Game system, computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, game processing method and game apparatus

• US 9,999,832 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited, Pokemon
• Original Assignee: Game Freak, Inc., Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohmori, Shigeru, Nagihashi, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, KEVIN M
• Application Number:
  US13/785,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,932 Days
• 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 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/88 Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded

Abstract

A first game execution unit executes a first game. A second game execution unit executes a second game. The second game execution unit sets particular first game data or a first game mode which is accessible in the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when an execution result of the first game does not satisfy a predetermined condition, and sets the particular first game data or the first game mode so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A game system including a single or a plurality of game apparatuses, the game system comprising:

at least one input unit;

a first game execution unit which executes a first game in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the at least one input unit, wherein

the first game execution unit includes a first processing system configured to set a particular first game data to be accessible immediately after a start from a beginning of the first game even if any stages of the first game are not completed; and

a second game execution unit which executes a second game in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the at least one input unit, wherein

the second game execution unit includes

a second processing system having at least one processor, the second processing system configured to

set the particular first game data, which is accessible in the first game immediately after the start from the beginning of the first game, in a storage associated with the second game execution unit so as to be inaccessible in the second game from a start from a beginning of the second game and while an execution result of the first game does not satisfy a predetermined condition, and

set the particular first game data so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the first game execution unit includes:

a first processing system including at least one processor, the first processing system configured to;

determine whether the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition;

enable output of predetermined first data indicating that the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition; and

a first data output unit which outputs the first data, and

the second game execution unit includes

a first data input unit which receives the first data, and

wherein the second processing system is further configured to set the particular first game data which is accessible in the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when the first data is yet to be received, and set the particular first game data so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the first data having been received.

3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein

the first data output unit transmits a signal representing the first data via wireless communication, thereby outputting the first data, and

the first data input unit receives the signal via wireless communication, thereby receiving the first data.

4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the second processing system is further configured to

set a particular faculty or area existing in a game world of the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when the execution result of the first game does not satisfy the predetermined condition, and set the particular faculty or area so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition.

5. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the second processing unit is further configured to

set a game mode of a particular degree of difficulty which is accessible in the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when the execution result of the first game does not satisfy the predetermined condition, and set the game mode of the particular degree of difficulty so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition.

6. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the first game execution unit includes

a first display control unit configured to cause a display device to display a setting change screen for urging the player to select whether or not to use the particular first game data, and

the first display control unit further configured to cause the display device to display the setting change screen in a different display mode in accordance with whether the particular first game data is set so as to be accessible by the second game execution unit.

7. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the first processing system is further configured to set

particular second game data in a storage associated with the first game execution unit or a second game mode which is accessible in the second game so as to be inaccessible in the first game when an execution result of the second game does not satisfy a second predetermined condition, and set the particular second game data or the second game mode so as to be accessible also in the first game in response to the execution result of the second game having satisfied the second predetermined condition.

8. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first game apparatus which includes a first input unit of the at least one input unit and the first game execution unit; and

a second game apparatus which includes a second input unit of the at least one input unit and the second game execution unit.

9. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first storage medium having stored therein a first game program for causing the game apparatus to operate as the first game execution unit; and

a second storage medium having stored therein a second game program for causing the game apparatus to operate as the second game execution unit, wherein

the game apparatus can selectively access one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium.

10. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the first game and the second game are different versions of a same game title.

11. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having stored therein a game program to be executed in a game system including a single or a plurality of game apparatuses and comprising at least one input unit, the game program causing a computer of the game apparatus to execute:

a first game execution process of executing a first game in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the at least one input unit, wherein the first game execution process includes setting a particular first game data to be accessible immediately after a start from a beginning of the first game even if any stages of the first game are not completed; and

a second game execution process of executing a second game in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the at least one input unit, wherein

the second game execution process includes a second setting process of setting the particular first game data, which is accessible in the first game immediately after the start from the beginning of the first game, in a storage associated with the second execution unit so as to be inaccessible in the second game from a start from a beginning of the second game and while an execution result of the first game does not satisfy a predetermined condition, and setting the particular first game data so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition.

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein

the first game execution process includes:

determining whether the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition;

enabling output of predetermined first data indicating that the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition; and

outputting the first data, and

wherein the second game execution process includes;

receiving the first data;

setting the particular first game data which is accessible in the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when the first data is yet to be received; and

setting the particular first game data so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the first data having been received.

12. A game processing method performed in a game system including a single or a plurality of game apparatuses and comprising at least one input unit, the game processing method comprising:

executing a first game process in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the at least one input unit, wherein the first game process includes setting a particular first game data to be accessible immediately after a start from a beginning of the first game even if any stages of the first game are not completed; and

executing a second game process in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the at least one input unit, wherein

the second game process includes a second setting process of setting the particular first game data, which is accessible in the first game process immediately after the start from the beginning of the first game, in a storage associated with the second execution unit so as to be inaccessible in the second game process from a start from a beginning of the second game and while an execution result of the first game process does not satisfy a predetermined condition, and setting the particular first game data so as to be accessible also in the second game process in response to the execution result of the first game process having satisfied the predetermined condition.

16. The game processing method according to claim 12, wherein

the first game process includes:

determining whether the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition;

enabling output of predetermined first data indicating that the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition; and

outputting the first data, and

wherein the second game process includes;

receiving the first data;

setting the particular first game data which is accessible in the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when the first data is yet to be received; and

setting the particular first game data so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the first data having been received.

13. A game apparatus comprising:

an input unit;

a first game execution unit configured to execute a first game in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the input unit, wherein the first game execution unit includes a first processing system configured to set a particular first game data to be accessible immediately after a start from a beginning of the first game even if any stages of the first game are not completed; and

a second game execution unit configured to execute a second game in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the input unit, wherein

the second game execution unit is further configured to

set the particular first game data, which is accessible in the first game immediately after the start from the beginning of the first game, in a storage associated with the second execution unit so as to be inaccessible in the second game from a start from a beginning of the second game and while an execution result of the first game does not satisfy a predetermined condition, and

set the particular first game data so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition.

15. The game apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the first game execution unit is further configured to perform:

determining whether the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition;

enabling output of predetermined first data indicating that the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition; and

outputting the first data, and

wherein the second game execution unit is further configured to perform;

receiving the first data;

setting the particular first game data or the first game mode which is accessible in the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when the first data is yet to be received; and

setting the particular first game data or the first game mode so as to be accessible also in the second game in response to the first data having been received.