Video game apparatus and method and storage medium

• US 6,273,818 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Inventors: Komoto, Nobuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/426,196
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 463/30-36, 463/7, 463/8, 345/419, 345/421-427, 345/440-443, 345/113-116, 345/118, 345/126-127
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

When a player designates a magic attack, it is judged whether a player character possesses an “area” item corresponding to the designated magic attack. Depending on whether the player character possesses such an “area” item, a designation manner of one or more enemy characters is changed between a single enemy designation mode and an area designation mode. In the area designation mode, an attack area is set based on attack area data (shape and size of attack area) prestored corresponding to each of magic attacks selectable by the player. Then, one or more enemy characters located in the attack area are designated as one or more attack targets. The attack area can be moved in accordance with an operation inputted by the player.

Claims

1. A video game apparatus for playing a video game wherein a battle is made between a first and a second character, said apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing an item and an attack area corresponding to each of attacks executable by said first character;

detecting means for, when one of said attacks is designated in response to an operation inputted by a player, detecting whether said first character possesses one of said items which is stored in said storage means so as to correspond to said designated attack;

area displaying means for, when said detecting means detects that said first character possesses said one of said items, displaying one of said attack areas which is stored in said storage means so as to correspond to said designated attack; and

attack allowing means for allowing said first character to attack said second character when said second character is located in said one of said attack areas displayed by said area displaying means.

2. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said area displaying means moves a display position of said one of said attack areas in response to an operation inputted by the player.

3. A video game apparatus for playing a video game wherein a battle occurs between characters, said apparatus comprising:

a display that displays an image showing a battle state between said characters in response to a first operation input by a player;

a display that displays an attack area, corresponding to an attack designated by said first player operation, on said displayed image;

an attack area mover that moves said attack area following a predetermined rule in response to a second operation input by the player;

a display manner changer that changes a display manner of said at least one of said characters, when at least one of said characters is located in said attack area, and

a target character specifier that specifies as an attack target said at least one of said characters whose display manner is changed.

4. A method of playing a video game wherein a battle is made between a first and a second character, said method comprising:

a detecting step for, when an attack to be made by said first character is designated in response to an operation inputted by a player, detecting whether said first character possesses an item which is stored in advance corresponding to said designated attack;

an area displaying step for, when said detecting step detects that said first character possesses said item, displaying an attack area which is stored in advance corresponding to said designated attack; and

an attack allowing step for allowing said first character to attack said second character when said second character is located in said attack area displayed at said area displaying step.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said area displaying step moves a display position of said attack area in response to an operation inputted by the player.

6. A method of playing a video game wherein a battle occurs between characters, said method comprising:

displaying an image showing a battle state between said characters in response to a first operation input by a player;

displaying an attack area, corresponding to an attack designated by said first player operation, on said displayed image;

moving said attack area following a predetermined rule in response to a second operation input by the player;

changing a display manner of said at least one of said characters, when at least one of said characters is located in said attack area; and

specifying as an attack target said at least one of said characters whose display manner is changed.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a video game wherein a battle is made between a first and a second character, said program comprising:

a detecting step for, when an attack to be made by said first character is designated in response to an operation inputted by a player, detecting whether said first character possesses an item which is stored in advance corresponding to said designated attack;

an area displaying step for, when said detecting step detects that said first character possesses said item, displaying an attack area which is stored in advance corresponding to said designated attack; and

an attack allowing step for allowing said first character to attack said second character when said second character is located in said attack area displayed at said area displaying step.

8. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein said area displaying step moves a display position of said attack area in response to an operation inputted by the player.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a video game wherein a battle occurs between characters, said program comprising:

displaying an image showing a battle state between said characters in response to a first operation input by a player;

displaying an attack area, corresponding to an attack designated by said first player operation, on said displayed image;

moving said attack area following a predetermined rule in response to a second operation input by the player;

changing a display manner of said at least one of said characters, when at least one of said characters is located in said attack area; and

specifying as an attack target said at least one of said characters whose display manner is changed.

10. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and including a program for causing a computer to execute a video game wherein a battle is made between a first and a second character, said computer data signal comprising:

a detecting step for, when an attack to be made by said first character is designated in response to an operation inputted by a player, detecting whether said first character possesses an item which is stored in advance corresponding to said designated attack;

an area displaying step for, when said detecting step detects that said first character possesses said item, displaying an attack area which is stored in advance corresponding to said designated attack; and

an attack allowing step for allowing said first character to attack said second character when said second character is located in said attack area displayed at said area displaying step.

11. A game apparatus for playing a video game in which a battle occurs between a first character and a second character, the apparatus comprising:

a storage area that stores a plurality of attacks, which are executable by the first character, a plurality of items, which correspond to the plurality of attacks, and a plurality of attack areas, which correspond to the plurality of attacks;

a detector that detects whether the first character possesses an item corresponding to the designated attack when one of the attacks is designated in response to a first input operation by a player;

a display that displays an attack area corresponding to the designated attack when the detector detects that the first character possesses the corresponding item; and

an attack allowing system that allows the first character to attack the second character when the second character is located in the attack area displayed by the display.

12. The video game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the display moves a display position of the attack area in response to a second input operation by the player.

13. A video game apparatus for playing a video game in which a battle occurs between characters, the apparatus comprising:

an image display system that shows a battle state between the characters in response to a first operation input by a player;

an attack area display system that displays an attack area, corresponding to a player designated attack, on the displayed image;

a movement system that moves the attack area following a predetermined rule in response to a second operation input by the player;

a system that changes a display manner of a character when the character is located in the attack area; and

a targeting system that specifies as an attack target the character whose display manner is changed.

14. A method of playing a video game in which a battle occurs between a first character and a second character, the method comprising:

when an attack to be made by the first character is designated in response to a first operation input by a player, detecting whether the first character possesses an item corresponding to the designated attack;

displaying an attack area, corresponding to the designated attack, when the detecting detects that the first character possesses the item; and

allowing the first character to attack the second character when the second character is located in the displayed attack area.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the area displaying further comprises moving a display position of the attack area in response to a second operation input by the player.

16. A method of playing a video game in which a battle occurs between characters, the method comprising:

displaying an image showing a battle state between the characters in response to a first operation input by a player;

displaying an attack area, corresponding to a player designated attack, on the displayed image;

moving the attack area following a predetermined rule in response to a second operation input by the player;

when at least one of the characters is located in the attack area, changing a display manner of the at least one character; and

specifying as an attack target the at least one character whose display manner is changed.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a video game in which a battle occurs between a first character and a second character, the program comprising:

when an attack to be made by the first character is designated in response to a first operation input by a player, detecting whether the first character possesses an item corresponding to the designated attack;

displaying an attack area corresponding to the designated attack, when the detecting detects that the first character possesses the item; and

allowing the first character to attack the second character when the second character is located in the displayed attack area.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the area displaying further comprises moving a display position of the attack area in response to a second operation input by the player.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a video game in which a battle occurs between characters, the program comprising:

displaying an image showing a battle state between the characters in response to a first operation input by a player;

displaying an attack area, corresponding to a player designated attack, on the displayed image;

moving the attack area following a predetermined rule in response to a second operation input by the player;

when at least one of the characters is located in the attack area, changing a display manner of the at least one character; and

specifying as an attack target the at least one character whose display manner is changed.

20. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and controlled by a program for causing a computer to execute a video game in which a battle occurs between a first character and a second character, the computer data signal comprising:

when an attack to be made by the first character is designated in response to a first operation input by a player, detecting whether the first character possesses an item corresponding to the designated attack;

displaying an attack area corresponding to the designated attack, when the detecting detects that the first character possesses the item; and

allowing the first character to attack the second character when the second character is located in the displayed attack area.