Driving game with assist and training modes

Abstract

Provided is a driving game, wherein players having various driving skills—from beginners to those advanced—may enjoy both aspects of amusement and simulation in consistency. The game device of the present invention moves an object in a virtual three-dimensional space pursuant to operations from a player and generates images of the moving state of such object. This game device is provided with an element for providing to a player a plurality of different movement modes upon moving the vehicle along a traveling line; an element for enabling a player to select a desired movement mode from such plurality of different movement modes; and an element for executing a vehicle-driving game relating to the driving mode selected by the player. Included in this plurality of driving modes are an assist mode in which auto-brake control is performed and a training mode in which various indications, such as the timing of the braking point, are given.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A game device for moving an object in a virtual three-dimensional space pursuant to operations from a player and generating images of the moving state of such object, comprising: 
 mode provision means for providing to a player a plurality of different movement modes having mutually different movement operation characteristics upon moving said object;    selection means for enabling a player to select a desired movement mode from said plurality of different movement modes; and    game execution means for executing a game relating to the movement of said object in the movement mode selected by said player.    
     
     
         2 . A game device according to  claim 1 , wherein said object is a vehicle to be moved along a traveling line provided in said virtual three-dimensional space; 
 said mode provision means provides to a player a plurality of driving modes of said vehicle as said plurality of movement modes; and    said movement operation characteristics are driving characteristics of said vehicle.    
     
     
         3 . A game device according to  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of driving modes includes an assist mode having an auto-brake function for automatically assisting the braking power of said vehicle.  
     
     
         4 . A game device according to  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of driving modes includes a training mode having an indication function for indicating the driving state upon said player virtually driving said vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . A game device according to  claim 4 , wherein said indication function indicates to the player said driving state with, at the least, either an image or a sound.  
     
     
         6 . A game device according to  claim 4 , wherein said indication function is composed of at least one among: 
 a first indication function for indicating to the player a reference travel line by displaying this on said traveling line;    a second indication function for indicating to the player the brake timing by altering the display mode of said reference travel line;    a third indication function for indicating to the player the existence of a curve on said traveling line; and    a fourth indication function for indicating to the player the gearshift position at the curve on said traveling line.    
     
     
         7 . A game device according to  claim 6 , wherein said game execution means executes said game by exhibiting at least one function among said first through fourth indication functions by referring to an ideal reference data including speed data and brake data per block along said traveling line obtained from the driving of an experienced player.  
     
     
         8 . A game device according to  claim 7 , wherein said game execution means exhibits said second indication function by including: 
 means for comparing the speed data of said reference data and the speed of said vehicle driven by said player and, when the comparative result shows that said speed data>said vehicle speed, altering said brake data of blocks, which continues until said vehicle speed exceeds said speed data, ahead of the vehicle to become zero; and    means for altering the display mode of said traveling line pursuant to the alteration result of this block data.    
     
     
         9 . A game device for moving an object in a virtual three-dimensional space pursuant to operations from a player and generating images of the moving state of such object, comprising: 
 storage means for priorly storing reference data representing the movement of said object in an ideal state;    operation means for operating the actual data showing the moving state upon said player actually moving said object; and    assist means for comparing said reference data and actual data and automatically assisting the moving state of said object to be moved by said player.    
     
     
         10 . A game device according to  claim 9 , wherein said object is a vehicle to be moved along the traveling line provided within said virtual three-dimensional space; and the movement of said object is represented by said object traveling along said traveling line of said vehicle.  
     
     
         11 . A game device according to  claim 10 , wherein said reference data is driving data prepared from the driving state obtained from the driving of a driver, who is experienced with an actual vehicle in an actual space, along a traveling route; and said traveling line in said virtual three-dimensional space is the line simulating said traveling route in such actual space.  
     
     
         12 . A game device according to  claim 11 , wherein said driving data includes speed data, brake data and travel line data based on the driving of said experienced player prepared along said traveling line and per block of a prescribed length.  
     
     
         13 . A game device according to  claim 12 , wherein said assist means compares said reference data and actual data and automatically assists the braking state of said vehicle to be moved by said player.  
     
     
         14 . A game device according to  claim 13 , wherein said assist means includes: 
 means for obtaining the target acceleration from said speed data of said reference data of a block in front of the block on which said vehicle is positioned, and the speed of said vehicle driven by said player;    means for estimating the vehicle acceleration from the operational state of said player;    means for comparing and judging said target acceleration and said estimate acceleration;    means for judging the application of a brake when this comparative result shows that said target acceleration>said estimate acceleration; and    means for automatically assisting the control of the degree of acceleration when said judgment means judges that the application of a brake is not necessary, and assisting the control of the degree of acceleration and the amount of brake application when said judgment means judges that the application of a brake is necessary.    
     
     
         15 . A game device for moving an object in a virtual three-dimensional space pursuant to operations from a player and generating images of the moving state of such object, comprising: 
 operation means for performing modeling conversion to traces pursuant to the movement of said object from a camera viewpoint and operating the conversion matrix thereof;    storage means for storing said conversion matrix;    judgment means for judging whether the display of said traces is necessary; and    display means for reading said conversion matrix from said storage means and displaying said conversion matrix when said judgment means judges that the display of said traces is necessary.    
     
     
         16 . A game device for moving an object in a virtual three-dimensional space pursuant to operations from an operator and generating images of the moving state of such object, comprising: 
 movement mode provision means for providing a plurality of movement modes including a brake timing notification mode for notifying said operator of the brake application timing of said object; and    selection means for selecting said movement mode pursuant to the selection made by said operator;    wherein said movement mode provision means for realizing said brake timing notification mode includes: 
 judgement means for judging whether or not brake application is necessary based on the speed and position of said object operated by said operator;  
 calculation means for calculating the brake timing based on the speed and position of said object operated by said operator when said judgment means judges that brake application is necessary; and  
 notification means for notifying said operator of said brake application timing based on the brake timing calculated by said calculation means.  
   
     
     
         17 . A game device according to  claim 16 , wherein said judgment means and calculation means respectively perform judgment and calculation based on the speed and position of said object operated by said operator, and the reference data corresponding to such position.  
     
     
         18 . A game device according to  claim 16  or  17 , wherein said notification means notifies, earlier than usual, said brake application timing when the speed of said object is fast in comparison to when the speed of said object is slow.  
     
     
         19 . A vehicle brake-control device for controlling the braking power of the vehicle traveling along a route in an actual space, comprising: 
 storage means for priorly storing data relating to braking of the traveling route which said vehicle is to travel;    vehicle position detection means for detecting the position of said vehicle on said traveling route; and    control means for automatically controlling the braking state of said vehicle during the traveling state thereof based on the data stored in said storage means and the position detected by said vehicle position detection means.