Game system capable of evaluating the correlation of user operation on a game machine with displayed operational information and user operation on another game machine

• US 7,485,042 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ozaki, Yuichi, Nakatsuka, Akito
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pandya; Sunit
• Application Number:
  US09/986,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20020142818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,643 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 8, 463 29- 30, 463 35- 36, 463 40- 43, 463/25, 463/23, 273/249, 273/148.B, 273/444, 273/445, 84609-611
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• 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 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• 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

In a game played by a plurality of game machines through teamwork, an evaluation is performed according to the correlation among operation information obtained through communications with each of the game machines. A plurality of game machines communicate with one another to establish timing synchronization. After the game, input timings at which buttons are operated during the game are collected and then evaluated so as to determine an absolute and relative timing coincidence in a predetermined period (unison part). A predetermined number of points are added to its game score based on the evaluation.

Claims

1. A game machine for executing a predetermined game in response to a player'"'"'s operation, comprising:

a display for displaying a game screen;

operation switches operated by the player;

communications section for performing data communications among at least one other of game machines;

start timing synchronization section for establishing start-timing synchronization with said at least one other of the game machines in the game by communications via said communications section;

prompt information storage section for storing operation timing data previously defining an operation timing of said operation switches to be operated by the player;

a display controller for having, in response when the game is synchronously started, said display display information about the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player based on said operation timing data;

first operation timing storage section for storing data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player responding to the information displayed on said display;

second operation timing storage section for acquiring and storing the data which is stored in said first operation timing storage section of said at least one other of the game machines through communications via said communications section; and

correlation evaluation section for evaluating correlation in terms of game operation with said at least one other of the game machines based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and said second operation timing storage section;

wherein said correlation evaluation section evaluates whether both the timing based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and the timing based on the data stored in said second operation timing storage section are in a predetermined range of each other.

2. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

independent evaluation section for evaluating whether the timing based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section is in a predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data.

3. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein said correlation evaluation evaluates, by using, as a criterial timing, the timing based on either the data stored in said first operation timing storage section or the data stored in said second operation timing storage section whichever being the operation timing closest to the operation timing defined by said operation timing data at a predetermined timing, from the criterial timing based on one of the data, whether the timing based on the other data is in the predetermined range.

4. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein said correlation evaluation section evaluates:

(i) whether the timing based on either the data stored in said first operation timing storage section or the data stored in said second operation timing storage section is in a predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data at a predetermined timing, and

(ii) whether both the timing based on one of the data and the timing based on the other data are in the predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data at the predetermined timing.

5. The game machine according to claim 4, wherein said correlation evaluation section differs a number of points to be added depending on both a difference between the timing based on said one of data and the timing based on said operation timing data, and a difference between the timing based on said one of data and the timing based on said other of data.

6. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein said prompt information storage section stores the operation timing data defining a plurality of the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player,

evaluation timing setting section is further provided for setting at least one of the plurality of the operation timings based on said operation timing data as an evaluation timing, and

said first operation timing storage section stores the data relating to the operation timing corresponding to said evaluation timing.

7. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

said communications section is used for infrared communications,

said first operation timing storage section stores the data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player during a predetermined segment of the game,

said second operation timing storage section acquires and stores the data stored in said first operation timing storage section of said at least one other of the game machines for each of the predetermined segment of the game, and

said correlation evaluation section evaluates, for each of the predetermined segment of the game, correlation with said at least one other of the game machines in terms of game operation based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and in said second operation timing storage section.

8. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein said correlation evaluation section differs a number of points to be added depending on a difference between the timing based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and the timing based on the data stored in said second operation storage section.

9. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein when evaluating that the timing based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and/or in said second operation timing storage section is in said predetermined range, said correlation evaluation section increases a game score, and a number of points to be added thereto is differed based on a difference between the data to be evaluated.

10. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein said correlation evaluation section evaluates whether the timing based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and/or the data stored in said second operation timing storage section is in a predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data at a predetermined timing.

11. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the second operation timing storage section acquires and stores, upon finishing the game, the data which is stored in said first operation timing storage section of said other game machines through communications via said communications section;

and

the correlation evaluation section evaluates, upon finishing the game, correlation in terms of game operation with said other game machines based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and said second operation timing storage section.

12. A game machine for executing a predetermined game in response to a player'"'"'s operation, comprising:

a display for displaying a game screen;

operation switches operated by the player;

communications section for performing data communications among at least one other of game machines;

start timing synchronization section for establishing start-timing synchronization with said at least one other of the game machines in the game by communications via said communications section;

a processor for carrying out a predetermined process, in response when the game is synchronously started, corresponding to the player'"'"'s operation of said operation switches;

first timing storage section for storing data relating to a timing at which said predetermined process is carried out;

second timing storage section for acquiring and storing the data which is stored in said first timing storage section of said at least one other of the game machines through communications via said communications section; and

correlation evaluation section for evaluating correlation in terms of game process timing with said at least one other of the game machines based on the data stored in said first timing storage section and said second timing storage section;

wherein said correlation evaluation section evaluates whether both the timing based on the data stored in said first operation timing storage section and the timing based on the data stored in said second operation timing storage section are in a predetermined range of each other.

