PROGRAM FOR GAME APPARATUS, GAME APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM FOR GAME APPARATUS

• US 20080303790A1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuda, Takashi, MORIMOTO, Kenjiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/807 Gliding or sliding on surfaces, e.g. using skis, skates or boards
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board

Abstract

An object is to provide a program for a game apparatus for making a plurality of moving objects including a moving object operated by a player to compete in virtual space against each other, in which players are capable of fully using the stage effects specific to a virtual game to enjoy a heated racing game even when they vary in skill. In a program for a game apparatus comprising moving-object operating means, image-information generating means, and image-information outputting means, the program causes a computer to perform a step of producing land-configuration information, a step of monitoring movement information regarding a plurality of moving objects, a step of producing a special area object when results of monitoring meet predetermined requirements, a step of displaying the special area object in such a manner as to be viewable for the player, and a step of allowing another moving object to ride therein.

Claims

1. A program for a game apparatus comprising moving-object operating means through which a player operates a moving object, image-information generating means for generating image information on images showing a plurality of moving objects including the moving object operated by the player in a virtual space, and image-information outputting means for outputting the image information generated by the image-information generating means, the program causing a computer in the image-information generating means to perform steps of:

causing land-configuration information generating means of said image-information generating means to generate land-configuration information regarding said virtual space;

causing movement-information monitoring means of said image-information generating means to monitor movement information regarding said plurality of moving objects at predetermined time-intervals;

causing special-area object producing means of said image-information generating means to delimit a special area behind said moving object to produce a special area object having collision detection information when results of monitoring through the movement-information monitoring means meet predetermined requirements;

causing said image-information outputting means to display said special area object in such a manner as to be viewable for the player; and

allowing another moving object to ride in said special area produced by the moving object meeting said predetermined requirements in a manner of riding on waves.

2. The program according to claim 1, further comprising a step of causing said computer to perform a step of allowing said moving object producing the special area object by said special-area object producing means to change a movement state to change a shape of said special area object.

3. The program according to claim 1, further comprising a step of causing said computer to perform a step of shaping said special area object into a three-dimensional form.

4. The program according to any one of claims 1, further comprising of a step of causing said computer to perform a step of allowing said another moving object riding in said special area produced by the moving object meeting said predetermined requirements to perform trick riding through using collision detection information with said special area object.

5. The program according to claim 4, further comprising a step of causing said computer to perform a step of allowing said another moving object riding in said special area produced by the moving object meeting said predetermined requirements to take a shortcut on a prearranged traveling route for travel in the forward direction through performing said trick riding.

6. The program according to claim 4, further comprising a step of causing said computer to perform a step of allowing said another moving object riding in said special area produced by the moving object meeting said predetermined requirements to enter a special route different from a prearranged traveling route for travel in the forward direction through performing said trick riding.

13. A machine-readable recording medium, characterized by storing the program for a game apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

7. A game apparatus comprising moving-object operating means through which a player operates a moving object, image-information generating means for generating image information on images showing a plurality of moving objects including the moving object operated by the player in a virtual space, and image displaying means for displaying on a screen the image information generated by the image-information generating means, wherein said image-information generating means of said same apparatus comprises:

land-configuration information generating means for generating land-configuration information regarding said virtual space;

movement-information monitoring means for monitoring movement information of said plurality of moving objects at predetermined time-intervals; and

special-area object producing means for delimiting a special area behind said moving object to produce an object having collision detection information when results of monitoring through the movement-information monitoring means meet predetermined requirements,

wherein said special area object is displayed by said image displaying means in such a manner as to be viewable for the player, and another moving object can ride in said special area produced by the moving object meeting the predetermined requirements in a manner of riding on waves.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said moving object producing said special area object by said special-area object producing means is configured to change a movement state, so that a shape of said special area object can be changed.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said special area object is shaped into a three-dimensional form.

10. The game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said another moving object riding in said special area produced by the moving object meeting said predetermined requirements is configured to perform trick riding through using collision detection information with said special area object.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said another moving object riding in said special area produced by the moving object meeting said predetermined requirements is configured to take a shortcut on a prearranged traveling route for travel in the forward direction through performing said trick riding.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said another moving object riding in said special area produced by the moving object meeting said predetermined requirements is configured to enter a special route different from a prearranged traveling route for travel in the forward direction through performing said trick riding.