Game system and computer-readable recording medium

• US 6,582,309 B2
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Mizuki, Kiyoshi, Higurashi, Seiji, Naraoka, Hiroshi, Akiyama, Masato, Takeyasu, Hiroshi, Mukai, Shintaro, Komatsu, Ryo
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/326,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/7, 463/23, 463/30, 463/31, 463/35, 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 273/445, 273/459, 273/460, 273/461, 273/148.B, 700/91
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A game system has a display monitor for displaying a game image, a plurality of control buttons manually operable by a game player, and a memory for storing data representing timings to operate the control buttons, respectively. The game system has a control operation indicating function for displaying in the game image an image for indicating the timings to operate the control buttons based on the data stored in the memory, and an obstructing function for generating an obstructive effect in the image for indicating the timings to operate the control buttons, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp the timings to operate the control buttons.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

a display unit for displaying a game image;

control means for being manually operable by a game player;

a memory for storing data representing a timing to operate the control means while a game is being played;

control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the data stored in said memory; and

obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means.

2. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said control operation indicating means comprises means for displaying as said image a mark for indicating the timing to operate the control means, so as to be movable in said game image when the game is in process such that when said mark reaches a predetermined position in said game image, the timing to operate the control means arrives.

3. A game system according to claim 2, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for concealing said mark while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

4. A game system according to claim 2, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the length of said mark while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

5. A game system according to claim 2, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for generating a mark indicative of an erroneous timing, as said obstructive effect.

6. A game system according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for inhibiting said obstructive effect in a predetermined range in said game image which extends away from said predetermined position in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which said mark is movable.

7. A game system according to claim 2, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the speed at which said mark moves, as said obstructive effect.

8. A game system according to claim 2, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for reducing the time required until said mark reaches said predetermined position, as said obstructive effect.

9. A game system according to claim 2, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for interrupting the displaying of said mark for a predetermined time, as said obstructive effect.

10. A game system according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a plurality of control members, said control operation indicating means comprising means for displaying as said image a plurality of marks distinguishably associated with said control members, respectively, for indicating the timings to operate the control members, respectively, said marks being movable in said game image as the game proceeds such that when said marks reach a predetermined position in said game image, the timings to operate the control members arrive.

11. A game system according to claim 4, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the manner in which said marks are distinguishably associated with said control members, while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

12. A game system according to claim 4, wherein said game image includes an area for displaying said marks, said area being divided into a plurality of parallel tracks associated respectively with said control members, said marks being movable along said tracks, respectively, said obstructing means comprising means for moving at least one of said marks to another one of said tracks while the marks are moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

13. A game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

sound outputting means for playing music when the game is in progress, and outputting sound effects in addition to the music depending on an operation of the control means when said control means is operated by the game player according to the timing indicated by said control operation indicating means while the music is being played.

14. A game system, comprising:

a display unit for displaying a game image;

control means for being manually operable by a game player;

a memory for storing data representing a timing to operate the control means while a game is being played;

control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the data stored in said memory;

obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means;

evaluating means for evaluating a game player'"'"'s achievement by comparing an operation by the game player of said control means with said timing to operate the control means while the game is in progress; and

obstructive effect control means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when the game player'"'"'s achievement evaluated by said evaluating means is higher than a predetermined reference level, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced when the game player'"'"'s achievement evaluated by said evaluating means is lower than said predetermined reference level.

15. A game system according to claim 14, further comprising:

sound outputting means for playing music when the game is in progress, and outputting sound effects in addition to the music depending on an operation of the control means when said control means is operated by the game player according to the timing indicated by said control operation indicating means while the music is being played.

16. A game system according to claim 14, wherein said control operation indicating means comprises means for displaying as said image a mark for indicating the timing to operate the control means, so as to be movable in said game image when the game is in process such that when said mark reaches a predetermined position in said game image, the timing to operate the control means arrives.

17. A game system according to claim 16, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the length of said mark while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

18. A game system according to claim 16, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for generating a mark indicative of an erroneous timing, as said obstructive effect.

19. A game system according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for inhibiting said obstructive effect in a predetermined range in said game image which extends away from said predetermined position in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which said mark is movable.

20. A game system according to claim 16, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the speed at which said mark moves, as said obstructive effect.

21. A game system according to claim 16, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for reducing the time required until said mark reaches said predetermined position, as said obstructive effect.

22. A game system according to claim 16, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for interrupting the displaying of said mark for a predetermined time, as said obstructive effect.

23. A game system according to claim 14, wherein said control means comprises a plurality of control members, said control operation indicating means comprising means for displaying as said image a plurality of marks distinguishably associated with said control members, respectively, for indicating the timings to operate the control members, respectively, said marks being movable in said game image as the game proceeds such that when said marks reach a predetermined position in said game image, the timings to operate the control members arrive.

