Entertainment system, entertainment apparatus, recording medium, and program

Abstract

An entertainment system has a normal action rendering means for displaying a normal action image in which at least two hypothetical characters are making a normal action, and a special action rendering means for displaying a special action image in which at least one of the hypothetical characters changes from a normal action to a special action when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the special action made by the one of the hypothetical characters is completed when a control action made by the user satisfies a predetermined control condition indicated in a guidance, and a image display means for outputting image data stored in an image memory to a display monitor to enable the display monitor to display an image based on the image data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An entertainment system comprising: 
 an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs;    at least one manual controller for entering control requests from the user into said entertainment apparatus;    a display unit for displaying images outputted from said entertainment apparatus;    normal action rendering means for displaying a normal action image in which at least two hypothetical characters are making a normal action; and    special action rendering means for displaying a special action image in which at least one of said hypothetical characters changes from a normal action to a special action when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the special action made by said one of the hypothetical characters is completed when a control action made by the user satisfies a predetermined control condition indicated in a guidance.    
     
     
         2 . An entertainment system according to    claim 1   , wherein said special action rendering means comprises: 
 icon rendering means for displaying an icon indicative of said special action when said hypothetical character  25  changes from the normal action to the special action.    
     
     
         3 . An entertainment system according to    claim 1   , wherein said special action rendering means comprises: 
 guidance rendering means for rendering an indicia representing at least one of control members on said manual controller as said guidance; and    special action continuation determining means for comparing a time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to said indicia with a time when the user presses the corresponding control member, and determining whether said hypothetical character is to make the special action based on a compared result.    
     
     
         4 . An entertainment system according to    claim 3   , wherein said special action continuation determining means comprises: 
 means for transferring control over to said normal action rendering means when the time when the user presses the corresponding control member deviates from the time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to said indicia beyond an allowable range.    
     
     
         5 . An entertainment system according to    claim 3   , wherein said special action rendering means comprises: 
 means for changing the number of indicia and the time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to each of said indicia, depending on characteristics of the hypothetical character other than the hypothetical character which makes the special action, among said at least two hypothetical characters.    
     
     
         6 . An entertainment system according to    claim 3   , wherein said special action rendering means comprises: 
 bar rendering means for rendering a bar which progresses randomly toward said indicia;    wherein said time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to said indicia represents a time when a leading end of said bar reaches said indicia.    
     
     
         7 . An entertainment system according to    claim 6   , wherein said special action rendering means comprises: 
 means for changing a progressing pattern of said bar depending on characteristics of the hypothetical character other than the hypothetical character which makes the special action, among said at least two hypothetical characters.    
     
     
         8 . An entertainment system according to    claim 6   , further comprising: 
 means for rendering at least said bar as a semitransparent bar in front of said hypothetical characters.    
     
     
         9 . An entertainment apparatus for connection to a manual controller for outputting a control request from the user and a display unit for displaying images, comprising: 
 normal action rendering means for displaying an image in which at least two hypothetical characters are making a normal action; and    special action rendering means for displaying an image in which at least one of said hypothetical characters changes from a normal action to a special action when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the special action made by said one of the hypothetical characters is completed when a control action made by the user satisfies a predetermined control condition indicated in a guidance.    
     
     
         10 . A recording medium storing a program and data for use in an entertainment apparatus for connection to a manual controller for outputting a control request from the user, and a display unit for displaying images, said program comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a normal action image in which at least two hypothetical characters are making a normal action; and    displaying a special action image in which at least one of said hypothetical characters changes from a normal action to a special action when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the special action made by said one of the hypothetical characters is completed when a control action made by the user satisfies a predetermined control condition indicated in a guidance.    
     
     
         11 . A recording medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said step of displaying a special action image comprises the step of: 
 displaying an icon indicative of said special action when said hypothetical character changes from the normal action to the special action.    
     
     
         12 . A recording medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said step of displaying a special action image comprises the steps of: 
 rendering an indicia representing at least one of control members on said manual controller as said guidance; and    comparing a time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to said indicia with a time when the user presses the corresponding control member, and determining whether said hypothetical character is to make the special action based on a compared result.    
     
     
         13 . A recording medium according to    claim 12   , wherein said step of determining whether said hypothetical character is to make the special action based on a compared result comprises the step of: 
 transferring control over to said normal action rendering means when the time when the user presses the corresponding control member deviates from the time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to said indicia beyond an allowable range.    
     
     
         14 . A recording medium according to    claim 12   , wherein said step of displaying a special action image comprises the step of: 
 changing the number of indicia and the time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to each of said indicia, depending on characteristics of the hypothetical character other than the hypothetical character which makes the special action, among said at least two hypothetical characters.    
     
     
         15 . A recording medium according to    claim 12   , wherein said step of displaying a special action image comprises the step of: 
 rendering a bar which progresses randomly toward said indicia;    wherein said time to prompt the user to press the control member corresponding to said indicia represents a time when a leading end of said bar reaches said indicia.    
     
     
         16 . A recording medium according to    claim 15   , wherein said step of displaying a special action image comprises the step of: 
 changing a progressing pattern of said bar depending on characteristics of the hypothetical character other than the hypothetical character which makes the special action, among said at least two hypothetical characters.    
     
     
         17 . A recording medium according to    claim 12   , further comprising the step of: 
 rendering at least said bar as a semitransparent bar in front of said hypothetical characters.    
     
     
         18 . A program readable and executable by a computer, for use in an entertainment apparatus for connection to a manual controller for outputting a control request from the user, and a display unit for displaying images, said program comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a normal action image in which at least two hypothetical characters are making a normal action; and    displaying a special action image in which at least one of said hypothetical characters changes from a normal action to a special action when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the special action made by said one of the hypothetical characters is completed when a control action made by the user satisfies a predetermined control condition indicated in a guidance.