Video game processing apparatus and video game processing program

• US 9,218,706 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Ichimura, Ryutaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/687,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/08 Constructional details or arrangements, e.g. housing, wiring, connections, cabinets, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6036 for offering a minigame in combination with a main game
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/005 for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/28 for preventing unauthorised access to the controlling member or its movement to a command position
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A video game processing apparatus is provided. Game information on first and second game modes for a video game is stored in a game information memory. In a case where a video game start request is received, progress of the video game in a first game mode is controlled in accordance with an instruction inputted using a first controller. A player is induced to carry out a game mode shifting operation in a case where it is determined that predetermined conditions are satisfied. A second controller is caused to move from a storage state to an exposed state in a case where the game mode shifting operation is received. Progress of the video game in the second game mode is controlled in accordance with an instruction inputted using the second controller in a case where the second controller is caused to move to the exposed state.

Claims

1. A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game by displaying an operational object operated by a player on a display screen, the progress of the video game containing a fight against an enemy character, the video game processing apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store game information on a first game mode and a second game mode for the video game, the second game mode being different from the first game mode;

a receiver configured to receive a video game start request from the player;

a first controller configured to control the progress of the video game in the first game mode in accordance with an instruction inputted using a first controller when the video game start request receiver receives the video game start request;

a processor configured to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied,

to induce the player to carry out a game mode shifting operation when the predetermined condition is satisfied, to determine whether a game mode shifting operation is received from the player, and to cause a second controller to move from a storage state to an exposed state when the game mode shifting operation is received, the game mode shifting operation being an operation to shift a game mode;

and

the second controller configured to control the progress of the video game in the second game mode in accordance with an instruction inputted using the second controller when the processor causes the second controller to move to the exposed state,

wherein the second controller is different than the first controller, and

in the storage state, the second controller is unexposed to the player.

2. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the game mode shifting operation causes the first controller to move to a predetermined evacuation position, the predetermined evacuation position not being within an operational range of the second controller.

3. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first controller is a steering type controller,

the first game mode is a drive mode in which the player operates a vehicle,

the second controller is a lever type controller provided with a trigger, and

the second game mode is a battle mode in which a character operated by the player carries out a battle against the enemy character.

4. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a card receiver configured to receive an input of card information, the card information containing identification information of the operational object; and

a display configured to display the operational object on a display screen with a form for each of the first game mode and the second game mode,

wherein the memory is further configured to store operational object information regarding at least one kind of the operational object, the operational object information indicating the form of the operational object in the first game mode and the form of the operational object in the second game mode,

the processor is configured to specify the operational object of the player in each of the first game mode and the second game mode on the basis of the card information received by the card receiver, the operational object indicating a predetermined number of pieces of the operational object information stored in the memory.

5. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the processor applies an experience point of the game in the first mode and an experience point of the game in the second mode to the card information received by the card receiver.

6. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the game information contains correlation information that is information indicating a content of a process to be carried out in accordance with a combination of an instruction that is inputted using the second controller in the second game mode and a content that is instructed to the enemy character, and

the second controller is configured to refer to the correlation information to determine the content of the process carried out in accordance with the instruction inputted using the second controller.

7. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor applies an experience point of the game in the first mode to an experience point of the game in the second mode.

8. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second game mode is a battle based on results of the first game mode.

9. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor is further configured to specify a content influenced by the first game mode to the second game mode.

10. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the content influenced includes a changed value of a status of a player character operated by the player.

11. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the predetermined condition occurs based on the player finishing a driving course.

12. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the predetermined condition occurs based on a predetermined period of time elapsing.

13. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the predetermined condition occurs independently of a control result of the first game mode.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a video game processing program for controlling progress of a video game by displaying an operational object operated by a player on a display screen, the progress of the video game including a fight against an enemy character, the video game processing program causing a computer to execute:

receiving a video game start request from the player;

controlling the progress of the video game in a first game mode on the basis of game information stored in a memory in accordance with an instruction inputted using a first controller when the video game start request is received, the game information being related to the first game mode and a second game mode of the video game, the second game mode being different from the first game mode;

determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied;

inducing the player to carry out a game mode shifting operation when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the game mode shifting operation being an operation to shift a game mode;

receiving the game mode shifting operation from the player;

causing a second controller to move from a storage state to an exposed state when the game mode shifting operation is received; and

controlling the progress of the video game in the second game mode in accordance with an instruction inputted using the second controller when the second controller is caused to move to the exposed state,

wherein the second controller is different than the first controller, and

in the storage state, the second controller is unexposed to the player.