Mobile terminal, method for controlling games, and computer readable recording medium

• US 20030195044A1
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Narita, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 6,733,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• 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 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1066 : Game playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 : wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 : Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

Progression of a game executed at a mobile terminal is changed in response to the radiowave reception intensity of radio signals received by the mobile terminal. During the course of the progression of a game, enemy characters to combat, items to be generated, and the branching of the game scenario are controlled in accordance with the received signal intensity.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal which can receive radio signals transmitted by each of a plurality of base stations, comprising:

a detector that detects a radiowave reception intensity of radio signals transmitted by the base stations,

a progress system that allows a game to proceed according to the radiowave reception intensity detected by the detector during the game progress, and

a display that displays images in response to the progression of the game.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a branch information storage that stores a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and scenario branch information for branching a scenario progression of a game, wherein

the progress system branches the progress of the game in response to the scenario branch information stored in the branch information storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detector.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a character storage that stores a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and at least one game character, wherein

the progress system determines a game character to be displayed from the at least one game character stored in the character storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detector to vary the progression of the game.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising an item storage that stores a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and at least one item having an attribute for varying a game progression, wherein

the progress system determines an item to be displayed from the at least one item stored in the item storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detector to vary the progression of the game.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, in which game progress occurs in response to operation input.

6. A method for controlling a game in a mobile terminal comprising:

inputting data in response to a location of the mobile terminal,

determining the location of the mobile terminal in accordance with the data input,

allowing the game to proceed in response to the location determined during the progression of the game, and

displaying images in response to the progression of the game.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the data is base station identification information provided uniquely for each of a plurality of base stations with which the mobile terminal communicates.

8. The method according to claim 6, in which game progress occurs in response to operation input.

9. A method for controlling a game at a mobile terminal which can receive radio signals transmitted by each of a plurality of base stations, comprising:

detecting radiowave reception intensity of radio signals transmitted by the base stations,

progressing the game according to the radiowave reception intensity detected during the progression of the game, and

displaying images in response to the progression of the game.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

storing a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and scenario branch information for branching a scenario progression of a game, wherein

the progressing further comprises branching the progress of the game in response to the scenario branch information stored in the branch information storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detecting.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising storing a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and at least one game character, wherein

the progressing further comprises determining a game character to be displayed from the at least one game character stored in the character storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detecting to vary the progression of the game.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising storing a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and at least one item having an attribute for varying a game progression, wherein

the progressing further comprises determining an item to be displayed from the at least one item stored in the item storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detecting to vary the progression of the game.

13. The method according to claim 9, in which game progress occurs in response to operation input.

14. A computer readable recording medium in which programs of a game to be executed on a mobile terminal which can receive radio signals transmitted from each of a plurality of base stations are stored, the computer readable recording medium storing the programs for allowing the computer to:

detect radiowave reception intensity of radio signals transmitted by the base stations,

progress the game according to the radiowave reception intensity detected during the progression of the game, progression of the game being carried out in response to operation input, and

display images in response to the progression of the game.

15. The medium according to claim 14, further allowing the computer to:

store a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and scenario branch information for branching a scenario progression of a game, wherein

the progressing further comprises branching the progress of the game in response to the scenario branch information stored in the branch information storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detecting.

16. The medium according to claim 14, further allowing the computer to store a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and at least one game character, wherein

the progressing further comprises determining a game character to be displayed from the at least one game character stored in the character storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detecting to vary the progression of the game.

17. The medium according to claim 14, further allowing the computer to store a correspondence relationship between the signal intensity and at least one item having an attribute for varying a game progression, wherein

the progressing further comprises determining an item to be displayed from the at least one item stored in the item storage corresponding to the signal intensity determined by the detecting to vary the progression of the game.

18. The medium according to claim 14, in which game progress occurs in response to operation input.