Video game device, technique setting method in video game, and computer readable recording medium storing technique setting program

• US 20010008844A1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Published: 07/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kashiwagi, Katsuma, Hiruo, Kazuhiro, Yamauchi, Madoka
• Granted Patent: US 6,964,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics

Abstract

A video game device is provided with a degree of difficulty setting unit 201h for setting a degree of difficulty of a technique to be performed by a play character by continuously hitting a C1-button 183h and a C2-button 183i provided in a controller 183, a command guiding unit for guiding the input of a command for causing the play character to perform a technique corresponding to the set degree of difficulty, a stick-shaped controller 183e provided in the controller 183 for inputting the command in accordance with the guide given by the command guiding unit, a landing setting unit 201j for setting landing finished upon completion of performance of the technique by the play character MA, and an evaluating unit 201k for evaluating the technique performed in accordance with a command inputting operation. Accordingly, a highly interesting and ingenuous game can be realized.

Claims

1. A video game device for displaying a play character on a game screen image displayed on a monitor and causing the play character to perform a plurality of techniques having different degrees of difficulty, comprising:

a degree of difficulty setting unit for setting a degree of difficulty of a technique to be performed by the play character,

a command guiding unit for guiding an command input for causing the play character to perform a technique corresponding to the set degree of difficulty,

an operation unit for causing the play character to perform the technique according to the set degree of difficulty, the operation unit including a first operable member for inputting the command in accordance with the command input guide given by the command guiding unit, and

an evaluating unit for evaluating the technique performed in accordance with a command given by the first operable member.

2. A video game device according to

claim 1

, wherein the degree of difficulty setting unit includes a mark changing unit for changing a mark corresponding to the set degree of difficulty according to time, and the operation unit includes a second operable member for selecting a specified mark from the changing mark.

3. A video game device according to

claim 1

, wherein the degree of difficulty setting unit includes a mark changing unit for changing mark corresponding to the degree of difficulty by operating a third operable member provided in the operation unit.

4. A video game device according to

claim 1

, further comprising a landing setting unit for causing the play character to land.

5. A video game device according to

claim 4

, wherein the landing setting unit sets a landing setting display area f or setting the landing of the play character in a partial area of the game screen image, sets a landing success zone in the landing setting display area, displays a landing mark which is movable, and enables landing of the play character through operation of a fourth operable member provided in the operation unit when the landing mark is located within the landing success zone.

6. A video game device according to

claim 5

, wherein the landing success zone is set narrower as the degree of difficulty is set higher.

7. A video game device according to

claim 5

, wherein a command input area is set in a partial area of the game screen image, and the command is displayed in the input area in the form of icons.

8. A video game device according to

claim 1

, wherein a higher evaluation is given as a shorter time is required to input the command.

9. A video game device according to

claim 1

, wherein when the input of the command is not completed within a predetermined time, the play character is caused to perform an action different from the one performed when it is completed within the predetermined time.

10. A video game device according to

claim 1

, wherein the play character is caused to perform a complicated technique when the set degree of difficulty is high.

11. A technique setting method for setting a technique in a video game for displaying a play character on a game screen image displayed on a monitor and causing the play character to perform a plurality of techniques having different degrees of difficulty and prepared in advance by operating an operation unit, the method comprising the steps of:

setting a degree of difficulty of a technique to be performed by the play character,

guiding an inputting operation of a command for causing the play character to perform a technique corresponding to the set degree of difficulty, and

evaluating the technique performed by inputting the command in accordance with the guide through operation of a first operable member provided in the operation unit.

12. A technique setting method according to

claim 11

, further comprising the steps of changing marks corresponding to the degrees of difficulty according to time, and selecting a specified mark from the changing mark through operation of a second operable member.

13. A technique setting method according to

claim 11

, further comprising the step of changing a mark corresponding to the degree of difficulty through operation of a third operable member.

14. A technique setting method according to

claim 11

, further comprising the step of causing the play character to land.

15. A technique setting method according to

claim 14

, further comprising the steps of:

setting a landing setting display area for setting the landing of the play character in a partial area of the game screen image,

setting a landing success zone in the landing setting display area,

displaying a landing mark which is movable, and

enabling landing of the play character through operation of a fourth operable member provided in the operation unit when the landing mark is located within the landing success zone.

16. A computer readable recording medium storing a technique setting program in a video game for displaying a play character in a game screen image displayed on a monitor and causing the play character to perform a plurality of techniques having different degrees of difficulty and prepared in advance by operating an operation unit, the technique setting program comprising the steps of:

setting a degree of difficulty of a technique to be performed by the play character,

guiding an inputting operation of a command for causing the play character to perform a technique corresponding to the set degree of difficulty, and

evaluating the technique performed by inputting the command in accordance with the guide through operation of a first operable member provided in the operation unit.

17. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 16

, wherein the technique setting program further comprising the steps of changing a mark corresponding to the degree of difficulty according to time and selecting a specified mark from the changing marks through operation of a second operable member.

18. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 16

, wherein the technique setting program further comprising a step of changing a mark corresponding to the degree of difficulty through operation of a third operable member.

19. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 16

, wherein the technique setting program further comprising the step of causing the play character to land.

20. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 19

, wherein the technique setting program further comprising the steps of:

setting a landing setting display area for setting the landing of the play character in a partial area of the game screen image,

setting a landing success zone in the landing setting display area,

displaying a landing mark which is movable, and

enabling landing of the play character through operation of a fourth operable member provided in the operation unit when the landing mark is located within the landing success zone.

21. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 20

, wherein the landing success zone is set narrower as the degree of difficulty is set higher.

22. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 16

, wherein a command input area is set in a partial area of the game screen image, and the command is displayed in the input area in the form of icons.

23. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 16

, wherein a higher evaluation is given as a shorter time is required to input the command.

24. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 16

, wherein, when the input of the command is not completed within the predetermined time, the play character is caused to perform an action different from the one performed when it is completed within the predetermined time.

25. A computer readable recording medium according to

claim 16

, wherein the play character is caused to perform a complicated technique when the set degree of difficulty is high.