Comment display-capable game system, comment display control method and storage medium

• US 9,878,247 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Yuto, Yamamoto, Kenichi, Kawano, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US14/629,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00996 Board games available as video games

Abstract

A game system is provided that implements comment display so as not to interfere with operation when a player operates the game. This game system includes a game machine upon which a player plays a game. At least one comment which is to be displayed according to the circumstances of the game on the game machine are displayed to the player upon a game screen. A determination is made as to whether or not the player is being requested to perform an operation in the game, and a predetermined limitation is imposed upon the display of the at least one comment on the basis of the result of this determination.

Claims

1. A game system including a game apparatus upon which a user is enabled to play a game, the game system comprising:

a storage unit storing at least one comment in association with a user; and

a comment display control device configured to obtain the at least one comment associated with the user playing the game from the storage unit and display the at least one comment upon a game screen dedicated for display of a state of the game the user is playing upon the game apparatus, wherein the comment display control device comprises;

an operation request determination device configured to determine whether or not a request is being made to the user to operate the game the user is playing, the game being displayed on the game screen; and

a display limitation device configured to impose a predetermined limitation upon the display of the at least one comment on the game screen for the game the user is playing in a case that the operation request determination device determines that the request is being made, regardless of whether or not an operation to the request is performed by the user.

2. A game system according to claim 1, wherein, in the case that the operation request determination device determines that the request is being made, the display limitation device makes the at least one comment translucent.

3. A game system according to claim 2, wherein the comment display control device shifts the at least one comment in a predetermined direction;

and

in the case that the operation request determination device determines that the request is being made, the display limitation device makes a shifting speed of the at least one comment lower, as compared with when no request to operate the game is being made.

4. A game system according to claim 3, wherein, in the case that the operation request determination device determines that the request is being made, the display limitation device stops the shifting of the at least one comment.

5. A game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the comment display control device shifts the at least one comment in a predetermined direction; and

in the case that the operation request determination device determines that the request is being made, the display limitation device makes a number of pieces of comments appearing newly upon the game screen lower, as compared with a number of pieces appearing when no request to operate the game is being made.

6. A game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the comment display control device performs pop-up display of the at least one comment upon the game screen; and

the display limitation device interrupts the pop-up display of the at least one comment appearing newly upon the game screen, in the case that the operation request determination device determines that the request is being made.

7. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the comment display control device further comprises a limitation cancellation device configured to cancel the imposed predetermined limitation by the display limitation device and return the display of the at least one comment to a normal display on the game screen upon receiving an input from the user during the game the user is playing.

8. A comment display control method for a game system including a storage unit and a game apparatus upon which a user is enabled to play a game, and configured to display at least one comment upon a game screen dedicated for display of a state of the game the user is playing upon the game apparatus, comprising:

a storing step of storing the at least one comment in association with a user in the storage unit;

an obtaining step of obtaining the at least one comment associated with the user playing the game being displayed on the game screen from the storage unit;

an operation request determination step of determining whether or not a request is being made to the user to operate the game the user is playing, the game being displayed on the game screen; and

a display limitation step of imposing a predetermined limitation upon the display of the at least one comment on the game screen for the game the user is playing in a case that the request is being made in the operation request determination step, regardless of whether or not an operation to the request is performed by the user.

9. A storage medium storing a computer program to cause a computer of a game system including a game apparatus upon which a user is enabled to play a game to function as:

a storage unit storing at least one comment in association with a user; and

a comment display control device configured to obtain the at least one comment associated with the user playing the game from the storage unit and display the at least one comment upon a game screen dedicated for display of a state of the game the user is playing upon the game apparatus, wherein the comment display control device comprises;

an operation request determination device configured to determine whether or not a request is being made to the user to operate the game the user is playing, the game being displayed on the game screen; and

a display limitation device configured to impose a predetermined limitation upon the display of the at least one comment on the game screen for the game the user is playing in a case that the operation request determination device determines that the request is being made, regardless of whether or not an operation to the request is performed by the user.