Three-dimensional puzzle game device and recording medium for three-dimensional puzzle game

• US 6,458,032 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamagami, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/489,201
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/9, 463/30, 463/31, 463/32, 273/155.R, 273/153.G
• US Class Current: 463/9
• 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 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0612 Electronic puzzles

Abstract

In this puzzle game device, a three-dimensional game field 70 laterally extended around a tubular subject is provided. The 3D game field 70 is divided into display regions of vertically 12 lines by circumferentially 16 columns, and each display region is capable of displaying a panel. A player can move the panels displayed on the game field 70 with a cursor 71. The panels are varied in pattern, and when three or more panels of a pattern being vertically or laterally in line, those panels are eliminated. The 3D game field 70 has new panels continuously rising, therefore the player is required to unceasingly eliminate the panels. When the player fails to eliminate panels quick enough and the panels reach the top of the 3D game field 70, the game is over. By applying the 3D game field 70 as an alternative to a conventional 2D game field, the degree of freedom and the level of variety of a game are enhanced by the up-scaled game field.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional (3D) puzzle game device in which a game proceeds as a player takes actions for puzzle elements varied in pattern displayed on a game field spreading across a display screen, the 3D puzzle game device comprising:

a controller which is actuated by the player; and

image processing means for effecting program processing for a 3D puzzle game in response to actuation of the controller, and then producing image data for the 3D puzzle game for display on a display, wherein

said image processing means comprises;

3D game field display control means for producing a 3D game field laterally extending around a tubular subject for display on said display;

puzzle element display control means for displaying a plurality of puzzle elements varied in pattern on said 3D game field;

location change means for changing, in response to the actuation of said controller, location of said puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field;

3D game field rotation means for rotating, in response to the actuation of said controller, said 3D game field along with the puzzle elements displayed thereon;

elimination condition detection means for detecting that the location of the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field satisfies a given elimination condition; and

elimination control means for performing a control in such a manner that the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field are eliminated when satisfying said elimination condition, wherein

said location change means changes the location of puzzle elements frozen on said 3D game field.

2. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said puzzle element display control means further comprises puzzle element addition control means for displaying, on said display, after sequentially producing display data of additional puzzle elements to be displayed on said 3D game field, the additional puzzle elements along with the puzzle elements already on said 3D game field.

3. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said puzzle element addition control means displays the additional puzzle elements on said 3D game field in such a way that the additional puzzle elements gradually move in a predetermined direction.

4. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said location change means changes, in response to the actuation of said controller, the location of the puzzle elements on the move by said puzzle element addition control means.

5. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on said 3D game field, when the puzzle elements of a pattern are in line in a predetermined direction over a fixed number, said elimination condition detection means detects that said given elimination condition is satisfied.

6. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when puzzle elements having a predetermined relationship to one another are in line over a fixed number on said 3D game field, said elimination condition detection means detects that said given elimination condition is satisfied.

7. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said puzzle element display control means varies the patterns of the puzzle elements according to lines drawn thereon, and

said elimination condition detection means detects that, when the lines drawn on the puzzle elements on said 3D game field are forming a line going around the 3D game field, said given elimination condition is satisfied.

8. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said puzzle element display control means varies the patterns of the puzzle elements by varying either color or design provided thereon.

9. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said puzzle element display control means varies the patterns of the puzzle elements by varying shapes thereof, which are structured by plurally combining a minimum unit of shape.

10. A three-dimensional (3D) puzzle game recording medium on which a program to be run by image processing means is recorded for realizing an operational environment on a 3D puzzle game device provided with a controller which is actuated by a player and the image processing means effects program processing for a 3D puzzle game in response to actuation of the controller and then produces image data for the 3D puzzle game for display on a display,

when run by said image processing means, said program comprises:

a 3D game field display control step of displaying a 3D game field laterally extending around a tubular subject on said display;

a puzzle element display control step of displaying puzzle elements varied in pattern on said 3D game field;

a location change step of changing, in response to the actuation of said controller, the location of said puzzle elements on said 3D game field;

a 3D game field rotation step of rotating, in response to the actuation of said controller, said 3D game field along with the puzzle elements displayed thereon;

an elimination condition detection step of detecting the location of the puzzle elements on said 3D game field satisfying a given elimination condition; and

an elimination control step of performing a control in such a manner that the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field are eliminated when satisfying said elimination condition, wherein

said location change step changes the location of puzzle elements frozen on said 3D game field.

11. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in said puzzle element display control step, after display data of additional puzzle elements to be displayed on said 3D game field being sequentially produced, the additional puzzle elements are displayed on said display along with the puzzle elements already on said 3D game field.

12. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in said puzzle element addition control step, the additional puzzle elements provided on said 3D game field are displayed in such a way as to gradually move in a predetermined direction.

13. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein, in said location change step, the location of the puzzle elements caused to move in said puzzle element addition control step is changed in response to the actuation of said controller.

14. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in said elimination condition detection step, on said 3D game field, when the puzzle elements of a pattern are in line in a predetermined direction over a fixed number, said given elimination condition is detected as being satisfied.

15. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in said elimination condition detection step, when puzzle elements having a predetermined relationship to one another are in line over a fixed number on said 3D game field, said given elimination condition is detected as being satisfied.

16. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein, in said puzzle element display control step, the patterns of the puzzle elements are varied by lines drawn thereon, and

in said elimination condition detection step, when the lines drawn on the puzzle elements on said 3D game field are forming a line going around the 3D game field, said given elimination condition is detected as being satisfied.

17. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in said puzzle element display control step, the patterns of the puzzle elements are varied by color or design provided thereon.

18. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in said puzzle element display control step, the patterns of the puzzle elements are varied by shapes thereof, which are structured by plurally combining a minimum unit of shape.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a video game program adapted to be executed by a video game program executing system, the video game program which, when executed, performs steps which provide a three-dimensional puzzle game, the steps comprising:

generating puzzle element data defining attributes of puzzle elements of the three-dimensional puzzle game;

processing the puzzle element data, wherein the processing comprises determining which puzzle elements satisfy an elimination condition and eliminating the puzzle elements satisfying the elimination condition; and

writing, based on the puzzle element data processing, puzzle element display data to a display memory readable by the video game program executing system to render a display in which the puzzle elements are arranged on a three-dimensional game field, wherein

spaces on the three-dimensional game field having no puzzle elements are see-through, whereby puzzle elements on the side of the three-dimensional game field opposed to the see-through spaces are visible in the rendered display.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein each puzzle element displayed on the three-dimensional game field has a pattern and the puzzle elements of a plurality of lined-up puzzle elements having the same pattern satisfy the elimination condition.

21. The computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of lined-up puzzle elements comprise three or more puzzle elements.

22. The computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein a player controller is coupled to the video game program executing system and the processing of the puzzle element data further comprises processing player inputs to the player controller for changing the location of the puzzle elements on the three-dimensional game field.

23. The computer-readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the player inputs to the player controller interchange the location of two adjacent puzzle elements.

24. The computer-readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the player inputs for interchanging the location of two adjacent puzzle elements comprise positioning inputs which position a cursor to highlight two adjacent puzzle elements and interchange action inputs for interchanging locations of highlighted puzzle elements.

25. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the cursor is stationary and the puzzle elements are moved in accordance with the positioning inputs.

26. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the processing of the puzzle element data further comprises periodically adding new puzzle elements to the three-dimensional game field.

27. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the processing of the puzzle element data further comprises generating data used by the video game program executing system to visually explode puzzle elements satisfying the elimination condition prior to eliminating these puzzle elements.

28. The computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the generated data used by the video game program executing system to visually explode puzzle elements comprises counter setting data which sets a counter that determines the number of video frames prior to the elimination of the puzzle elements.

29. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the three-dimensional game field extends around an outer surface of a tubular object.

30. The computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the tubular object is a cylinder.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the tubular object is a polygonal tube.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the tubular object is an elliptical tube.

33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the processing of the puzzle element data further comprises dropping puzzle elements above eliminated puzzle elements into spaces formed by the eliminated puzzle elements.

34. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, comprising a ROM cartridge.

35. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, comprising an optical disc.

36. An article of manufacture comprising a cartridge and a computer-readable medium contained within the cartridge, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon a video game program adapted to be executed by a video game program executing system, the video game program which, when executed, performs steps which provide a three-dimensional puzzle game, the steps comprising:

generating puzzle element data defining attributes of puzzle elements of the three-dimensional puzzle game;

processing the puzzle element data, wherein the processing comprises determining which puzzle elements satisfy an elimination condition and eliminating the puzzle elements satisfying the elimination condition; and

writing, based on the puzzle element data processing, puzzle element display data to a display memory readable by the video game program executing system to render a display in which the puzzle elements are arranged on a three-dimensional game field, wherein

spaces on the three-dimensional game field having no puzzle elements are see-through, whereby puzzle elements on the side of the three-dimensional game field opposed to the see-through spaces are visible in the rendered display.

