Image synthesis method, games machine, and information storage medium

• US 6,095,920 A
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Sadahiro, Yuichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clayton, Sheila
• Application Number:
  US08/945,429
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 463/2, 434/65-69, 434/15, 434/31, 434/35, 434/37, 434/38, 434/70
• US Class Current: 463/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/634 for replaying partially or entirely the game actions since the beginning of the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

The objective of this invention is to provide an image synthesis method, games machine, and information storage medium that make it possible for a game to be satisfyingly enjoyable, even when a single player is playing it. History information relating to the performance of the player is recorded during one game session, and this history information is reproduced in another game session. A virtual player performs based on the thus-reproduced history information, and thus acts so as to affect the game result of the player. The virtual player either assists the player or acts as a combat opponent. This makes it possible to implement a game that is interesting even in single-player mode.

Claims

1. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player acting based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player at each stage of the game.

5. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said recorded history information is transferred to a games machine of another player via an information storage medium for saving data or a communication line.

8. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

details of said history information are updated so that said virtual player acts in ways that differ from those of said one game session.

11. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

history information up to an intermediate point within said one game session is recordable.

2. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, the player acting against at least one common opponent, said virtual player acting against each common opponent based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player.

6. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 2, wherein:

said recorded history information is transferred to a games machine of another player via an information storage medium for saving data or a communication line.

9. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 2, wherein:

details of said history information are updated so that said virtual player acts in ways that differ from those of said one game session.

12. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 2, wherein:

history information up to an intermediate point within said one game session is recordable.

3. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player shoots at a given target by using an offensive object, the method including:

recording history information for specifying shooting timing and at least one of the position and direction of shooting in one game session;

reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player and said player interacting in shooting at common targets, said virtual player interacting with the player in shooting at the targets based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player.

4. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 3, wherein:

information for specifying shooting areas of a plurality of players is recorded together with said history information when the shooting areas are previously allocated to said plurality of players.

7. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 3, wherein:

said recorded history information is transferred to a games machine of another player via an information storage medium for saving data or a communication line.

10. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 3, wherein:

details of said history information are updated so that said virtual player acts in ways that differ from those of said one game session.

13. The image synthesis method as defined in claim 3, wherein:

history information up to an intermediate point within said one game session is recordable.

14. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

creating a game image in which an auxiliary computer player acts in cooperation with the player, said auxiliary computer player assisting the player in game playing; and

comparing the game result of the player and the game result of said auxiliary computer player, and creating an image for selecting another auxiliary computer player that acts in a different manner from said auxiliary computer player when the game result of the player is ahead of the game result of said auxiliary computer player.

15. A games machine for creating a game image with which a player plays, comprising:

means for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

means for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

means for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player acting based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player at each stage of the game.

16. A games machine for creating a game image with which a player plays, comprising:

means for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

means for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

means for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, the player acting against at least one common opponent, said virtual player acting against each common opponent based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player.

17. A games machine for creating a game image with which a player shoots at a given target by using an offensive object, comprising:

means for recording history information for specifying shooting timing and at least one of the position and direction of shooting in one game session;

means for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

means for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player shooting at a target based on said reproduced history information.

18. A games machine for creating a game image with which a player plays, comprising:

means for creating a game image in which an auxiliary computer player acts in cooperation with the player, said auxiliary computer player assisting the player in game playing; and

means for comparing the game result of the player and the game result of said auxiliary computer player and for creating an image for selecting another auxiliary computer player that acts in a different manner from said auxiliary computer player when the game result of the player is ahead of the game result of said auxiliary computer player.

19. An information storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, comprising:

information for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player acting based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player at each stage of the game.

20. An information storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, comprising:

information for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player acting to assist the player based on said reproduced history information.

21. An information storage medium for creating a game image with which a player shoots at a given target by using an offensive object, comprising:

information for recording history information for specifying shooting timing and at least one of the position and direction of shooting in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player shooting at a target based on said reproduced history information.

22. An information storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, comprising:

information for creating a game image in which an auxiliary computer player acts in cooperation with the player, said auxiliary computer player assisting the player in game playing; and

information for comparing the game result of the player and the game result of said auxiliary computer player and for creating an image for selecting another auxiliary computer player that acts in a different manner from said auxiliary computer player when the game result of the player is ahead of the game result of said auxiliary computer player.

23. A games machine for creating a game image with which a player shoots at a given target by using an offensive object, comprising:

means for recording history information for specifying shooting timing and at least one of the position and direction of shooting in one game session;

means for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

means for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player and said player interacting in shooting at common targets, said virtual player interacting with the player in shooting at the targets based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player.

24. An information storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, comprising:

information for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, and for applying to the player game rules depending on action of the virtual player and on action of at least one common opponent, said virtual player acting against each common opponent based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player.

25. An information storage medium for creating a game image with which a player shoots at a given target by using an offensive object, comprising:

information for recording history information for specifying shooting timing and at least one of the position and direction of shooting in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates in said other game session together with the player, said virtual player and said player interacting in shooting at common targets, said virtual player interacting with the player in shooting at the targets based on said reproduced history information and affecting the game result of the player.

26. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session together with the player, a plurality of actions of said virtual player throughout the one game session affecting the game result of the player during the other game session.

27. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to assist the player.

28. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to cooperate with the player.

29. An image synthesis method for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to compete against the player.

30. A game machine for creating a game image with which a player plays, the game machine including:

a storage medium that records history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session and reproduces said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

a controller that creates a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session together with the player, a plurality of actions of said virtual player throughout the one game session affecting the game result of the player during the other game session.

31. A game machine for creating a game image with which a player plays, the game machine including:

a storage medium that records history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session and reproduces said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

a controller that creates a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to assist the player.

32. A game machine for creating a game image with which a player plays, the game machine including:

a storage medium that records history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session and reproduces said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

a controller that creates a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to cooperate with the player.

33. A game machine for creating a game image with which a player plays, the game machine including:

a storage medium that records history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session and reproduces said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

a controller that creates a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to compete against the player.

34. A storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

information for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session together with the player, a plurality of actions of said virtual player throughout the one game session affecting the game result of the player during the other game session.

35. A storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

information for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to assist the player.

36. A storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

information for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to cooperate with the player.

37. A storage medium for creating a game image with which a player plays, the method including:

information for recording history information relating to the performance of the player in one game session;

information for reproducing said history information in another game session that differs from said one game session; and

information for creating a game image in which a virtual player participates based on said reproduced history information in said other game session to compete against the player.