Connection-fighting type game machine and connection-fighting type game methods

• US 6,165,068 A
• Filed: 01/15/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Inventors: Mizunuma, Masanori, Sonoda, Fumiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Minh
• Application Number:
  US09/007,656
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 463/8, 463/44, 463/45, 463/46, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A connection-fighting type game machine and a connection-fighting type game method enable game character progression in an independent use state, or in a connected-fighting use state. The connection-fighting type liquid crystal game machine can be used independently, thereby causing a built-in character to grow according to input information from an operation input section that stores growth degree information of the grown character. The game machine may also be connected to another game machine of the same kind. An outcome processing section reads out the growth degree information of the characters stored in the respective game machines, and then causes them to fight in a predetermined fighting manner. A growth degree changing processing section improves the growth degree of the character that has gained a victory, performs a growth degree changing processing by leaving as it is or lowering the growth degree of the character that has suffered a defeat. The growth degree information of the characters for the respective machines is stored in respective storing sections.

Claims

1. A connection-fighting type game machine which can be used independently or can be connected to an opponent machine, the game machine comprising:

a growth processing section for letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience by an interactive operation of the player through an operation input section during independent use;

a storing section for storing growth degree information of the character grown by the growth processing section;

a connection terminal for performing a direct connection with the opponent machine;

an outcome processing section for reading out the growth degree information of the character for a user'"'"'s machine stored in the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine, reading out growth degree information of the character stored in the storing section of the opponent machine, and causing the character for the user'"'"'s machine and the character for the opponent machine to fight against each other according to a predetermined fighting manner based on the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to determine the outcome, during connected use with the opponent machine;

a growth degree changing processing section for performing a growth degree changing processing of changing at least one of the growth degree of the character which has been judged to gain a victory and the growth degree of the character which has been judged to suffer a defeat, storing the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing in the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine, and storing the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing in the storing section of the opponent machine;

a display section for displaying a growth progress of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to an instruction from the growth processing section of the user'"'"'s machine and displaying a fighting result according to an instruction from the growth degree changing processing section; and

a control section for judging a connection state with the opponent machine, activating the growth processing section, inactivating the outcome processing section and the growth degree processing section of the user'"'"'s machine when judging that the machines are in a non-connection state, and inactivating the growth processing section and deciding a priority of performing fight processing with the opponent machine when judging that the machines are in the connection state, and activating the fight processing section and the growth degree changing processing section when the user'"'"'s machine is higher in the priority of performing fight processing.

2. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the growth degree information includes a level value corresponding to a total amount of the imaginary experience, and an attribute value which are determined according to experience amounts by the kinds of imaginary experiences.

3. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control section determines, if receiving a fight processing requirement from the operation input section of the user'"'"'s machine when not receiving a fight processing reserving requirement information from the opponent machine in the connection state with the opponent machine, that the user'"'"'s machine is higher in the priority of executing fight processing, then informs a fight processing reserving requirement information to the opponent machine, to thereby activate the outcome processing section and the growth degree changing processing section of the user'"'"'s machine.

4. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control section determines, if receiving a fight processing requirement from the operation input section of the user'"'"'s machine when not receiving a fight processing reserving requirement information from the opponent machine in the connection state with the opponent machine, that the user'"'"'s machine is higher in the priority of executing fight processing, then informs a fight processing reserving requirement information to the opponent machine, to thereby activate the outcome processing section and the growth degree changing processing section of the user'"'"'s machine.

5. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the growth degree changing processing section is adapted to decrease the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine when there is no input from the operation input section during a predetermined time in the case of the independent use.

6. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the growth degree changing processing section is adapted to decrease the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine when there is no input from the operation input section during a predetermined time in the case of the independent use.

9. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection terminal comprises a plug and a receiving port, the plug of the user'"'"'s machine is directly fitted in a receiving port of the opponent machine and a plug of the opponent machine is fitted in the receiving port of the user'"'"'s machine.

10. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection terminal is directly joined to a connection terminal of the opponent machine without a cable.

7. A connection-fighting type game machine which can be used independently or can be connected to an opponent machine, the game machine comprising:

a growth processing means for letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience by an interactive operation of the player through an operation input section during independent use;

a storing means for storing growth degree information of the character grown by the growth processing means;

a connection terminal for performing a direct connection with the opponent machine;

an outcome processing means for reading out the growth degree information of the character for a user'"'"'s machine stored in the storing means of the user'"'"'s machine, reading out growth degree information of the character stored in the storing means of the opponent machine, and causing the character for the user'"'"'s machine and the character for the opponent machine to fight against each other according to a predetermined fighting manner based on the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to determine the outcome, during connected use with the opponent machine;

a growth degree changing processing means for performing a growth degree changing processing of changing at least one of the growth degree of the character which has been judged to gain a victory and the growth degree of the character which has been judged to suffer a defeat, storing the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing in the storing means of the user'"'"'s machine, and storing the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing in the storing means of the opponent machine;

a liquid crystal display output section for displaying a growth progress of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to an instruction from the growth processing means of the user'"'"'s machine and displaying and fighting result according to an instruction from the growth degree changing processing means; and

a control means for judging a connection state with the opponent machine, activating the growth processing means, inactivating the outcome processing means and the growth degree processing means of the user'"'"'s machine when judging that the machines are in a non-connection state, and inactivating the growth processing means and deciding a priority of performing fight processing with the opponent machine when judging that the machines are in the connection state, and activating the fight processing means and the growth degree changing processing means when the user'"'"'s machine is higher in the priority of performing fight processing.

