Game system, game control method, and recording medium for the same

• US 7,559,842 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Matsui, Akihiko, Ishii, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams; Ross A.
• Application Number:
  US10/294,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,433 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/43, 463/1, 463/2, 463/30
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence

Abstract

A game system provides multiple classifications of character characteristic and is capable of advancing a game by assigning the desired characteristic to a character from multiple characteristics. Two jobs, that is, a main job and a support job are selectable for a character and a fixed pattern of table configuration data is provided as characteristic value information according to the job. In addition, the table configuration data corresponding to the classification of the job is extracted and applied to a growth table for each job, and ability values of the main job and support job are weighted differently so as to achieve character characteristic having two job abilities together. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively increase the job types to be assigned to the character and to create an interesting game, while reducing necessary memory capacity.

Claims

1. A game system, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, provides a plurality of types of characteristics of the character and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among the plurality of types of characteristics, the game system comprising:

a main characteristic assigning system that assigns one of the types of characteristics to the character, the assigned type of characteristic serving as a main type of characteristic of the character;

a storage that stores a plurality of predetermined sequences of characteristic value information that determines characteristic values of the character for each character level, and also stores a plurality of growth pattern values of the assigned characteristic type, each of the plurality of growth pattern values corresponding to one of the predetermined sequences;

an application system that extracts characteristic value information corresponding to a character level and the growth pattern values of the assigned type of characteristic from the stored characteristic value information, and applies the characteristic values of the character in accordance with the extracted characteristic value information; and

a controller that controls the character according to the characteristic values applied by the application system,

wherein the plurality of growth pattern values are combined based on the plurality of assigned characteristic types,

wherein each of a plurality of growth patterns comprises a stored predetermined sequence of characteristic value information, each predetermined sequence representing a progression of the characteristic values corresponding to each of the assigned characteristic types, and

wherein the growth pattern values are combined by weighting and adding the characteristic value information in the predetermined sequences, based on the assigned characteristic type corresponding to the characteristic value information.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the application system weights characteristic value information of the main type of characteristic assigned by the main characteristic assigning system with a first factor to generate a first weighted value, weights characteristic value information of an assigned support type of characteristic with a second factor to generate a second weighted value, and sums the first and second weighted values.

3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the storage stores combined information of the plurality of character growth pattern values for every characteristic of the character.

4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the storage stores characteristic value information common to a plurality of different characters;

and the application system applies the stored characteristic value information, the characteristic value information being assigned for each of the plurality of different characters.

5. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a game apparatus that includes the main characteristic assigning system, and the controller; and

a server apparatus that connects to the game apparatus through a communication medium, and includes the storage and the application system;

wherein the game apparatus assigning character characteristic using the main characteristic assigning system; and

the server apparatus receiving characteristic assigning results from the game apparatus, finding and applying characteristic value information for the character, and providing the applied characteristic value information to the game apparatus; and

wherein the game apparatus controls the character according to the provided characteristic value information.

6. A game system, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, provides a plurality of types of characteristics of the character and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among the plurality of types of characteristics, the game system comprising:

a storage that stores a plurality of predetermined sequences of characteristic value information that determines characteristic values of the character for each character level, and also stores a plurality of growth pattern values of the assigned characteristic type, each of the plurality of growth pattern values corresponding to one of the predetermined sequences; and

an application system that extracts characteristic value information corresponding to a character level and the growth pattern values of the assigned types of characteristics from the stored characteristic value information, and applies the extracted characteristic value information to the assigned types of characteristics,

wherein the plurality of growth pattern values are combined based on the plurality of assigned characteristic types,

wherein each of a plurality of growth patterns comprises a stored predetermined sequence of characteristic value information, each predetermined sequence representing a progression of the characteristic values corresponding to each of the assigned characteristic types, and

wherein the growth pattern values are combined by weighting and adding the characteristic value information in the predetermined sequences, based on the assigned characteristic type corresponding to the characteristic value information.

7. A game control method in a game apparatus, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, provides a plurality of types of characteristics of the character and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among the plurality of types of characteristics, the game control method comprising:

assigning one of the types of characteristic to the character, the assigned type of characteristic serving as a main type of characteristic of the character;

storing, within a storage, a plurality of predetermined sequences of characteristic value information that determines characteristic values of the character for each character level, and a plurality of growth pattern values of the assigned characteristic type, each of the plurality of growth pattern values corresponding to one of the predetermined sequences;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to a character level and the growth pattern values of the main type of characteristic from stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of the character in accordance with the extracted characteristic value information;

controlling the character according to the applied characteristic values, and

outputting an image of the controlled character to a display,

wherein the plurality of growth pattern values are combined based on the plurality of assigned characteristic types,

wherein each of a plurality of growth patterns comprises a stored predetermined sequence of characteristic value information, each predetermined sequence representing a progression of the characteristic values corresponding to each of the assigned characteristic types, and

wherein the growth pattern values are combined by weighting and adding the characteristic value information in the predetermined sequences, based on the assigned characteristic type corresponding to the characteristic value information.

