Game machine and data storage medium having game program stored therein

• US 8,591,327 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishimura, Katsuhito
• Primary Examiner(s): Torimiro, Adetokunbo O
• Application Number:
  US10/833,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,499 Days
• Field of Search: 463/22, 463/31, 463/32, 463/34, 463/43, 463/6
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car

Abstract

If a random number is larger than a selection coefficient SF, a room unit RU is given a high priority for disposition in a map area. If the random number is not larger than the selection coefficient, no room unit is disposed on the map area. Also, if a selected open door is a door set in a room unit, the selection coefficient is multiplied by a multiplication factor, and then the multiplication result and the random number are compared. As the multiplication factor is larger, a passage unit is given a higher priority for disposition on the map area. By adjusting the selection coefficient and the multiplication factor, it is possible to generate a map in consideration of a ratio of units of two types to be disposed on the map area and an affinity between these units for connection.

Claims

1. A game machine for generating a game map which defines an area where an object can move in the course of a game, the game machine comprising:

at least one unit storage location having previously stored therein a first unit type, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and forming the game map, and at least one second unit type, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and is different in type from the first unit type;

first disposing programmed logic circuitry which selects one unit from the first unit type and the at least one second unit type that are stored in the at least one unit storage location, and disposes the selected unit on the map area; and

second disposing programmed logic circuitry which repeats a process of selecting a unit which is connectable to an unconnected connecting portion included in a unit already disposed on the map area and a process of disposing the selected unit on the map area, wherein

the second disposing programmed logic circuitry includes;

an unconnected connecting portion extractor which extracts the unconnected connecting portion from the connecting portions included in the unit already disposed on the map area;

a random number generator which generates a random number within a predetermined range;

a selection coefficient setter which sets a selection coefficient to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor, said selection coefficient determining the probability that two different unit types will be connected and thus controlling the connection affinity between unit types;

a unit selector which compares the random number generated by the random number generator with the selection coefficient, and based at least in part on the result, selects one unit from the first unit type and the at least one second unit type; and

a unit disposing mechanism which extracts the one unit selected by the unit selector from the first unit type and the at least one second unit type stored in the at least one unit storage location, connects a connecting portion included in the one unit to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor, and disposes the one unit on the map area.

2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the first unit type is a unit zone representing a passage on the game map, and

at least one of the at least one second unit types is a unit zone representing a room having an area larger than an area of the first unit on the game map.

3. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the selection coefficient setter sets different selection coefficients based on a type of a unit including the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor.

4. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

the selection coefficient setter sets different selection coefficients based on the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor.

5. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one unit storage location has previously stored therein a first unit group formed by a plurality of the first unit types and at least one second unit group formed by a plurality of the at least one second unit types, the unit selector compares the random number with the selection coefficient based on the predetermined criteria, and selects one unit group from the first unit group and the at least one second unit group, and

the unit disposing mechanism extracts a unit from the one unit group selected by the unit selector from the first unit group and the at least one second unit group, and disposes the extracted unit on the map area.

6. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein when the connecting portion included in the one unit selected by the unit selector cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor for disposing the one unit on the map area, the unit disposing mechanism extracts another unit from the first unit type and the at least one second unit type, connects a connecting portion included in the other unit to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor, and disposes the another unit on the map area.

7. The game machine according to claim 6, wherein when the connecting portion included in the another unit cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor for disposing the other unit on the map area, the unit disposing mechanism closes the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor.

8. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein

after the number of at least one second unit types disposed by the first and second disposing programmed logic circuitry on the map area has reached a predetermined number, the second disposing programmed logic circuitry stops disposing the at least one second unit types on the map area.

9. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising

third disposing programmed logic circuitry which extracts, when the number of at least one second unit types disposed by the first and second disposing programmed logic circuitry on the map area has reached a predetermined number, a new unit of the first unit type stored in the at least one unit storage location, connects a connecting portion included in the new unit to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extracting extractor, and disposes the new unit on the map area.

10. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein

when there is another unconnected connecting portion within a predetermined area on the map area with reference to the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor, the third disposing programmed logic circuitry disposes the new unit to connect the extracted connecting portion and the other unconnected connecting portion together via the new unit, and

when there is no other unconnected connecting portion within the predetermined area on the map area, the third disposing programmed logic circuitry closes the connecting portion extracted by the unconnected connecting portion extractor.

11. The game machine of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said first and at least one second unit types are disposed on the map area at the same time, the plurality of unit types forming the game map.