24. A game system according to claim 14, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for concealing said mark while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

25. A game system according to claim 23, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the manner in which said marks are distinguishably associated with said control members, while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

26. A game system according to claim 23, wherein said game image includes an area for displaying said marks, said area being divided into a plurality of parallel tracks associated respectively with said control members, said marks being movable along said tracks, respectively, said obstructing means comprising means for moving at least one of said marks to another one of said tracks while the marks are moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

27. A game system, comprising:

a display unit for displaying a game image;

control means for being manually operable by a game player;

a memory for storing data representing a timing to operate the control means while a game is being played;

control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the data stored in said memory;

obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means;

mode selecting means for selecting, according to a command from the game player, either a first mode in the game for instructing the game player via said control operation indicating means to operate said control means according to a predetermined control operation procedure based on the data representing the timing to operate the control means, or a second mode in the game for indicating to, the game player via said control operation indicating means, a control operation procedure contained in a practice range which is established in said predetermined control operation procedure in said first mode;

obstructive effect setting means for establishing, according to a command from the game player, whether said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect, as a condition in said second mode in the game;

control operation indication control means for controlling said control operation indicating means to indicate said predetermined control operation procedure to the game player through said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, when said first mode is selected, or to indicate said control operation procedure contained in said practice range to the game player through said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, when said second mode is selected; and

obstructive effect control means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when said first mode is selected, to generate said obstructive effect if said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means when said second mode is selected, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced if said obstructing means is inhibited to generate said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means when said second mode is selected.

28. A game system according to claim 27, further comprising:

practice range setting means for establishing said practice range according to a command from the game player when said second mode is selected.

29. A game system according to claim 27, wherein said obstructive effect setting means comprises means for establishing a difficulty level of said obstructive effect according to a command from the game player if said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect, and said obstructive effect control means comprises means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect in the difficulty level established by said obstructive effect setting means while the game is being played in said second mode if said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect.

30. A game system according to claim 27, further comprising:

decision means for deciding whether a condition for generating said obstructive effect is satisfied or not while the game is in process in said first mode and said second mode;

said obstructive effect control means comprising means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when said condition is satisfied as decided by said decision means when the game is played in said first mode, to generate said obstructive effect when said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means and also when said condition is satisfied as decided by said decision means when the game is played in said second mode, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced when said obstructing means is inhibited from generating said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means or when said condition is not satisfied as decided by said decision means when the game is played in said second mode.

31. A game system according to claim 27, further comprising:

evaluating means for evaluating a game player'"'"'s achievement by comparing an operation by the game player of said control means with said timing to operate the control means while the game is in progress in said second mode;

said obstructive effect control means comprising means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means and the game player'"'"'s achievement evaluated by said evaluating means is higher than a predetermined reference level, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced when said obstructing means is inhibited from generating said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means or the game player'"'"'s achievement evaluated by said evaluating means is lower than said predetermined reference level.

32. A game system according to claim 27, wherein said control operation indicating means comprises means for displaying as said image a mark for indicating the timing to operate the control means, so as to be movable in said game image when the game is in process such that when said mark reaches a predetermined position in said game image, the timing to operate the control means arrives.

33. A game system according to claim 32, further comprising:

means for inhibiting said obstructive effect in a predetermined range in said game image which extends away from said predetermined position in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which said mark is movable.

34. A game system according to claim 32, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for generating a mark indicative of an erroneous timing, as said obstructive effect.

35. A game system according to claim 32, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the length of said mark while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

36. A game system according to claim 32, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the speed at which said mark moves, as said obstructive effect.

37. A game system according to claim 32, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for reducing the time required until said mark reaches said predetermined position, as said obstructive effect.

38. A game system according to claim 32 wherein said obstructing means comprises means for interrupting the displaying of said mark for a predetermined time, as said obstructive effect.

39. A game system according to claim 27, wherein said control means comprises a plurality of control members, said control operation indicating means comprising means for displaying as said image a plurality of marks distinguishably associated with said control members, respectively, for indicating the timings to operate the control members, respectively, said marks being movable in said game image as the game proceeds such that when said marks reach a predetermined position in said game image, the timings to operate the control members arrive.

40. A game system according to claim 39, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for concealing said mark while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

41. A game system according to claim 39, wherein said obstructing means comprises means for changing the manner in which said marks are distinguishably associated with said control members, while the mark is moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

42. A game system according to claim 39, wherein said game image includes an area for displaying said marks, said area being divided into a plurality of parallel tracks associated respectively with said control members, said marks being movable along said tracks, respectively, said obstructing means comprising means for moving at least one of said marks to another one of said tracks while the marks are moving in said game image, as said obstructive effect.