37. A three-dimensional (3D) puzzle game device in which a game proceeds as a player takes actions for puzzle elements varied in pattern displayed on a game field spreading across a display screen, the 3D puzzle game device comprising:

a controller which is actuated by the player; and

image processing means for effecting program processing for a 3D puzzle game in response to actuation of the controller, and then producing image data for the 3D puzzle game for display on a display, wherein

said image processing means comprises;

3D game field display control means for producing a 3D game field laterally extending around a tubular subject for display on said display;

puzzle element display control means for displaying a plurality of puzzle elements varied in pattern on said 3D game field displayed on said display;

location change means for changing, in response to the actuation of said controller, location of said puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field;

3D game field rotation means for rotating, in response to the actuation of said controller, said 3D game field along with the puzzle elements displayed thereon;

elimination condition detection means for detecting that the location of the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field satisfies a given elimination condition; and

elimination control means for performing a control in such a manner that the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field are eliminated when satisfying said elimination condition, wherein

said puzzle element display control means displays see-through areas on said 3D game field where no puzzle elements are located.

38. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 37, wherein, when puzzle elements having a predetermined relationship to one another are in line over a fixed number on said 3D game field, said elimination condition detection means detects that said given elimination condition is satisfied.

39. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 38, wherein said puzzle element display control means varies the patterns of the puzzle elements according to lines drawn thereon, and

said elimination condition detection means detects that, when the lines drawn on the puzzle elements on said 3D game field form a line going around the 3D game field, said given elimination condition is satisfied.

40. A three-dimensional (3D) puzzle game device in which a game proceeds as a player takes actions for puzzle elements varied in pattern displayed on a game field spreading across a display screen, the 3D puzzle game device comprising:

a controller which is actuated by the player; and

image processing means for effecting program processing for a 3D puzzle game in response to actuation of the controller, and then producing image data for the 3D puzzle game for display on a display, wherein

said image processing means comprises;

3D game field display control means for producing a 3D game field laterally extending around a tubular subject for display on said display;

puzzle element display control means for displaying a plurality of puzzle elements varied in pattern on said 3D game field displayed on said display;

location change means for changing, in response to the actuation of said controller, location of said puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field;

3D game field rotation means for rotating, in response to the actuation of said controller, said 3D game field along with the puzzle elements displayed thereon;

elimination condition detection means for detecting that the location of the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field satisfies a given elimination condition; and

elimination control means for performing a control in such a manner that the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field are eliminated when satisfying said elimination condition, wherein

the location change means responds to an actuation of said controller relating to a rotation direction of said 3D game field the same as the 3D game field rotation means responds to the actuation of said controller.

41. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 40, wherein, when puzzle elements having a predetermined relationship to one another are in line over a fixed number on said 3D game field, said elimination condition detection means detects that said given elimination condition is satisfied.

42. The 3D puzzle game device as claimed in claim 41, wherein said puzzle element display control means varies the patterns of the puzzle elements according to lines drawn thereon, and

said elimination condition detection means detects that, when the lines drawn on the puzzle elements on said 3D game field form a line going around the 3D game field, said given elimination condition is satisfied.

43. A three-dimensional (3D) puzzle game recording medium on which a program to be run by image processing means is recorded for realizing an operational environment on a 3D puzzle game device provided with a controller which is actuated by a player and the image processing means effects program processing for a 3D puzzle game in response to actuation of the controller and then produces image data for the 3D puzzle game for display on a display,

when run by said image processing means, said program comprises:

a 3D game field display control step of displaying a 3D game field laterally extending around a tubular subject on said display;

a puzzle element display control step of displaying puzzle elements varied in pattern on said 3D game field;

a location change step of changing, in response to the actuation of said controller, the location of said puzzle elements on said 3D game field;

a 3D game field rotation step of rotating, in response to the actuation of said controller, said 3D game field along with the puzzle elements displayed thereon;

an elimination condition detection step of detecting the location of the puzzle elements on said 3D game field satisfying a given elimination condition; and

an elimination control step of performing a control in such a manner that the puzzle elements displayed on said 3D game field are eliminated when satisfying said elimination condition, wherein

said puzzle element display control step displays see-through areas on said 3D game field where no puzzle elements are located.

44. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 43, wherein, in said elimination condition detection step, when puzzle elements having a predetermined relationship to one another are in line over a fixed number on said 3D game field, said given elimination condition is detected as being satisfied.

45. The 3D puzzle game recording medium as claimed in claim 44, wherein, in said puzzle element display control step, the patterns of the puzzle elements are varied by lines drawn thereon, and

in said elimination condition detection step, when the lines drawn on the puzzle elements on said 3D game field form a line going around the 3D game field, said given elimination condition is detected as being satisfied.