Video game control program and video game device

• US 7,713,126 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Maeda, Kensaku, Suzuki, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US11/481,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070010325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/7, 463/9, 463 30- 33, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

In a video game device which performs a video game wherein a game character or unit moves through a plurality of paths including a plurality of branch points according to an instruction of a player, a first movement control unit displays branch-direction indications enabling the player to select one of a plurality of first branch directions at a branch point on a path in the video game, so that a selected one of the plurality of first branch directions is received from the player. A second movement control unit displays preceding-branch-direction indications enabling the player to select, in advance, one of a plurality of second branch directions at a branch point on a following path in the selected first branch direction, so that a selected one of the plurality of second branch directions is received from the player.

Claims

1. A computer program computer-readably stored in a memory unit which, when executed by a computer having a processing unit, causes the computer having the processing unit to perform a video game control process of a video game wherein a game object moves through a plurality of paths in response to instructions by a player operating an input unit connected to the computer having the processing unit, the video game control process comprising:

allowing the player to designate a destination which the player intends to cause the game object to reach;

detecting a path from a current location of the game object to the designated destination and controlling the game object to move from the current location of the game object toward the designated destination;

if the path detected from the current location of the game object includes a branch, displaying preceding-branch-direction indications in advance before the game object reaches a branch point, and enabling the player to select, in advance before the game object reaches the branch point, one of the preceding-branch directions for the branch point; and

when the game object has reached the branch point, controlling the game object to move along the selected branch direction unless an instruction for selecting a branch direction different from the selected branch direction is given by the player for the branch point.

2. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the program is further configured to cause the computer having the processing unit to perform allowing the player to cancel the branch direction already selected in advance and to change to another branch direction.

3. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the video game control process further comprises displaying forward/backward direction indications;

and enabling the player to select one of forward and backward directions of the game object.

4. The computer program according to claim 3, wherein, when one of the forward/backward direction indications opposite to a direction of movement of the game object is selected, the direction of the movement is reversed and the branch direction selected in advance for the branch point on the following path is canceled.

5. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the video game control process further comprises displaying a stop-mark indication enabling the player to stop and restart movement of the game object.

6. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the video game control process further comprises displaying a free-movement-area indication enabling the player to control the game object to move toward a selected one of a plurality of free-movement directions in a free-movement area on the path.

7. A video game device which is configured to perform a video game control process of a video game wherein a game object moves through a plurality of paths in response to instruction by a player who operates an input means connected to the game device, comprising:

allowing the player to designate a destination which the player intends to cause the game object to reach with the input means;

detecting a path from a current location of the game object to the designated destination and controlling the game object to move from the current location of the game object toward the designated destination;

if the path detected from the current location of the game object includes a branch, displaying preceding-branch-direction indications in advance before the game object reaches a branch point, and enabling the player to select, in advance before the game object reaches the branch point, one of the preceding-branch directions for the branch point; and

when the game object has reached the branch point, controlling the game object to move along the selected branch point, controlling the game object to move along the selected branch direction unless an instruction for selecting a branch direction different from the selected branch is given by the player for the branch point.

8. A computer program computer-readably stored in a memory unit which, when executed by a computer having a processing unit, causes the computer having the processing unit to perform a video game control process of a video game wherein a game object moves through a path including a plurality of branches in response to instructions by a player who operates an input unit connected to the computer, the video game control process comprising:

allowing the player to designate a destination which the player intends to cause the game object to reach;

detecting a path from a current location of the game object to the designated destination and controlling the game object to move from the current location of the game object toward the designated destination;

if the path detected from the current location of the game object includes a plurality of branches, displaying preceding-branch-direction indications in advance for the respective branches before the game object reaches a branch point;

allowing the player to select, in advance before the game object reaches the branch point, one of the preceding-branch directions for the respective branch point; and

controlling the game object to move toward the designated destination along the selected preceding-branch direction.