Sound generating device and video game device using the same

A sound generating device that generates music by specifying tones in response to a controller having a plurality of push-button switches and an analog joystick capable of selecting among a plurality of positions, comprising:

• a push-button detector that detects depression of said plurality of push-button switches;
• a tone selector that selects tones corresponding to the push-button(s) detected by said push-button detector;
• a tilt amount detector that detects an amount of tilt of said analog joystick;
• a frequency data generator that generates frequency data corresponding to the tone(s) selected by said tone selector with or without change, based on the amount of tilt detected by said tilt amount detector and the pressed push-button switch detected by said push-button detector;
• a frequency data storage temporarily storing a plurality of frequency data;
• a data writer that periodically and sequentially writes the frequency data generated by said frequency data generator into said frequency data storage;
• a data reader that for sequentially reads the frequency data stored in said frequency data storage;
• and
• an audio signal generator that generates an audio signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency data read by said data reader.

A video game device displaying an image on a display device and producing sound from a speaker by executing a game program, comprising:

• a user-manipulable control interface having a plurality of push-button switches for instructing motion of a player-object on a screen of said display device, and an analog joystick capable of selecting among a plurality of positions and for instructing a moving direction of the player-object;
• a player-object image data generator that generates data for displaying an image of said player-object;
• a non-player-object image data generator that generates data for display an image of objects other than said player-object;
• a push-button detector that detects when one of said plurality of push-button switches is pressed;
• a tone selector that selects a tone corresponding to the push-button detected by said push-button detector;
• a tilt amount detector that detects an amount of tilt of said analog joystick;
• a frequency data generator that generates frequency data corresponding to the tone selected by said tone selector with or without change, based on the amount of tilt detected by said tilt amount detector and the push-button switch detected by said push-button detector;
• a frequency data storage temporarily storing a plurality of frequency data;
• a data writer that periodically and sequentially writes the frequency data generated by said frequency data generator in said frequency data storage;
• a data reader that sequentially reads the frequency data stored in said frequency data storage;
• an audio signal generator that generates an audio signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency data read by said data reader;
• and
• display image changer that changes at least one of the image data for the player-object generated by said player-object image data generator and the image data for the non-player-object generated by said non-player-object image data generator based on the audio signal generated by said audio signal generator to change at least one of display states of the player-object and the non-player-object.

A video game device displaying an image on a display device and producing sound from a speaker by executing a game program, comprising:

• a control interface operated by a player and having a plurality of push-button switches for instructing motion of a player-object on a screen of said display device;
• a player-object image data generator that generates data for displaying an image of said player-object;
• a non-player-object image data generator that generates data for displaying an image of at least one object other than said player-object;
• a push-button detector that detects whether any of said plurality of push-button switches is pressed;
• a tone selector that selects a tone corresponding to the push-button detected by said push-button detector;
• a frequency data generator that generates frequency data corresponding to the tone selected by said tone selector;
• a frequency data storage that temporarily stores a plurality of frequency data;
• a data writer for periodically and sequentially writing the frequency data generated by said frequency data generator in said frequency data storage;
• a data reader for sequentially reading the frequency data stored in said frequency data storage;
• a sound sequence generator that generates a sound sequence corresponding to the frequency data read by said data reader;
• and
• a display image changer, based on comparison between the sound sequence generated by said sound sequence generator and a predetermined pattern, that changes at least one of the display states of the player-object and the non-player-object by changing at least one of the image data for the player-object generated by said player-object image data generator and the image data for said non-player-object generated by said non-player-object image data generator.

A recording medium in which a video game program to be executed by an information processing device for displaying an image for a game on a display device and producing sound for the game from a speaker is stored,

• said information processing device comprising a control interface operated by a player and having a plurality of push-button switches for instructing motion of a player-object on a screen of said display device,
• said program comprising the steps of:
• generating data for displaying an image of the player-object in response to an operation of said control interface;
• generating data for displaying an image of at least one further, non-player-object in response to an operation of said control interface;
• detecting depression of said plurality of push-button switches and selecting a tone(s) corresponding to the depressed push-button(s);
• generating frequency data corresponding to the selected tone;
• generating a sound sequence corresponding to said frequency data;
• comparing said sound sequence with a predetermined pattern;
• and
• based on the comparison, changing at least one of display states of the player-objects and the non-player-object by changing at least one of the image data for said player-object and the image data for said non-player-object.

A method of operating a video game playing apparatus having a plurality of controls including an analog joystick, comprising:

• (a) selecting a sound in response to user operation of said controls;
• (b) changing the frequency of said selected sound in response to operation of said analog joystick and in accordance with an amount of tilt of said analog joystick;
• (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) to build a sequence of user-selected sounds;
• and
• (d) playing said sound sequence in conjunction with video game graphics.

A method of operating a video game playing apparatus having a plurality of controls including a joystick, comprising:

• (a) selecting a sound in response to user operation of said controls;
• (b) changing the frequency of said selected sound in response to operation of said joystick;
• (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) to build a sequence of user-selected sounds;
• (d) playing said sound sequence in conjunction with video game graphics;
• (e) comparing said sequence of user-selected sounds to a predetermined pattern;
• and
• (f) changing the video game graphics based on said comparison.