13. A game system structured by a plurality of a game machines for executing a predetermined game in response to a player'"'"'s operation, and a data processing device for evaluating operational correlation among the plurality of the game machines,

at least one of said game machines comprising:

a display for displaying a game screen;

operation switches operated by the player;

communications section for performing data communications between at least one other of the game machines and said data processing device;

start timing synchronization section for establishing start-timing synchronization with said at least one other of the game machines in the game by communications via said communications section;

prompt information storage section for storing operation timing data previously defining an operation timing of said operation switches to be operated by the player;

a display controller for having, in response when the game is synchronously started, said display displays information about the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player based on said operation timing data;

operation timing storage section for storing data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player responding to the information displayed on said display; and

operation timing data transmission section for transmitting the data of said operation timing storage section to said data processing device through communications via said communications section, and

said data processing device comprising;

timing data storage section for receiving and storing the data, one by one, transmitted from said operation timing data transmission section through communications via said communications section; and

correlation evaluation section for evaluating correlation among the game machines in terms of game operation based on the data stored in said timing data storage section, wherein said correlation evaluation section evaluates whether both the operation timings based on data transmitted from said operation timing data transmission section of said at least one of the game machines and the operation timings based on data transmitted from the at least one other of the game machines are in a predetermined range of each other.

14. In a game executed by a game machine, a method of controlling game play of the game comprising:

establishing start-timing synchronization in the game through data communications performed among at least one other of game machines;

reading operation timing data previously defining an operation timing of operation switches to be operated by a player;

in response when the game is synchronously started, having a display of the game machine display information about the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player based on said operation timing data;

storing its own data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player in response to the information displayed on said display;

acquiring, through communications, other data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player in said at least one other of the game machines; and

evaluating correlation among said at least one other of the game machines in terms of game operation based on said its own data and said other data;

wherein said evaluating evaluates whether both the timing based on said its own data and the timing based on said other data are in a predetermined range of each other.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising evaluating whether the timing based on said its own data in storage is in a predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said evaluating evaluates, by using, as a criterial timing, the timing based on either said its own data or said other data whichever being the operation timing closest to the operation timing defined by said operation timing data at a predetermined timing, from the criterial timing based on one of the data, whether the timing based on the other data is in the predetermined range.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said evaluating evaluates whether the timing based on either said its own data or said other data is in a predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data at a predetermined timing, and whether both the timing based on one of the data and the timing based on the other data are in the predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data at the predetermined timing.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein

said operation timing data defines a plurality of the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player,

setting at least one of the plurality of the operation timings based on said operation timing data as an evaluation timing, and

said storing stores its own data relating to the operation timing corresponding to said evaluation timing.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein

said communications is used for infrared communications,

said storing stores its own data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player during a predetermined segment of the game,

said acquiring acquires, for each of the predetermined segment of the game, other data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player in said at least one other of the game machines, and

said evaluating evaluates, for each of the predetermined segment of the game, correlation among said at least one other of the game machines in terms of game operation based on said its own data and said other data.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein said evaluating differs the number of points to be added depending on a difference between the timing based on said its own data and the timing based on said other data.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein said evaluating differs the number of points to be added depending on both a difference between the timing based on said one of data and the timing based on said operation timing data, and a difference between the timing based on said one of data and the timing based on said other data.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein when evaluating that the timing based on said its own data and/or said other data is in said predetermined range, said evaluating increases a game score, and the number of points to be added thereto is differed based on a difference between data to be evaluated.

23. In a game executed by a game machine, a method of controlling game play of the game comprising:

establishing start-timing synchronization in the game through data communications performed among at least one other of the game machines;

carrying out a predetermined process corresponding to a player'"'"'s operation on said operation switches in response when the game is synchronously started;

storing its own data relating to a timing at which said predetermined process is carried out;

acquiring other data relating to the timing at which the predetermined process is carried out corresponding to the player'"'"'s operation on said operation switches in said at least one other of the game machines through communications, and

evaluating correlation with said at least one other of the game machines in terms of game process timing based on said its own data and said other data, said evaluating correlation including evaluating whether both the timing based on said its own data and the timing based on said acquired other data are in a predetermined range of each other.

24. A game machine used in a game system structured by a plurality of the game machines for executing a predetermined game in response to a player'"'"'s operation, comprising:

a display for displaying a game screen;

operation switches operated by the player;

communications section for performing data communications between at least one other of the game machines;

start timing synchronization section for establishing start-timing synchronization with said at least one other of the game machines in the game by communications via said communications section;

prompt information storage section for storing operation timing data previously defining an operation timing of said operation switches to be operated by the player;

a display controller for having, in response when the game is synchronously started, said display displays information about the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player based on said operation timing data;

operation timing storage section for storing data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player responding to the information displayed on said display section;

operation timing data receiving section for receiving data relating to operation timings of operation switches on the at least one other of the game machines from an operation timing storage section of the at least one other of the game machines through communications via said communications section; and

correlation evaluation section for evaluating correlation of game operation with the at least one other of the game machines based on the data stored in the operation timing storage section and the received data.

