Game apparatus and game program

• US 6,893,348 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Hirata, Yutaka, Yamagami, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skaarup, Jason
• Application Number:
  US10/340,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20030134681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 700/91, 700/92, 700/93, 700/90, 705/27, 705/14, 463/7, 463/9, 463/29, 463/37, 463/38, 463/40, 463/41, 463/43, 463/44, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

A plurality of programs (a plurality of games) are provided, which are classified so as to each belong to one of a plurality of channels (a plurality of game groups). When a player plays one of the programs, predetermined points in accordance with the playing result are added to channel points for the channel to which the program belongs. Stipulated points are prescribed for each program. When the channel points for the channel to which a program belongs has become equal to or greater than the stipulated points for the program, the program is newly added to the TV program table (game selection screen). As a result, new games are allowed to appear on the game selection screen with various timings and in various orders.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for causing display means to display, among a predetermined number of games provided, a list of games which are allowed for selection by a player, and executing one of the list of games selected by the player,

wherein each of the predetermined number of games is previously classified so as to belong to one of a plurality of game groups,

the game apparatus comprising:

stipulated point storage means for storing stipulated points for each game,

group point storage means for storing group points for each game group,

group point addition means for adding, in response to playing of one of the list of games by the player, predetermined points in accordance with a result of the playing to the group points for the game group to which the game belongs,

game addition means for, when the group points for the game group to which one of the predetermined number of games belongs becomes equal to or greater than the stipulated points for the game, newly adding the game to the list, and

selection screen generation means for generating image data for displaying the list on the display means.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the group point addition means adds, concurrently with adding the predetermined points in accordance with the result of the playing to the group points for the game group to which the game belongs in response to playing of one of the list of games by the player, points fewer than the predetermined points to the group points for the other game groups.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection screen generation means generates the image data such that the list is displayed in the form of a TV program table, with the list of games and game groups being displayed so as to correspond to programs and channels, respectively, on the TV program table.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the TV program table comprises a news program for notifying information concerning progression of the game in the form of news to the player when the news program is selected by the player.

5. A game program which is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium and executed by a game apparatus for causing a display to display, among a predetermined number of games provided, a list of games which are allowed for selection by a player, and executing one of the list of games selected by the player,

wherein each of the predetermined number of games is previously classified so as to belong to one of a plurality of game groups, and

the game program causing a computer comprised in the game apparatus to perform:

a group point addition step of adding, in response to playing of one of the list of games by the player, predetermined points in accordance with a result of the playing to group points for the game group to which the game belongs,

a game addition step of, when the group points for the game group to which one of the predetermined number of games belongs becomes equal to or greater than stipulated points prescribed for the game, newly adding the game to the list, and

a selection screen generation step of generating image data for displaying the list on the display.

6. The game, program according to claim 5, wherein the group point addition step adds, concurrently with adding the predetermined points in accordance with the result of the playing to the group points for the game group to which the game belongs in response to playing of one of the list of games by the player, points fewer than the predetermined points to the group points for the other game groups.

7. The game program according to claim 5, wherein the selection screen generation step generates the image data such that the list is displayed in the form of a TV program table, with the list of games and game groups being displayed so as to correspond to programs and channels, respectively, on the TV program table.

8. The game program according to claim 7, wherein the TV program table comprises a news program for notifying information concerning progression of the game in the form of news to the player when the news program is selected by the player.

9. A game apparatus for causing a display to display, among a predetermined number of games provided, a list of games which are allowed for selection by a player, and executing one of the list of games selected by the player,

wherein each of the predetermined number of games is previously classified so as to belong to one of a plurality of game groups,

the game apparatus comprising:

stipulated point storage for storing stipulated points for each game,

group point storage for storing group points for each game group,

group point adder for adding, in response to playing of one of the list of games by the player, predetermined points in accordance with a result of the playing to the group points for the game group to which the game belongs,

game adder for, when the group points for the game group to which one of the predetermined number of games belongs becomes equal to or greater than the stipulated points for the game, newly adding the game to the list games, and

selection screen generator for generating image data for displaying the list of games on the display.

10. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the group point adder adds, concurrently with adding the predetermined points in accordance with the result of the playing to the group points for the game group to which the game belongs in response to playing of one of the list of games by the player, points fewer than the predetermined points to the group points for the other game groups.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the selection screen generator generates the image data such that the list is displayed in the form of a TV program table, with the list of games and game groups being displayed so as to correspond to programs and channels, respectively, on the TV program table.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the TV program table comprises a news program for notifying information concerning progression of the game in the form of news to the player when the news program is selected by the player.