Game apparatus, data storage medium and computer program

• US 6,623,358 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Harima, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/817,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 463/8, 463/31, 463/7, 463/44, 463/43, 463/30, 463/1, 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 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6638 for simulating particle systems, e.g. explosion, fireworks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6692 using special effects, generally involving post-processing, e.g. blooming
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

A game apparatus, a storage medium and a computer program, which can generate a more interesting and exciting fighting image by changing a hit effect according to an attack condition. The game apparatus for generating an image to be viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in an object space of a predetermined game wherein a plurality of characters fight with one another, to execute the predetermined game, comprises: a memorizing section (514) for memorizing hit effect data representative of a hit effect, therein; a hit decision section (212) for deciding whether one of the characters hits an attack on one another of the characters, or not; and a hit effect generation section (214) for changing the hit effect data memorized in the memorizing section according to the attack decided by the hit decision section, to generate the hit effect in the object space according to the hit effect data changed thereby.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for generating an image to be viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in an object space of a predetermined game wherein a plurality of characters fight with one another, to execute the predetermined game, the game apparatus comprising:

a memorizing section for memorizing hit effect data representative of a hit effect, therein;

a hit decision section for deciding whether one of the characters hits an attack on one another of the characters, or not; and

a hit effect generation section for changing the hit effect data memorized in the memorizing section according to the attack decided by the hit decision section, to generate the hit effect in the object space according to the hit effect data changed thereby, the hit effect data having at least one character having a plurality of techniques and a plurality of attack strengths associated with each technique.

2. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the hit effect data is modeled into a particle.

3. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the hit effect generation section changes the hit effect data to generate the hit effect directed in a direction according to a direction of the attack decided by the hit decision section.

4. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the hit effect generation section changes the hit effect data to generate the hit effect of a type according to a strength or a technique of the attack decided by the hit decision section.

5. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the hit effect generation section changes the hit effect data to generate the hit effect of a type according to a type of the character which hits the attack decided by the hit decision section.

6. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the hit effect generation section changes the hit effect data to generate the hit effect having a disappearing speed according to a strength or a technique of the attack decided by the hit decision section.

7. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a light source setting section for setting a predetermined light source in the object space on the basis of a position at which the hit effect is generated, when the hit effect generation section generates the hit effect.

8. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the predetermined light source has a color fitted to a color of the hit effect generated by the hit effect generation section.

9. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the light source setting section sets the predetermined light source so as to have a strength or an irradiating range according to the attack decided by the hit decision section.

10. A storage medium having a computer-executable program recorded thereon, wherein the program comprises:

a program code of generating an image to be viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in an object space of a predetermined game wherein a plurality of characters fight with one another, to execute the predetermined game;

a program code of memorizing hit effect data representative of a hit effect;

a program code of deciding whether one of the characters hits an attack on one another of the characters, or not; and

a program code of changing the hit effect data according to the attack, to generate the hit effect in the object space according to the hit effect data changed, the hit effect data having at least one character having a plurality of techniques and a plurality of attack strengths associated with each technique.

11. A storage medium having a computer-executable program recorded thereon, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the program further comprises:

a program code of modeling the hit effect data into a particle.

12. A storage medium having a computer-executable program recorded thereon, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the program further comprises:

a program code of changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect directed in a direction according to a direction of the attack.

13. A storage medium having a computer-executable program recorded thereon, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the program further comprises:

a program code of changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect of a type according to a strength or a technique of the attack.

14. A storage medium having a computer-executable program recorded thereon, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the program further comprises:

a program code of setting a predetermined light source in the object space on the basis of a position at which the hit effect is generated, when the hit effect is generated.

15. A computer process for performing the steps of:

generating an image to be viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in an object space of a predetermined game wherein a plurality of characters fight with one another, to execute the predetermined game;

memorizing hit effect data representative of a hit effect;

deciding whether one of the characters hits an attack on one another of the characters, or not; and

changing the hit effect data according to the attack, to generate the hit effect in the object space according to the hit effect data changed, the hit effect data having at least one character having a plurality of techniques and a plurality of attack strengths associated with each technique.

16. A computer process as claimed in claim 15, for further performing the step of:

modeling the hit effect data into a particle.

17. A computer process as claimed in claim 15, for further performing the step of:

changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect directed in a direction according to a direction of the attack.

18. A computer process as claimed in claim 15, for further performing the step of:

changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect of a type according to a strength or a technique of the attack.

19. A computer process as claimed in claim 15, for further performing the step of:

setting a predetermined light source in the object space on the basis of a position at which the hit effect is generated, when the hit effect is generated.

20. A game apparatus comprising:

an executing section for executing a predetermined game wherein a plurality of characters fight with one another;

a memorizing section for memorizing hit effect data representative of a hit effect, therein;

a hit decision section for deciding whether one of the characters hits an attack on one another of the characters, or not; and

an image generation section for generating an image including the hit effect, to be viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in an object space of the predetermined game, on the basis of the hit effect data memorized in the memorizing section according to the attack decided by the hit decision section, the hit effect data having at least one character having a plurality of techniques and a plurality of attack strengths associated with each technique.

21. A method for generating an image to be viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in an object space of a predetermined game wherein a plurality of characters fight with one another, to execute the predetermined game, the method comprising:

memorizing hit effect data representative of a hit effect;

deciding whether one of the characters hits an attack on one another of the characters, or not; and

changing the hit effect data according to the attack, to generate the hit effect in the object space according to the hit effect data changed, the hit effect data having at least one character having a plurality of techniques and a plurality of attack strengths associated with each technique.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

modeling the hit effect data into a particle.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect directed in a direction according to a direction of the attack.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect of a type according to a strength or a technique of the attack.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

setting a predetermined light source in the object space on the basis of a position at which the hit effect is generated, when the hit effect is generated.

26. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, comprising information used for:

generating an image to be viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in an object space of a predetermined game wherein a plurality of characters fight with one another, to execute the predetermined game;

memorizing hit effect data representative of a hit effect;

deciding whether one of the characters hits an attack on one another of the characters, or not; and

changing the hit effect data according to the attack, to generate the hit effect in the object space according to the hit effect data changed, the hit effect data having at least one character having a plurality of techniques and a plurality of attack strengths associated with each technique.

27. The computer data signal of claim 26, further comprising information used for:

modeling the hit effect data into a particle.

28. The computer data signal of claim 26, further comprising information used for:

changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect directed in a direction according to a direction of the attack.

29. The computer data signal of claim 26, further comprising information used for:

changing the hit effect data to generate the hit effect of a type according to a strength or a technique of the attack.

30. The computer data signal of claim 26, further comprising information used for:

setting a predetermined light source in the object space on the basis of a position at which the hit effect is generated, when the hit effect is generated.