Game machine and data storage medium having game program stored therein

• US 20040224759A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishimura, Katsuhito
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• 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

Abstract

If a random number is larger than a selection coefficient SF, a room unit RU is given a high priority for disposition in a map area. If the random number is not larger than the selection coefficient SF, no room unit RU is disposed on the map area. Also, if a selected open door is a door DR set in a room unit RU, the selection coefficient SF is multiplied by a multiplication factor M, and then the multiplication result and the random number are compared. As the multiplication factor M is larger, a passage unit PU is given a higher priority for disposition on the map area. By adjusting the selection coefficient SF and the multiplication factor M, it is possible to generate a map in consideration of a ratio of units of two types to be disposed on the map area and an affinity between these units for connection.

Claims

1. A game machine for generating a game map which defines an area where an object can move in the course of a game, the game machine comprising:

unit storage means having previously stored therein a first unit, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and forming the game map, and a second unit, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and is different in type from the first unit;

first disposing means which selects one unit from the first unit and the second unit that are stored in the unit storage means, and disposes the selected unit on the map area; and

second disposing means which repeats a process of selecting a unit which is connectable to an unconnected connecting portion included in a unit already disposed on the map area and a process of disposing the selected unit on the map area, wherein

the second disposing means includes;

unconnected connecting portion extracting means which extracts the unconnected connecting portion from the connecting portions included in the unit already disposed on the map area;

random number generating means which generates a random number within a predetermined range;

selection coefficient setting means which sets a selection coefficient to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means;

unit selecting means which compares the random number generated by the random number generating means with the selection coefficient based on predetermined criteria, and selects either one unit from the first unit and the second unit; and

unit disposing means which extracts the one unit selected by the unit selecting means from the first unit and the second unit stored in the unit storage means, connects a connecting portion included in the one unit to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means, and disposes the one unit on the map area.

2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the first unit is a unit zone representing a passage on the game map, and

the second unit is a unit zone representing a room having an area larger than an area of the first unit on the game map.

3. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the selection coefficient setting means sets different selection coefficients based on a type of a unit including the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means.

4. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the selection coefficient setting means sets different selection coefficients based on the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means.

5. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the unit storage means has previously stored therein a first unit group formed by a plurality of the first units and a second unit group formed by a plurality of the second units,

the unit selecting means compares the random number with the selection coefficient based on the predetermined criteria, and selects one unit group from the first unit group and the second unit group, and

the unit disposing means extracts a unit from the one unit group selected by the unit selecting means from the first unit group and the second unit group, and disposes the extracted unit on the map area.

6. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

when the connecting portion included in the one unit selected by the unit selecting means cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means for disposing the one unit on the map area, the unit disposing means extracts another one unit from the first unit and the second unit, connects a connecting portion included in the other unit to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means, and disposes the other unit on the map area.

7. The game machine according to claim 6, wherein

when the connecting portion included in the other unit cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means for disposing the other unit on the map area, the unit disposing means closes the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means.

8. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

after the number of second units disposed by the first and second disposing means on the map area has reached a predetermined number, the second disposing means stops disposing the second unit on the map area.

9. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising

third disposing means which extracts, when the number of second units disposed by the first and second disposing means on the map area has reached a predetermined number, the first unit stored in the unit storage means, connects a connecting portion included in the first unit to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means, and disposes the first unit on the map area.

10. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein

when there is another unconnected connecting portion within a predetermined area on the map area with reference to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means, the third disposing means disposes the first unit to connect the extracted connecting portion and the other unconnected connecting portion together via the first unit, and

when there is no other unconnected connecting portion within the predetermined area on the map area, the third disposing means closes the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting means.

11. A storage medium having stored therein a game program causing a computer to perform a process of generating a game map which defines an area where an object can move in the course of a game,

the computer having previously stored therein a first unit, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and forming the game map, and a second unit, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and is different in type from the first unit, the game program causing the computer to perform the process comprising:

a first disposing step of selecting one unit from the previously-stored first unit and the second unit, and disposing the selected unit on the map area; and

a second disposing step of repeating a process of selecting a unit which is connectable to an unconnected connecting portion included in a unit already disposed on the map area and a process of disposing the selected unit on the map area, wherein

the second disposing step includes;

an unconnected connecting portion extracting step of extracting the unconnected connecting portion from the connecting portions included in the unit already disposed on the map area;

a random number generating step of generating a random number within a predetermined range;

a selection coefficient setting step of setting a selection coefficient to the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step;

a unit selecting step of comparing the random number generated in the random number generating step with the selection coefficient based on predetermined criteria, and selecting either one unit from the first unit and the second unit; and

a unit disposing step of extracting the one unit selected in the unit selecting step from the first unit and the second unit previously stored, connecting a connecting portion included in the one unit to the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step, and disposing the one unit on the map area.

12. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

the first unit is a unit zone representing a passage on the game map, and

the second unit is a unit zone representing a room having an area larger than an area of the first unit on the game map.

13. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

in the selection coefficient setting step, different selection coefficients are set based on a type of a unit including the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step.

14. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

in the selection coefficient setting step, different selection coefficients are set based on the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step.

15. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

the computer has previously stored therein a first unit group formed by a plurality of the first units and a second unit group formed by a plurality of the second units,

in the unit selecting step, the random number is compared with the selection coefficient based on the predetermined criteria, and one unit group is selected from the first unit group and the second unit group, and

in the unit disposing step, a unit is extracted from the one unit group selected in the unit selecting step from the first unit group and the second unit group, and the extracted unit is disposed on the map area.

16. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

in the unit disposing step, when the connecting portion included in the one unit selected in the unit selecting step cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step for disposing the one unit on the map area, another one unit is extracted from the first unit and the second unit, a connecting portion included in the other unit is connected to the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step, and the other unit is disposed on the map area.

17. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 16, wherein

in the unit disposing step, when the connecting portion included in the other unit cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step for disposing the other unit on the map area, the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step is closed.

18. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

in the second disposing step, after the number of second units disposed in the first and second disposing steps on the map area has reached a predetermined number, disposing the second unit on the map area is stopped.

19. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to perform a third disposing step of extracting, when the number of second units disposed in the first and second disposing steps on the map area has reached a predetermined number, the previously-stored first unit, connecting a connecting portion included in the first unit to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting step, and disposing the first unit on the map area.

20. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 19, wherein

in the third disposing step,

when there is another unconnected connecting portion within a predetermined area on the map area with reference to the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step, the first unit is disposed to connect the extracted connecting portion and the other unconnected connecting portion together via the first unit, and

when there is no other unconnected connecting portion within the predetermined area on the map area, the connecting portion extracted in the unconnected connecting portion extracting step is closed.