JP5419679B2 - Controller for music playing game apparatus and music playing game system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller and a music performance game system used in a music performance game apparatus.

  19 and 20 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-237454 and FIG. 15 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-170352 include a neck that is gripped by one hand of the player and an operation unit that is operated by the other hand of the player. And a controller for a music performance game apparatus in which three switch buttons R, G, B operated by a finger of one hand holding the neck are arranged on the front surface of the neck.

JP 2000-237454 A JP 2001-170352 A

  In a conventional controller for a music performance game apparatus that imitates a guitar, whether or not the switch has been correctly pressed is indirectly checked based on whether or not the switch operation is reflected in the game result. However, because the switch operation is inadequate (because the force to press the switch button is weak), even if the operation command is not output as the player wishes, the player may not notice it. Have

  Also, in order to increase the difficulty of the game, for example, by increasing the number of switch buttons (switches), or by operating switches with three or more on positions as switches (by changing the position where the switch button is pressed) It is also conceivable to use a switch that generates three or more types of ON signals.

  However, if a switch that is difficult to operate is used or the number of switch buttons is increased, it becomes impossible to immediately recognize the operation status of the switch, which makes it difficult to operate the controller and may cause a loss of interest in the game. There is.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a music performance game device controller and a music performance game system that can improve the operability of the controller by mechanically notifying the player of the operation status of the switch.

  A controller for a music performance game apparatus to be improved by the present invention includes a neck that is gripped by one hand of a player, and a switch button that is operated by a finger of the hand that grips the neck is disposed on the front surface of the neck. One or more switches are provided. In the present invention, an interlocking mechanism is disposed in the neck. This interlocking mechanism operates in conjunction with the movement of the switch button when the switch button is operated, changes the shape of the back surface of the neck, and transmits the operation state of the switch button to the palm of the hand. “Changing the shape of the back surface part” includes not only changing the shape of the wall part constituting the back surface part itself but also changing the surface shape of the back surface part by projecting protrusions or the like on the back surface part. It is. According to the present invention, the interlocking mechanism transmits the operation state of the switch button to the palm of the hand by changing the shape of the back surface of the neck in conjunction with the movement of the switch button. It can be known from the deformation of the shape of the back part of the neck transmitted to the palm of the hand. The inventor also considered that a vibration source that electrically generates vibration is placed inside the neck, and the player is notified of the operation state of the switch button by the generation of vibration. However, it has been found that vibrating the neck is not preferable because it causes a problem that prevents the player from concentrating on the game. According to the present invention, since the player recognizes the operation state of the push button by the change in the touch of the palm of the hand, the concentration on the game is not hindered. In particular, if the shape of the portion corresponding to the switch button on the back surface is changed, it becomes possible to simultaneously recognize which push button of the plurality of switch buttons has been operated.

  The switch to be used may be a multi-contact switch that has two or more contacts with respect to one switch button, and the contacts that are turned on differ depending on the position at which the switch button is pressed. Even when a multi-contact switch is used, according to the present invention, the operation state of the switch button can be recognized from the change in the shape of the back surface of the neck. If a multi-contact switch is used, it is possible to change at least one of the pitch and tone of the performance sound by changing the operation position (pressing position) of one switch button and selecting the contact to be turned on. , Can increase the variation of performance.

  A specific controller for a music playing game device is a main body having a neck that is gripped by one hand of a player, an operation unit that is operated by the other hand of the player, and a finger that is gripped by the hand of the one hand that grips the neck. And a plurality of switches arranged on the front surface of the neck. The controller is arranged in the neck corresponding to the plurality of switches, and operates in conjunction with the movement of the switch button when the corresponding switch button is operated, and corresponds to the switch button on the back surface of the neck. A plurality of interlocking mechanisms for changing the shape of the position and transmitting the operation status of the switch button to the palm of the hand are provided. In this case, it is preferable that the plurality of switches are arranged side by side so that they can be simultaneously operated by a plurality of fingers with different hands.

