Method for controlling character behavior in video games, video game machine, and computer-readable recording medium on which video game program is recorded

• US 6,406,370 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kumagai, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/412,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/43, 463/30, 463/31, 273/148.B
• 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 13/58 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 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/004 Artificial life, i.e. computing arrangements simulating life

Abstract

A highly entertaining video game machine that allows a character to appear in a game space is provided. The video game machine includes a storage medium for storing a plurality of preset behavior patterns. A behavior-pattern selection unit selects one of the behavior patterns according to various situations, such as the temperament and emotion of the character. A character-behavior control unit causes the character to behave according to the selected behavior pattern. The temperament setting of the character is changed by a temperament setting unit. The emotion setting of the character is changed by an emotion setting unit.

Claims

1. A video game machine that allows a character to appear in a game space displayed on a display screen of display means, comprising:

temperament setting means for providing a variable temperament change of the character based on an action performed on the character by a game player and a temperament of the character when the action is performed;

behavior-pattern storage means for storing a plurality of behavior patterns which are set in accordance with the temperament of the character;

behavior selection means for selecting one of the behavior patterns in accordance with the temperament of the character; and

behavior control means for causing the character to behave according to the behavior pattern selected by said behavior selection means.

2. A video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game space comprises a plurality of game scenes, and the plurality of behavior patterns are set for a specific game scene.

3. A video game machine according to claim 1, wherein said behavior-pattern storage means stores not only the behavior patterns which are set in accordance with the temperament of the character, but also behavior patterns which are set according to a lapse of a game period, and said behavior selection means selects not only one of the behavior patterns in accordance with the temperament of the character, but also one of the behavior patterns according to the lapse of the game period.

4. A video game machine according to claim 3, further comprising demand-action determining means for determining at predetermined intervals whether a demand action has been performed from the character to the game player, wherein the behavior patterns which are set according to the lapse of the game period include the demand actions.

5. A video game machine according to claim 4, wherein the demand action is performed according to the temperament of the character.

6. A video game machine according to claim 1, further comprising at least one operation means for executing an instruction concerning the action.

7. A video game machine according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of icons for specifying an instruction content given by said operation means are indicated on the display screen of said display means, and said operation means selects one of the plurality of icons.

8. A video game machine according to claim 1, wherein said temperament setting means updates the setting of the temperament at predetermined intervals.

9. A video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the temperament of the character is determined in accordance with predetermined parameters.

10. A video game machine according to claim 9, wherein said temperament setting means comprises numerical-value providing means for providing a numerical value used as an index for the predetermined parameter according to an instruction content concerning the action and the temperament of the character when the instruction is executed, addition means for adding the provided numerical value for each of the predetermined parameters, and temperament selection means for selectively determining the temperament according to an addition result obtained by said addition means.

11. A video game machine according to claim 1, further comprising emotion setting means for setting one of a plurality of emotions for the character in accordance with an instruction content concerning the action, wherein said behavior selection means selects one of the behavior patterns from said behavior-pattern storage means in accordance with the temperament and emotion of the character, and said behavior control means causes the character to behave according to the behavior pattern selected by said behavior selection means.

12. A video game machine according to claim 11, wherein said emotion setting means sets the emotion in accordance with the temperament of the character when the instruction concerning the action is executed.

13. A video game machine according to claim 11, further comprising emotion storage means for storing a numerical value used as an index for each of the emotions, wherein said emotion setting means comprises subtraction means for subtracting a predetermined value from the numerical values currently stored in said emotion storage means corresponding to the emotions other than the emotion determined by said emotion setting means according to the instruction content concerning the action and the temperament of the character when the instruction is executed, addition means for adding the subtracted value to the numerical value currently stored in said emotion storage means corresponding to the emotion determined by said emotion setting means, and emotion selection means for selectively determining the emotion having the greatest index value from said emotion storage means.

14. A video game machine according to claim 1, further comprising character storage means for storing a plurality of characters, and character selection means for selecting one of the plurality of characters.

15. A video game machine that allows a character to appear in a game space displayed on a display screen of display means, comprising:

temperament setting means for providing a variable temperament change of the character based on an action performed on the character by a game player and a temperament of the character when the action is performed;

behavior-pattern storage means for storing a plurality of behavior patterns which are set in accordance with the temperament of the character;

behavior selection means for selecting one of the behavior patterns in accordance with various situations in the game space; and

behavior control means for causing the character to behave according to th behavior pattern selected by said behavior selection means.

16. A method for controlling a character behavior in a video game that allows a character to appear in a game space, said method comprising:

a game-screen output step of outputting a game screen including the character to a display screen of display means;

a temperament setting step of providing a variable temperament change of the character based on an action performed on the character by a game player and a temperament of the character when the action is performed;

a behavior-pattern selection step of selecting, according to the temperament of the character, one of a plurality of behavior patterns which are set in accordance with the temperament of the character; and

a character-behavior control step of causing the character to behave according to the selected behavior pattern.

17. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a video game program that allows a character to appear in a game space, said game program comprising:

a game-screen output step of outputting a game screen including the character to a display screen of display means;

a temperament setting step of providing a variable temperament change of a character based on an action performed on the character by a game player and a temperament of the character when the action is performed;

a behavior-pattern selection step of selecting, according to the temperament of the character, one of a plurality of behavior patterns which are set in accordance with the temperament of the character; and

a character-behavior control step of causing the character to behave according to the selected behavior pattern.

18. A video game machine that allows a character to appear in a game space displayed on a display screen of a display means comprising:

temperament setting means for providing a variable temperament change of the character based on an action performed on the character by a game player and a temperament of the character when the action is performed, wherein said temperament of the character is determined in accordance with predetermined parameters;

said temperament setting means including numerical-value providing means for providing a numerical value used as an index for each of the predetermined parameters in terms of instruction content concerning said action and the temperament of the character when the instruction is executed, wherein said numerical value varies when the instruction content is the same but the temperament of the character is different;

behavior-pattern storage means for storing a plurality of behavior patterns which are set in accordance with the temperament of the character;

behavior selection means for selecting one of the behavior patterns in accordance with temperament of the character; and

behavior control means for causing the character to behave according to the behavior pattern selected by said behavior selection means.

19. A video game machine according to claim 18, further comprising means for adding the provided numerical value for each of the predetermined parameters and temperament selection means for selectively determining the temperament of the character in accordance with an addition result obtained by said means for adding.

20. A video game machine according to claim 19, wherein said temperament of the character is determined in accordance with the predetermined parameter with a largest absolute value of a cumulated value by said means for adding.

21. A video game machine according to claim 19, wherein said temperament of the character is determined in accordance with the predetermined parameters with a largest absolute value of a cumulated value and a second largest absolute value of a second cumulated value which is less than or equal to the largest absolute value by said means for adding.