COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING GAME PROGRAM STORED THEREIN, GAME SYSTEM, GAME APPARATUS, AND GAME CONTROL METHOD

• US 20110294574A1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Takemura, Hiromu, Hiramuki, Yutaka, YAMADA, Yoichi, Fujibayashi, Hidemaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,387,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6653 for altering the visibility of an object, e.g. preventing the occlusion of an object, partially hiding an object

Abstract

A first area and a second area are set in a virtual space. Then, based on first configuration information for configuring a first state of a game world, a first object to be placed in the first area is generated. In addition, a second object to be placed in the second area is generated based on second configuration information for configuring a second state different from the first state at a predetermined position in the virtual space to which the first configuration information is applied.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a game program which is executed by a computer of a game apparatus executing a game of operating a player object in a game world created in a virtual space, the game program causing the computer to function as:

first area setting means for setting a first area in the virtual space;

second area setting means for setting a second area in the virtual space;

first object generation means for generating a first object to be placed in the first area set by the first area setting means, based on first configuration information for configuring a first state in at least a part of the game world; and

second object generation means for generating a second object to be placed in the second area set by the second area setting means, based on second configuration information for configuring a second state different from the first state at a predetermined position in the virtual space to which the first configuration information is applied.

2. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as first area variation means for dynamically varying the first area in accordance with an operation of an operation device performed by a player.

3. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 2, wherein

the first area variation means dynamically varies a position of the first area in the virtual space in accordance with the operation of the operation device performed by the player.

4. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as reference position determination means for determining a reference position of the first area in accordance with an operation of an operation device performed by a player, and

the first area setting means sets the first area based on the reference position.

5. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

each of the first object and the second object is a field/terrain object for forming a field or terrain of the game world, and

the game program further causes the computer to function as game world generation means for, based on the field/terrain object generated by the first object generation means and the field/terrain object generated by the second object generation means, generating a field or terrain of the game world on which a player object or a non-player object other than the terrain object can be placed.

6. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 5, wherein

identification information is set for each of the first object and the second object, and

the game program further causes the computer to function as determination means for obtaining a piece of the identification information corresponding to the first object or the second object on which the player object or the non-player object is placed, and determining a behavior or a state of the player object or the non-player object, based on the obtained piece of the identification information.

7. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 5, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as player object action control means for controlling an action of the player object placed on the field or the terrain of the game world, in accordance with an operation of an operation device performed by a player.

8. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 5, wherein

an attribute is set for the non-player object, the attribute differing depending on whether the non-player object is placed in the first area or in the second area.

9. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as:

two-dimensional map generation means for generating a two-dimensional map representing the game world, based on the first configuration information; and

two-dimensional map display means for displaying the generated two-dimensional map.

10. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

upon start of execution of the game, the game is started in a state in which the second area is set in the game world, and

the first area setting means starts, in accordance with an operation of an operation device performed by a player, setting at least a part of the set second area as the first area.

11. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

the first area setting means starts setting the first area when a setting starting object for starting setting the first area is placed at a predetermined place in the game world.

12. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

the first area setting means sets a position of the first area, based on a position of the setting starting object.

13. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

the setting starting object can be moved via the player object whose action is controlled in accordance with an operation of an operation device performed by a player.

14. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 11, wherein

the first area setting means starts setting the first area when the player object performs a predetermined action for the setting starting object.

15. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as area releasing means for cancelling the setting of the first area when a predetermined time has elapsed after the first area is set by the first area setting means.

16. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as game screen display means for, when the first area is set by the first area setting means, generating and displaying a game screen that includes at least a part of a boundary between the first area and the second area.

17. The computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 1, wherein

the game program further causes the computer to function as:

position obtaining means for obtaining a position in the virtual space of an object present in either one of the first area and the second area; and

area determination means for determining whether the position obtained by the position obtaining means is in the first area or in the second area,

the first object generation means generates the first object, based on the first configuration information, when the area determination means has determined that the obtained position is in the first area, and

the second object generation means generates the second object, based on the second configuration information, when the area determination means has determined that the obtained position is in the second area.

18. A game system for executing a game of operating a player object in a game world created in a virtual space, the game system comprising:

first area setting means for setting a first area in the virtual space;

second area setting means for setting a second area in the virtual space;

first object generation means for generating a first object to be placed in the first area set by the first area setting means, based on first configuration information for configuring a first state in at least a part of the game world; and

second object generation means for generating a second object to be placed in the second area set by the second area setting means, based on second configuration information for configuring a second state different from the first state at a predetermined position in the virtual space to which the first configuration information is applied.

19. A game apparatus for executing a game of operating a player object in a game world created in a virtual space, the game apparatus comprising:

first area setting means for setting a first area in the virtual space;

second area setting means for setting a second area in the virtual space;

first object generation means for generating a first object to be placed in the first area set by the first area setting means, based on first configuration information for configuring a first state in at least a part of the game world; and

second object generation means for generating a second object to be placed in the second area set by the second area setting means, based on second configuration information for configuring a second state different from the first state at a predetermined position in the virtual space to which the first configuration information is applied.

20. A game control method performed by a game apparatus for executing a game of operating a player object in a game world created in a virtual space, the game control method comprising:

a first area setting step of setting a first area in the virtual space;

a second area setting step of setting a second area in the virtual space;

a first object generation step of generating a first object to be placed in the first area set in the first area setting step, based on first configuration information for configuring a first state in at least a part of the game world; and

a second object generation step of generating a second object to be placed in the second area set in the second area setting step, based on second configuration information for configuring a second state different from the first state at a predetermined position in the virtual space to which the first configuration information is applied.