VIDEO GAME CONTROL SYSTEM AND A VIDEO GAME CONTROL SERVER

• US 20080076569A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: TABATA, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

When usage command information is received from any one of player terminals, an integrated attack determiner determines whether or not an attack action by an attack command is to be an integrated attack action, in which the attack actions by the attack commands included in a usage history are integrated, on the basis of a current position of the user terminal. The integrated attack determiner also determines attack power specification information capable of specifying the attack power in the case where it is determined that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action. An attack instruction information transmitter transmits attack instruction information indicating a determination result of the integrated attack determiner to the player terminal. A usage history information updater updates the usage history information by adding the received usage command information to the usage history of the attack commands.

Claims

1. A video game control system comprising:

a plurality of player terminals respectively operated by a plurality of players, a video game being played in each of the plurality of player terminals; and

a video game control server for controlling at least part of progress of the video game via a communication network,

wherein each of the player terminals comprises;

an attack command receiver that receives specification of an attack command for specifying an attack action that a player character is caused to execute by means of an attack specification operation by the player;

a position measurer that measures a current position of the player terminal when the attack command receiver receives the specification of the attack command;

a usage command information transmitter that transmits usage command information to the video game control server via the communication network, the usage command information including attack command information indicating an attack command received by the attack command receiver, current position information indicating a current position of the player terminal measured by the position measurer and player identification information for uniquely identifying the player; and

an attack command executor that causes the player character to execute the attack action specified on the basis of the attack command received by the attack command receiver,

wherein the video game control server comprises;

a usage history information memory for storing usage history information indicating a usage history of attack commands for each of the plurality of player terminals;

an integrated attack determiner that, when usage command information is received from any one of the player terminals, determines whether or not an attack action by an attack command indicated by attack command information is to be an integrated attack action on the basis of a current position of the user terminal indicated by current position information, the received usage command information including the attack command information and the current position information, the attack actions by the attack commands included in the usage history indicated by the usage history information being integrated in the integrated attack action, the integrated attack determiner also determining attack power information indicating attack power of the integrated attack action or attack power specification information capable of specifying the attack power in the case where it is determined that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action;

an attack instruction information transmitter that transmits attack instruction information indicating a determination result of the integrated attack determiner to the player terminal; and

a usage history information updater that updates the usage history information by adding the received usage command information to the usage history of the attack commands, and

wherein the attack command executor causes the player character to execute the integrated attack action when receiving from the video game control server the attack instruction information including information that it is determined that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action, in the integrated attack action the attack power of the attack action indicated by the attack command received by means of the attack command receiver being set as the attack power indicated by the attack power information or the attack power specified by the attack power specification information, the received attack instruction information including the attack power information and the attack power specification information.

2. The video game control system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action in the case where more than the predetermined number of attack commands each of which is identical to the attack command indicated by the attack command information included in the usage command information received from the player terminal and that have been used within a predetermined distance range from the current position of the player terminal indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information are included in the usage history indicated by the usage history information, and

wherein the integrated attack determiner determines the attack power information or the attack power specification information so that the attack power of the integrated attack action gradually increases in accordance with the number of the included attack commands that is more than the predetermined number.

3. The video game control system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action in the case where more than the predetermined number of attack commands each of which is identical to the attack command indicated by the attack command information included in the usage command information received from the player terminal and that have been used within a predetermined distance range from the current position of the player terminal indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information and within a predetermined period of time are included in the usage history indicated by the usage history information, and

wherein the integrated attack determiner determines the attack power specification information so that the attack power of the integrated attack action gradually increases in accordance with the number of the included attack commands that is more than the predetermined number.

4. The video game control system according to claim 2, wherein the integrated action determiner refers to the usage histories registered in the usage history information other than the usage history of the attack command for the player terminal that has transferred the usage command information to the video game control server.

5. The video game control system according to claim 2, wherein the video game control server further comprises a virtual usage history information memory for storing virtual usage history information indicating a usage history of an attack command virtually created, and

wherein the integrated attack determiner determines whether or not the attack action is to be the integrated attack action using the virtual usage history information in place of the usage history information in the case where the current position of the player terminal indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information is positioned within a specific area.

6. The video game control system according to claim 5, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines whether or not the attack action is to be the integrated attack action further using the usage history in the virtual usage history information in the case where the number of the usage histories of the attack command in the usage history information is less than the predetermined number.

7. The video game control system according to claim 2, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines the attack power information or the attack power specification information using a table for determination of attack power specification information in which the number of the corresponding attack commands is associated with the attack power information or the attack power specification information.

8. The video game control system according to claim 1, wherein the position measurer measures the current position of the player terminal on the basis of positioning signals from a plurality of positioning satellites.

