Game device, game device control method, program, program distribution device, information storage medium

• US 7,753,796 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kishino, Toshiaki, Shigura, Tomomi, Nagaoka, Kei, Nobe, Kazuhiko, Takase, Yasumi, Ishikawa, Hirotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kevin Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/527,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20060063573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,582 Days
• Field of Search: 463/43, 704/231, 704/246, 704/251, 376/406.03
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• 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 13/825 Fostering virtual characters

Abstract

The present invention provides a game device that can display strings more suited to speech recognition at the time of speech input. A priority input device information acquisition unit (56) acquires priority input device information. When the priority input device information represents a character input device, an input criteria display unit (58) and a determination unit (60) display character input criteria as input criteria and determine whether or not that input corresponds to the input criteria. When the priority input device information represents a speech input device, the input criteria display unit (58) and the determination unit (60) display character input criteria as input criteria, and in regard to predetermined character input criteria, display speech input criteria corresponding to the character input criteria as input criteria, and determine whether or not that input corresponds to speech recognition data corresponding to the input criteria. A controller (62) controls the game on the basis of the determination result.

Claims

1. A nurture simulation game device which displays input strings on a game screen as options whereby the player selects the options using one of a character input device and a speech input device, the nurture simulation game device comprising:

basic string storage means for storing a plurality of basic strings;

substitute string storage means for storing a substitute string corresponding to each of at least one of the plurality of basic strings stored in the basic string storage means when the basic string is not suited for speech recognition and have potential to lead to a drop in speech recognition rate;

speech recognition data storage means which,

stores speech recognition data corresponding to the basic string when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has not been stored in the substitute string storage means,

and stores speech recognition data corresponding to the substitute string when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has been stored in the substitute string storage means,

priority input device information acquisition means for acquiring priority input device information;

input criteria display means which,

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that a character input device is selected, displays, as input criteria, the basic strings corresponding to a target option ID are stored in the basic string storage means, and

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that a speech input device is selected, determines the substitute string corresponding to the target option ID is stored in the substitute string storage means, and if the substitute string is present, the input criteria display means displays the substitute string as the input criteria and if the substitute string is not present, displays the basic string as the input criteria;

determination means which,

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that the character input device is selected, determines whether or not the input thereof corresponds to the input criteria displayed by the input criteria display means, and

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that the speech input device is selected, determines whether or not the input thereof corresponds to the speech recognition data correlated with the input criteria displayed by the input criteria display means; and

control means for controlling the game on a basis of the result of determination by the determination means, wherein

the basic strings and the substitute strings are different and the substitute string comprises the basic string and an additional string attached to the corresponding basic string, and

wherein the nurture simulation game device stores an option information table in which a plurality of target option IDs, the basic strings, the substitute strings and the speech recognition data are correlated,

wherein when the speech input device is selected, whether or not the substitute string corresponding to the target option ID is registered in the option information table is determined; and

when there is no substitute string registered in the option information table, the basic string and the speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used and

when the substitute string is registered in the option information table, the substitute string and speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used.

2. The game device of claim 1, wherein

the input criteria display means displays, as the input criteria, the basic strings or the substitute strings in a font size according to the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means.

3. The game device of claim 1 or 2, wherein

the control means comprises means for controlling the probability of predetermined game events on the basis of the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means.

4. The game device as in any one of claims 1 and 2 wherein

the game device is connectable to the character input device and the speech input device.

5. The game device of claim 1, wherein the substitute string is configured by having a string attached to a corresponding basic string.

6. The nurture simulation game device according to claim 1, wherein the substitute strings comprise plural repetitions of the basic strings.

7. The nurture simulation game device according to claim 1, wherein the substitute strings comprise a name attached to the basic strings.

8. The nurture simulation game device according to claim 1, wherein each of the option IDs that are stored in the option information table correspond to a different display on the game screen.

9. The nurture simulation game device according to claim 1, when the input mode is the character input mode, the basic string corresponding to the target option ID is acquired from one of the plurality of target option IDs in the option information table.

10. A control method for a nurture simulation game device which displays input strings on a game screen as options whereby the player selects the options using one of a character input device and a speech input device, the control method comprising:

storing a plurality of basic strings in a basic string storage unit;

storing a substitute string, corresponding to each of at least one of the plurality of basic strings stored in the basic strings storage unit, in substitute string storage unit when the basic string is not suited for speech recognition and have potential to lead to a drop in speech recognition rate;

storing speech recognition data corresponding to the basic string in the speech recognition data storage unit when the substitute string corresponding to basic strings has not been stored in the substitute string storage unit,

and storing speech recognition data corresponding to the substitute string in the speech recognition data storage unit when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has been stored in the substitute string storage unit,

acquiring priority input device information by a priority input device information acquisition unit;

displaying, on display unit, input criteria, wherein when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition unit indicates that the character input device is selected, the basic strings stored in the basic string storage unit is displayed as the input criteria and

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition unit indicates that the speech input device is selected, determining the substitute string corresponding to a target option is stored in the substitute string storage unit, and if the substitute string is present, displaying the substitute string as the input criteria and if the substitute string is not present, displaying the basic string as the input criteria,

determining whether or not user input through the character input device corresponds to the input criteria displayed on the display unit and controlling a game on a basis of the determination result; and

determining whether or not user input through the speech input device corresponds to speech recognition data corresponding to the input criteria, displayed on the display unit, and controlling the game on a basis of the determination result, wherein

the basic strings and the substitute strings are different and the substitute string comprises the basic string and an additional string attached to the corresponding basic string, and

wherein the nurture simulation game device stores an option information table in which a plurality of target option IDs, the basic strings, the substitute strings and the speech recognition data are correlated,

wherein when the speech input device is selected, whether or not the substitute string corresponding to the target option ID is registered in the option information table is determined; and

when there is no substitute string registered in the option information table, the basic string and the speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used and

when the substitute string is registered in the option information table, the substitute string and speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used.

11. A program distribution device comprising an information storage medium in which is recorded the program for having a computer function as a nurture simulation game device which displays input strings on a game screen as options whereby the player selects the options using one of a character input device and a speech input device, wherein the program distribution device reads the program from the information storage medium, and distributes the program, the program comprising instruction for causing a computer to:

store a plurality of basic strings basic string storage unit;

store a substitute string corresponding to each of at least one of the plurality of basic strings stored in the basic string storage unit in the substitute string storage unit when the basic string is not suited for speech recognition and have potential to lead to a drop in speech recognition rate;

store speech recognition data corresponding to the basic string in the speech recognition data storage unit when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has not been stored in the substitute string storage unit, and

store speech recognition data corresponding to the substitute string in the speech recognition data storage unit when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has been stored in the substitute string storage unit,

acquire priority input device information by priority input device information acquisition unit;

display, on display unit, input criteria, wherein when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition unit indicates that the character input device is selected, the basic strings stored in the basic string storage unit is displayed as the input criteria and

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition unit indicates that the speech input device is selected, determines the substitute string corresponding to a target option is stored in the substitute string storage means, and if the substitute string is present, the input criteria display means displays the substitute string as the input criteria and if the substitute string is not present, displays the basic string as the input criteria,

determine whether or not user input through the character input device corresponds to the input criteria displayed on the display unit, and control a game on a basis of the determination result; and

determine whether or not user input through the speech input device corresponds to speech recognition data corresponding to the input criteria displayed on the display unit, and control the game on a basis of the determination result, wherein

the basic strings and the substitute strings are different and the substitute string comprises the basic string and an additional string attached to the corresponding basic string, and

wherein the nurture simulation game device stores an option information table in which a plurality of target option IDs, the basic strings, the substitute strings and the speech recognition data are correlated,

wherein when the speech input device is selected, whether or not the substitute string corresponding to the target option ID is registered in the option information table is determined; and

when there is no substitute string registered in the option information table the basic string and the speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used and

when the substitute string is registered in the option information table, the substitute string and speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used.

