Breeding simulation apparatus for virtual creatures

• US 7,104,884 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai, Kabushiki Kaisha WiZ
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai, Kabushiki Kaisha WiZ
• Inventors: Yokoi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim
• Application Number:
  US11/007,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 463/2, 463/8, 463 30- 32, 463/37, 463 40- 43, 463/7, 463/9, 273/461, 345/952
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• 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 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi

Abstract

A simulation for breeding a virtual creature for growing the creature by a player by applying disciplining or training treatments to the creature in a screen. The apparatus is provided with mark display units individually displaying a plurality of kinds of treatments related to breeding the virtual creature and key switches for inputting a corresponding one of the treatments by selecting a specific mark from the plurality of marks. The apparatus includes a storing unit for storing control data related to breeding the virtual creature, a control unit whereby treatments for breeding the virtual creature are inputted by operating the key switches and a display unit for displaying the fostered virtual creature. Control data corresponding to input into the control unit is read from the storing unit and a control process related to breeding the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data.

Claims

1. A simulation apparatus for breeding a virtual creature comprising:

inputting means for inputting treatments in respect of breeding the virtual creature;

a storing unit for storing a control data in respect of breeding the virtual creature;

a control unit whereby when one of the treatments in respect of breeding the virtual creature is inputted from the inputting means, the control data in correspondence with the treatment is read from the storing unit and a control processing in respect of breeding the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data; and

a virtual creature display unit for displaying the fostered virtual creature;

wherein the control unit is provided with setting means for setting one or more of growth stages in accordance with growing the virtual creature;

wherein the storing unit stores a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having at least different appearances at each of the growth stages, which is set with a frequency of calls;

wherein the control unit is provided with calling means for indicating a call necessary for growing the virtual creature and a call requiring no emergency based on the frequency of calls with which each virtual creatures is set;

wherein the inputting means is provided with a means for taking care of the virtual creature in response to the call necessary for growing the virtual creature and a means for disciplining the virtual creature in response to the call requiring no emergency;

wherein the control unit is provided with determining means for determining contents of cares input by means for taking care of the virtual creature and disciplines input by means for disciplining the virtual creature in the growth procedure until then when the virtual creature reaches one of the growth stages;

wherein the control unit is provided with selecting means for selecting one of the virtual creatures from the stored plurality of kinds of virtual creatures, which selects the virtual creature set with the relatively low frequency of the call when a result of a determination by the determining means is that a player diligently takes care of the virtual creature and conducts pertinent discipline therefor, and selects the virtual creature set with the relatively high frequency of the call when a result of a determination by the determining means is that the player does not diligently take care of the virtual creature and does not conduct pertinent discipline therefor; and

wherein the control unit is provided with changing means for changing the virtual creature which has reached the one of the growth stages into the selected one of the virtual creatures.

2. A simulation apparatus for breeding a virtual creature comprising:

inputting means for inputting treatments in respect of breeding a virtual creature;

a storing unit for storing a control data in respect of breeding the virtual creature;

a control unit whereby when one of the treatments in respect of breeding the virtual creature is inputted from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the one of the treatments is read from the storing unit and a control processing in respect of breeding the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data; and

a virtual creature display unit for displaying the fostered virtual creature;

wherein the control unit is provided with setting means for setting one or more of growth stages in accordance with growing the virtual creature;

wherein the storing units stores a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having at least different appearances at each of the growth stages, which is set with a frequency of calls;

wherein the control unit is provided with calling means for indicating a call necessary for growing the virtual creature based on the frequency of calls with which each virtual creature is set;

wherein the inputting means is provided with a means for taking care of the virtual creature in response to the call necessary for growing the virtual creature;

wherein the control unit is provided with determining means for determining contents of cares input by means for taking care of the virtual creature in a growth procedure until then when the virtual creature reaches one of the growth stages;

wherein the control unit is provided with selecting means for selecting one of the virtual creatures from the stored plurality of kinds of virtual creatures, which selects the virtual creature set with the relatively low frequency of the call when a result of a determination by the determining means is that a player diligently takes care of the virtual creature, and selects the virtual creature set with the relatively high frequency of the call when a result of a determination by the determining means is that the player does not diligently take care of the virtual creature;

wherein the control unit is provided with changing means for changing the virtual creature which has reached one of the growth stages into the selected one of the virtual creatures and further comprising;

connecting means for electrically connecting the simulation apparatus for breeding the virtual creature to another simulation apparatus for breeding a virtual creature;

wherein the control unit is provided with warring means for making a war based on a battle data from the other simulation apparatus for breeding a virtual creature inputted via the connecting means and a battle data of the simulation apparatus for breeding the virtual creature; and

wherein the control unit is provided with win or lose determining means for determining win or lose the war.

3. The simulation apparatus for breeding a virtual creature according to claim 2;

wherein the storing unit stores a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having different powers at each of the growth stages;

wherein the inputting means includes a means for conducting a training with the content necessary for promoting the power; and

wherein the determining means determines a degree of the training.