 frames are suspended of vibration At a nex: 1 frame the vibration source 507 is driven and thereafter the vibration is suspended for 2 frames.

Table 2

WEAK VIBRATION EXAMPLE FRAME N n_add n_add_m VIBRATION SIGNAL 1 150 150 10 O 2 34 140 10 1 3 164 130 10 O 4 28 120 10 1 138 110 I 10 O 6 238 100 10 O 7 72 90 10 1 8 152 80 10 O 9 222 70 10 O 26 60 10 1 11 76 I 50 10 O 12 116 40 10 O 13 146 30 10 O 14 166 20 10 O 176 10 10 O 16 176 O 10 O 17 176 O 10 O 18 176 O 10O 19 176 O 10 I 176 O 10 O That is, where generating intense vibration, the vibration source 507 is continuously driven over several frames and then the vibration is gradually decreased as if driven every 2 frames When weak vibration is to be generated, the driving source 507 is driven every 2 frames and then the vibration is graduallv decreased in a manner driven every 3 frames However, it is needless to say that the increment value n_add or the variation value nadd_m, that is, the vibration generating pattern as above, can be set in an arbitrary manner.

Incidentally, under a third vibration generating condition, i e where the piaver object ("jet ski") is in contact with a water surface, the increment value n_add is set as a function of acceleration of the player object, generating intense or weak vibration depending upon the acceleration.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment the count value N of the counter CT is varied according to an increment value n_add or an variation value n_addm, by executing the flowchart of Figure 12, in order to generate intense or weak vibration as shown in Figure 15 or Figure 16 When the count value N exceeds " 255 ", the vibration flag F 4 is set to " 1 " to drive the vibration source 507 That is, in the above embodiment whether to generate vibration by the vibration source 507 is determined by calculation in a real time manner.

Contrary to this, intense and weak vibration pattern data, read out of the program area 22 a of the external ROM 21, may be respectively memorized on the flag/register area 142 of the RAM 14, as shown, for example, in Figure 17 By selectively reading out these vibration pattern data, the vibration source 507 may be controlled based on these pattern data It can be considered that the intense vibration pattern data uses a vibration signal " 0111101010000000 " in a frame sequence of frames 1 -16 in the aforesaid Table 1.

Meanwhile, the weak vibration pattern data may use a vibration signal " 0101001001000000 " in a frame sequence of frames 1 16 in the aforementioned Table 2 Incidentally, medium vibration pattern data may be memorized as required.

For example, when the player object is detected of its collision or contact at the step 5101 in Figure 10, if intense vibration pattern data is read out, the vibration source 507 is not driven by a first frame However, the vibration source 507 is continuously driven over thefollowing 4 frames, and then at everv 2 frames, thereafter being ceased of drive For example, when an acceleration start is detected at the step 5102 in Figure 10 or a contact with a water surface is detected at the step 5103, weak vibration pattern data is read out Consequently, the vibration source 507 is driven at every 2 frames during the first 4 frames, and then driven at every 3 frames, thereafter being ceased of drive.

In the above embodiment, when the player object is hit by another object or the like, vibration is generated by the vibration source 507 of the vibration cartridge 50 loaded on the controller 40 Vibration may be visually given to game images in timing related to this vibration In such a case, the game-image vibration on the display 30 can be perceived with higher rapidity than the mechanical vibration caused by the vibration cartridge 50 of the controller 40 Accordingly, mechanical vibration may be generated by the vibration cartridge 50 at the step 510 in Figure 9, and thereafter vibration is visually given to game images with a delay of 1 or 2 frames or more at the step 54 or 57 in Figure 9.

For example, when it is detected at the step 5101 of Figure 10 that the player object comes into contact or collision against another object, since intense vibration is generated on a game images, the display 30 is vibrated at the entire screen In this case, the visual coordinate for a camera stated before may be varied bit by bit during the camera process of the step 54 in Figure 9.

When a condition of generating weak vibration is detected at the step 5102 or 5103 in Figure 10, weak vibration is generated on the game image The player object image only is given vibration that is displayed on the display 30 In such a case, a plurality of polygon sets, constituting the player object, may be varied in a center coordinate position bit by bit in the rendering process at the step 57 in Figure 9.

Incidentally, whether to give vibration to a game image may be determined by a condition whether "F 4 = 1 " is detected at the step 5128 in Figure 12 That is, when the vibration flag F 4 is at "I", vibration is given to the game image, while when the flag is at "O", no vibration is generated in the game image.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1 A video game system, having a video game machine and a controller, wherein said controller is used in a state of being gripped by a hand of a player, and comprises a plurality of operating switches for designating a movement or motion of a player object, a vibration source for generating mechanical vibration, and a drive circuit for driving said vibration source in response to a command signal supplied from said video game machine, said video game machine, comprising:

a player object image generating means for generating an image of the player object that is varied in response to operation of at least one of said operating switches; another object image generating means for generating an image of at least one other object that is present around the'player object; a vibration generating condition detecting means for detecting a vibration generating condition based on a display state of the player object image and the other object image; and a vibration generating means for causing through said drive circuit said vibration source to generate mechanical vibration at timing synchronous with generation of frames on a display, in response to detection of the vibration generating condition by said vibration generating condition detecting means.

