United States Patent
US Patent 6010405: Videogame system for creating simulated comic…
US 6010405 · granted 2000-01-04
Abstract
A videogame system is provided in which the audiovisual presentation is designed to simulate the episodic nature of a comic book page. The presentation is defined by distinct panels sequentially arranged to form a page layout, the panel limits player-controlled character play to an active panel in which the character must achieve predetermined tasks before he is allowed to move forward in the sequential arrangement of panels to create the story. A dialogue system is also provided for simulating speech balloons to convey emotion, effects and assist in the story-telling nature of the game. Graphical effects are provided to enhance the comic book medium simulation such as torn paper and a cartoonist's hand. In order to provide variety, there may be alternate routes through the panel sequences.
| Patent Number | 6010405 |
|---|---|
| Title | Videogame system for creating simulated comic book game |
| Filed | 1994-12-30 |
| Granted | 2000-01-04 |
| Inventor(s) | Morawiec; Peter |
| Assignee | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. |
| Number of Claims | 41 |
Abstract
A videogame system is provided in which the audiovisual presentation is designed to simulate the episodic nature of a comic book page. The presentation is defined by distinct panels sequentially arranged to form a page layout, the panel limits player-controlled character play to an active panel in which the character must achieve predetermined tasks before he is allowed to move forward in the sequential arrangement of panels to create the story. A dialogue system is also provided for simulating speech balloons to convey emotion, effects and assist in the story-telling nature of the game. Graphical effects are provided to enhance the comic book medium simulation such as torn paper and a cartoonist's hand. In order to provide variety, there may be alternate routes through the panel sequences.
Claim 1
A videogame system for playing a game based upon a simulated comic book page having a player-controlled character and a story comprising: videogame program source containing game data and game instructions for use by a system controller to generate an audiovisual presentation which simulates a comic book page; a player-operated input device for providing input signals to control movements of the player-controlled character; and a system controller, including a game microprocessor for executing a videogame program and a video display processor coupled to the game microprocessor and a video random access memory, coupled to the video display processor, for storing dataused in generating a video display, for executing the game data and game instructions to provide a videogame audiovisual presentation on a video display, the audiovisual presentation comprising a plurality of distinct panels separated by panel breaks,the plurality of panels are arranged sequentially to form a page layout, each panel representing boundaries in space and time and each panel having predetermined tasks for performance by the player-controlled player, the sequential order of the pluralityof panels determined
Claims
41 totalA videogame system for playing a game based upon a simulated comic book page having a player-controlled character and a story comprising: videogame program source containing game data and game instructions for use by a system controller to generate an audiovisual presentation which simulates a comic book page; a player-operated input device for providing input signals to control movements of the player-controlled character; and a system controller, including a game microprocessor for executing a videogame program and a video display processor coupled to the game microprocessor and a video random access memory, coupled to the video display processor, for storing dataused in generating a video display, for executing the game data and game instructions to provide a videogame audiovisual presentation on a video display, the audiovisual presentation comprising a plurality of distinct panels separated by panel breaks,the plurality of panels are arranged sequentially to form a page layout, each panel representing boundaries in space and time and each panel having predetermined tasks for performance by the player-controlled player, the sequential order of the pluralityof panels determined