Method and apparatus for automatically targeting target objects in a computer game

• US 10,350,487 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wemade Icarus Company Limited
• Original Assignee: We Made Me Limited
• Inventors: Seok, Hoon, Roh, Kyu Il, Kim, Sung Hee, Lee, Kwang Soo, Lee, Young Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US14/896,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20160129345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5372 for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets

Abstract

A method of automatically targeting a target object, the method including setting a target range including a designated distance from a user-controlled character and a designated horizontal angle centering at a location of the character, selecting at least one target object included in the set target range, and displaying a shape distinguishable from a shape of the target object at a location near the at least one selected target object, wherein the target object is an object the character is able to attack from among objects in a computer game.

Claims

1. A method of targeting at least one object in a computer game, the method comprising:

combining a first character controlled by a user with a second character based on first information input by the user;

setting a target range of the first character based on moving information regarding the second character, wherein the target range setting has a variable maximum range distance that varies based on both a change in velocity and a change in position of the second character;

determining whether the object is within the set target range based on second input information from the user; and

displaying an image indicating that an object is targeted based on a result of the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the setting of the target range, the target range is set based on a current moving direction and a moving speed of the second character, and

the target range moves in correspondence to the current moving direction of the second character and area of the target range is changed in correspondence to the current moving speed of the second character.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the target range comprises a range set based on 3-dimensional directional axis around a location of the first character.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if an object is attacked based on third information input by the user, determining a success of the attack based on a designated probability.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for implementing the method of claim 1.

6. An apparatus for executing a computer game, the apparatus comprising:

a combining unit, which combines a first character controlled by a user with a second character based on first information input by the user;

a setting unit, which sets a target range of the first character based on moving information regarding the second character, wherein the target range setting has a variable maximum range distance that varies based on both a change in velocity and a change in position of the second character;

a determining unit, which determines whether the object is within the set target range based on second input information from the user; and

a display unit, which displays an image indicating that an object is targeted based on a result of the determination.