Simulation device for fostering a virtual creature

• US 5,966,526 A
• Filed: 06/11/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai, Kabushiki Kaisha WiZ
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai, Kabushiki Kaisha WiZ
• Inventors: Yokoi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fiul, Dan
• Application Number:
  US08/873,223
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500.32, 395/500.38, 446/143, 446/175, 463/1, 463/40
• US Class Current: 703/11
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]

Abstract

With a purpose of providing a simulation device for fostering a virtual creature where a virtual creature is grown while disciplining or training the virtual creature when a player conducts a corresponding treatment in response to a call or a request from the virtual creature in a screen, the device is provided with mark display units displaying a plurality of kinds of treatments in respect of fostering the virtual creature individually by marks and key switches for inputting a corresponding treatment by selecting a specific mark from the plurality of marks, is provided with a storing unit for storing control data in respect of fostering the virtual creature, a control unit reading corresponding control data from the storing unit when the treatment in respect of fostering the virtual creature is inputted by operating the key switches and conducting control processing in respect of fostering the virtual creature based on the read control data and is provided with a display unit for displaying the fostered virtual creature.

Claims

1. A simulation device for fostering a virtual creature comprising:

means for inputting a treatment for fostering the virtual creature;

a storing unit for storing control data for fostering the virtual creature;

a control unit, wherein when the treatment for fostering the virtual creature is input from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the treatment is read from the storing unit and the virtual creature is fostered based on the read control data, wherein the storing unit stores a plurality of virtual creatures having different appearances;

means for connecting the simulation device for fostering a virtual creature to another simulation device for fostering a virtual creature;

means for determining whether coupling of both of the virtual creatures succeeds when the simulation device for fostering a virtual creature is connected to another simulation device for fostering a virtual creature via the connecting means;

a display unit for displaying a result of a determination of the determining means, wherein when the coupling has succeeded, a virtual creature born by the coupling is displayed by the display unit.

2. The simulation device for fostering a virtual creature according to claim 1:

wherein the control unit is provided with calling means wherein the virtual creature makes a call in a procedure of growing the virtual creature;

wherein the inputting means is provided with a means for taking care of the virtual creature and a means for disciplining the virtual creature in response to the call from the virtual creature;

wherein the control unit forms personality data based on degrees of care and discipline which have been conducted in a growth procedure while the virtual creature is growing;

wherein the formed personality data is stored in the storing unit; and

wherein the control unit determines personality data of the born virtual creature based on the personality data of both of the coupled virtual creatures.