Entertainment system, entertainment apparatus, recording medium, and program

• US 20010016516A1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takatsuka, Susumu, Matsumoto, Shingo, Miyaki, Satoru
• Application Number:
  US09/788,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20010016516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

An entertainment system has an item acquiring unit for displaying a scene in which a character displayed on a display monitor is delivered and dropped according to a control input from the user, and when the character reaches a position where an item is placed, controlling the character to make an action to acquire the item, an item transferring unit for transferring the acquired item as a present to an entertainment apparatus of another user, and an item displaying unit for displaying the item presented from another user.

Claims

1. An entertainment system comprising:

an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs;

at least one manual controller for entering control requests from the user into said entertainment apparatus;

a display unit for displaying images outputted from said entertainment apparatus; and

item processing means for processing an item handled by a character displayed on said display unit;

said item processing means comprising;

item acquiring means for displaying a scene in which the character displayed on said display unit is carried according to a control input from the user, and when said character reaches a position where an item is placed, controlling said character to make an action to acquire said item.

2. An entertainment system according to

claim 1

, wherein said action to acquire said item comprises an action to search for and remove said item.

3. An entertainment system according to

claim 1

, wherein said item processing means comprises:

item storing means for, when said character reaches a spot where said item is to be stored according to a control input from the user, controlling said character to make an action to store the acquired item in said spot.

4. An entertainment system according to

claim 1

, wherein said item processing means comprises:

item transferring means for transferring the acquired item to an entertainment apparatus of another user connected via a network.

5. An entertainment system according to

claim 4

, wherein said item transferring means comprises:

means for transferring at least a code indicative of a type of said item when said item is transferred to the entertainment apparatus of the other user;

said item processing means comprising;

item displaying means for displaying said item based on the transferred code.

6. An entertainment system according to

claim 1

, wherein said item processing means comprises:

scene executing means for, when the acquired item is given to said character, selecting and executing one of a plurality of scenes including a scene in which at least said character uses said item and a scene in which said character exchanges said item for hypothetical money, according to a selecting action of said user.

7. An entertainment system according to

claim 6

, wherein said item processing means comprises:

second scene executing means for, when said hypothetical money is given to said character, selecting and executing one of a plurality of scenes including a scene in which at least said character purchases said item with the hypothetical money and a scene in which said character purchases another character, according to a selecting action of said user.

8. An entertainment apparatus for connection to a manual controller for outputting a control request from the user, and a display unit for displaying images, comprising:

item processing means for processing an item handled by a character displayed on said display unit;

said item processing means comprising;

item acquiring means for displaying a scene in which the character displayed on said display unit is carried according to a control input from the user, and when said character reaches a position where an item is placed, controlling said character to make an action to acquire said item.

9. A recording medium storing a program and data for use in an entertainment apparatus for connection to a manual controller for outputting a control request from the user, and a display unit for displaying images, said program comprising the steps of:

processing an item handled by a character displayed on said display unit;

said step of processing an item comprising the steps of;

displaying a scene in which the character displayed on said display unit is carried according to a control input from the user, and when said character reaches a position where an item is placed, controlling said character to make an action to acquire said item.

10. A recording medium according to

claim 9

, wherein said action to acquire said item comprises an action to search for and remove said item.

11. A recording medium according to

claim 9

, wherein said step of processing an item comprises the step of:

when said character reaches a spot where said item is to be stored according to a control input from the user, controlling said character to make an action to store the acquired item in said spot.

12. A recording medium according to

claim 9

, wherein said step of processing an item comprises the step of:

transferring the acquired item to an entertainment apparatus of another user connected via a network.

13. A recording medium according to

claim 12

, wherein said step of transferring the acquired item comprises the step of:

transferring at least a code indicative of a type of said item when said item is transferred to the entertainment apparatus of the other user;

said step of processing an item comprising the step of;

displaying said item based on the transferred code.

14. A recording medium according to

claim 9

, wherein said step of processing an item comprises the steps of:

when the acquired item is given to said character, selecting and executing one of a plurality of scenes including a scene in which at least said character uses said item and a scene in which said character exchanges said item for hypothetical money, according to a selecting action of said user.

15. A recording medium according to

claim 14

, wherein said step of processing an item further comprises the steps of:

when said hypothetical money is given to said character, selecting and executing one of a plurality of scenes including a scene in which at least said character purchases said item with the hypothetical money and a scene in which said character purchases another character, according to a selecting action of said user.

16. A program readable and executable by a computer, for use in an entertainment apparatus for connection to a manual controller for outputting a control request from the user, and a display unit for displaying images, said program comprising the steps of:

processing an item handled by a character displayed on said display unit;

said step of processing an item comprising the steps of;

displaying a scene in which the character displayed on said display unit is carried according to a control input from the user, and when said character reaches a position where an item is placed, controlling said character to make an action to acquire said item.