Battle system

• US 20060068905A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Umezaki, Shirou
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for presenting information in a video game. In one implementation, an entertainment system includes: a game console; a display device connected to said game console; and a video game application program; wherein when said game console executes said video game application program, said game console causes said display device to display an information gauge; wherein said information gauge includes: an action bar having a start end and a goal end, and a plurality of character icons presented at respective points on the action bar, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game; wherein said character icons move along said action bar over time in the direction from said start end to said goal end; and wherein when a character icon reaches said goal end, the character corresponding to that character icon has an opportunity to perform an action in the video game.

Claims

1. An information gauge in a video game, comprising:

an action bar having a start end and a goal end; and

a plurality of character icons presented at respective points on the action bar, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game;

wherein said action bar and said character icons are graphical elements displayed on a display device while the video game is being played,

said character icons move along said action bar over time in the direction from said start end to said goal end, and

when a character icon reaches said goal end, the character corresponding to that character icon has an opportunity to perform an action in the video game.

2. The information gauge of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of detail indicators corresponding to respective character icons showing where the corresponding character icon is on said action bar.

3. The information gauge of claim 1, wherein:

each character icon moves at a respective rate.

4. The information gauge of claim 1, further comprising:

a bonus area; and

a plurality of bonus icons presented in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a type of bonus;

wherein said bonus area and said bonus icons are graphical elements displayed on a display device while the video game is being played,

said bonus icons move towards said bonus area over time and enter said bonus area one at a time, and

when an event concludes, a player in the video game receives a bonus corresponding to a bonus icon currently in said bonus area.

5. The information gauge of claim 4, wherein:

said bonus area and said bonus icons are presented above and substantially adjacent to said action bar.

6. The information gauge of claim 4, wherein:

said bonus icons and said character icons move in opposite directions.

7. The information gauge of claim 4, wherein:

when said event concludes, a player in the video game also receives a bonus corresponding to each bonus icon that has not yet reached said bonus area.

8. The information gauge of claim 4, wherein:

said bonus icons move at a rate related to the type of said event.

9.A. A information gauge in a video game, comprising:

a bonus area; and

a plurality of bonus icons presented in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a type of bonus;

wherein said bonus area and said bonus icons are graphical elements displayed on a display device while the video game is being played,

said bonus icons move towards said bonus area over time and enter said bonus area one at a time, and

when an event concludes, a player in the video game receives a bonus corresponding to a bonus icon currently in said bonus area.

10. The information gauge of claim 9, wherein:

said event is a battle in the video game.

11. The information gauge of claim 9, wherein:

when said event concludes, a player in the video game also receives a bonus corresponding to each bonus icon that has not yet reached said bonus area.

12. The information gauge of claim 9, wherein:

said bonus icons move at a rate related to the type of said event.

13. An entertainment system, comprising:

a game console;

a display device connected to said game console; and

a video game application program;

wherein when said game console executes said video game application program, said game console causes said display device to display an information gauge;

wherein said information gauge includes;

an action bar having a start end and a goal end, and a plurality of character icons presented at respective points on the action bar, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game;

wherein said character icons move along said action bar over time in the direction from said start end to said goal end; and

wherein when a character icon reaches said goal end, the character corresponding to that character icon has an opportunity to perform an action in the video game.

14. The entertainment system of claim 13, wherein:

said game console includes a media reader;

said video game application program is stored on an article of removable media inserted into said media reader; and

said game console reads said video game application program from said media.

15. The entertainment system of claim 13, wherein:

said game console includes a network adapter and data storage;

said game console downloads said video game application program using said network adapter and stores said video game application program in said data storage; and

said game console reads said video game application program from said data storage.

16. The entertainment system of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of detail indicators corresponding to respective character icons showing where the corresponding character icon is on said action bar.

17. The entertainment system of claim 13, wherein:

each character icon moves at a respective rate.

18. The entertainment system of claim 13, wherein:

said information gauge further includes;

a bonus area, and a plurality of bonus icons presented in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a type of bonus;

said bonus icons move towards said bonus area over time and enter said bonus area one at a time; and

when an event concludes, a player in the video game receives a bonus corresponding to a bonus icon currently in said bonus area.

19. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein:

said bonus area and said bonus icons are presented above and substantially adjacent to said action bar.

20. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein:

said bonus icons and said character icons move in opposite directions.

21. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein:

said event is a battle in said video game.

22. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein:

when said event concludes, a player in the video game also receives a bonus corresponding to each bonus icon that has not yet reached said bonus area.

23. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein:

said bonus icons move at a rate related to the type of said event.

24. A method of displaying information on a display device while executing a video game, comprising:

displaying an action bar having a start end and a goal end;

displaying a plurality of character icons at said start end, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game;

moving each character icon along said action bar towards said goal end; and

performing an action for a character in the video game when the character icon corresponding to that character reaches said goal end.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

each character icon moves at a respective rate.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving an action selection from a player of the video game indicating an action to be performed for a selected character.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

highlighting a character icon corresponding to a character that is the target of said action selection.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying a bonus area;

displaying a plurality of bonus icons in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a type of bonus;

moving said bonus icons towards said bonus area so that said bonus icons enter said bonus area one at a time; and

providing a player in the video game at least one bonus corresponding to at least one bonus icon currently displayed when an event concludes.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein providing a player at least one bonus includes:

providing said player in the video game a bonus corresponding to each bonus icon that has not yet reached said bonus area when said event concludes.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein providing a player at least one bonus includes:

providing a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to the bonus icon currently displayed in said bonus area when an event concludes.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein:

said bonus icons move at a rate related to the type of said event.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein:

said bonus area and said bonus icons are displayed above and substantially adjacent to said action bar.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein:

said bonus icons and said character icons move in opposite directions.

34. A method of displaying information on a display device while executing a video game, comprising:

displaying a bonus area;

displaying a plurality of bonus icons in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a type of bonus;

moving said bonus icons towards said bonus area so that said bonus icons enter said bonus area one at a time; and

providing a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to a bonus icon currently in said bonus area when an event concludes.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

providing a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to each bonus icon that has not yet reached said bonus area when said event concludes.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein:

said bonus icons move at a rate related to the type of said event.

37. A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in displaying information on a display device while executing a video game, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

cause the display of an action bar having a start end and a goal end;

cause the display of a plurality of character icons at said start end, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game;

move each character icon along said action bar towards said goal end; and

perform an action for a character in the video game when the character icon corresponding to that character reaches said goal end.

38. A system for displaying information on a display device while executing a video game, comprising:

means for displaying an action bar having a start end and a goal end;

means for displaying a plurality of character icons at said start end, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game;

means for moving each character icon along said action bar towards said goal end; and

means for performing an action for a character in the video game when the character icon corresponding to that character reaches said goal end.

39. A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in displaying information on a display device while executing a video game, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

cause the display of a bonus area;

cause the display of a plurality of bonus icons in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a type of bonus;

move said bonus icons towards said bonus area so that said bonus icons enter said bonus area one at a time; and

provide a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to a bonus icon currently in said bonus area when an event concludes.

40. A system for displaying information on a display device while executing a video game, comprising:

means for displaying a bonus area;

means for displaying a plurality of bonus icons in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a type of bonus;

means for moving said bonus icons towards said bonus area so that said bonus icons enter said bonus area one at a time; and

means for providing a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to a bonus icon currently in said bonus area when an event concludes.