ELECTRONIC BOOK GAME APPARATUS

• US 20120244938A1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: ITAHANA, Toshiyuki, Toriyama, Motomu
• Granted Patent: US 9,700,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/88 Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6036 for offering a minigame in combination with a main game
• 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: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

An electronic book game apparatus has means for judging as to whether event data is set on original contents data to be displayed that show contents of a book when displaying the original contents data, means for displaying an event invitation icon informing that there is the event so as to be selectable by players when displaying the original contents data judged that the event data is set, and means for executing an selected event or a game on a display in association with a selection signal of the event invitation icon.

Claims

1. An electronic book game apparatus that stores book contents in a memory as contents data and displays said contents data on a display in order so as to read said book contents, said book contents formed by electronically converting a book having two or more frame images or text data,

wherein said contents data includes original contents data showing contents of said book together with identification data for reciprocally identifying said original contents data, and

wherein said contents data further includes event data that is comprised of text files and/or game data files, said event data being associated with corresponding said identification data,

said electronic book game apparatus comprising:

an event setting judger further judges whether said event data is set on original contents data to be displayed by reviewing said event data at the time of displaying said original contents data corresponding to said identification data on said display;

an invitation icon indicator that displays an event invitation icon informing that there is an event that is set on said original contents data on said display together with an image of said original contents data so as to be selectable by a player at the time of displaying said original contents data to which said event setting judger judged that said event data is set; and

an event executor that executes an event that presents a text as shown in said text file or a game stored in said game data file on said display, corresponding to said selected event invitation icon in association with a selection signal of said event invitation icon that was inputted through an input means.

2. The electronic book game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said book is a comic book that is comprised of two or more frame images, said original contents data has said two or more frame images to which frame numbers are respectively assigned as said identification data, and said event invitation icon is set being associated with said specified frame number.

3. The electronic book game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said event executor executes said event that presents said text by displaying such text together with a frame image that has been displayed on said display, pertinent to the event that presents said text.

4. The electronic book game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said event executor interrupts displaying of the frame image pertinent to execution of said game that has been displayed on said display and executes said game.