Video game system for playing video game for removing displayed like objects from game field when they are successive connected

• US 6,093,104 A
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoshino, Masaki, Matsumoto, Tomonori, Tsujimoto, Hideyuki, Ishida, Junichi, Kohira, Toshio, Nakane, Yasuyuki, Kasahara, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clayton, Sheila
• Application Number:
  US08/872,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30-36, 463/43, 463/9, 273/144 A, 273/153 R, 273/157 R, 273/434, 273/435
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/80 specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking

Abstract

A video game is played on a video game system by moving objects successively introduced into a game field in one direction on a display screen, determining whether a leading object or a leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reach a predetermined position in the display screen or a memory, and ending the video game if the leading object or the leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reaches the predetermined position. It is determined whether objects of one type are successively connected in the game field or not. The objects of one type are removed from the game field if they are successively connected in the game field. An object present ahead of the removed objects in the direction is moved in a direction opposite to the direction. An object indicated by a cursor is exchanged for an object present in the game field.

Claims

1. A method of moving an object in a video game, comprising the steps of:

moving objects successively introduced into a game field in one direction on a display screen;

determining whether a leading object or a leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reach a predetermined position in the display screen or a memory;

ending the video game if the leading object or the leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reaches said predetermined position;

determining whether objects of one type are successively connected in the game field;

removing the objects of one type from the game field if they are successively connected in the game field; and

exchanging an object indicated by a cursor for an object present in the game field.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the objects are available in different types including different shapes, different colors, different patterns, or combinations of different shapes, different colors, and different patterns.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the display screen has at least two display areas each for displaying the objects processed in the video game.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

adding as many objects as the number of objects removed from the game field in one of said display areas to the game field in the other of the display areas.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said objects comprise a first group of objects removable from said game field and a second group of objects unremovable from said game field.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

converting any one of said objects belonging to the second group to an object belonging to said first group if said one of the objects belonging to the second group is positioned contiguous to one of the objects removed from said game field.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cursor has a shape indicative of mobility, and is displayed partly or wholly in an animation mode.

8. A video game apparatus comprising:

a controller manually operable by a game player;

display means for displaying images on a display screen thereof;

a recording medium storing game program data; and

control means for controlling a video game based on the game program data read from said recording medium and operation of said controller manually operated by the game player;

said control means comprising means controlled by said game program data, for;

moving objects successively introduced into a game field in one direction on said display screen;

determining whether a leading object or a leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reach a predetermined position in the display screen or a memory;

ending the video game if the leading object or the leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reaches said predetermined position;

determining whether objects of one type are successively connected rn the game field;

removing the objects of one type from the game field if they are successively connected in the game field; and

exchanging an object indicated by a cursor for an object present in the game field.

9. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the objects are available in different types including different shapes, different colors, different patterns, or combinations of different shapes, different colors, and different patterns.

10. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display screen has at least two display areas each for displaying the objects processed in the video game.

11. A game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means comprises means controlled by said game program data, for adding as many objects as the number of objects removed from the game field in one of said display areas to the game field in the other of the display areas.

12. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said objects comprise a first group of objects removable from said game field and a second group of objects unremovable from said game field.

13. A game apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means comprises means controlled by said game program data, for converting any one of said objects belonging to the second group to an object belonging to said first group if said one of the objects belonging to the second group is positioned contiguous to one of the objects removed from said game field.

14. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cursor has a shape indicative of mobility, and is displayed partly or wholly in an animation mode.

15. A game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means comprises means controlled by said game program data, for:

measuring a predetermined period of time if the leading object or the leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reaches said predetermined position;

determining whether a condition for ending the video game is satisfied upon elapse of said predetermined period of time; and

preventing the video game from being ended if said condition is not satisfied.

16. A video game system for moving an object in a video game, comprising:

display means for displaying a game field on a display screen thereof;

a controller manually operable by a game player for controlling a cursor in the game field displayed by said display means; and

control means for moving objects successively introduced into a game field in one direction on said display screen, determining whether a leading object or a leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reach a predetermined position in the display screen or a memory, ending the video game if the leading object or the leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reaches said predetermined position, determining whether objects of one type are successively connected in the game field or not, removing the objects of one type from the game field if they are successively connected in the game field, and exchanging an object indicated by the cursor for an object present in the game field.

17. A video game system according to claim 16, wherein the objects are available in different types including different shapes, different colors, different patterns, or combinations of different shapes, different colors, and different patterns.

18. A video game system according to claim 16, wherein the display screen has at least two display areas each for displaying the objects processed in the video game.

19. A video game system according to claim 18, wherein said control means comprises means controlled by said game program data, for adding as many objects as the number of objects removed from the game field in one of said display areas to the game field in the other of the display areas.

20. A video game system according to claim 19, wherein said objects comprise a first group of objects removable from said game field and a second group of objects unremovable from said game field.

21. A video game system according to claim 20, wherein said control means comprises:

decision means controlled by said game program data, for determining whether an object contiguous to the objects removed from said game field belongs to said first group or said second group; and

converting means for converting any one of said objects belonging to the second group to an object belonging to said first group if said one of the objects belonging to the second group is positioned contiguous to one of the objects removed from said game field, as determined by said decision means.

22. A video game system according to claim 16, wherein said cursor has a shape indicative of mobility, and is displayed partly or wholly in an animation mode.

23. A recording medium storing game program data readable by a computer for moving objects successively introduced into a game field in one direction on said display screen, determining whether a leading object or a leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reach a predetermined position in the display screen or a memory, ending the video game if the leading object or the leading cluster of objects introduced into the game field reaches said predetermined position, determining whether objects of one type are successively connected in the game field, removing the objects of one type from the game field if they are successively connected in the game field, exchanging an object indicated by the cursor for an object present in the game field removing objects from the image field if the objects of the same type as the object positioned in said position are successively connected, measuring a predetermined period of time, moving an object in the game field by a predetermined distance in said direction if said predetermined period of time is measured, determining whether there is a leading piece in the game field in said direction, and determining that the game is to be ended if there is a leading piece as determined in the game field in said direction.

24. A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein said game program data includes data for measuring said predetermined period of time after the game is determined as being ended, determining whether the game is to be ended again upon elapse of said predetermined period of time, and preventing the game from being ended if the game is not to be ended.

25. A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the objects are available in different types including different shapes, different colors, different patterns, or combinations of different shapes, different colors, and different patterns.

26. A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the display screen has at least two display areas each for displaying the objects processed in the video game.

27. A recording medium according to claim 26, wherein said game program data includes data for adding as many objects as the number of objects removed from the game field in one of said display areas to the game field in the other of the display areas.

28. A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein said objects comprise a first group of objects removable from said game field and a second group of objects unremovable from said game field.

29. A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein said game program data includes data for:

determining whether an object contiguous to the objects removed from said game field belongs to said first group or said second group; and

converting means for converting any one of said objects belonging to the second group to an object belonging to said first group if said one of the objects belonging to the second group is determined as being positioned contiguous to one of the objects removed from said game field.

30. A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein said cursor has a shape indicative of mobility, and is displayed partly or wholly in an animation mode.

31. A video game apparatus comprising:

means for changing positions of objects displayed in a game field on a display screen;

means for removing objects of one type from the game field if the objects are successively connected;

means for establishing a condition to remove objects from the game field, displaying at least as many objects as the number of objects removable under said conditions in a pattern removable under said condition, and determining whether said condition is satisfied by a game player of the video game apparatus; and

a device for exchanging an object indicated by a cursor for an object present in the game field.

32. A video game apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said condition comprises either a chain count indicative of the number of removable chains of objects, a maximum number of objects which can be removed in one chain, a movement or exchange count indicative of the number of movements or exchanges of objects, or a combination of the chain count, the maximum number of objects, and the movement or exchange count.

33. A video game apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the objects are available in different types including different shapes, different colors, different patterns, or combinations of different shapes, different colors, and different patterns.

34. A video game apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said objects comprise a first group of objects removable from said game field and a second group of objects unremovable from said game field.

35. A video game apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said cursor has a shape indicative of mobility, and is displayed partly or wholly in an animation mode.

36. A video game apparatus comprising:

a controller manually operable by a game player;

display means for displaying images on a display screen thereof;

a recording medium storing game program data readable by a computer; and

control means for controlling a video game based on the game program data read from said recording medium and operation of said controller manually operated by the game player;

said control means comprising means controlled by said game program data, for;

establishing a condition for removing objects from a game field on the display screen;

determining whether objects of one type are successively connected;

removing objects of one type if the objects of one type are determined as being successively connected;

exchanging an object indicated by a cursor for an object in the game field; and

determining whether the objects are removed from the game field under said condition.

37. A video game apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the objects are available in different types including different shapes, different colors, different patterns, or combinations of different shapes, different colors, and different patterns.

38. A video game apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said objects comprise a first group of objects removable from said game field and a second group of objects unremovable from said game field.

39. A video game apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said control means comprising means controlled by said game program data, for converting any one of said objects belonging to the second group to an object belonging to said first group if said one of the objects belonging to the second group is positioned contiguous to one of the objects removed from said game field.

40. A video game apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said cursor has a shape indicative of mobility, and is displayed partly or wholly in an animation mode.

41. A video game apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising result indicating means for indicating a result based on a decision as to whether the objects are removed from the game field under said condition.

42. A recording medium storing game program data readable by a computer for changing positions of objects displayed in a game field on a display screen, removing objects of one type from the game field if the objects are successively connected, establishing a condition to remove objects from the game field, determining whether objects of one type are successively connected, removing objects of one type from the game field if the objects of one type are determined as being successively connected, exchanging an object indicated by a cursor for an object in the game field, and determining whether the objects are removed from the game field under said condition.

43. A recording medium according to claim 42, wherein the objects are available in different types including different shapes, different colors, different patterns, or combinations of different shapes, different colors, and different patterns.

44. A recording medium according to claim 42, wherein said objects comprise a first group of objects removable from said game field and a second group of objects unremovable from said game field.

45. A recording medium according to claim 44, wherein said game program data includes data for:

determining whether an object contiguous to the objects removed from said game field belongs to said first group or said second group; and

converting means for converting any one of said objects belonging to the second group to an object belonging to said first group if said one of the objects belonging to the second group is determined as being positioned contiguous to one of the objects removed from said game field.

46. A recording medium according to claim 42, wherein said game program data includes data for indicating a result based on a decision as to whether the objects are removed from the game field under said condition.