2 A video game system according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating condition detecting means detects a plurality of kinds of vibration generating conditions, and said vibration generating means includes a drive means for driving said vibration source in a manner different by a different vibration generating condition detected by said vibration generating condition detecting means.

3 A video game system according to claim 2, wherein the vibration generating condition detecting means includes a first detecting means for detecting a first vibration generating condition to generate weak vibration depending upon a relationship between the player object image and the other object image and a second detecting means for detecting a second vibration generating condition to generate intense vibration depending upon the same relationship, 1 '.

said drive means making control on said drive circuit such that said vibration source generates comparatively weak vibration in response to detection of the first vibration generating condition by said first detecting means and comparatively intense vibration in response to detection of the second vibration generating condition by said second detecting means.

4 A'video game system according to claim 3, wherein said drive means includes an intermittent control means through which said vibration source is intermittently turned on and off by said drive circuit.

A video game system according to claim 4, wherein said intermittent control means includes a calculating means for calculating a number of frames depending upon said vibration source is turned on and off.

6 A video game system, having a video game machine and a controller, wherein said video game machine includes a processing means for generating game images displayed on a display, depending upon an operating state of said controller and according to a game program memorized in said memory medium, said controller being used in a state of being gripped by a hand of a player, and comprising:

a plurality of operating switches for designating a movement or motion of a player object; a vibration source for generating mechanical vibration; and a drive circuit for driving said vibration source in response to a command signal supplied from said video game machine; said memory medium comprising:

a player object image generating program for generating an image of the player object that is varied in response to operation of at least one of said operating switches; another object image generating program for generating an image of at least one other object that is present around the player object:

a vibration generating condition detecting program for detecting a vibration generating condition based on an operating state of said operating switches of said controller; and ( 7.

a vibition control program for generating data to control said vibration source in response to detection of the vibration generating condition according to the vibration generating condition detecting program; and said processing means generating the game images according to the player object image generating program and the other object image generating program, and causing through said drive circuit said vibration source to generate, according to the vibration control program, mechanical vibration at timing synchronous with generation of frames on said display.

7 A video game system, having a video game machine and a controller for supplying an operating signal thereto, wherein said controller is used in a state of being gripped by a hand of a player, and comprises a plurality of operating switches for designating a movement or motion of a player object, a vibration source for generating mechanical vibration, and a drive circuit for driving said vibration source in response to a command signal supplied from said video game machine.

said video machine, comprising:

a player object image generating means for generating an image of the player object that is varied in response to operation of at least one of said operating switches; a vibration generating condition detecting means for detecting a vibration generating condition based on an operating state of said operating switches of said controller; and a vibration generating means for causing through said drive circuit said vibration source to generate mechanical vibration at timing synchronous with generation of frames on a display, in response to detection of the vibration generating condition by said vibration generating condition detecting means.

8 A video game system, having a video game machine and a controller wherein said video game machine includes a processing means for generating game images displayed on a display depending upon an operating state of said controller and according to a game program memorized in said memory medium.

said controller being used in a state of being gripped by a hand of a player, and comprising:

a plurality of operating switches for designating a movement or motion of a player object; a vibration source for generating mechanical vibration; and a drive circuit for driving said vibration source in response to a command signal supplied from said video game machine; said video game machine comprising:

a player object image generating means for generating an image of the player object that is varied in response to operation of at least one of said operating switches:

another object image generating means for generating an image of at least one other object that is present around the player object; a vibration generating condition detecting means for detecting a vibration generating condition based on a display state of the player object image and the other object image; and a vibration control means for generating data to control said vibration source in response to detection of the vibration generating condition according to the vibration generating condition detecting means; and said processing means generating the game images according to the player object image generating means and the other object image generating means, and causing through said drive circuit said vibration source to generate, according to the vibration control means, mechanical vibration at timing synchronous with generation of frames on said display.

9 A video game system according to claim 8, wherein the vibration generating condition detecting means is programmed to detect a plurality of kinds of vibration generating conditions, and said vibration control means generating the control data that is different depending upon the vibration generating condition detected according to the vibration generating condition detecting means.

10 A video game system according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the vibration generating condition detecting means includes a means to detect a first vibration generating condition for generating weak vibration depending upon a relationship