  In a specific invention, the neck has a switch housing portion in which a switch body of one or more switches is housed. Corresponding to one switch, at least one through-hole penetrating the wall portion is formed in the wall portion constituting a part of the back surface portion of the wall portion surrounding the switch housing portion. It is formed so as to open toward. When the switch button is operated and is in a predetermined operation position (on position), the interlocking mechanism penetrates the through hole and the tip projects from the through hole to the outside of the neck, so that the switch button performs a predetermined operation. When not in the position (on position), a slider is provided in which at least a part of the tip is drawn into the through hole. In addition, a part of the tip of the slider always protrudes from the through-hole, and when the entire tip protrudes from the through-hole from such a state, “the tip protrudes from the through-hole to the outside of the neck” include. When such a configuration is adopted, when the switch button is pressed and is in a predetermined operation position (ON position), the tip of the slider protrudes from the through hole, and the palm of the player's hand is directly pressed by the tip. become. As a result, the player can directly know that the switch button has been pressed by pressing the tip of the slider. When the switch has a plurality of operation positions (ON positions), the player can know which ON position the switch button is from the position of the palm of the hand pressed by the tip of the slider.

  The configuration of the switch having a plurality of operation positions (ON positions) is arbitrary. A preferred switch button has an elongated button. The switch mechanism in the switch body is configured such that when one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button is pressed (when the switch button is in the first on position), the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button is pressed. On (when the switch button is in the second on position) and when the longitudinal center or whole of the elongated button is pressed (when the switch button is in the third on position). What is comprised so that a signal may be output can be used. In this case, two through holes are formed in the wall portion constituting the back surface of the neck for one switch. The interlocking mechanism employs a structure having two sliders corresponding to the two through holes. This interlocking mechanism projects one end of two sliders from one of the two through holes when one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button is pressed, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button. When the part is pressed, the other tip of the two sliders protrudes from the other of the two through holes, and when the center part or the whole of the elongated button is pressed, The two sliders are configured so that the tip ends thereof protrude. When such a configuration is adopted, the player knows the operation state of the switch button from the position of the palm of the hand pressed by the two sliders when the switch button is in the first to third operation positions (on position). be able to.

  In addition, the opening part facing the palm of the hand of the through hole may be closed by a material that is deformed when an external force is applied and has a restoring property that returns to the original state when the external force is removed. In this configuration, since the opening of the through hole is closed, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the switch housing from the through hole. As a result, the reliability of the switch can be improved. An elastic sheet such as silicon rubber can be used as the material having resilience.

  The number of switches is arbitrary, but the present invention can naturally be applied to a case where five or more switch buttons of five or more switches are arranged side by side in the direction from the neck to the main body. it can. As the number of switches increases, the positional relationship between the player's finger position and the switches becomes difficult to understand. Therefore, the predetermined one or more switch buttons are changed so that the deformed state of the back surface of the neck when the predetermined one or more switch buttons are operated is different from the deformed state of the back surface of the neck when the remaining switch buttons are operated. It is preferable to define the structure of the corresponding interlocking mechanism. Specifically, for example, when there are five switch buttons, the shape of the tip of the slider provided for the switch button located at the center of the five switch buttons or the two switch buttons located at both ends of the button row Can be made different from the shape of the tip of the slider of the interlocking mechanism provided for the remaining switch buttons. In this way, when the switch button located at the center or both ends is operated, and when another switch button is operated, the feel felt by the palm of the player's hand is different. It is possible to know with certainty whether or not it is operating. As a result, it is possible to check whether or not the position of the finger is correct using the sense of touch.

