Multi-user method and apparatus for placing game elements on a map based on degree of difficulty
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A game machine for disposing at least one additional game element on a game map formed by a plurality of units, said game machine comprising:
- a unit score calculator which calculates a unit score for each of the units, the unit score being determined based on route information regarding a route starting from a start unit serving as a start point on the game map to each unit;
a disposition unit selector which selects a unit on which the game element is disposed, based on the unit score calculated by the unit score calculator;
a game element disposer which disposes the game element on the unit selected by the disposition unit selector, thereby dynamically creating a game map that provides a desired degree of difficulty by adjusting the complexity of the game map through selective addition of obstacles; and
a display interface that generates a display of at least a portion of said game map,wherein the unit score calculator calculates a distance parameter for each of the units as the unit score, the distance parameter being indicative of a distance of the route starting from the start unit to each unit, andwherein each of the units includes at least one connecting portion for connection to another unit, and with the connecting portion being connected to another connecting portion of another unit, the units are combined to form the game map,the game machine further comprises connecting portion distance data defining means which defines connecting portion distance data indicative of a distance between connecting portions in a unit having a plurality of the connecting portions, andthe unit score calculator calculates the distance parameter by totaling the connecting portion distance data for connecting portions to be passed through on the route starting from the start unit to each unit.
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Abstract
By evaluating a distance starting from a start point to a unit on the map, the strength of an enemy character to be encountered, the degree of difficulty for an object to pass through a gate, etc., a unit score is calculated for each route. This unit score can be taken as an index of the degree of difficulty for the object to arrive at a unit from the start point. By using this unit score, the game elements can be appropriately disposed on the map in accordance with the degree of difficulty.
20 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A game machine for disposing at least one additional game element on a game map formed by a plurality of units, said game machine comprising:
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a unit score calculator which calculates a unit score for each of the units, the unit score being determined based on route information regarding a route starting from a start unit serving as a start point on the game map to each unit; a disposition unit selector which selects a unit on which the game element is disposed, based on the unit score calculated by the unit score calculator; a game element disposer which disposes the game element on the unit selected by the disposition unit selector, thereby dynamically creating a game map that provides a desired degree of difficulty by adjusting the complexity of the game map through selective addition of obstacles; and a display interface that generates a display of at least a portion of said game map, wherein the unit score calculator calculates a distance parameter for each of the units as the unit score, the distance parameter being indicative of a distance of the route starting from the start unit to each unit, and wherein each of the units includes at least one connecting portion for connection to another unit, and with the connecting portion being connected to another connecting portion of another unit, the units are combined to form the game map, the game machine further comprises connecting portion distance data defining means which defines connecting portion distance data indicative of a distance between connecting portions in a unit having a plurality of the connecting portions, and the unit score calculator calculates the distance parameter by totaling the connecting portion distance data for connecting portions to be passed through on the route starting from the start unit to each unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A game machine for disposing an additional game element on a game map which is formed by a plurality of units and defines an area in which an object can move in the course of a game, comprising:
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unit score calculating means which calculates a unit score for each of the units, the unit score being a parameter indicative of a degree of difficulty for the object to move from a start unit serving as a start point on the game map to each unit; disposition unit selecting means which selects, based on the unit score calculated by the unit score calculating means, a unit on which the game element is disposed; game element disposing means which disposes the game element on the unit selected by the disposition unit selecting means, thereby dynamically creating a game map that provides a desired degree of difficulty by adjusting the complexity of the game map through selective addition of obstacles; and a display interface that generates a display of at least a portion of said game map, wherein the unit score calculating means calculates a distance parameter for each of the units as the unit score, the distance parameter being indicative of a distance of the route starting from the start unit to each unit, and wherein each of the units includes at least one connecting portion for connection to another unit, and with the connecting portion being connected to another connecting portion of another unit, the units are combined to form the game map, the game machine further comprises connecting portion distance data defining means which defines connecting portion distance data indicative of a distance between connecting portions in a unit having a plurality of the connecting portions, and the unit score calculator calculates the distance parameter by totaling the connecting portion distance data for connecting portions to be passed through on the route starting from the start unit to each unit.
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14. A data storage medium having stored therein a game program causing a computer to execute a process of disposing an additional game element on a game map formed by a plurality of units, the stored game program comprising:
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instructions for calculating a unit score for each of the units, the unit score being determined based on route information regarding a route starting from a start unit serving as a start point on the game map to each unit; instructions for selecting, based on the unit score calculated in the unit score calculating step, a unit on which the game element is disposed; instructions for disposing the game element on the unit selected by the disposition unit selecting instructions, thereby dynamically creating a game map that provides a desired degree of difficulty by adjusting the complexity of the game map through selective addition of obstacles; and instructions that generate a display of at least a portion of said game map, wherein the unit score calculating instructions include instructions for calculating a distance parameter for each of the units as the unit score, the distance parameter being indicative of a distance of the route starting from the start unit to each unit, and wherein each of the units includes at least one connecting portion for connection to another unit, and with the connecting portion being connected to another connecting portion of another unit, the units are combined to form the game map, the game machine further comprises connecting portion distance data defining means which defines connecting portion distance data indicative of a distance between connecting portions in a unit having a plurality of the connecting portions, and the unit score calculator calculates the distance parameter by totaling the connecting portion distance data for connecting portions to be passed through on the route starting from the start unit to each unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a gaming system, a method of disposing an additional game element onto a game map defined at least in part by units, said method comprising the following steps performed by the central processing unit of the gaming system in communication with a graphics processor:
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calculating a unit score for each of the units, the unit score being determined based on route information regarding a route starting from a start unit serving as a start point on the game map to each unit, including calculating a distance parameter for each of the units as the unit score, the distance parameter being indicative of a distance of the route starting from the start unit to each unit; selecting, based on the unit score calculated in the unit score calculating step, a unit on which the game element is disposed; and disposing the game element on the unit selected in the disposition unit selecting step, thereby dynamically creating a game map that provides a desired degree of difficulty by adjusting the complexity of the game map through selective addition of obstacles; wherein a display device coupled to the gaming system displays at least a portion of said game map, and wherein each of the units includes at least one connecting portion for connection to another unit, and with the connecting portion being connected to another connecting portion of another unit, the units are combined to form the game map, the method performed by the central processing unit further comprises defining connecting portion distance data indicative of a distance between connecting portions in a unit having a plurality of the connecting portions, and calculating the distance parameter by totaling the connecting portion distance data for connecting portions to be passed through on the route starting from the start unit to each unit.
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20. A game playing method comprising the following steps performed by a central processing unit in communication with a graphics processor:
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defining a variable virtual vertical gaming environment for a player character to move within, said gaming environment including at least one destination for the player character to visit; determining degree of difficulty of said player character visiting said destination; placing at least one object within said virtual gaming environment at a position determined at least in part by said determined degree of difficulty, thereby dynamically creating a game map that provides a desired degree of difficulty by adjusting the complexity of the game map through selective addition of obstacles, including calculating a distance parameter for each of the obstacles as the obstacle score, the distance parameter being indicative of a distance of the route starting from a start obstacle to each obstacle; receiving user inputs; and controlling interactively display on a display device of at least a portion of the game map at least in part in response to said user inputs, wherein each of the units includes at least one connecting portion for connection to another unit, and with the connecting portion being connected to another connecting portion of another unit, the units are combined to form the game map, the method performed by the central processing unit further comprises defining connecting portion distance data indicative of a distance between connecting portions in a unit having a plurality of the connecting portions, and calculating the distance parameter by totaling the connecting portion distance data for connecting portions to be passed through on the route starting from the start unit to each unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification