Nurturing simulation apparatus for virtual creatures

• US 6,213,871 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• 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): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/803,197
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 446/408, 434/307.R, 345/121, 345/145, 345/501, 345/473, 345/952, 358/1.17, 273/460, 463/40-42, 463/7, 703/11
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• 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 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

It is a purpose of this invention to provide a simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature for growing the virtual creature while disciplining or training the virtual creature by treatments conducted by a player in response to a call or a request from the virtual creature in a screen. The apparatus is provided with mark display units 17 and 19 individually displaying a plurality of kinds of the treatments in respect of nurturing the virtual creature individually by marks 17a, 17b, 17c . . . , 19a, 19b, 19c, . . . and is provided with key switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 for inputting a corresponding one of the treatments by selecting a specific mark from the plurality of marks. It has a storing unit for storing control data in respect of nurturing the virtual creature and a control unit whereby when one of the treatments for nurturing the virtual creature is inputted by operating the key switches SW1, SW2 and SW3, the control data in correspondence therewith is read from the storing unit and a control processing in respect of nurturing the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data, and a virtual creature display unit for displaying the fostered virtual creature.

Claims

1. A simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature comprising:

a mark display unit for displaying a plurality of kinds of marks corresponding to treatments for nurturing the virtual creature on a predetermined area of a display;

inputting means for inputting a corresponding one of the treatments for nurturing the virtual creature by selecting a specific one of the plurality of marks;

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

a control unit, whereby when one of the treatments for nurturing the virtual creature input from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the input treatment is read from the storing unit and a control processing for nurturing the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data; and

a virtual creature display unit for displaying the virtual creature on an area adjacent to the plurality of marks corresponding to treatments on the predetermined area of the display.

2. A simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature comprising:

a mark display unit for displaying a plurality of kinds of marks corresponding to treatments for nurturing the virtual creature on a predetermined area of a display;

inputting means for inputting a corresponding one of the treatments for nurturing the virtual creature by selecting a specific one of the plurality of marks;

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

a control unit, whereby when one of the treatments for nurturing the virtual creature is input from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the input treatment is read from the storing unit and a control processing for nurturing the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data; and

a virtual creature display unit for displaying the virtual creature on an area adjacent to the plurality of marks corresponding to treatments on the predetermined area of the display;

wherein the control unit comprises setting means for setting one or more growth stages in accordance with growing the virtual creature;

wherein the storing unit stores a plurality kinds of virtual creatures having different appearances at each of the growth stages; and

wherein the control unit further comprises calling means for indicating that the virtual creature makes a call in a procedure of growing the virtual creature;

determining means for determining the contents of the treatments in response to the calls during the growth procedure when the virtual creature reaches a growth stages;

selecting means for selecting one of the virtual creatures from the stored plurality of kinds of virtual creatures based on a result of a determination by the determining means; and

changing means for changing the virtual creature which has reached a growth stage into a selected one of the virtual creatures.

3. The simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature according to claim 2,

wherein the storing unit stores data corresponding to a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having different appearances and personalities at each of the growth stages;

wherein the calling means indicates a call necessary for growing the virtual creature and a call requiring no emergency;

wherein the inputting means is provided with a means for taking care of the virtual creature in response to the call necessary for growing the virtual creature and a means for disciplining the virtual creature in response to the call requiring no emergency; and

wherein the determining means determines a degree of care and a degree of discipline.

4. A simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature comprising:

a mark display unit for displaying a plurality of kinds of marks corresponding to treatments for nurturing the virtual creature on a predetermined area of a display;

inputting means for inputting a corresponding one of the treatments for nurturing a virtual creature by selecting a specific one of the plurality of marks;

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

a control unit, whereby when one of the treatments for nurturing the virtual creature is input from the inputting means, the control data corresponding to the input treatment is read from the storing unit and a control processing for nurturing the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data;

a virtual creature display unit for displaying the virtual creature on an area adjacent to the plurality of marks corresponding to treatments on the predetermined area of the display;

wherein the control unit comprises setting means for setting one or more growth stages in accordance with growing the virtual creature;

wherein the storing unit stores data corresponding to a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having different appearances at each of the growth stages;

wherein the control unit further comprises calling means for indicating that the virtual creature makes a call during a growth procedure;

determining means for determining the contents of the treatments in response to the calls during the growth procedure when the virtual creature reaches a growth stages;

selecting means for selecting one of the virtual creatures from the stored plurality of kinds of virtual creatures based on a result of a determination by the determining means; and

changing means for changing the virtual creature which has reached a growth stage into a selected one of the virtual creatures;

wherein the simulation apparatus further comprises connecting means for electrically connecting the simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature to another simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature; and

wherein the control unit further comprises warring means for simulating a war based on battle data from the other simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature input via the connecting means and battle data of the simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature; and

win or lose determining means for determining which virtual creatures wins or loses the war.

5. The simulation apparatus for nurturing a virtual creature according to claim 4,

wherein the storing unit stores data corresponding to a plurality of kinds of virtual creatures having different appearances and powers at each of the growth stages;

wherein the calling means provides a call for growing the virtual creature and a call necessary for promoting a power;

wherein the inputting means includes means for taking care of the virtual creature in response to the call for growing the virtual creature and means for conducting training in response to the call for promoting the power; and

wherein the determining means determines a degree of care and a degree of training.