Battle system

• US 7,470,193 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Umezaki, Shirou
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pierce; Damon
• Application Number:
  US10/938,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 8, 463 30- 44, 273236-237, 273/148.B, 273/148.R, 700/91, 340/323.R
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for presenting information in a video game. In one implementation, an entertainment system includes: a game console; a display device connected to said game console; and a video game application program; wherein when said game console executes said video game application program, said game console causes said display device to display an information gauge; wherein said information gauge includes: an action bar having a start end and a goal end, and a plurality of character icons presented at respective points on the action bar, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game; wherein said character icons move along said action bar over time in the direction from said start end to said goal end; and wherein when a character icon reaches said goal end, the character corresponding to that character icon has an opportunity to perform an action in the video game.

Claims

1. An information gauge in a video game controlled by a processor for displaying on a display device while the video game is played by a user, comprising:

an action bar having a start end and a goal end;

a bonus area displayed as a graphical element while the video game is being played;

a plurality of character icons presented as graphical elements at respective points on the action bar, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game; and

a plurality of money or item bonus icons displayed as a graphical element while the video game is being played and presented in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a money bonus or an item bonus award to the user;

said processor controlling said displayed character icons to move along said action bar over time in the direction from said start end to said goal end,

said processor controlling a character in the video game that corresponds to a character icon that reaches said goal end to perform an action in the video game, and said processor establishing a charge period for a character to perform an attack action with an attack power that is a function of the duration of said charge period;

said processor controlling said bonus icons to move towards said bonus area over time and enter said bonus area one at a time, and

said processor awarding a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to a bonus icon currently in said bonus area when an event concludes.

2. The information gauge of claim 1, wherein said display further comprises:

a plurality of detail indicators corresponding to respective character icons showing where the corresponding character icon is on said action bar.

3. The information gauge of claim 1, wherein:

each character icon is controlled to move at a respective rate.

4. The information gauge of claim 1, wherein:

said bonus area and said bonus icons are displayed above and substantially adjacent to said action bar.

5. The information gauge of claim 1, wherein:

said processor controls said bonus icons and said character icons to move in opposite directions.

6. The information gauge of claim 1, wherein:

said processor awards a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to each bonus icon that has not yet reached said bonus area when said event concludes.

7. The information gauge of claim 1, wherein:

said processor controls said bonus icons to move at a rate related to the type of said event.

8. A method of displaying information on a display device while executing a video game by a user, comprising:

displaying an action bar having a start end and a goal end;

displaying a bonus area;

displaying a plurality of character icons at said start end, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game;

displaying a plurality of money or item bonus icons in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a money bonus or an item bonus award to the user;

moving each character icon along said action bar towards said goal end;

moving said bonus icons towards said bonus area so that said bonus icons enter said bonus area one at a time;

performing an action for a character in the video game when the character icon corresponding to that character reaches said goal end, said action including establishing a charge period for a character to perform an attack action with an attack power that is a function of the duration of said charge period; and

providing a player in the video game at least one bonus corresponding to at least one bonus icon currently displayed when an event concludes.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

each character icon moves at a respective rate.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an action selection from a player of the video game indicating an action to be performed for a selected character.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

highlighting a character icon corresponding to a character that is the target of said action selection.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a player at least one bonus includes:

providing said player in the video game a bonus corresponding to each bonus icon that has not yet reached said bonus area when said event concludes.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a player at least one bonus includes:

providing a player in the video game a bonus corresponding to the bonus icon currently displayed in said bonus area when an event concludes.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said bonus icons move at a rate related to the type of said event.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said bonus area and said bonus icons are displayed above and substantially adjacent to said action bar.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said bonus icons and said character icons move in opposite directions.

17. A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in displaying information on a display device while a user executes a video game, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

cause the display of an action bar having a start end and a goal end;

cause the display of a bonus area;

cause the display of a plurality of character icons at said start end, each character icon representing a respective character in the video game;

cause the display of a plurality of money or item bonus icons in a row ending at said bonus area, each bonus icon representing a money bonus or an item bonus award to the user;

move each character icon along said action bar towards said goal end;

move said bonus icons towards said bonus area so that said bonus icons enter said bonus area one at a time;

perform an action for a character in the video game when the character icon corresponding to that character reaches said goal end, said action including establishing a charge period for a character to perform an attack action with an attack power that is a function of the duration of said charge period; and

provide a player in the video game at least one bonus corresponding to at least one bonus icon currently displayed when an event concludes.