9. The video game control system according to claim 1, wherein the usage history information includes used attack command information indicating an attack command that has been used, usage position information indicating the position of the player terminal when the attack command is used, usage time information indicating time when the attack command is used, and the player identification information, and

wherein the usage history information updater creates additional information to the usage history information by specifying the attack command indicated by the attack command information included in the received usage command information as the used attack command information, specifying the position information indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information as the usage position information, adding the player identification information included in the received usage command information and determining the usage time information on the basis of reception of the usage command information, and updates the usage history information.

10. A video game control server for controlling at least part of progress of a video game via a communication network, the video game being played in each of a plurality of player terminals, the plurality of player terminals being respectively operated by a plurality of players, the video game control server comprising:

a usage history information memory for storing usage history information indicating a usage history of attack commands for each of the plurality of player terminals;

an integrated attack determiner that, when usage command information is received from any one of the player terminals via the communication network, determines whether or not an attack action by an attack command indicated by attack command information is to be an integrated attack action on the basis of a current position of the user terminal indicated by current position information, the usage command information including the attack command information indicating the attack command for specifying the attack action specified by an attack specification operation by the player, which a player character in the player terminal is caused to execute, the current position information indicating the current position of the player terminal measured by a position measurer of the player terminal for measuring a current position of the player terminal when the attack command is specified, and player identification information for uniquely identifying the player, the attack actions by the attack commands included in the usage history indicated by the usage history information being integrated in the integrated attack action, the integrated attack determiner also determining attack power information indicating attack power of the integrated attack action or attack power specification information capable of specifying the attack power in the case where it is determined that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action;

an attack instruction information transmitter that transmits attack instruction information indicating a determination result of the integrated attack determiner to the player terminal, so that the player character is caused to execute the integrated attack action in which the attack power of the attack action indicated by the attack command specified in the player terminal by means of the attack specification operation by the player is set as the attack power indicated by the attack power information or the attack power specified by the attack power specification information, the attack instruction information including the attack power information and the attack power specification information; and

a usage history information updater that updates the usage history information by adding the received usage command information to the usage history of the attack commands.

11. The video game control server according to claim 10, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action in the case where more than the predetermined number of attack commands each of which is identical to the attack command indicated by the attack command information included in the usage command information received from the player terminal and that have been used within a predetermined distance range from the current position of the player terminal indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information are included in the usage history indicated by the usage history information, and

wherein the integrated attack determiner determines the attack power information or the attack power specification information so that the attack power of the integrated attack action gradually increases in accordance with the number of the included attack commands that is more than the predetermined number.

12. The video game control server according to claim 10, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines that the attack action is to be the integrated attack action in the case where more than the predetermined number of attack commands each of which is identical to the attack command indicated by the attack command information included in the usage command information received from the player terminal and that have been used within a predetermined distance range from the current position of the player terminal indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information and within a predetermined period of time are included in the usage history indicated by the usage history information, and

wherein the integrated attack determiner determines the attack power specification information so that the attack power of the integrated attack action gradually increases in accordance with the number of the included attack commands that is more than the predetermined number.

13. The video game control server according to claim 11, wherein the integrated action determiner refers to the usage histories registered in the usage history information other than the usage history of the attack command for the player terminal that has transferred the usage command information to the video game control server.

14. The video game control server according to claim 11, further comprising a virtual usage history information memory for storing virtual usage history information indicating a usage history of an attack command virtually created,

wherein the integrated attack determiner determines whether or not the attack action is to be the integrated attack action using the virtual usage history information in place of the usage history information in the case where the current position of the player terminal indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information is positioned within a specific area.

15. The video game control server according to claim 14, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines whether or not the attack action is to be the integrated attack action further using the usage history in the virtual usage history information in the case where the number of the usage histories of the attack command in the usage history information is less than the predetermined number.

16. The video game control server according to claim 11, wherein the integrated attack determiner determines the attack power information or the attack power specification information using a table for determination of attack power specification information in which the number of the corresponding attack commands is associated with the attack power information or the attack power specification information.

17. The video game control server according to claim 10, wherein the position measurer measures the current position of the player terminal on the basis of positioning signals from a plurality of positioning satellites.

18. The video game control server according to claim 10, wherein the usage history information includes used attack command information indicating an attack command that has been used, usage position information indicating the position of the player terminal when the attack command is used, usage time information indicating time when the attack command is used, and the player identification information, and

wherein the usage history information updater creates additional information to the usage history information by specifying the attack command indicated by the attack command information included in the received usage command information as the used attack command information, specifying the position information indicated by the current position information included in the received usage command information as the usage position information, adding the player identification information included in the received usage command information and determining the usage time information on the basis of reception of the usage command information, and updates the usage history information.