APPARATUS, A METHOD AND A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROCESSING A VIDEO GAME

• US 20070066392A1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: ITOU, Hiroyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/531,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066392A1
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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
• 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: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A system in which details regarding an action for each of multiple player characters may be preset easily and accurately is provided. In a gambit battle action determining process a control section determines whether an action condition in a gambit whose gambit number is “K” is met or not (Step S142). The control section determines whether an action target indicated by the gambit whose gambit number is “K” exists or not, in which a status condition thereof is met. In the case where the action condition is not met, a gambit for a next gambit number is determined. In the case where the action condition is met, it is determined that an action content in the gambit is carried out against an action target indicated by the gambit (Step S143).

Claims

1. An apparatus for causing an image display apparatus to display a player character of a video game and for controlling progress of the video game by controlling an action of the player character, the apparatus comprising:

a character action information receiver that receives character action information in which an action condition, including an action target of the player character, corresponds to an action content of the player character;

a character action information setter that sets the character action information received by the character action information receiver;

an action content determiner that determines an action content to be carried out by the player character in accordance with the character action information set by the character action information setter; and

an action content executer that causes the player character to carry out the action content determined by the action content determiner,

wherein the action content determiner determines whether an action condition indicated by the character action information is met, and

in the case where the action condition is met, the action content determiner determines an action content to be carried out by the player character against the action target, the action content corresponding to the action condition.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the character action information receiver receives multiple kinds of character action information, each kind of character action information being assigned an order of priority;

the character action information setter sets the multiple kinds of character action information for the player character on the basis of the assigned order of priority; and

the action content determiner determines an action content that is to be carried out by the player character, the action content being indicated by the character action information having the highest assigned priority and whose action condition is met.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an upper limit number memory that stores an upper limit number of settable character action information; and

an upper limit number incrementer that increments the upper limit number stored in the upper limit number memory on the basis of a privilege, the privilege being supplied to the player character in accordance with progress of the video game,

wherein the character action information receiver receives multiple kinds of character action information up to the upper limit number stored in the upper limit number memory.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the action condition comprises a combination of the action target and a status condition indicating a condition of a current status of the action target, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a status condition memory that stores at least one status condition receivable by the character action information receiver; and

a status condition incrementer that increments the status conditions stored in the status condition memory on the basis of a privilege that is to be supplied to the player character in accordance with progress of the video game.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the status condition includes at least one of a residual amount and a maximum amount of hit points for the action target, a residual amount and a maximum amount of magic points for the action target, defensive power for the action target, offensive power for the action target, and a status effect that influences the action target.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the action target includes at least one of a main player character whose action is directly controlled in accordance with an operation by a player, at least one sub player character whose action is indirectly controlled in accordance with an operation by the player, and an enemy character.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein multiple player characters exist in the video game, and the character action information setter sets character action information for each of the multiple player characters, and the character action information receiver receives an action content to be allowed to each of the multiple player characters.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the action content includes at least one of an attack on the action target with a tool, an attack on the action target with a magic, defense from an action by the action target, and a recovery of the action target.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video game includes a role playing game.

10. A method of processing a video game by causing an image display apparatus to display a player character of the video game on an image screen of the image display apparatus, and controlling progress of the video game by controlling an action of the player character to be displayed on the image screen in accordance with an operation by a player, the method comprising:

receiving character action information in which an action condition, including an action target of the player character, corresponds to an action content of the player character;

setting the received character action information;

determining whether an action condition indicated by the set character action information is met or not, and determining an action content to be carried out by the player character against the action target in the case where the action condition is met, the action content corresponding to the action condition; and

causing the player character to carry out the determined action content.

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

receiving multiple kinds of character action information, each kind of character action information being assigned an order of priority;

setting the multiple kinds of character action information for the player character on the basis of the assigned order of priority; and

determining an action content that is to be carried out by the player character, the action content being indicated by the character action information having the highest assigned priority and whose action condition is met.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

storing an upper limit number of settable character action information;

incrementing the stored upper limit number on the basis of a privilege, the privilege being supplied to the player character in accordance with progress of the video game; and

receiving multiple kinds of character action information up to the stored upper limit number.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the action condition comprises a combination of the action target and a status condition indicating a condition of a current status of the action target, and

wherein the method further comprises:

storing at least one status condition; and

incrementing the stored status conditions on the basis of a privilege that is to be supplied to the player character in accordance with progress of the video game.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the status condition includes at least one of a residual amount and a maximum amount of hit points for the action target, a residual amount and a maximum amount of magic points for the action target, defensive power for the action target, offensive power for the action target, and a status effect that influences the action target.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the action target includes at least one of a main player character whose action is directly controlled in accordance with an operation by a player, at least one sub player character whose action is indirectly controlled in accordance with an operation by the player, and an enemy character.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the action content includes at least one of an attack on the action target with a tool, an attack on the action target with a magic, defense from an action by the action target, and a recovery of the action target.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the video game includes a role playing game.

18. A computer program product for processing a video game, progress of the video game being controlled by causing an image display apparatus to display a player character of the video game on an image screen of the image display apparatus, and controlling an action of the player character to be displayed on the image screen in accordance with an operation by a player, the computer program product causing a computer to execute:

receiving character action information in which an action condition, including an action target of the player character, corresponds to an action content of the player character;

setting the received character action information;

determining whether an action condition indicated by the set character action information is met or not, and determining an action content to be carried out by the player character against the action target in the case where the action condition is met, the action content corresponding to the action condition; and

causing the player character to carry out the determined action content.

19. The computer program product according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving multiple kinds of character action information, each kind of character action information being assigned an order of priority;

setting the multiple kinds of character action information for the player character on the basis of the assigned order of priority; and

determining an action content that is to be carried out by the player character, the action content being indicated by the character action information having the highest assigned priority and whose action condition is met.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the computer program product further causes the computer to execute:

storing an upper limit number of settable character action information;

incrementing the stored upper limit number on the basis of a privilege, the privilege being supplied to the player character in accordance with progress of the video game; and

receiving multiple Rinds of character action information up to the stored upper limit number.

21. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein the action condition comprises a combination of the action target and a status condition indicating a condition of a current status of the action target, and

wherein the computer program product further causes the computer to execute:

storing at least one status condition; and

incrementing the stored status conditions on the basis of a privilege that is to be supplied to the player character in accordance with progress of the video game.

22. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the status condition includes at least one of a residual amount and a maximum amount of hit points for the action target, a residual amount and a maximum amount of magic points for the action target, defensive power for the action target, offensive power for the action target, and a status effect that influences the action target.

23. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein the action target includes at least one of a main player character whose action is directly controlled in accordance with an operation by a player, at least one sub player character whose action is indirectly controlled in accordance with an operation by the player, and an enemy character.

24. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein the action content includes at least one of an attack on the action target with a tool, an attack on the action target with a magic, defense from an action by the action target, and a recovery of the action target.

25. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein the video game includes a role playing game.