12. A computer-readable information storage medium in which is stored a program for having a computer to function as a nurture simulation game device which displays input strings on a game screen as options whereby the player selects the options using one of a character input device and a speech input device, comprising:

storing a plurality of basic strings in a basic string storage unit;

storing a substitute string, corresponding to each of at least one of the plurality of basic strings stored in the basic strings storage unit, in substitute string storage unit when the basic string is not suited for speech recognition and have potential to lead to a drop in speech recognition rate;

storing speech recognition data corresponding to the basic string in the speech recognition data storage unit when the substitute string corresponding to basic strings has not been stored in the substitute string storage unit, and

storing speech recognition data corresponding to the substitute string in the speech recognition data storage unit when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has been stored in the substitute string storage unit;

acquiring priority input device information by a priority input device information acquisition unit;

displaying, on display unit, input criteria, wherein

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition unit indicates that the character input device is selected, the basic strings stored in the basic string storage unit is displayed as the input criteria and

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition unit indicates that the speech input device is selected, determining the substitute string corresponding to a target option is stored in the substitute string storage unit, and if the substitute string is present, displaying the substitute string as the input criteria and if the substitute string is not present, displaying the basic string as the input criteria;

determining whether or not user input through the character input device corresponds to the input criteria displayed on the display unit, and controlling a game on a basis of the determination result; and

determining whether or not user input through the speech input device corresponds to speech recognition data corresponding to the input criteria displayed on the display unit, and controlling the game on a basis of the determination result, wherein

the basic strings and the substitute strings are different and the substitute string comprises the basic string and an additional string attached to the corresponding basic string, and

wherein the nurture simulation game device stores an option information table in which a plurality of target option IDs, the basic strings, the substitute strings and the speech recognition data are correlated,

wherein when the speech input device is selected, whether or not the substitute string corresponding to the target option ID is registered in the option information table is determined; and

when there is no substitute string registered in the option information table, the basic string and the speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used and

when the substitute string is registered in the option information table, the substitute string and speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used.

13. A nurture simulation game device which displays input strings on a game screen as options whereby the player selects the options using one of a character input device and a speech input device, the nurture simulation game device comprising:

basic string storage means for storing a plurality of basic strings;

substitute string storage means for storing a substitute string corresponding to each of at least one of the plurality of basic strings stored in the basic string storage means when the basic string is not suited for speech recognition and have potential to lead to a drop in speech recognition rate;

speech recognition data storage means which,

stores speech recognition data corresponding to the basic string when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has not been stored in the substitute string storage means,

and stores speech recognition data corresponding to the substitute string when the substitute string corresponding to the basic strings has been stored in the substitute string storage means,

priority input device information acquisition means for acquiring priority input device information;

input criteria display means which,

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that the character input device is selected, displays, as input criteria, the basic strings stored in the basic string storage means, and

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that the speech input device is selected, determines the substitute string corresponding to a target option is stored in the substitute string storage means, and if the substitute string is present, the input criteria display means displays the substitute string as the input criteria and if the substitute string is not present, displays the basic string as the input criteria;

determination means which,

when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that the character input device is selected, determines whether or not the input thereof corresponds to the input criteria displayed by the input criteria display means,

and when the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means indicates that the speech input device is selected, determines whether or not the input thereof corresponds to the speech recognition data correlated with the input criteria displayed by the input criteria display means; and

control means for controlling the game on a basis of the result of determination by the determination means, wherein

the control means comprises means for controlling the probability of predetermined game events on the basis of the priority input device information acquired by the priority input device information acquisition means and

the game device is connectable to the character input device and the speech input device, wherein the basic strings and the substitute strings are different and the substitute string comprises the basic string and an additional string attached to the corresponding basic string, and

wherein the nurture simulation game device stores an option information table in which a plurality of target option IDs, the basic strings, the substitute strings and the speech recognition data are correlated,

wherein when the speech input device is selected, whether or not the substitute string corresponding to the target option ID is registered in the option information table is determined; and

when there is no substitute string registered in the option information table, the basic string and the speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used and

when the substitute string is registered in the option information table, the substitute string and speech recognition data corresponding to the target option ID is used.