Amusement game system and a computer-readable storage medium

• US 6,394,896 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Sugimoto, Norihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Scott E.
• Application Number:
  US09/748,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1-3,40-43 273/108.2,317.2,459-461 473/131,409 434/252
• US Class Current: 463/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

A player inputs the first, second and third instructions utilizing an input device, to move an object toward a target in a virtual field. A power for moving the object is displayed by a graph and a cursor within a range not exceeding the maximum power value. The cursor moves according to lapsed time after the first instruction detection. When the second instruction is given, the power is determined based on lapsed time from the first instruction detection to the second instruction detection. The player perceives the cursor reaching the standard position and inputs the third instruction. Factors for the object direction is determined according to the timing at which the cursor actually reaches the standard position and the player inputs the third instruction. The continuous input of the second instruction, exceeding a prescribed period, causes the power to increase beyond its maximum.

Claims

1. An amusement game system comprising:

a display device for a picture;

an input device for outputting signals according to operation by a player; and

a control device for causing an amusement game to progress and displaying the picture according to a progress of the amusement game on a screen of said display device, said amusement game including a step for moving an object in a virtual field based on output from said input device,

wherein;

said control device comprises;

a first-instruction detection device for detecting a first instruction which has been input by the player with a use of said input device;

a movement power display device for displaying movement power of said object within a range up to a predetermined maximum value of movement power by means of a graph and a cursor movable on said graph;

a first cursor-movement device for moving said cursor on said graph in a direction indicating said maximum value of movement power in accordance with a lapse of time from a point of time when said first instruction has been detected;

a second-instruction detection device for detecting a second instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device;

a movement power determination device for determining the movement power of said object on a basis of a lapse of time from the point of time when said first instruction has been detected to a point of time when said second instruction has been detected;

a movement device for moving said object in the virtual field in accordance with the movement power thus determined;

a second cursor-movement device for moving said cursor toward a standard position on said graph, after detection of said second instruction;

a movement power increase device for increasing said movement power in accordance with a time period during which the second instruction is continuously detected when said second instruction is continuously detected for at least a prescribed period of time;

a third-instruction detection device for detecting a third instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device; and

a movement direction factor determination device for determining a factor associated with a movement direction of said object, in accordance with timing at which said cursor reaches said standard position and with timing at which said third instruction is input,

wherein said second cursor-movement device moves said cursor at a speed which is higher than the speed when said movement power increase device does not increase the movement power and which is determined in accordance with an increased amount of the movement power by the movement power increase device, in case where said movement power increase device increases the movement power, and

wherein said movement device moves said object in said virtual field in accordance with said movement power as determined and said factor associated with the movement direction of said object.

2. The amusement game system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement power increase device increases the movement power beyond the maximum value of the movement power.

3. The amusement game system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movement power increase device increases said movement power only in case where said second instruction is input when said cursor is positioned within a power-shot range defined between the maximum value of movement power and a predetermined power value smaller than the maximum value of movement power.

4. An amusement game system comprising:

a display device for a picture;

an input device outputting signals according to operation by a player; and

a control device for causing a golf amusement game to progress and displaying the picture according to a progress of the amusement game on a screen of said display device, said golf amusement game including a step for hitting a ball to send it flying toward a target in a virtual field based on the output of said input device,

wherein;

said control device comprises;

a first-instruction detection device for detecting a first instruction which has been input by the player with a use of said input device;

a hit power display device for displaying hit power of said ball within a range up to a predetermined maximum value of hit power by means of a graph and a cursor movable on said graph;

a first cursor-movement device for moving said cursor on said graph in a direction indicating said maximum value of hit power in correspondence with a lapse of time from a point of time when said first instruction has been detected;

a second-instruction detection device for detecting a second instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device;

a hit power determination device for determining the hit power of said ball on a basis of a lapse of time from the point of time when said first instruction has been detected to a point of time when said second instruction has been detected;

a movement device for moving said ball in the virtual field in accordance with the hit power thus determined;

a second cursor-movement device for moving said cursor toward a standard position on said graph, after detection of said second instruction;

a hit power increase device for increasing said hit power in accordance with a time period during which the second instruction is continuously detected when said second instruction is continuously detected for at least a prescribed period of time;

a third-instruction detection device for detecting a third instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device; and

a movement direction factor determination device for determining a factor associated with a movement direction of said ball, in accordance with timing at which said cursor reaches said standard position and with timing at which said third instruction is input,

wherein said second cursor-movement device moves said cursor at a speed which is higher than the speed when said hit power increase device does not increase the hit power and which is determined in accordance with an increased amount of the hit power by the hit power increase device, in case where said hit power increase device increases the hit power, and

wherein, said movement device moves said ball in said virtual field in accordance with said hit power as determined and said factor associated with the movement direction of said ball.

