Connection-fighting type game machine and connection-fighting type game method

• US 6,652,383 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Inventors: Mizunuma, Masanori, Sonoda, Fumiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): White, Carmen D.
• Application Number:
  US09/640,665
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 463/8, 463/40-42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A connection-fighting type game machine that enables game character progression when game machines are physically connected together. The connection-fighting type liquid crystal game machine may be connected to another game machine of the same kind. Convex and concave sections of the housing of each machine assist in aligning the machines when they are connected together. A growth degree changing processing section improves the growth degree of the character that has gained a victory, performs a growth degree changing processing by leaving as it is or lowering the growth degree of the character that has suffered a defeat.

Claims

1. A connection-fighting type game machine which is used by being connected with an opponent machine or which is used independently, the game machine comprising:

a storing section for storing growth degree information of a character for a user'"'"'s machine;

a connection terminal for performing a direct connection with the opponent machine;

a convex section and a concave section disposed on a main body of the game machine around the connection terminal; and

an outcome processing section for making the character for the user'"'"'s machine fight against a character for the opponent machine according to a predetermined fighting manner, on the basis of the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to judge an outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting, during connected use with the opponent machine,

wherein the convex section and the concave section of the main body are engaged with a concave section and a convex section disposed on a main body of an opponent machine when the game machine is connected with the opponent machine.

2. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a growth degree changing processing section for performing a growth degree changing processing for changing the growth degree of the character for the user'"'"'s machine according to the outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting which has been judged by the outcome processing section, and for storing the growth degree information obtained after the growth degree changing processing, of the character for the user'"'"'s machine, into the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine.

3. The connection-fighting type game machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display section for displaying a growth progress of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and displaying the outcome of the fighting.

4. A connection-fighting type game machine which is used by being connected with an opponent machine or which is used independently, the game machine comprising:

a growth processing section for letting a built-in character gain imaginary experience to grow by an interactive operation of a user through an operation input section during independent use;

a storing section for storing growth degree information of the character grown by the growth processing section;

a connection terminal for performing a direct connection with the opponent machine;

a convex section and a concave section disposed on a main body of the game machine around the connection terminal; and

an outcome processing section for making the character for the user'"'"'s machine fight against a character for the opponent machine according to a predetermined fighting manner on the basis of the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine and growth degree information of the character for the opponent machine to judge an outcome of victory or defeat of the fighting, during connected use with the opponent machine, the growth degree information of the character for the user'"'"'s machine being stored in the storing section of the user'"'"'s machine,

wherein the convex section and the concave section of the main body are engaged with a concave section and a convex section disposed on a main body of an opponent machine when the game machine is connected with the opponent machine.