VIDEO GAME PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VIDEO GAME PROCESSING PROGRAM

• US 20130137514A1
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: ICHIMURA, Ryutaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,218,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 game information memory for storing game information on a first game mode and a second game mode for the video game, the second game mode being a game mode different from the first game mode;

a video game start request receiver for receiving a video game start request from the player;

a first controller for controlling progress of the video game in the first game mode in accordance with an instruction inputted using a first controller in a case where the video game start request receiver receives the video game start request;

a first determiner for determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not;

a game mode shifting operation inducing informer for inducing the player to carry out a game mode shifting operation in a case where the first determiner determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the game mode shifting operation being an operation set up as an operation to shift a game mode;

a game mode shifting operation receiver for receiving the game mode shifting operation by the player;

a second controller mover for causing a second controller to move from a storage state to an exposed state in a case where the game mode shifting operation receiver receives the game mode shifting operation; and

a second controller for controlling progress of the video game in the second game mode in accordance with an instruction inputted using the second controller in a case where the second controller mover causes the second controller to move to the exposed state.

2. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the game mode shifting operation is an operation to cause a position of the first controller to move to a predetermined evacuation position, the predetermined evacuation position not lying in the way when to operate the second controller.

3. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first controller has a steering shape,

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

wherein the second controller is a lever-shaped controller provided with a trigger, and

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

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

an operational object information memory for storing operational object information, the operational object information containing information regarding at least one kind of the operational object, the information indicating a form in the first game mode and a form in the second game mode;

a card information receiver for receiving an input of card information, the card information containing identification information of the operational object;

an operational object specifier for specifying an operational object as an operational object of the player in each of the game modes on the basis of the card information received by the card information receiver, the operational object indicating a predetermined number of pieces of operational object information among the operational object information stored in the operational object information memory; and

an operational object display controller for displaying the operational object specified by the operational object specifier on the display screen with a form according to each of the game mode,

wherein the second controller includes a reflector that reflects a result of progress of the video game in the first game mode to progress of the video game in the second game mode.

5. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the game information contains correlation information that is information indicating the content of a process to be carried out in accordance with a combination of an instruction that can be inputted using the second controller in the second game mode and the content that can be instructed to the enemy character, and

wherein the second controller includes a process content determiner for referring to the correlation information to determine the content of a process carried out in accordance with the instruction inputted using the second controller.

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

determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not;

inducing the player to carry out a game mode shifting operation in a case where it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied in the determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, the game mode shifting operation being an operation set up as an operation to shift the game mode;

receiving the game mode shifting operation by the player;

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

controlling progress of the video game in the second game mode on the basis of the game information in accordance with an instruction inputted using the second controller in a case where the second controller is cased to move to the exposed state.