  In the music performance game system using the controller of the present invention, a neck that is gripped by one hand of the player, a main body that includes an operation unit that is operated by the other hand of the player, and fingers of one hand that grip the neck A controller for a music performance game device having a plurality of switches, each of which is operated on a front surface of the neck, a display device having a display screen, and an input command from the controller for the music performance game device Based on the game, the image signal necessary for displaying information on the display screen for determining the timing for operating the operation unit to the player is supplied to the display device, and the performance sound is changed according to the input command. A music game system including a game machine main body adopts the following configuration. First, the switch uses a multi-contact switch that has two or more contacts with respect to one switch button, and the contacts that are turned on differ depending on the position at which the switch button is pressed. The music performance game device controller is arranged in the neck corresponding to a plurality of switches, and operates in conjunction with the movement of the switch button when the corresponding switch button is operated. The one with a plurality of interlocking mechanisms that change the shape and mechanically transmit the operation state of the switch button to the palm of the hand is used. The switch is a multi-contact switch as described above. The game machine body is configured to change at least one of the pitch and tone color of the performance sound according to the ON state of two or more contacts of one switch. In this way, as with an actual musical instrument, it is possible to change the pitch or change the timbre such as vibrato according to the movement of the finger.

It is a figure which shows the state which the player is operating the controller for music performance game devices of this invention. It is the figure which expanded the one part area | region of FIG. (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of a neck including a switch, and (B) and (C) are diagrams showing a state of an interlocking mechanism when an end of a switch button is pressed. (A) And (B) is a figure which shows the example of the front-end | tip part shape of a slider. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a music performance game system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state where a player P is operating the controller 1 for music performance game apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the area A in FIG. The controller 1 for music performance game apparatus according to the present embodiment has an appearance simulating an electric guitar. The controller 1 includes a neck 3 and a main body 5 that are gripped by the left hand LH of the player P. The main body 5 is provided with an operation unit 7 that is operated by the right hand RH of the player P. The structure of the operation unit 7 is the same as the structure of the operation unit shown in Patent Document 1. Five switch buttons SB <b> 1 to SB <b> 5 operated by the four fingers F <b> 2 to F <b> 5 of the left hand LH holding the neck 3 are arranged on the front surface of the neck 3. Inside the neck 3, five switches SW each having switch buttons SB1 to SB5 are housed. The switch used in the present embodiment is a multi-contact switch that has two or more contacts with respect to one switch button, and the contacts that are turned on differ depending on the position at which the switch button is pressed.

  FIG. 3A shows a partial cross-sectional view of the neck 3 including the switch SW. FIG. 3A shows a schematic configuration of the switch SW. Note that the structure of the switch SW illustrated in FIG. 3A is a conceptual structure. To explain representatively with reference to FIG. 3A, the switch button SB3 used in this embodiment is an elongated button. A rotation shaft 9 is provided at the center of the switch button SB3, and both ends of the rotation shaft 9 are supported by shaft support members 11. The shaft support member 11 includes a flange 13 at an intermediate position, and a coil spring 15 is attached to a portion ahead of the flange 13. A part of the coil spring 15 is housed in the spring housing cylinder 17. A convex strip 19 extending in the width direction of the switch is integrally provided at the center of the outer surface of the switch button SB3. The presence of the ridge portion 19 allows the player to confirm the center position of the switch button SB3 with the touch of the fingertip. A first long protrusion 21 is integrally provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the inner surface of the switch button SB3, and a second long protrusion 23 is integrally formed at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the inner surface of the switch button SB3. Is provided. Further, first and second short protrusions 25 and 27 are provided between the first and second long protrusions 21 and 23 on the inner surface of the switch button SB3. The switch button SB3 is disposed in an opening 3B provided in the front surface 3A of the neck 3. Although not shown, the switch button SB3 is integrally provided with a retaining hook (not shown) that engages with the edge of the opening 3B in order to prevent the switch button SB3 from slipping out of the opening 3B. In the neck 3, two push switches 29 and 31 that are pressed by the first and second short protrusions 25 and 27 are arranged. The support structure for the push switches 29 and 31 is not shown. The plurality of components (9 to 31) constitute a switch mechanism SM, and this switch mechanism SM is housed in a switch housing portion SR formed on the neck 3. The switch mechanism SM is configured such that when one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated switch button SB3 is pressed (when the switch button SB1 is in the first on position), the push switch 29 is moved by the first short protrusion 25. It is operated to enter the first on state. Further, when the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated switch button SB3 is pressed (when the switch button SB3 is in the second on position), the push switch 31 is operated by the second short protrusion 27, and the first switch 2 is turned on. Further, when the central part or the whole of the elongated switch button SB3 is pushed (when the switch button SB3 is in the third ON position), the switch button SB3 is pushed all the way (the coil spring 15 is compressed). The first protrusion 25 and the second short protrusion 27 simultaneously operate the push switches 29 and 31 to enter the third on state.

