Video game apparatus, method of controlling the growth of play character in video game, and video game medium therefor

• US 5,885,156 A
• Filed: 11/21/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamada, Makiko, Toyohara, Koji, Nishikawa, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/774,323
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307 R, 434/309, 434/169, 434/323, 434/308, 434/185, 434/159, 434/307 A, 434/167, 434/156, 463/1, 463/4, 463/8, 463/9, 463/44, 463/35, 395/173, 345/122, 345/327
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8052 Ball team management

Abstract

A game cartridge is inserted into a game device, and a controller is operated to display and perform a game stored in the game cartridge on a display monitor. The game cartridge has a ROM for storing a game program and a RAM for storing data of a play character having unique abilities. The controller is operated to instruct a play character to repeat various patterns of speech and action to increase the number of "remaining experience credits". Obtained "remaining experience credits" are assigned to abilities of the play characters to achieve desired ability values for thereby growing the play character until it develops unique abilities.

Claims

1. A video game apparatus for operation by a video game player, comprising:

a display unit for displaying a player character and player event patterns of said player character including at least one of speech and actions, and menus corresponding to said player event patterns;

an input control unit for permitting selection of said player event patterns from said menus by said video game player;

event memory means for storing said player event patterns selected by said input control unit;

event control means for reading said player event patterns selected by said input control unit from said event memory means and controlling said player character to perform said player event patterns;

credit memory means for storing a number of at least one type of credit given to said player character;

credit varying means for varying said number of said at least one type of credit by a variance amount depending on said player event patterns selected by said input control unit;

probability change control means for randomly setting a probability of said variance amount being one of a range of values depending on said player event patterns selected by said input control unit;

ability value memory means for storing a plurality of ability values representing a plurality of abilities of said player character; and

distributing means for permitting said video game player to effect a distribution of said credits from said credit memory means to said plurality of ability values in response to said input control unit, and updating said ability values stored in said ability value memory means according to the distribution.

2. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one type of event of said player event patterns is governed by an ability of said video game player to operate said input control means, and said probability control means includes means for varying said probability based on said at least one type of event.

3. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said probability control means includes means for varying said probability depending on a plurality of events selected by said input control unit.

4. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising timer means for allowing a predetermined period of time to elapse each time said input control unit selects one of said menus, said event control means comprising means for randomly varying said player event patterns depending on passage of said predetermined period of time when said input control unit selects one of said menus, and said probability control means comprising means for varying said probability depending on said player event patterns randomly varied by said event control means.

5. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising condition memory means for storing at least one of a physical and mental condition of said player character, and condition changing means for changing said at least one of said physical and mental condition of said player character depending on said player event patterns selected by said input control unit, and said probability control means comprising means for varying said probability depending on said at least one of said physical and mental condition of said player character.

6. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising competing game control means for carrying out a competing game with said display unit, said input control unit having means for selecting either one of a mode growing said player character and a mode for performing said competing game, and said competing game control means comprising means responsive to a selection by said control unit of said mode for performing said competing game, for introducing said player character having said ability values into said competing game and controlling said player character to act according to said ability values in said competing game.

7. A method of controlling growth of a player character in a video game performed by a video game apparatus having a display unit for displaying said player character and player event patterns of of said player character, and menus corresponding to said player event patterns, an input control unit for permitting a video game player to select said menus, event memory means for storing said player event patterns selected by said input control unit, and event control means for reading said player event patterns selected by said input control unit from said event memory means and controlling said player character to perform said player event patterns, said method comprising the steps of:

imparting a number of at least one type of credit to said player character;

varying said number of said at least one type of credit by a variance amount selected based on a random probability from a range of amounts depending on said player event patterns selected by said input control unit;

storing said number of said at least one type of credit after said varying;

permitting said video game player to operate said input control unit to distribute said number of said at least one type of credit to a plurality of ability values representing a plurality of abilities of said player character; and

storing said ability values with said number of said at least one type of credit distributed thereto.

8. A video game medium for use in a video game, the video game machine including means for displaying player event patterns including at least one of speech and action executed by a player character, and input control unit means for permitting selection of menus corresponding to said player event patterns, and event control means for controlling said player character to perform said player event patterns selected by said input control unit, said video game medium comprising:

means for imparting a number of at least one type of credit to said player character;

means for varying said number of said at least one type of credit by a variance amount selected based on a random probability from a range of amounts depending on said player event patterns selected by said input control unit;

means for storing said number of said at least one type of credit after said varying;

means for permitting said video game player to operate said input control unit to distribute said number of said at least one type of credit to a plurality of ability values representing a plurality of abilities of said player character; and

storing said ability values with said number of said at least one type of credit distributed thereto.

9. A video game apparatus for operation by a video game player, comprising:

a display unit for displaying a player character and player event patterns of said player character including at least one of speech and actions, and menus corresponding to said player event patterns;

an input control unit for permitting selection of said player event patterns from said menus by said video game player;

event memory means for storing said player event patterns selected by sad input control unit;

event control means for reading said player event patterns selected by said input control unit from said event memory means and controlling said player character to perform said player event patterns;

credit memory means for storing a number of at least one type of credit given to said player character;

credit varying means for varying said number of said at least one type of credit by a variance amount depending on said player event patterns selected by said input control unit;

probability change control means for randomly setting a probability of said variance amount being one of a range of values depending on said player event patterns selected by said input control unit; and

ability value memory means for storing an ability value representing an ability of said player character, said ability value being dependent on said number of said at least one type of credit.