43. A game system according to claim 27, further comprising:

sound outputting means for playing music when the game is in progress, and outputting sound effects in addition to the music depending on an operation of the control means when said control means is operated by the game player according to the timing indicated by said control operation indicating means while the music is being played.

44. A game system comprising:

a display unit for displaying a game image;

control means for being manually operable by a game player;

first memory means for storing data representing a timing to operate the control means while a game is being played;

first control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means when the game is in progress based on the data stored in said first memory means;

a plurality of obstructing means for generating obstructive effects to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp the timing to operate the control means, in image for indicating the timing to operate the control means; and

obstructive effect generation control means for controlling said plurality of obstructing means to select one of the obstructing means and generating the obstructive effect from the selected one of the obstructing means, in response to an operation by the game player of the control means while the game is in progress.

45. A game system according to claim 44, further comprising:

second memory means for storing data representing timings to operate the control members, respectively, while a game is being played;

allocating means for allocating said control members to the timings represented by the data stored in said second memory means; and

second control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timings to operate the control members when the game is in progress based on the association between the timings represented by the data stored in said second memory means and said control members allocated by said allocating means;

said obstructive effect generation control means comprising means for, when said control means is operated according to the timing represented by the data stored in said second memory means, for selecting one of said obstructing means associated with the operated control means according to said association, and generating said obstructive effect from said selected one of the obstructing means.

46. A game system according to claim 45, further comprising allocation changing means for changing said association depending on the operation by the game player of said control means.

47. A game system comprising:

a display unit for displaying a game image;

a plurality of control members for being manually operable by a game player;

memory means for storing data representing timings to operate the control members while a game is being played;

first control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timings to operate the control members such that respective ones of the timings are separately associated with corresponding respective ones of the control members when the game is in progress based on the data stored in said memory means;

evaluating means for evaluating individual operations by the game player of said control members, respectively, and assigning corresponding ones of a predetermined set of levels to each of said individual operations of said control members by comparing the timings at which the control members are actually operated by the game player with said timings stored in said memory means to operate the control members; and

evaluation display means for displaying, for each of said control members, total numbers of occurrences of each one of said predetermined set of levels respectively assigned to each of said control members based on said individual operations thereof.

48. A game system according to claim 47, further comprising evaluation display means for displaying evaluations produced by said evaluating means distinguishably among the control members in said game image.

49. A recording medium readable by a computer and storing:

data representing a timing to operate control means in a game system while a game is being played; and

a program for controlling the computer to execute a procedure to display on a display unit in the game system an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the stored data while the game is in progress, and a procedure to generate an obstructive effect in said image to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means, in response to an operation by the game player of the control means when the game is in progress.

50. A recording medium readable by a computer and storing:

data representing timings to operate a plurality of respective control members in a game system while a game is being played;

a program for controlling the computer to execute a procedure to display on a display unit in the game system an image for indicating the timings to operate the control members based on the stored data such that respective ones of the timings are separately associated with corresponding respective ones of the control members while the game is in progress;

a procedure to evaluate individual operations by the game player of said control members, respectively, and assign corresponding ones of a predetermined set of levels to each of said individual operations of said control members by comparing the timings at which the control members are actually operated by the game player with said timings represented by the stored data;

a procedure for displaying, for each of said control members, total numbers of occurrences of each one of said predetermined set of levels respectively assigned to each of said control members based on said individual operations thereof.

51. A recording medium, readable by a computer, storing data and executable program instructions comprising:

stored data representing a timing to operate control means in a game system while a game is being played;

a program for displaying on a display unit in the game system an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the stored data while the game is in progress, said program being arranged to cause said computer to function as obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means;

evaluating means for evaluating a game player'"'"'s achievement by comparing an operation by the game player of said control means with said timing to operate the control means while the game is in progress; and

obstructive effect control means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when the game player'"'"'s achievement evaluated by said evaluating means is higher than a predetermined reference level, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced when the game player s achievement evaluated by said evaluating means is lower than said predetermined reference level.

52. A recording medium, readable by a computer, storing data and executable program instructions comprising:

stored data representing a timing to operate control means in a game system while a game is being played;

a program for displaying on a display unit in the game system an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the stored data while the game is in progress, said program being arranged to cause said computer to function as obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means;

decision means for deciding whether a condition for generating said obstructive effect is satisfied or not while the game is in process; and

obstructive effect control means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when said condition is satisfied as decided by said decision means, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced when said condition is not satisfied as decided by said decision means.

53. A recording medium, readable by a computer, storing data and executable program instructions comprising:

stored data representing a timing to operate control means in a game system while a game is being played;

a program for displaying on a display unit in the game system an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the stored data while the game is in progress, said program being arranged to cause said computer to function as obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means;

mode selecting means for selecting, according to a command from the game player, either a first mode in the game for instructing the game player via said control operation indicating means to operate said control means according to a predetermined control operation procedure based on the data representing the timing to operate the control means, or a second mode in the game for indicating to, the game player via said control operation indicating means, a control operation procedure contained in a practice range which is established in said predetermined control operation procedure in said first mode;

obstructive effect setting means for establishing, according to a command from the game player, whether said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect, as a condition in said second mode in the game;

control operation indication control means for controlling said control operation indicating means to indicate said predetermined control operation procedure to the game player through said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, when said first mode is selected, or to indicate said control operation procedure contained in said practice range to the game player through said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, when said second mode is selected; and

obstructive effect control means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when said first mode is selected, to generate said obstructive effect if said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means when said second mode is selected, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced if said obstructing means is inhibited to generate said obstructive effect by said obstructive effect setting means when said second mode is selected.

54. A game system comprising:

a display unit for displaying a game image;

a plurality of control members for being manually operable by a game player;

a memory for storing data representing a control operation procedure of the control members which is established in time to a predetermined music piece;

mode selecting means for selecting, according to a command from the game player, a first mode in a game playable by the game player to play the music piece from the beginning to the last thereof, and a second mode in the game to play a practice range established in at least a portion of said music;

control operation procedure presenting means for displaying an image presenting said control operation procedure on said display unit based on the data representing the control operation procedure;

obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image presenting said control operation procedure to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said control operation procedure;

obstructive effect setting means for establishing, according to a command from the game player, whether said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect when the game is played in said second mode;

display control means for controlling said control operation procedure presenting means to display said control operation procedure from the beginning to the last of said music piece on said display unit when the game is played in said first mode, and to display said control operation procedure from the beginning to the last of said practice range when the game is played in said second mode; and

obstructive effect control means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when the game is played in said first mode, to generate said obstructive effect if said obstructing means is allowed to generate said obstructive effect by obstructive effect setting means when the game is played in said second mode, and to inhibit said obstructive effect from being produced if said obstructing means is inhibited from generating said obstructive effect by obstructive effect setting means when the game is played in said second mode.

55. A game system comprising:

a display unit for displaying a game image;

control means for being manually operable by a game player;

first memory means for storing data representing a timing to operate the control means while a game is being played;

first control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means when the game is in progress based on the data stored in said first memory means;

obstructing means for generating an obstructive effect in said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp said timing to operate the control means; and

obstructive effect generation control means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect depending on an operation by the game player of said control means while the game is in progress.

56. A game system according to claim 55, wherein said first control operation indicating means comprises means for displaying in said game image a first mark for indicating an operation of said control means, as said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means, and moving said first mark in said game image when the game is in process such that when said first mark reaches a predetermined position in said game image, the timing to operate the control means associated with said first mark arrives.

57. A game system according to claim 55, further comprising:

second memory means for storing data representing a timing to operate the control means while a game is being played; and

second control operation indicating means for displaying in said game image an image for indicating the timing to operate the control means when the game is in progress based on the data stored in said second memory means;

said obstructive effect generation control means comprising means for controlling said obstructing means to generate said obstructive effect when said control means is operated by the game player at the timing to operate the control means based on the data stored in said second memory means.

58. A game system according to claim 57, wherein said second control operation indicating means comprises means for displaying in said game image a second mark to indicate an operation of the control means, as said image for indicating the timing to operate the control means based on the data stored in said second memory means, and moving said second mark in said game image when the game is in process such that when said second mark reaches a predetermined position in said game image, the timing to operate the control means associated with said second mark arrives.

59. A game system according to claim 57, wherein said control means comprises a plurality of control members, said second control operation indicating means comprising means for displaying, as said image for indicating the timings to operate the control members based on the data stored in said second memory means, a plurality of second marks distinguishably associated with said control members, respectively, for indicating the timings to operate the control members, respectively, said second marks being movable in said game image as the game proceeds such that when said second marks reach a predetermined position in said game image, the timings to operate the control members associated with said second marks arrive.

60. A game system according to claim 59, wherein said obstructive effect generation control means comprises means for generating an obstructive effect to obstruct an attempt of the game player to grasp the timing to operate one of said control members in response to an operation of another one of said control members when the game is in progress.

61. A game system according to claim 57, further comprising control operation timing setting means for randomly establishing timings to operate the control members to be stored in said second memory means, for each game to be played.