Game processing method, game device, image processing device, image processing method, and recording medium

• US 6,171,186 B1
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Sasaki, Kenji, Kurosawa, Masahito
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/900,317
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6, 463/30, 463/31, 463/33, 463/34, 463/23, 463/25, 434/62-65, 434/69, 434/71
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• 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 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

In a race game comprising a preliminary round and a main race, a player can start the game without waiting for other players, the boredom of waiting time is eliminated, and skillful players can be satisfied with the game. An image processing device for generating game images, and a plurality of game units each provided respectively with communications control devices connected to this image processing device, which control communications with other devices, are provided, and the communications control devices are connected to each other. When any of the players inserts a coin, the corresponding communications control device immediately starts a preliminary round, and when this preliminary round is completed, it displays a demonstration screen during the waiting period before the start of the main race. In the main race, it determines the start position of the player according to the results from the preliminary round, suspends the game for any player who runs out of time, and when a main race is finished, it displays a demonstration screen until the start of the next main race.

Claims

1. A game processing method, wherein a plurality of players compete, which comprises a preliminary game implementation step for implementing preliminary games, followed by a main game implementation step for implementing main games, said preliminary game implementation step in this game processing method comprising:

a preliminary game starting step for implementing a preliminary game in accordance with an operation by any of the players; and

a first time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after any of the players has finished the preliminary game until the start of the main game, said preliminary game being capable of being played by each player individually and independently of the other players, whereby execution of a preliminary game by a player can be accomplished independently of the execution of preliminary games by the other players.

2. A game processing method according to claim 1, wherein said preliminary game implementation step allows a prescribed delay period to the last player to finish the preliminary game, before said main game implementation step is executed.

3. A game processing method according to claim 1, wherein said preliminary game implementation step comprises a display step whereby, when any player is playing the preliminary game, a specific image is displayed on other game devices where no-one is playing the game.

4. A game processing method according to claim 1, said main game implementation step is repeated plural times.

6. A game processing method according to claim 4, said main game implementation step comprises a second monitoring step for judging whether or not the leading player has passed through a predetermined check point within a specified time;

and a second notification step for suspending the game when said leading player has not passed through said check point within said specified time, and for sending this information to the players;

and prior to said main game implementation step, there is provided a selection step for setting in advance whether said monitoring step and said notification step, or said second monitoring step and said second notification step, are selected.

7. A game processing method according to claim 6, said main game implementation step comprises a rank determining step for determining rankings when the main games are completed, based on the status of other players who have finished the main games.

8. A game processing method according to claim 6, wherein said monitoring step includes the steps of:

accumulating the time respectively required in the plurality of repeated main games; and

comparing the time obtained in said accumulation step and the time limit provided to the player playing the game.

5. A game processing method, wherein a plurality of players compete, which comprises a preliminary game implementation step for implementing preliminary games, followed by a main game implementation step for implementing main games, said main game implementation step in this game processing method comprising:

a main game position locating step for determining the start positions of said plurality of players based on the results of said preliminary game implementation step;

a monitoring step for monitoring the time status of the players;

a notification step for suspending the game for players who have run out of time and sending this information to other players; and

a second time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after the main game has finished until the start of the next main game.

9. A game processing method according to claim 5, said main game implementation step comprises a rank determining step for determining rankings when the main games are completed, based on the status of other players who have finished the main games.

10. A game processing method according to claim 5, wherein said monitoring step includes the steps of:

accumulating the time respectively required in the plurality of repeated main games; and

comparing the time obtained in said accumulation step and the time limit provided to a player playing the game.

11. A game processing method according to claim 5, said main game implementation step is repeated plural times.

12. A game device structured of an image processing device and a plurality of game units comprising communication units for mutually conducting communication via a communication line, wherein at least one of said game units implements the following steps:

a preliminary game implementation step for implementing a preliminary game; and

a main game implementation step for implementing main games;

said preliminary game implementation steps including the steps of;

a preliminary game starting step for implementing a preliminary game in accordance with an operation by any of a plurality of players; and

a first time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after any of the players has finished the preliminary game until the start of the main game, a main game position locating step for determining the start positions of said plurality of players based on the results of said preliminary game implementation step.

13. A game device structured of an image processing device and a plurality of game units comprising communication units for mutually conducting communication via a communication line, wherein at least one of said game units implements the following steps:

a preliminary game implementation step for implementing preliminary games; and

a main game implementation step for implementing main games in succession to said preliminary game implementation step;

wherein said main game implementation step includes the steps of;

a main game position locating step for determining the start positions of said plurality of plays based on the results of said preliminary game implementation step;

a monitoring step for monitoring the time status of the players;

a notification step for suspending the game for players who have run out of time and indicating this information to other players; and

a second time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after any of the players has finished the preliminary game until the start of the main game.

14. A game device comprising:

a plurality of game units comprising an image processing device for generating game images and communication units for mutually conducting communication via a communication line, and

a control unit for controlling this plurality of game units;

wherein said control unit implements the following steps;

a preliminary game implementation step for implementing a preliminary game; and

a main game implementation step for implementing main games in succession to said preliminary game implementation step;

said preliminary game implementation steps including the steps of;

a preliminary game starting step for implementing a preliminary game in accordance with an operation by any of a plurality of players;

a first time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after any of the players has finished the preliminary game until the start of the main game, a main game position locating step for determining the start positions of said plurality of players based on the results of said preliminary game implementation step.

15. A game device comprising:

a plurality of game units comprising an image processing device for generating game images and communication units for mutually conducting communication via a communication line; and

a control unit for controlling this plurality of game units;

wherein said control unit implements the following steps;

a preliminary game implementation step for implementing a preliminary game; and

a main game implementation step for implementing main games in succession to said preliminary game implementation step;

wherein said main game implementation step includes the steps of;

a main game position locating step for determining the start positions of said plurality of players based on the results of said preliminary game implementation step;

a monitoring step for monitoring the time status of the players;

a notification step for suspending the game for players who have run out of time and indicating this information to other players; and

a second time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after any of the players has finished the preliminary game until the start of the main game.

16. A recording medium whereon programs for implementing the following steps in a processing device are stored:

a preliminary game implementation step comprising a preliminary game starting step for implementing a preliminary game in accordance with an operation by any of the players, and a first time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after any of the players has finished the preliminary game until the start of the main game; and

following this, a main game implementation step for implementing main games, said preliminary game being capable of being played by each player individually and independently of the other players, whereby execution of a preliminary game by a player can be accomplished independently of the execution of preliminary games by the other players.

17. A recording medium whereon programs for implementing the following steps in a processing device are stored:

a preliminary game implementation step for implementing preliminary games; and

a main game implementation step comprising;

a main game position locating step for determining the start positions of said plurality of players based on the results of said preliminary game implementation step;

a monitoring step for monitoring the time status of the players;

a notification step for suspending the game for players who have run out of time and sending this information to other players; and

a second time adjustment step for displaying a specific image after the main game has finished until the start of the next main game;

which implements main games following said preliminary game implementation steps.