12. A non-transitory storage medium having stored therein a game program causing a computer to perform a process of generating a game map which defines an area where an object can move in the course of a game,

the computer having previously stored therein a first unit type, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and forming the game map, and at least one second unit type, which is a unit zone including at least one connecting portion and is different in type from the first unit type, the game program causing the computer to perform the process comprising:

selecting one unit from the previously-stored first unit type and the at least one second unit type, and disposing the selected unit on the map area; and

repeating a process of selecting a unit which is connectable to an unconnected connecting portion included in a unit already disposed on the map area and a process of disposing the selected unit on the map area, wherein

the repeating includes;

extracting the unconnected connecting portion from the connecting portions included in the unit already disposed on the map area;

generating a random number within a predetermined range;

setting a selection coefficient to the connecting portion extracted in the extracting, said selection coefficient determining the probability that two different unit types will be connected and thus controlling the connection affinity between unit types;

comparing the random number generated in the random number generating step with the selection coefficient, and based at least in part on the result, selecting one unit from the first unit type and the at least one second unit type; and

extracting the one unit selected in the unit selecting step from the first unit type and the at least one second unit type previously stored, connecting a connecting portion included in the one unit to the connecting portion extracted in the extracting, and disposing the one unit on the map area.

13. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 12, wherein

the first unit type is a unit zone representing a passage on the game map, and

at least one of the at least one second unit types is a unit zone representing a room having an area larger than an area of the first unit on the game map.

14. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 12, wherein

in the setting, different selection coefficients are set based on a type of a unit including the connecting portion extracted in the extracting.

15. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 12, wherein

in the setting, different selection coefficients are set based on the connecting portion extracted in the extracting.

16. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 12, wherein

the computer has previously stored therein a first unit group formed by a plurality of the first units and at least one second unit group formed by a plurality of the at least one second unit types,

in the selecting, the random number is compared with the selection coefficient based on the predetermined criteria, and one unit group is selected from the first unit group and the at least one second unit group, and

in the disposing, a unit is extracted from the one unit group selected in the unit selecting step from the first unit group and the at least one second unit group, and the extracted unit is disposed on the map area.

17. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 12, wherein

in the disposing, when the connecting portion included in the one unit selected in the selecting cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted in the extracting for disposing the one unit on the map area, another one unit is extracted from the first unit type and the at least one second unit type, a connecting portion included in the other unit is connected to the connecting portion extracted in the extracting, and the other unit is disposed on the map area.

18. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 17, wherein

in the disposing, when the connecting portion included in the other unit cannot be connected to the connecting portion extracted in the extracting for disposing the other unit on the map area, the connecting portion extracted in the extracting is closed.

19. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 12, wherein

in the repeating, after the number of at least one second unit types disposed in the first and second disposing steps on the map area has reached a predetermined number, disposing the at least one second unit types on the map area is stopped.

20. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 12, wherein the game program further causes the computer to perform a process of extracting, when the number of at least one second unit types disposed in the first and second disposing steps on the map area has reached a predetermined number, a new unit of the previously-stored first unit type, connecting a connecting portion included in the new unit to the connecting portion extracted by the extracting the unconnected connecting portion, and disposing the new unit on the map area.

21. The storage medium having stored therein the game program according to claim 20, wherein

in the extracting a new unit,

when there is another unconnected connecting portion within a predetermined area on the map area with reference to the connecting portion extracted in the extracting the unconnected connecting portion, the new unit is disposed to connect the extracted connecting portion and the other unconnected connecting portion together via the new unit, and

when there is no other unconnected connecting portion within the predetermined area on the map area, the connecting portion extracted in the extracting the unconnected connecting portion is closed.

22. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein a plurality of said first and at least one second unit types are disposed on the map area at the same time, the plurality of unit types forming the game map.

23. A method of dynamically generating a game map on a game machine by assembling a variable number of building pieces, said pieces including a plurality of unit types including at least an area unit type and at least a connection unit type, wherein each of the units is provided with at least one opening for connection to another unit, the method comprising:

deploying a unit on a game map of the game machine;

choosing an unconnected opening of a deployed unit, said unconnected opening having a selection coefficient assigned thereto;

generating a random number;

selecting, based at least in part on said random number and said selection coefficient and from amongst said plurality of unit types, a unit type to be connected to the unconnected opening, said selection coefficient determining the probability that two different unit types will be connected and thus controlling the connection affinity between said plurality of unit types;

deploying and connecting an opening of the randomly selected unit type to the unconnected opening;

repeating the choosing, assigning, randomly selecting, and deploying and connecting until a determined number of area units has been deployed on the game map of the game machine; and

once the selected number of area units has been deployed, connecting or sealing off unconnected openings remaining on the units deployed on the game map of the game machine.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein each unit type includes a plurality of different units, and wherein the randomly selecting further includes randomly choosing, from the plurality of different units of the randomly determined unit type, a unit to be connected to the unconnected opening.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the method further includes:

varying the selection coefficient based at least in part on the unit type to which the unconnected opening belongs.

26. The method of claim 23 including assigning a predetermined weighting factor as said selection coefficient.