25. A program storage device readable by a game machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the game machine to perform a method for controlling gameplay, the method comprising:

establishing start-timing synchronization in the game through data communications performed among at least one other game machines;

reading operation timing data previously defining an operation timing of operation switches to be operated by a player;

in response when the game is synchronously started, enabling a display of the game machine to display information about the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player based on said operation timing data;

storing its own data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player in response to the information displayed on said display;

acquiring, through communications, other data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player in said at least one other of the game machines; and

evaluating correlation among said at least one other of the game machines in terms of game operation based on said its own data and said other data;

wherein said evaluating evaluates whether both the timing based on said its own data and the timing based on said other data are in a predetermined range of each other.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the method further comprise evaluating whether the timing based on said its own data in storage is in a predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data.

27. The device according to claim 25, wherein said evaluating evaluates, by using, as a criterial timing, the timing based on either said its own data or said other data whichever being the operation timing closest to the operation timing defined by said operation timing data at a predetermined timing, from the criterial timing based on one of the data, whether the timing based on the other data is in the predetermined range.

28. The device according to claim 25, wherein said evaluating evaluates whether the timing based on either said its own data or said other data is in a predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data at a predetermined timing, and whether both the timing based on one of the data and the timing based on the other data are in the predetermined range from the timing based on said operation timing data.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein said evaluating differs the number of points to be added depending on both a difference between the timing based on said one of data and the timing based on said operation timing data, and a difference between the timing based on said one of data and the timing based on said other data.

30. The device according to claim 25, wherein

said operation timing data defines a plurality of the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player,

setting at least one of the plurality of the operation timings based on said operation timing data as an evaluation timing, and

said storing stores its own data relating to the operation timing corresponding to said evaluation timing.

31. The device according to claim 25, wherein

said communications is used for infrared communications,

said storing stores its own data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player during a predetermined segment of the game,

said acquiring acquires, for each of the predetermined segment of the game, other data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player in said at least one other of the game machines, and

said evaluating evaluates, for each of the predetermined segment of the game, correlation among said at least one other of the game machines in terms of game operation based on said its own data and said other data.

32. The device according to claim 25, wherein said evaluating differs the number of points to be added depending on a difference between the timing based on said its own data and the timing based on said other data.

33. The device according to claim 25, wherein when evaluating that said its own data and/or said other data is in said predetermined range, said evaluating increases a game score, and the number of points to be added thereto is differed based on a difference between data to be evaluated.

34. A program storage device readable by a game machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the game machine to perform a method for controlling gameplay, the method comprising:

establishing start-timing synchronization in the game through data communications performed among at least one other of game machines;

carrying out a predetermined process corresponding to a player'"'"'s operation on said operation switches in response when the game is synchronously started;

storing its own data relating to a timing at which said predetermined process is carried out;

acquiring other data relating to the timing at which the predetermined process is carried out corresponding to the player'"'"'s operation on said operation switches in said at least one other of the game machines through communications, and

evaluating correlation with said at least one other of the game machines in terms of game process timing based on said its own data and said other data;

wherein said evaluating evaluates whether both the timing based on said its own data and the timing based on said other data are in a predetermined range of each other.

35. In a game executed by a game machine having operation switches, a method of controlling game play of the game comprising:

reading operation timing data previously defining an operation timing of operation switches to be operated by a player;

displaying information about the operation timings of said operation switches to be operated by the player based on said operation timing data on a display of the game machine;

storing its own data relating to the operation timings of said operation switches operated by the player in response to the information displayed on said display;

acquiring, through communications, other data relating to the operation timings of operation switches operated by another player on another game machine;

determining an absolute time lag between operation timings of the operation switches of at least one of the game machines and the operation timings of operation switches defined by the read operation timing data; and

determining a relative time lag between the operation timings of the operation switches operated by the player on the game machine and the operation timings of the operation switches operated by the another player on the another game machine.

36. The method as in claim 35, further comprising evaluating a correlation among the game machines based on the determined absolute time lag and the determined relative time lag.

37. In a game machine system having a first game machine having switches operated by a first user and a second game machine having switches operated by a second user, a method comprising:

displaying information on the first and second game machines regarding the desired operation timings of switches;

determining an absolute time lag between the actual operation timings of the switches on the first game machine by the first user and the desired operation timings of switches;

determining a relative time lag between the operation timings of the switches on the first game machine by the first user and the operation timings of the switches on the second game machine by the second user; and

evaluating a correlation of operation among the first and second game machines based on the determined absolute time lag and the determined relative time lag.

38. The method as in claim 37, further comprising determining another absolute time lag between the operation timings of the switches on the second game machine by the second user and the desired operation timings of switches, wherein the correlation is evaluated based on the determined absolute time lag, the relative time lag and the another absolute time lag.