Game machine, game processing method and information storage medium

• US 7,128,649 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCE Tokyo Incorporated, Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Niide, Shinichiro, Nobe, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/931,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20020025842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 463 6- 7, 463/9, 463/23, 463/36, 463/47, 273/460, 273/440, 273/445, 273236-237, 273/429, 273/432, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/247, 434/250, 434/258, 482/8, 340/323.R
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• 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 13/67 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 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• 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 music-oriented game machine with a feature to increase a feeling of competitiveness between players. Based on an evaluation of a performance of the first and second players based on their steps, the number of times step timing is presented as guidance is varied. Specifically, while reference arrows (46, 48) are displayed, a plurality of timing guidance arrows (50, 62) approaching the reference arrows (46, 48) are also displayed on a game screen image (40). As a result, guidance as to where step timing is arriving is shown to the player. Then, a speed at which the reference arrows (46, 48) approach the timing guidance arrows (50, 62), respectively, is changed from a default speed to speeds of half, twice, and three-times the default speed based on the result of evaluation on the respective player'"'"'s stepping performances, to thereby change the guidance level.

Claims

1. A game machine for providing each of a first player and a second player with a game allowing a player to enjoy operation of the game using a controller according to game music, comprising:

timing acquisition means for acquiring game operation timing at which each of the first player and the second player operates the game;

timing guidance means for presenting game operation timing at a predetermined guidance level to each of the first player and the second player;

game operation evaluation means for verifying the game operation timing acquired by the timing acquisition means with the game operation timing presented by the timing guidance means to evaluate game operation by each of the first player and the second player; and

guidance level changing means for changing the predetermined guidance level with respect to at least one of the first player and the second player, based on a result of evaluation made by the game operation evaluation means, said changing with respect to the first player being based on a result of evaluation of the second player'"'"'s game operation and said changing with respect to the second player being based on a result of evaluation of the first player'"'"'s game operation.

2. A game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the timing guidance means shows each of the first player and the second player a first operation timing instruction image and a plurality of second operation timing instruction images gradually approaching the first operation timing instruction image displayed on a display screen, to thereby show a state in which game operation timing is arriving, and

the guidance level changing means changes a speed at which the plurality of operation timing instruction images approach the first operation timing instruction image to thereby change the predetermined guidance level.

3. The game machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said game operation evaluation means is operative to generate a cumulative result of an evaluation of at least one of said first and second player and said guidance level changing means is operative to change the predetermined guidance level based on said cumulative result.

4. The game machine as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a relative performance display, said display being operative to provide a continuous display identifying in first and second display portions, respectively, the relative performance of said first and second players, and

wherein said guidance level changing means is operative to change the predetermined guidance level consistent with said display of relative performance.

5. A game method for providing each of a first player and a second player with a game allowing a player to enjoy operation of the game using a controller according to game music, comprising:

a timing acquisition step of acquiring game operation timing at which each of the first player and the second player operates the game;

a timing guidance step of presenting game operation timing at a predetermined guidance level to each of the first player and the second player;

a game operation evaluation step of verifying the game operation timing acquired at the timing acquisition step with the game operation timing presented at the timing guidance step to evaluate game operation by each of the first player and the second player; and

a guidance level changing step of changing the predetermined guidance level with respect to at least one of the first player and the second player, based on a result of evaluation on the game operation evaluation step, said changing with respect to the first player being based on a result of evaluation of the second player'"'"'s game operation and said changing with respect to the second player being based on result of evaluation of the first player'"'"'s game operation.

6. The game method as recited in claim 5, further comprising a generating step of generating a cumulative result of an evaluation of at least one of said first and second player, and

wherein, said guidance level changing step further comprises changing the predetermined guidance level based on said cumulative result.

7. The game method as recited in claim 5, further comprising a displaying step of displaying a continuous display identifying in first and second display portions, respectively, the relative performance of said first and second players, and

wherein, said guidance level changing step further comprises changing the predetermined guidance level consistent with said display of relative performance.

8. An information storage medium storing a program for providing each of a first player and a second player with a game allowing a player to enjoy operation of the game using a controller according to game music, the program causing a computer to execute:

a timing acquisition step of acquiring game operation timing at which each of the first player and the second player operates the game;

a timing guidance step of presenting game operation timing at a predetermined guidance level to each of the first player and the second player;

a game operation evaluation step of verifying the game operation timing acquired at the timing acquisition step with the game operation timing presented at the timing guidance step to evaluate game operation by each of the first player and the second player; and

a guidance level changing step of changing the predetermined guidance level with respect to at least one of the first player and the second player, based on a result of evaluation on the game operation evaluation step, said changing with respect to the first player being based on a result of evaluation of the second player'"'"'s game operation and said changing with respect to the second player being based on a result of evaluation of the first player'"'"'s game operation.

9. The information storage medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising a generating step of generating a cumulative result of an evaluation of at least one of said first and second player, and

wherein, said guidance level changing step further comprises changing the predetermined guidance level based on said cumulative result.

10. The information storage medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising a displaying step of displaying a continuous display identifying in first and second display portions, respectively, the relative performance of said first and second players, and

wherein, said guidance level changing step further comprises changing the predetermined guidance level consistent with said display of relative performance.