  Two through holes TH1 and TH2 are formed in the wall portion constituting the back surface portion 3C of the neck 3 for one switch SW. The rod-like portions 33A and 35A of the first and second sliders 33 and 35 are slidably fitted in the two through holes TH1 and TH2. A pair of flange portions 33B and 35B are provided at the base of the rod-shaped portions 33A and 35A. Coil springs 37 and 39 are disposed between the flange portions 33B and 35B and the inner wall surface of the back surface portion 3C so that the rod-shaped portions 33A and 35A penetrate therethrough. The support structure for the sliders 33 and 35 is not shown. The end portions of the first and second long projections 21 and 23 are in contact with the flange portions 33B and 35B of the sliders 33 and 35, respectively. In the present embodiment, the interlocking mechanism LM is configured by the sliders 33 and 35, the coil springs 37 and 39, and the first and second long protrusions 21 and 23.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the interlocking mechanism LM has a first long protrusion 21 which is a flange of the first slider 33 when one end of the elongated switch button SB3 in the longitudinal direction is pressed. 33B is pushed and the front-end | tip part of 33 A of rod-shaped parts is protruded from through-hole TH1. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the interlock mechanism LM has a second long protrusion 23 which is a flange of the second slider 35 when the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated switch button SB3 is pressed. 35B is pushed and the front-end | tip part of 35 A of rod-shaped parts is protruded from through-hole TH2. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the interlock mechanism LM has the first and second long protrusions 23 and 25 that are formed by the first and second protrusions when the longitudinal center portion of the elongated switch button SB3 is pressed. The rods 33B and 35B of the sliders 33 and 35 are pushed, and the tip portions of the rod-like portions 33A and 35A are simultaneously projected from the through holes TH1 and TH2. When such a configuration is adopted, the palm PH of the hand pressed by the two sliders 33 and 35 when the switch button is in the first to third operation positions or the on position (first to third on states). From this position, the player P can know the operation status of the switch button SB3. When the pressing force to the switch button SB3 is released, the sliders 33 and / or 35 are pulled back into the neck 3 by the spring force of the compressed coil springs 15, 37, and / or 39.

  In the present embodiment, five interlocking mechanisms LM are arranged in the neck 3 in correspondence with the five switch buttons SB1 to SB5. Therefore, 2 × 5 through holes are formed in the back surface of the neck corresponding to the switch buttons SB1 to SB5.

  In the present embodiment, part of the tip portions of the rod-like portions 33A and 35A of the sliders 33 and 35 are always protruding from the through holes TH1 and TH2. In the present invention, the case where the entire tip portions of the rod-shaped portions 33A and 35A protrude from the through holes TH1 and TH2 from such a state is also included in the case of “the tip portion protrudes from the through hole to the outside of the neck”.

  The interlock mechanism LM of this embodiment operates in conjunction with the movement of the switch button when the switch button is operated, changes the shape of the back surface of the neck 3, and operates the switch button on the palm PH of the hand. It plays the function of communicating the situation.

  The openings of the through holes TH1 and TH2 facing the palm of the hand of the through hole are blocked by a material that is deformed when an external force is applied and that returns to its original state when the external force is removed. It may be. An elastic sheet such as silicon rubber can be used as the material having resilience. When the opening of the through hole is closed with such a material having resilience, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the switch housing from the through hole. As a result, the reliability of the switch can be improved.

  As in this embodiment, when the number of switches increases, the positional relationship between the position of the player's finger and the switch becomes difficult to understand. Therefore, the predetermined one or more switches corresponding to the deformation state of the back surface of the neck when the predetermined one or more switch buttons are operated and the deformation state of the back surface of the neck when the remaining switch buttons are operated are different. It is preferable to define the structure of the interlocking mechanism corresponding to the button. For example, the shapes of the rod-shaped portions 33A and 35A of the sliders 33 and 35 provided for the switch button SB3 located at the center of the five switch buttons SB1 to SB5 or the switch buttons SB1 and SB5 located at both ends are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, the tip has a sharp shape, and the shape of the tip of the rod-shaped portion of the slider provided for the remaining switch buttons has a curved shape as shown in FIG. Good. In this way, when the switch button SB3 or SB1 and SB5 located at the center or both ends of the button row is operated, and when the other switch buttons are operated, the feeling felt by the palm of the player's hand is different. Whether or not the switch button SB3 or SB1 and SB5 located at the center or both ends of the row is being operated can be surely known. As a result, it is possible to check whether or not the position of the finger is correct using the sense of touch.

  As the number of switch buttons increases, it becomes difficult to determine the proper placement position of the player's finger with respect to the plurality of switch buttons. Therefore, in such a situation, a device for assisting the player is required. In the music performance game system shown in FIG. 5, the game progresses based on input commands from the music performance game device controller 1, the display device 43 having the display screen 41, and the music performance game device controller 1. An image signal necessary for displaying information for determining the timing of operating the operation unit by the player on the display screen 41 is supplied to the driving device 45 of the display device 43 and output from the speaker 44 in response to an input command. And a game machine main body 47 for giving a signal to change the performance sound to the performance unit 46. Note that the game machine main body 47 for playing music is configured to display a guide image GI indicating an appropriate arrangement position of the plurality of fingers of the player with respect to the plurality of switches that change as the game progresses on the display screen 41. ing. In the example of FIG. 5, a rectangular zone mark indicating that it is preferable to place three fingers F2 to F4 on the Notes lines 1 to 5 corresponding to the switch buttons SB1 to SB5 is displayed as a guide image GI. doing. This guide image GI is moved and displayed to the left and right as the game progresses. In this way, the player can get used to the game by playing while watching the guide image GI. Further, when a multi-contact switch is used as a switch as in the controller of the above embodiment, at least one of the pitch and tone color of the performance sound can be changed according to the ON state of two or more contacts of one switch. As a result, similar to an actual musical instrument, it is possible to change the pitch according to the movement of the finger or to change the timbre such as vibrato, and to make the performance game more realistic.

  According to the present invention, the interlocking mechanism transmits the operation state of the switch button to the palm of the hand by changing the shape of the back surface of the neck in conjunction with the movement of the switch button. It can be known from the deformation of the shape of the back part of the neck transmitted to the palm of the hand. According to the present invention, the player recognizes the operation state of the push button by the change in the feel of the palm of the hand, so that the concentration on the game is not hindered. In particular, if the shape of the portion corresponding to the switch button on the back surface is changed, it becomes possible to simultaneously recognize which push button among the plurality of switch buttons has been operated.

3 Neck SW Switch 9 Rotating Shaft 11 Shaft Support Member 13 Hook 15 Coil Spring 17 Spring Storage Tube 19 Projection 29, 31 Push Switch 33A, 35A Bar-shaped Part

Claims (9)