8. A connection-fighting type game method which can be used independently or can be connected to an opponent machine, the game method comprising:

letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience by an interactive operation of a player through an operation input section of a user'"'"'s machine during independent use;

storing growth degree information of the grown character;

performing a connection with the opponent machine;

deciding a priority of executing fight processing with the opponent machine, and activating an outcome processing section and a growth degree changing processing section of the user'"'"'s machine when the user'"'"'s machine is higher in the priority of executing fight processing;

reading out the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine stored in the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine, reading out growth degree information of the character stored in the storing section of the opponent machine, and causing the character for the user'"'"'s machine and the character for the opponent machine to fight against each other according to a predetermined fighting manner based on the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to thereby determine an outcome; and

performing a growth degree changing processing of changing at least one of the growth degree of the character which has been judged to gain a victory and the growth degree of the character which has been judged to suffer a defeat, storing the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing in the user'"'"'s machine, and storing the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing in the opponent machine.

11. A connection-fighting type game machine which is used by being connected with an opponent machine or which is used independently, the game machine comprising:

a growth processing section for letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience by an interactive operation of a user through an operation input section during independent use;

a storing section for storing growth degree information of the character grown by the growth processing section;

a connection terminal for performing a direct connection with the opponent machine;

an outcome processing section for making the character for the user'"'"'s machine fight against a character for the opponent machine according to a predetermined fighting manner, on the basis of the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to judge an outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting, during connected use with the opponent machine;

a growth degree changing processing section for performing a growth degree changing processing for changing the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to the outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting which has been judged by the outcome processing section, and for storing the growth degree information obtained after the growth degree changing processing, of the character for the user'"'"'s machine, into the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine; and

a display output section for displaying a growth progress of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to an instruction from the growth processing section of the user'"'"'s machine and displaying a fighting result according to in instruction from the growth degree changing processing section.

12. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the growth degree changing processing section is adapted to decrease the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine when there is no input from the operation input section during the independent use.

13. A connection-fighting type game machine which is used by being connected with an opponent machine or which is used independently, the game machine comprising:

a growth processing section for letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience by an interactive operation of a user through an operation input section during independent use;

a storing section for storing growth degree information of the character grown by the growth processing section;

a connection terminal for performing a direct connection with the opponent machine;

an outcome processing section for making the character for the user'"'"'s machine fight against a character for the opponent machine according to a predetermined fighting manner, on the basis of the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to judge an outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting, during connected use with the opponent machine, the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine being stored in the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine;

a growth degree changing processing section for performing a growth degree changing processing for changing the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to the outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting which has been judged by the outcome processing section, for storing the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing, into the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine, and for informing the opponent machine of the outcome of victory or defeat which is the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine; and

a display output section for displaying a growth progress of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to an instruction from the growth processing section of the user'"'"'s machine and displaying a fighting result according to an instruction from the growth degree changing processing section,

wherein the growth degree changing processing section is adapted to decrease the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine when there is no input from the operation input section during the independent use.

14. A connection-fighting type game machine which is used by being connected with an opponent machine or which is used independently, the game machine comprising:

a growth processing section for letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience by an interactive operation of a user through an operation input section during independent use;

a storing section for storing growth degree information of the character grown by the growth processing section;

a connection terminal for performing a direct connection with the opponent machine;

an outcome processing section for making the character for the user'"'"'s machine fight against a character for the opponent machine according to a predetermined fighting manner, on the basis of the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to judge an outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting, during connected use with the opponent machine;

a growth degree changing processing section for performing a growth degree changing processing for changing at least one of the growth degree of the character which has been judged to gain a victory and the growth degree of the character which has been judged to suffer a defeat, for storing the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing, into the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine, and for informing the opponent machine of the growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine obtained after the growth degree changing processing; and

a display output section for displaying a growth progress of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to an instruction from the growth processing section of the user'"'"'s machine and displaying a fighting result according to an instruction from the growth degree changing processing section,

wherein the growth degree changing processing section is adapted to decrease the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine when there is no input from the operation input section during the independent use.

15. A fighting type game machine which is used by being connected with an opponent machine or which is used independently, the game machine comprising:

growth processing means for letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience by an interactive operation of a user through an operation input means when the game machine is used independently;

storing means for storing growth degree information of the character grown by the growth processing means;

joining means for joining the user'"'"'s machine to the opponent machine;

outcome processing means for making the character for the user'"'"'s machine fight against a character for the opponent machine according to a predetermined fighting manner, on the basis of the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to judge an outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting, during connected use with the opponent machine;

growth degree changing processing means for performing a growth degree changing processing for changing the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to the outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting which has been judged by the outcome processing means, and for storing the changed growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine into the storing means of the user'"'"'s machine; and

display output means for displaying a growth progress of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to an instruction from the growth processing means of the user'"'"'s machine and displaying a fighting result according to an instruction from the growth degree changing processing means.

16. A connection-fighting type game machine which is used by being connected with an opponent machine or which is used independently, the game machine comprising:

a display;

an input section operable by a user for effecting operation of the game machine;

a processor receiving input from the input section and driving the display, the processor controlling the operation of the game machine;

a memory storing growth degree information of a character; and

a connector engageable with an opponent connector of an opponent machine,

wherein the processor is configured to effect a fight when the user'"'"'s machine is connected to the opponent machine via the connector, the processor accessing the growth degree information of the character stored in the memory and opponent growth degree information stored in the opponent machine and judging a fight outcome of victory or defeat, and wherein the processor changes at least one of the growth degree information and the opponent growth degree information according to the fight outcome.