Video game system, video game program, and video game device

• US 20070111802A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chunsoft Co., Ltd., Nintendo Company Limited, Pokemon
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited The Pokemon Company and Chunsoft Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishihara, Tsunekazu, Nagahata, Seiichiro
• Application Number:
  US11/477,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111802A1
• 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 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game

Abstract

A video game device 10 is capable of receiving both a first storage medium and a second storage medium at the same time. The video game device 10 performs a first game process using first save data. The video game device 10 performs a second game process using second save data. The video game device 10 overwrites the first save data based on the status of the second video game. The video game device 10 overwrites the second save data based on the status of the first video game.

Claims

1. A video game system, comprising a first storage medium, a second storage medium, and a video game device capable of receiving both the first storage medium and the second storage medium at the same time, wherein:

the first storage medium includes;

first program storage means for pre-storing a first video game program used for performing a first game process; and

first save data storage means for storing first save data regarding a first video game played by performing the first game process;

the second storage medium includes;

second program storage means for pre-storing a second video game program used for performing a second game process; and

second save data storage means for storing second save data regarding a second video game played by performing the second game process; and

the video game device includes;

first game process means for performing the first game process using the first save data;

second game process means for performing the second game process using the second save data;

first overwriting means for overwriting the first save data based on a status of the second video game; and

second overwriting means for overwriting the second save data based on a status of the first video game.

2. The video game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the video game device further includes third overwriting means for overwriting the first save data when the status of the first video game becomes equal to a predetermined first state to thereby indicate that the game status is equal to the first state;

the second game process means performs a predetermined game process for playing a game whose object is to satisfy a predetermined first condition regarding the status of the second video game when the status of the first video game becomes equal to the first state; and

the first overwriting means overwrites the first save data to indicate that the game status has been restored from the first state when the first condition is satisfied.

3. The video game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the video game device further includes fourth overwriting means for overwriting the second save data when the status of the second video game becomes equal to a predetermined second state to thereby indicate that the game status is equal to the second state;

the first game process means performs a predetermined game process for playing a game whose object is to satisfy a predetermined second condition regarding the status of the first video game when the status of the second video game becomes equal to the second state; and

the second overwriting means overwrites the second save data to indicate that the game status has been restored from the second state when the second condition is satisfied.

4. The video game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the video game device further includes fifth overwriting means for writing data representing the status of the second video game at a predetermined point in time to second save data storage means as the second save data while the second game process is being performed; and

the first overwriting means overwrites the first save data based on the second save data while the first game process is being performed.

5. The video game system according to claim 1, wherein the video game device further includes overwrite selection means for selecting, according to a user'"'"'s operation, whether or not to perform the overwriting operation by the first overwriting means or the second overwriting means.

6. The video game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the video game device further includes game selection means for selecting, according to a player'"'"'s operation, whether to play the first video game or the second video game;

the first game process means performs the first game process by executing the first video game program when the first video game is selected by the game selection means; and

the second game process means performs the second game process by executing the second video game program when the second video game is selected by the game selection means.

7. The video game system according to claim 1, wherein one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium can be inserted in another video game device, which cannot receive the other one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium.

8. A video game device capable of receiving both a first storage medium and a second storage medium at the same time, wherein:

the first storage medium includes;

first program storage means for pre-storing a first video game program used for performing a first game process; and

first save data storage means for storing first save data regarding a first video game played by performing the first game process;

the second storage medium includes;

second program storage means for pre-storing a second video game program used for performing a second game process; and

second save data storage means for storing second save data regarding a second video game played by performing the second game process; and

the video game device includes;

first game process means for performing the first game process using the first save data; and

second game process means for performing the second game process using the second save data;

first overwriting means for overwriting the first save data based on a status of the second video game; and

second overwriting means for overwriting the second save data based on a status of the first video game.

9. A storage medium storing a video game program to be executed by a computer of a video game device for performing a first game process, the video game device being capable of receiving both the storage medium and another storage medium at the same time, wherein:

the storage medium includes;

first program storage means for storing the video game program; and

first save data storage means for storing first save data regarding a first video game played by performing the first game process;

the other storage medium includes;

second program storage means for pre-storing another video game program used for performing a second game process; and

second save data storage means for storing second save data regarding a second video game played by performing the second game process;

the video game device includes second game process means for performing the second game process using the second save data; and

the video game program instructs the computer to perform;

a first game process step of performing the first game process using the first save data;

a first overwriting step of overwriting the first save data based on a status of the second video game; and

a second overwriting step for overwriting the second save data based on a status of the first video game.