Image generation system, program and information storage medium

• US 7,744,463 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Bandai Games Inc.
• Inventors: Ouchi, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US10/934,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345472-474, 345 11- 13, 345 21- 23, 345 31- 34, 345/24, 345/419, 345467-469, 345/539, 345543-544, 345/625, 345/636, 345/638, 345653-656, 345664-666, 345682-683, 345/686, 345949-950, 345/FOR.139, 345/FOR.153, 463 1- 5, 463 7- 8, 463 30- 39, 463 40- 43, 463 49- 57, 463/6, 273/108.1, 273/127.R, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/309, 273/317.1, 273/340, 273/348, 273361-367, 348/14.15, 348/39, 348/42, 348 47- 52, 348/121, 348136-137, 348/211.14, 348/576, 348588-589, 348/719, 348/721, 348/E13.004, 348E13064-E13067, 37524015-24016, 375/240.25, 434/38, 434 43- 44, 434/69, 434/118, 434256-257
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

A parameter of a consumption item (fuel, life) consumed as a game progresses is calculated. When a setting of a game termination condition changes, a rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item is changed according to the change of the setting. The game termination condition is a condition relating to the number of laps on a course, a time limit of a game or a game quota. The rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item is increased as the number of laps on a course is reduced, as the time limit of a game is shortened, or as the game quota is reduced. When a value of the parameter of the consumption item becomes equal to zero as a game progresses, the movement or motion of an object is disabled. The parameter of the consumption item is changed from an initial value set by a player with the rate of change which has been specified based on the game termination condition set by the player.

Claims

1. An image generation system which generates an image comprising:

a memory which stores a program and data for generating an image; and

at least one processor which is connected to the memory and performs a processing for generating an image,

wherein the processor comprises;

a game processing section which performs a game processing based on operation data from a control section, and performs a processing to terminate a game when a predetermined game termination condition is satisfied;

a parameter calculation section which calculates a parameter of a consumption item which is consumed as a game progresses at a predetermined rate of consumption based on the predetermined game termination condition; and

an image generation section which generates a game image based on a result of the game processing,

wherein the predetermined game termination condition is a condition that, when satisfied, terminates the game;

wherein the predetermined game termination condition is at least one of a number of laps on a course corresponding to a maximum number of laps required by one game play, a time limit of a game corresponding to a time period measured from the start of the game to the termination of the game, or a setting of a game quota corresponding to a quota to be attained by a player in the game, and

wherein the parameter calculation section increases the rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item, as the number of laps on the course is reduced, as the time limit of the game is shortened, or as the setting of the game quota is reduced.

2. The image generation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor includes an object control section which controls a movement or a motion of an object, and

wherein, when a value of the parameter of the consumption item becomes equal to zero as a game progresses, the object control section disables or limits a movement or a motion of an object.

3. The image generation system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set an initial value of the parameter of the consumption item, and

wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item from the initial value which has been set by a player.

4. The image generation system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set the game termination condition, and

wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item with the rate of change specified based on the game termination condition which has been set by a player.

5. The image generation system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the parameter of the consumption item is a parameter relating to a fuel, a part, a life or the number of bullets in a weapon.

6. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for generating an image, the program causing a computer to function as:

a game processing section which performs a game processing based on operation data from a control section, and performs a processing to terminate a game when a predetermined game termination condition is satisfied;

a parameter calculation section which calculates a parameter of a consumption item which is consumed as a game progresses at a predetermined rate of consumption based on the predetermined game termination condition; and

an image generation section which generates a game image based on a result of the game processing,

wherein the predetermined game termination condition is a condition that, when satisfied, terminates the game;

wherein the predetermined game termination condition is at least one of a number of laps on a course corresponding to a maximum number of laps required by one game play, a time limit of a game corresponding to a time period measured from the start of the game to the termination of the game, or a setting of a game quota corresponding to a quota to be attained by a player in the game, and

wherein the parameter calculation section increases the rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item, as the number of laps on the course is reduced, as the time limit of the game is shortened, or as the setting of the game quota is reduced.

7. The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6, the program causing a computer to function as:

an object control section which controls a movement or a motion of an object, and

wherein, when a value of the parameter of the consumption item becomes equal to zero as a game progresses, the object control section disables or limits a movement or a motion of an object.

8. The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6, wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set an initial value of the parameter of the consumption item, and

wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item from the initial value which has been set by a player.

9. The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6,

wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set the game termination condition, and

wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item with the rate of change specified based on the game termination condition which has been set by a player.

10. The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6, wherein the parameter of the consumption item is a parameter relating to a fuel, a part, a life or the number of bullets in a weapon.