Game system, game control method, and recording medium for the same

• US 20030092492A1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Koichi, Matsui, Akihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence

Abstract

A game system provides multiple classifications of character characteristic and is capable of advancing a game by assigning the desired characteristic to a character from multiple characteristics. Two jobs, that is, a main job and a support job are selectable for a character and a fixed pattern of table configuration data is provided as characteristic value information according to the job. In addition, the table configuration data corresponding to the classification of the job is extracted and applied to a growth table for each job, and ability values of the main job and support job are weighted differently so as to achieve character characteristic having two job abilities together. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively increase the job types to be assigned to the character and to create an interesting game, while reducing necessary memory capacity.

Claims

1. A game system, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, provides a plurality of types of characteristics of said character and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among said plurality of types of characteristic, comprising:

a main characteristic assigning system that assigns one of the types of characteristic to said character, said assigned type of characteristic serving as a main type of characteristic of the character;

a support characteristic assigning system that assigns another one of the types of characteristic to said character, said assigned type of characteristic serving as a support type of characteristic of the character;

a storage that stores characteristic value information that determines characteristic values of said character;

an application system that extracts characteristic value information corresponding to said main type of characteristic and to said support type of characteristic from said stored characteristic value information, and applies said characteristic values of said character in accordance with said extracted characteristic value information; and

a controller that controls said character according to said characteristic values applied by said application system.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said application system weights characteristic value information of said main type of characteristic assigned by said main characteristic assigning system with a first factor to generate a first weighted value, weights characteristic value information of said support type of characteristic assigned by said support characteristic assigning system with a second factor to generate a second weighted value, and sums said first and second weighted values.

3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said characteristic value information includes a combination of parameters, has a plurality of character growth patterns for every parameter, and combines said plurality of growth patterns according to the characteristic to be assigned to said character.

4. The game system according to claim 3, wherein said storage stores combined information of said plurality of character growth patterns for every characteristic of said character.

5. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

said storage stores characteristic value information common to a plurality of different characters;

and

said application system applies said stored characteristic value information, said characteristic value information being assigned for each of said plurality of different characters.

6. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a game apparatus that includes said main characteristic assigning system, said support characteristic assigning system, and said controller; and

a server apparatus that connects to said game apparatus through a communication medium, and includes said storage and said application system;

wherein

said game apparatus assigning character characteristic using said main characteristic assigning system and said support characteristic assigning system, respectively; and

said server apparatus receiving characteristic assigning results from said game apparatus, finding and applying characteristic value information for the character, and providing the applied characteristic value information to said game apparatus;

and wherein said game apparatus controls said character according to said provided characteristic value information.

7. A game system, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, provides a plurality of types of characteristic of said character and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among said plurality of types of characteristic, comprising:

a storage that stores characteristic value information that determines said characteristic values of said character; and

an application system that extracts characteristic value information corresponding to said assigned types of characteristic from said stored characteristic value information, and applies said extracted characteristic value information to said assigned types of characteristic;

wherein said characteristic value information includes a combination of parameters, has a plurality of types of character growth patterns for every parameter, and combines said plurality of growth patterns according to the characteristic to be assigned to said character.

8. A game control method in a game apparatus, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, provides a plurality of types of characteristic of said character and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among said plurality of types of characteristic;

said game control method comprising;

assigning one of the types of characteristic to said character, said assigned type of characteristic serving as a main type of characteristic of the character;

assigning another one of the types of characteristic to said character, said assigned type of characteristic serving as a support type of characteristic of the character;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to said main type of characteristic and to said support type of characteristic from stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of said character in accordance with said extracted characteristic value information; and

controlling said character according to said applied characteristic values.

9. The game control method according to claim 8, wherein said characteristic value information of said main type of characteristic is weighted with a first factor to generate a first weighted value, said characteristic value information of said support type of characteristic is weighted with a second factor to generate a second weighted value, and said first and second weighted values are summed.

10. The game control method according to claim 8, wherein said characteristic value information includes a combination of parameters, has a plurality of character growth patterns for every parameter, and combines said plurality of growth patterns according to characteristic to be assigned to said character.

11. The game control method according to claim 8, comprising:

assigning said main type of characteristic and said support type of characteristic, and controlling said character, with a game apparatus; and

controlling with a server apparatus, said server apparatus is connected to said game apparatus through a communication medium, includes said storage, and applies an application characteristic value to said character;

wherein said server apparatus receives from said game apparatus character assignment results to find and apply characteristic value information for said character, and provides said applied characteristic value information to said game apparatus; and

said game apparatus controls said character according to said provided characteristic value information.

12. A game control method in a game apparatus, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, comprises a storage that stores a plurality of types of characteristic of said character, and is capable of advancing the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among said plurality of types of characteristic;

said game control method comprising;

providing a combination of parameters having a plurality of growth patterns for each parameter, based on said stored characteristic value information;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to said assigned types of characteristic from said stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of said character in accordance with said extracted characteristic value information; and

combining said plurality of types of growth patterns according to characteristic to be assigned to said character.

13. A computer readable recording medium on which a game program executed by a game apparatus is recorded, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with said game program, comprises a storage that stores a plurality of types of characteristic of said character, and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among said plurality of types of characteristic, said game program causing the game apparatus to execute:

assigning a main type of characteristic to said character;

assigning a support type of characteristic to said character;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to said assigned types of characteristic from stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of said character in accordance with said extracted characteristic value information; and

controlling said character according to said applied characteristic values.

14. The computer readable recording medium according to claim 13, wherein said game program further causes the game apparatus to weight said characteristic value information of said main type of characteristic with a first factor to generate a first weighted value, weight said characteristic value information of said support type of characteristic with a second factor to generate a second weighted value, and sum said first and second weighted values.

15. The computer readable recording medium according to claim 13, wherein said characteristic value information includes a combination of parameters, has a plurality of character growth patterns for each of said parameters, and combines said plurality of growth patterns according to characteristic to be assigned to said character.

16. A computer readable recording medium on which a game program executed by a game apparatus is recorded, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with said game program, comprises a storage that stores a plurality of types of characteristic of said character, and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among said plurality of types of characteristic,

said game program causing the game apparatus to execute:

storing in said storage characteristic value information for determining said character characteristic;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to said assigned types of characteristic from said stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of said character in accordance with said extracted characteristic value information; and

controlling said character according to said applied characteristic values;

wherein said characteristic value information includes a combination of parameters, has a plurality of character growth patterns for every parameter, and combines said plurality of growth patterns according to characteristic to be assigned to said character.

17. The computer readable recording medium according to claim 16, wherein said game program further causes the game apparatus to store a combination of information on said plurality of growth patterns for each of said characteristics.