8. The game control method according to claim 7, wherein the characteristic value information of the main type of characteristic is weighted with a first factor to generate a first weighted value, characteristic value information of a support type of characteristic is weighted with a second factor to generate a second weighted value, and the first and second weighted values are summed.

9. The game control method according to claim 7, comprising:

assigning the main type of characteristic and controlling the character with a game apparatus; and

controlling, with a server apparatus, the server apparatus being connected to the game apparatus through a communication medium, includes the storage, and applying an application characteristic value to the character;

wherein the server apparatus receives from the game apparatus character assignment results to find and apply characteristic value information for the character, and provides the applied characteristic value information to the game apparatus; and

wherein the game apparatus controls the character according to the provided characteristic value information.

10. A game control method in a game apparatus, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with a game program, comprises a storage that stores a plurality of types of characteristics of the character, and is capable of advancing the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among the plurality of types of characteristics, the game control method comprising:

providing a combination of parameters having a plurality of growth patterns for each parameter, based on predetermined sequences of stored characteristic value information;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to a character level and a plurality of growth pattern values of the assigned types of characteristics from the stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of the character in accordance with the extracted characteristic value information;

combining the plurality of types of growth patterns according to characteristics to be assigned to the character, and

outputting an image of the controlled character to a display,

wherein the plurality of growth pattern values are combined based on the plurality of assigned characteristic types, and

wherein each of the plurality of growth pattern values corresponds to one of the predetermined sequences,

wherein each of a plurality of growth patterns comprises a stored predetermined sequence of characteristic value information, each predetermined sequence representing a progression of the characteristic values corresponding to each of the assigned characteristic types, and

wherein the growth pattern values are combined by weighting and adding the characteristic value information in the predetermined sequences, based on the assigned characteristic type corresponding to the characteristic value information.

11. A computer readable recording medium on which a game program executed by a game apparatus is recorded, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with the game program, comprises a storage that stores a plurality of types of characteristics of the character, and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among the plurality of types of characteristics, the game program causing the game apparatus to execute:

assigning a main type of characteristic to the character;

storing a plurality of predetermined sequences of characteristic value information that determines characteristic values of the character for each character level, and a plurality of growth pattern values of the assigned characteristic type, each of the plurality of growth pattern values corresponding to one of the predetermined sequences;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to a character level and growth pattern values of the assigned characteristic type from stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of the character in accordance with the extracted characteristic value information; and

controlling the character according to the applied characteristic values,

wherein the plurality of growth pattern values are combined based on the plurality of assigned characteristic types,

wherein each of a plurality of growth patterns comprises a stored predetermined sequence of characteristic value information, each predetermined sequence representing a progression of the characteristic values corresponding to each of the assigned characteristic types, and

wherein the growth pattern values are combined by weighting and adding the characteristic value information in the predetermined sequences, based on the assigned characteristic type corresponding to the characteristic value information.

12. The computer readable recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the game program further causes the game apparatus to weight the characteristic value information of the main type of characteristic with a first factor to generate a first weighted value, weight characteristic value information of a support type of characteristic with a second factor to generate a second weighted value, and sum the first and second weighted values.

13. A computer readable recording medium on which a game program executed by a game apparatus is recorded, which, when executing a game by operating a character in accordance with the game program, comprises a storage that stores a plurality of types of characteristics of the character, and advances the game by assigning at least one type of characteristic to the character from among the plurality of types of characteristics, the game program causing the game apparatus to execute:

storing in the storage a plurality of predetermined sequences of characteristic value information for determining characteristic values of the character for each character level, and a plurality of growth pattern values of the assigned characteristic types, each of the plurality of growth pattern values corresponding to one of the predetermined sequences;

extracting characteristic value information corresponding to a character level and growth pattern values of the assigned types of characteristic from the stored characteristic value information;

applying characteristic values of the character in accordance with the extracted characteristic value information; and

controlling the character according to the applied characteristic values,

wherein the plurality of growth pattern values are combined based on the plurality of assigned characteristic types,

wherein each of a plurality of growth patterns comprises a stored predetermined sequence of characteristic value information, each predetermined sequence representing a progression of the characteristic values corresponding to each of the assigned characteristic types, and

wherein the growth pattern values are combined by weighting and adding the characteristic value information in the predetermined sequences, based on the assigned characteristic type corresponding to the characteristic value information.

14. The computer readable recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the game program further causes the game apparatus to store a combination of information on the plurality of growth pattern values for each of the characteristics.