A music performance game apparatus comprising a neck that is gripped by one hand of a player, and one or more switches in which a switch button operated by a finger of the hand gripping the neck is disposed on a front surface of the neck A controller,
It is arranged in the neck and operates in conjunction with the movement of the switch button when the switch button is operated, and the shape of the back part of the neck is changed, and the switch button is placed on the palm of the hand. A controller for a music playing game apparatus comprising an interlocking mechanism for transmitting an operation status.   2. The multi-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a multi-contact switch having two or more contacts with respect to one switch button, and a contact that is turned on is different depending on a position of pressing the switch button. Controller for music playing game devices. A neck held by one hand of the player,
A main body having an operation unit operated by the other hand of the player;
A controller for a music playing game device comprising a plurality of switches, wherein a switch button operated by a finger of the one hand holding the neck is disposed on a front surface of the neck;
Corresponding to the switch buttons arranged in the neck corresponding to the plurality of switches and operating in conjunction with the movement of the switch button when the corresponding switch button is operated A controller for a music performance game apparatus, comprising a plurality of interlocking mechanisms for changing the shape of the position to be transmitted and transmitting the operation state of the switch button to the palm of the hand. The plurality of switches are arranged side by side so that they can be operated simultaneously with a plurality of different fingers of the one hand,
4. The multi-contact switch according to claim 3, wherein the switch has two or more contacts with respect to one switch button, and a contact that is turned on differs depending on a position of pressing the switch button. Controller for music playing game devices. The neck has a switch housing portion in which switch bodies of the plurality of switches are housed,
Corresponding to one switch, among the wall portions surrounding the switch storage portion, at least one through hole penetrating the wall portion is formed in the wall portion constituting a part of the back surface portion. Formed to open toward the palm of the hand to grip,
When the switch button is operated and is in a predetermined operation position, the interlock mechanism penetrates the through hole and a tip portion projects from the through hole to the outside of the neck, and the switch button is the predetermined button. 4. The music performance game apparatus controller according to claim 3, further comprising a slider that is in a state in which at least a part of the tip end portion is pulled into the through-hole when not in the operating position. The switch button is an elongated button,
The switch mechanism in the switch body is configured such that when one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button is pressed, when the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button is pressed, and in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button Each is configured to output an on signal when the center or the whole is pressed,
Two through holes are formed in the wall portion of the neck for one switch,
The interlocking mechanism has two sliders corresponding to the two through holes, and one of the two through holes when one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button is pressed. The tip of one of the two sliders protrudes from the other, and the other tip of the two sliders from the other of the two through holes when the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated button is pushed 6. The front end portions of the two sliders are protruded from the two through-holes when the central portion or the whole of the elongated button is pushed, respectively, when the elongated portion is pushed. The controller for a music performance game apparatus as described.   The opening of the through-hole facing the palm is closed by a material having a resilience that deforms when an external force is applied and returns to its original state when the external force is removed. 6. A controller for a music performance game apparatus according to 6. 5 or more of the switch buttons are arranged side by side in the direction from the neck toward the main body,
The predetermined state so that the deformation state of the back surface portion of the neck when operating one or more predetermined switch buttons is different from the deformation state of the back surface portion of the neck when operating the remaining switch buttons. 6. The music performance game apparatus controller according to claim 5, wherein a structure of an interlocking mechanism corresponding to one or more switch buttons is defined. A neck that is gripped by one hand of the player, a main body having an operation unit that is operated by the other hand of the player, and a switch button that is operated by a finger of the one hand that grips the neck A controller for a music performance game device comprising a plurality of switches arranged on the front surface, a display device comprising a display screen,
Based on an input command from the controller for the music performance game apparatus, the game progresses, and image signals necessary for displaying information for determining the timing for operating the operation unit to the player are displayed on the display screen. A music performance game system comprising a game machine body that supplies a display device and changes a performance sound in response to the input command,
The switch is a multi-contact switch configured to have two or more contacts with respect to one switch button, and a contact to be turned on differs depending on a position of pressing the switch button,
The controller for music performance game device is disposed in the neck corresponding to the plurality of switches, and operates in conjunction with movement of the switch button when the corresponding switch button is operated, and the neck A plurality of interlocking mechanisms that transmit the operation status of the switch button to the palm of the hand by changing the shape of the back surface of
The music performance game system, wherein the game machine main body is configured to change at least one of a pitch and a tone color of the performance sound according to an ON state of the two or more contacts of one switch.

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