Portable terminal apparatus, a game execution support apparatus for supporting execution of a game, and computer readable mediums having recorded thereon processing programs for activating the portable terminal apparatus and game execution support apparatus

• US 20040072620A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Fukutake, Shigeru, Nagata, Akihiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,852,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi

Abstract

A game production is effected by utilization of a ringing melody registered in a portable terminal apparatus. With reference to a fruit image table (152), a processing section (110) fetches a fruit image corresponding to a ringing melody number assigned to a ringing melody which has been selected previously in accordance with an instruction. The thus-fetched fruit image is provided within a background image (1200) in a step (S1406). Accordingly, the processing section (110) displays the fruit corresponding to the selected ringing melody within a game screen. A production of an image can be controlled in accordance with the selected ringing melody.

Claims

1. A portable terminal apparatus, comprising:

a music data registration device in which a plurality of distributed music data sets are registered;

a storage device which stores game information distributed from a game execution support apparatus which distributes game information including a game operation program; and

a control device which causes a game to proceed by executing the game operation program, and which effects a game production in consideration of music data which have been selected from the plurality of music data sets in accordance with an instruction.

2. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a game screen on which a game image is displayed; and

an operation device which is operated to control a character in the game image,

wherein the control device causes the game screen to display in a background image of the game image a display object which is to be acquired by the character, and the control device causes the background image to scroll in a predetermined direction,

wherein when the display object is acquired by the character in accordance with an operation of the character performed by the operation device, the control device causes the game to proceed such that a score for the game is increased, and

wherein when the character is caused to perform an action colliding with a specific display object, the control device causes the game to be terminated.

3. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control device includes a transformer which transforms the character when the number of display objects acquired by the character exceeds a predetermined number.

4. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 3, wherein the predetermined number is set according to a type of the display object.

5. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein based on the selected music data, the control device controls a background music for the game in progress.

6. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein based on the selected music data, the control device controls a background music for the game in progress.

7. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 3, wherein based on the selected music data, the control device controls a background music for the game in progress.

8. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 4, wherein based on the selected music data, the control device controls a background music for the game in progress.

9. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control device causes the game screen thereon to display the display object corresponding to the selected music data.

10. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control device causes the game screen thereon to display the display object corresponding to the selected music data.

11. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control device causes the game screen thereon to display the display object corresponding to the selected music data.

12. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control device includes a transmitter which transmits, to the game execution support apparatus, a control signal which enables acquisition of game information used for the game and corresponding to the selected music data when the number of display objects acquired by the character exceeds a predetermined number.

13. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control device includes a transmitter which transmits, to the game execution support apparatus, a control signal which enables acquisition of game information used for the game and corresponding to the selected music data when the number of display objects acquired by the character exceeds a predetermined number.

14. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control device includes a transmitter which transmits, to the game execution support apparatus, a control signal which enables acquisition of game information used for the game and corresponding to the selected music data when the number of display objects acquired by the character exceeds a predetermined number.

15. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control device effects a wait screen display using game information transmitted from the game execution support apparatus.

16. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control device effects a wait screen display using game information transmitted from the game execution support apparatus.

17. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control device effects a wait screen display using game information transmitted from the game execution support apparatus.

18. The portable terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the music data is data on at least one ringing melody.

19. A game execution support apparatus, comprising:

a distributor which distributes, in accordance with a distribution request output from a portable terminal apparatus, game information including a game operation program required for enabling execution of a game; and

a receiver which receives a control signal transmitted from the portable terminal apparatus and enabling acquisition of game information used for a game corresponding to music data which has been selected in accordance with an instruction,

wherein the distributor distributes the game information to the portable terminal apparatus in response to receipt of the control signal.

20. The game execution support apparatus of claim 19, wherein the music data is data on at least one ringing melody.

21. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon a processing program for activating a portable terminal apparatus having a music data registration device in which a plurality of distributed music data sets are registered, the processing program comprising:

a storage routine for storing game information distributed from a game execution support apparatus which distributes the game information including a game operation program; and

an execution routine for executing the game operation program in order to proceed a game, and for effecting a game production in consideration of music data which have been selected from the plurality of music data sets in accordance with an instruction.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the music data is data on at least one ringing melody.

23. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon a processing program for activating a game execution support apparatus which distributes game information including a game operation program for executing a game, the processing program comprising:

a first distribution routine for distributing the game information including the game operation program in accordance with a distribution request output from a portable terminal apparatus;

a receipt routine for receiving a control signal which is transmitted from the portable terminal apparatus and enables acquisition of game information used for a game corresponding to music data which has been selected in accordance with an instruction; and

a second distribution routine for distributing the game information to the portable terminal apparatus in response to receipt of the control signal.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the music data is data on at least one ringing melody.