Simulation device for fostering a virtual creature

• US 6,227,966 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai, Kabushiki Kaisha WiZ
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai, Kabushiki Kaisha WiZ
• Inventors: Yokoi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Chanda
• Application Number:
  US08/909,672
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/1, 706/58, 446/143, 446/175, 703/11
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5372 for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 : for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 : for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 : using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 : of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 : according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• 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 2300/65 : for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 : Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 : Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 : based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 : Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

With a purpose of providing a simulation device for fostering a virtual creature where the virtual creature is disciplined, the virtual creature is grown and fostered when a player conducts a corresponding treatment in response to a call or a request from the displayed virtual creature, the simulation device is provided with mark display units for displaying treatments for fostering the virtual creature by marks, and key switches for inputting a corresponding treatment by selecting a specific mark from a plurality of marks, the simulation device is provided with a storing unit for storing control data for fostering the virtual creature and a control unit where, when a treatment for fostering the virtual creature is input by operating the key switches, the control data in correspondence thereto is read from the storing unit and a control for fostering the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data, and the simulation device is further constituted by a detecting circuit for detecting a call from an external source, manifesting means for randomly manifesting an influencing creature effecting an adverse effect on the growth of the virtual creature and expelling means for expelling the influencing creature when a call from an external source is detected.

Claims

1. A simulation device for fostering a virtual creature comprising:

means for inputting a treatment for fostering a virtual creature;

a display unit for displaying the virtual creature;

a storing unit for storing control data for fostering the virtual creature;

a control unit whereby when the treatment is input from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the treatment is read from the storing unit and a control for fostering the virtual creature is carried out based on the read control data;

detecting sensor detecting a call from an external source;

wherein the control unit is provided with concealing means for concealing, at a random timing, the virtual creature from the display unit; and

wherein the control unit is provided with releasing means for unconcealing the virtual creature when the call from the external source is detected.

2. The simulation device according to claim 1 wherein the detecting sensor includes an environmental sensor.

3. The simulation device according to claim 1 wherein the detecting sensor includes a sound sensor.

4. The simulation device according to claim 3 wherein the sound sensor is configured to detect sound in a specific frequency band.

5. The simulation device according to claim 3 wherein the sound sensor is configured to detect a human voice.

6. The simulation device according to claim 1 wherein the detecting sensor includes a vibration sensor.

7. The simulation device according to claim 1 wherein the detecting sensor includes a light sensor.

8. The simulation device according to claim 1 wherein the simulation device further comprises a portable processing device, the portable processing device housing at least the means for inputting, the display unit, and the control unit.

9. A simulation device for fostering a virtual creature comprising:

means for inputting a treatment for fostering a virtual creature;

a storing unit for storing control data for fostering the virtual creature;

detecting sensor detecting a call from an external source;

a control unit whereby when the treatment is input from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the treatment is read from the storing unit and a control for fostering the virtual creature is carried out based on the read control data, wherein the control unit is provided with manifesting means for manifesting, at a random timing, an influencing creature effecting an adverse influence on the growth of the virtual creature, and wherein the control unit is provided with repelling means for repelling the influencing creature when the call from an external source is detected; and

a display unit for displaying the virtual creature and/or the influencing creature.

10. The simulation device according to claim 9 wherein the detecting sensor includes an environmental sensor.

11. The simulation device according to claim 9 wherein the simulation device further comprises a portable processing device, the portable processing device housing at least the means for inputting, the display unit, and the control unit.

13. The simulation device for fostering a virtual creature according to any one of claims 11 through 12,

wherein the storing unit stores a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having different appearances;

wherein the control unit is provided with calling means whereby the virtual creature makes a call during a growth procedure;

wherein the inputting means is provided with a means for taking care of the virtual creature and a means for disciplining the virtual creature in response to the call from the virtual creature;

wherein the control unit is provided with selecting means for selecting one virtual creature from the stored plurality of kinds of virtual creatures in accordance with a degree of taking care of the virtual creature and a degree of disciplining the virtual creature during the growth procedure; and

wherein the control unit is provided with changing means for changing the grown virtual creature into the selected one virtual creature.

12. A simulation device for fostering a virtual creature comprising:

means for inputting a treatment for fostering a virtual creature;

a storing unit for storing control data for fostering the virtual creature;

detecting sensor detecting a call from an external source;

a control unit whereby when the treatment is input from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the treatment is read from the storing unit and a control for fostering the virtual creature is carried out based on the read control data, wherein the control unit is provided with operating means for having the virtual creature conduct an action, at a random timing, which is different from a normal action, and wherein the control unit is provided with rectifying means whereby when the call from an external source is detected under a situation where the virtual creature is carrying out the action which is different from the normal action, the virtual creature is rectified to carry out the normal action; and

a display unit for displaying the virtual creature.

14. The simulation device according to claim 12 wherein the detecting sensor includes an environmental sensor.

15. The simulation device according to claim 12 wherein the simulation device further comprises a portable processing device, the portable processing device housing at least the means for inputting the display unit and the control unit.

16. A processor controlled method for fostering a virtual creature, comprising the steps of:

receiving inputs corresponding to a treatment for fostering the virtual creature;

displaying the virtual creature;

when the treatment for fostering the virtual creature is inputted, reading stored control data corresponding to the treatment;

controlling the fostering of the virtual creature based on the read control data;

detecting a call from an external source;

concealing, at a random timing, the virtual creature from being displayed; and

unconcealing the virtual creature when the call from the external source is detected.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 through 18, further comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having different appearances;

causing the virtual creature to make a call during a growth procedure;

taking care of the virtual creature and disciplining the virtual creature according to inputs received in response to the call from the virtual creature;

selecting one virtual creature from the stored plurality of kinds of virtual creatures in accordance with a degree of taking care of the virtual creature and a degree of disciplining the virtual creature during the growth procedure; and

changing the grown virtual creature into the selected one virtual creature.

17. A processor controlled method for fostering a virtual creature, comprising the steps of:

receiving inputs corresponding to a treatment for fostering the virtual creature;

detecting a call from an external source;

when the treatment for fostering the virtual creature is inputted, reading stored control data corresponding to the treatment;

controlling the fostering of the virtual creature based on the read control data;

manifesting, at a random timing, an influencing creature effecting an adverse influence on the growth of the virtual creature;

repelling the influencing creature when the call from the external source is detected; and

displaying at least one of the virtual creature and the influencing creature.

18. A processor controlled method for fostering a virtual creature, comprising the steps of:

receiving inputs corresponding to a treatment for fostering the virtual creature;

detecting a call from an external source;

when the treatment for fostering the virtual creature is inputted, reading stored control data corresponding to the treatment;

controlling the fostering of the virtual creature based on the read control data;

causing the virtual creature to conduct, at a random timing, an action that is different from a normal action;

rectifying the virtual creature to carry out the normal action when the call from the external source is detected under a situation where the virtual creature is carrying out the action that is different from the normal action; and

displaying the virtual creature.

20. A simulation device for fostering a virtual creature comprising:

an input device;

a display unit displaying the virtual creature;

a data storage unit storing control data for fostering the virtual creature;

a control unit receiving a signal when a treatment for the virtual creature treatment is designated using the input device, reading control data corresponding to the treatment from the data storage unit and providing a control signal for fostering the virtual creature based on the control data;

external source call detecting sensor that provides an external call source signal;

concealing circuit that operates to conceal the virtual creature from the display unit; and

releasing circuit in the control unit providing an unconceal signal when an external call signal is received in the control unit.