Game apparatus and game control method for controlling and representing magical ability and power of a player character in an action power control program

• US 8,469,819 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Parker Mcmain
• Original Assignee: Michael Parker Mcmain
• Inventors: McMain, Michael Parker
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/792,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/23, 463/1
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character

Abstract

A game apparatus and game control method for controlling and representing magical ability and power of a player character, in an action power control program is provided. The game apparatus and game control method permits the accessing of an unlimited level of magical power available to the player character by affecting a control button on the input device, which then allows for a determination to be made on a proper amount of the unlimited level of magical power based upon the player character'"'"'s known abilities and vitality to be used, which then in turn permits utilization of said proper amount of the unlimited level of magical power against at least one other character within the video game to obtain a desired result against said at least one other character before a detrimental effect causes a penalty to the player character.

Claims

1. A method of controlling action power of a player character in a video game wherein control of a computing input device interfacing with said method causes a representation of magical power to be displayed on a display screen on a virtual basis, the steps of the method comprising:

a) accessing an unlimited level of magical power available to the player character by affecting a first control button on the computing input device;

b) determining a proper amount of the unlimited level of magical power based upon the player character'"'"'s known abilities and vitality by affecting a second control button on the computing input device; and

c) utilizing said proper amount of the unlimited level of magical power against at least one other character within the video game to obtain a desired result against said at least one other character before a detrimental effect causes a penalty to the player character.

2. The method of controlling action power of a player character in a video game according to claim 1, wherein said video game is operated on a device chosen from the group consisting of a personal computer, a gaming console and a standalone arcade-type computerized apparatus.

3. The method of controlling action power of a player character in a video game according to claim 2, wherein the video game is played on computer network with at least two game players and at least two player characters.

4. The method of controlling action power of a player character in a video game according to claim 1, wherein the detrimental effect to the player character occurs within 30 seconds.

5. The method of controlling action power of a player character in a video game according to claim 1, wherein the effects to the vitality of the player character through the use of the magical power is represented on the display screen in the virtual basis separate from the player character.

6. The method of controlling action power of a player character in a video game according to claim 1, wherein the effects to the vitality of the player character through the use of the magical power is represented on the display screen in the virtual basis on the player character.

7. The method of controlling action power of a player character in a video game according to claim 6, wherein the effects to the vitality of the player character through the use of the magical power represented on the display screen in the virtual basis on the player character is displayed upon a body back side of the player character.

8. A computer-readable storage medium including computer program code for storing an action power control program wherein control of a computing input device interfacing with said computer-readable storage medium causes a representation of magical power to be displayed on a display screen on a virtual basis, said computer-readable storage medium comprising:

a) a first interfacing control input on said computing input device for accessing an unlimited level of magical power available to the player character;

b) a displayable representation of an amount of the accessible unlimited level of magical power based upon the player character'"'"'s known abilities and vitality displayed in response to affecting the first interfacing control input; and

c) a second interfacing control input on said computing input device for utilizing said amount of the accessible unlimited level of magical power against at least one other character within the action power control program to obtain a desired result against said at least one other character before a detrimental effect causes a penalty to the player character.

9. A game apparatus including computer program code located on a computer-readable storage medium for storing an action power control program having at least one player character wherein control of a computing input device interfacing with said game apparatus causes a representation of magical power to be displayed on a display screen on a virtual basis, said game apparatus comprising:

a) the computing input device, the computer-readable storage medium and the display screen all communicating with one another to activate the action power control program for visual display and control thereof by a game player;

b) means for accessing an unlimited level of magical power available to the at least player character by affecting a first control button on the computing input device by the game player;

c) means for determining a proper amount of the unlimited level of magical power to use based upon known abilities and vitality of the at least one player character by affecting a second control button on the computing input device by the game player; and

d) means for utilizing said proper amount of the unlimited level of magical power against at least one other character within the action power control program to obtain a desired result against said at least one other character before a detrimental effect causes a penalty to the at least one player character.

10. A computer program product for controlling action power of a player character in a video game, the video game being arranged for representing an unlimited amount of magical power to be displayed on a display screen on a virtual basis, said computer program product comprising:

a) means for accessing the unlimited amount of magical power available to the player character by affecting a first control button on a computing input device interfacing with said computer program product;

b) means for determining a proper amount of the unlimited amount of magical power based upon known abilities and vitality of the player character by affecting a second control button on the computing input device interfacing with said computer program product; and

c) means for utilizing said proper amount of the unlimited amount of magical power against at least one other character within the video game to obtain a desired result against said at least one other character before a detrimental effect causes a penalty to the player character.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10, operated on a device chosen from the group consisting of a personal computer, a gaming console and a standalone arcade-type computerized apparatus.

12. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the detrimental effect to the player character occurs within 30 seconds.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, wherein the effects to the vitality of the player character through the use of the magical power is represented on the display screen in the virtual basis separate from the player character.

14. The computer program product according to claim 12, wherein the effects to the vitality of the player character through the use of the magical power is represented on the display screen in the virtual basis on the player character.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the effects to the vitality of the player character through the use of the magical power represented on the display screen in the virtual basis on the player character is displayed upon a body back side of the player character.