5. The amusement game system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hit power increase device increases the hit power beyond the maximum value of the hit power.

6. The amusement game system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hit power increase device increases said hit power only in case where said second instruction is input when said cursor is positioned within a power-shot range defined between the maximum value of hit power and a predetermined power value smaller than the maximum value of hit power.

7. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program stored therein, said program causing an amusement game to progress and displaying a picture according to a progress of the amusement game on a screen of a display device, said amusement game including a step for moving an object in a virtual field based on output from an input device of an amusement game apparatus,

wherein:

said program causes a computer provided in said amusement game apparatus to function respectively as;

a first-instruction detection device for detecting a first instruction which has been input by a player with a use of said input device;

a movement power display device for displaying movement power of said object within a range up to a predetermined maximum value of movement power by means of a graph and a cursor movable on sand graph;

a first cursor-movement device for moving said cursor on said graph in a direction indicating said maximum value of movement power in accordance with a lapse of time from a point of time when said first instruction has been detected;

a second-instruction detection device for detecting a second instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device;

a movement power determination device for determining the movement power of said object on a basis of a lapse of time from the point of time when said first instruction has been detected to a point of time when said second instruction has been detected;

a movement device for moving said object in the virtual field in accordance with the movement power thus determined;

a second cursor-movement device for moving said cursor toward a standard position on said graph, after detection of said second instruction;

a movement power increase device for increasing said movement power in accordance with a time period during which the second instruction is continuously detected when said second instruction is continuously detected for at least a prescribed period of time;

a third-instruction detection device for detecting a third instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device; and

a movement direction factor determination device for determining a factor associated with a movement direction of said object, in accordance with timing at which said cursor reaches said standard position and with timing at which said third instruction is input,

wherein said second cursor-movement device moves said cursor at a speed which is higher than the speed when said movement power increase device does not increase the movement power and which is determined in accordance with an increased amount of the movement power by the movement power increase device, in case where said movement power increase device increases the movement power, and

wherein said movement device moves said object in said virtual field in accordance with said movement power as determined and said factor associated with the movement direction of said object.

8. The medium as claimed in claim 7, wherein the movement power increase device increases the movement power beyond the maximum value of the movement power.

9. The medium as claimed in claim 7, wherein said movement power increase device increases said movement power only in case where said second instruction is input when said cursor is positioned within a power-shot range defined between the maximum value of movement power and a predetermined power value smaller than the maximum value of movement power.

10. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program stored therein, said program causing a golf amusement game to progress and displaying a picture according to a progress of the amusement game on a screen of a display device, said golf amusement game including a step for hitting a ball to send it flying toward a target in a virtual field based on output from an input device of an amusement game apparatus,

wherein:

said program causes a computer provided in said amusement game apparatus to function respectively as;

a first-instruction detection device for detecting a first instruction which has been input by a player with a use of said input device;

a hit power display device for displaying hit power of said ball within a range up to a predetermined maximum value of hit power by means of a graph and a cursor movable on said graph;

a first cursor-movement device for moving said cursor on said graph in a direction indicating said maximum value of hit power in accordance with a lapse of time from a point of time when sand first instruction has been detected;

a second-instruction detection device for detecting a second instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device;

a hit power determination device for determining the hit power of said ball on a basis of a lapse of time from the point of time when said first instruction has been detected to a point of time when said second instruction has been detected;

a movement device for moving said ball in the virtual field in accordance with the hit power thus determined;

a second cursor-movement device for moving said cursor toward a standard position on said graph, after detection of said second instruction;

a hit power increase device for increasing said hit power in accordance with a time period during which the second instruction is continuously detected when said second instruction is continuously detected for at least a prescribed period of time;

a third-instruction detection device for detecting a third instruction which has been input by the player with the use of said input device; and

a movement direction factor determination device for determining a factor associated with a movement direction of said ball, in accordance with timing at which said cursor reaches said standard position and with timing at which said third instruction is input,

wherein said second cursor-movement device mores said cursor at a speed which is higher than the speed when said hit power increase device does not increase the hit power and which is determined in accordance with an increased amount of the hit power by the hit power increase device, in case where said hit power increase device increases the hit power, and

wherein said movement device moves said ball in said virtual field in accordance with said hit power as determined and said factor associated with the movement direction of said ball.

11. The medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hit power increase device increases the hit power beyond the maximum value of the hit power.

12. The medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said hit power increase device increases said hit power only in case where said second instruction is input when said cursor is positioned within a power-shot range defined between the maximum value of hit power and a predetermined power value smaller than the maximum value of hit power.