Video game apparatus with automatic skill level adjustment

• US 4,679,789 A
• Filed: 07/28/1986
• Issued: 07/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Universal
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lastova, MaryAnn Stoll
• Application Number:
  US06/890,897
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1 E, 273/1 GC, 273/237, 273/85 G, 273/138 A, 358/342
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• 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 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• 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 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images

Abstract

In a video game apparatus, as a game progresses, whether or not an operation section has been operated by a player within a permissible timing set in a reference table is judged by a judgement section, and the game success or failure is determined upon the judgement result. The judgement section outputs a judgement signal in accordance with the judgement result, and the judgement signal is counted by a judgement counting section. And, for instance, if a judgement signal corresponding to a game success is counted up until it reaches a preset value, the player is judged as an expert in the game, and the permissible timing range set in the reference table is automatically adjusted to make it narrower and to make the game more difficult for the player. Additionally, in order to change a game picture image at an instant in response to the success or failure of the game, at least two read out heads are provided both accessing a disk, and one of the heads is made effective for the display of a game picture image in response to the judgement result in the judgement section.

Claims

1. In a video game apparatus of the type in which a player actuates an operation section while looking at a game picture image displayed and a success or failure of the game is determined by an operating timing of the operation section;

the improvement comprising;

a reference table for setting a permissible range of said operating timing indicative of the success of the game;

timing detection means for detecting a timing of the operation section operated by a player, said timing detection means comprising a clock pulse generator and a pulse counter for counting the number of pulses generated by said generator;

judgment means for emitting a first type of signal when the timing detected by said timing detection means is within the permissible range set by said reference table, and emitting a second type of signal when the timing detected by said timing detection means is outside the permissible range set by said reference table;

judgment result counting means for counting at least one of said first and second types of signals output from said judgment means;

counted value detection means for outputting an adjustment signal when it is detected that the counted value in said judgment result counting means has reached a preset value; and

permissible range changing means for changing the permissible range set in said reference table in accordance with said adjustment signal.

2. A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said judgement means outputs a difference between a timing detected by said timing detection means and an upper or lower limit value defining the permissible range set in said permissible range changing means.

3. A video game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said permissible range changing means comprises a subtracter for subtracting a predetermined value from a lower limit value of said permissible range and an adder for adding said predetermined value to an upper limit value of said permissible range.

5. Video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said judgment result counting means counts said first type of signal, and said permissible range-changing means narrows the permissible range set in said reference table in accordance with said adjustment signal.

6. Video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherien said judgment means counts said second type of signal, and said permissible range-changing means widens the permissible range set in said reference table in accordance with said adjustment signal.

4. In a video game apparatus of the type in which a player actuates an operation section while looking at a game picture image displayed and a success or failure of the game is determined by an operating timing of the operation section;

the improvement comprising;

a reference table for setting a permissible range of said operating timing indicative of the success of the game;

timing detection means for detecting a timing of the operation section operated by a player, said timing detection means comprising a clock pulse generator and a pulse counter for counting the number of pulses generated by said generator;

judgment means for emitting a first type of signal when the timing detected by said timing detection means is within the permissible range set by said reference table, and emitting a second type of signal when the timing detected by said timing detection means is outside the permissible range set by said reference table;

judgment result counting means for counting at least one of said first and second types of signals output from said judgment means;

counted value detection means for outputting an adjustment signal when it is detected that the counted value in said judgment result counting means has reached a preset value;

permissible range changing means for changing the permissible range set in said reference table in accordance with said adjustment signal;

a disk formed therein comprising a first signal region where signals for displaying a progressing picture image for a game and a success picture image for the game are recorded in succession, and second signal region where signals for displaying a failure picture image for the game are recorded;

a first read-out head for reading out a picture image signal by accessing said first signal region;

a second read-out head for reading out a picture image signal by accessing said second signal region, while said first read-out head is accessing said first signal region;

picture image signal changeover means for;

inactivating said first read-out head and activating said second read-out head, responsive to said second signal; and

inactivating said second read-out head and activating said first read-out head, responsive to said first signal.