Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-31
2001-11-27
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S002000, C463S006000, C463S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322451
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a game machine and information storage medium for a multi-player type of game.
BACKGROUND ART
There have been developed and actually used various multi-player type of game machines in which a plurality of players can enjoy the same game at the same time. In such a game, for example, each player can be provided with a game machine, each game machine being designed to output game images and sounds toward the corresponding player. Each player thus can enjoy a fight or cooperation with other players in the game while viewing the outputted game images and hearing the outputted game sounds.
However, such game machines had the following problem. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a player
500
has to sit on a seat
510
, for example, when he or she desires to fight against another player
502
. On the other hands, the player
500
has to sit on a seat
512
when he or she wants to fight against a further player
504
. When the player
500
desires to fight against the player
502
and if the seat
510
is not empty, the player
500
has to wait until the seat
510
becomes empty. In the conventional game machine, thus, the freedom to select an opponent player was limited.
For a tournament type of game (in which only a winner can get the right to continue the game), a player
504
who is winning successive victories can not play a fighting game against another player until the next challenger sits on the seat
512
.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was devised in the light of the above described technical problems and has as an objective thereof the provision of a game machine and information storage medium that make it possible for a player to freely select another player for playing together.
In order to solve the above technical problems, a game machine of the present invention for a multi-player type of game in which a plurality of players play a game, comprises: means for outputting information of other players with whom a player can play a game in a common game space; means for a player to select at least one player from among other players for playing together, based on the other players' information; and means for performing game computation for enabling a player and the selected player to play a game in a common game space.
According to the present invention, a player can receive information of other players. While referring to other players' information, the player selects a desired player among other players. Thus, the player can enjoy a fighting or cooperation against or together with the selected player in a common game space. According to the present invention, a player can freely select any of other players for playing the game together while referring to the other players' information. Consequently, it can be prevented that a player is forced to play a game with any unwanted player who is extremely stronger or weaker than the player. The other players' information gives a player a feeling that he or she is playing with human players rather than a computer, improving the virtual reality. The other players' information also stimulates the player to play a fighting or cooperation game against or together with other players.
The other players' information may include at least one of information of other players' game scores, information of other players' histories, and information of moving bodies controlled by other players. Thus, a player can get helpful information for selecting another player. More particularly, a player can recognize a difference in game skills between the player and other players by referring to the game score information or history information (such as information of summed scores or previous scores). By the information of moving bodies controlled by other players, a player can also easily confirm the compatibility with the player's own moving body. The term “moving body” is an object to be controlled by a player and may include a character, robot, vehicle, tank, aircraft, spaceship, ship, speedboat, ski, surfboard, ball, and bullet.
The information of other players' histories may be retrieved and outputted based on identification information inputted by other players. The use of ID information enables to retrieve and output the history information in a simple and easy manner.
The other players' information may include parameter information of moving bodies controlled by other players. Thus, a player can obtain parameter information relating to all the other moving bodies (e.g., remodeling information). Such parameter information is helpful when a player selects a desired player among other players for playing a game together. In addition, game players can boast about the ability of the moving bodies controlled by them.
The other players' information may include message information inputted by other players. This can increase the variety of information relating to other players and also the virtual reality.
When a player has not selected another player for playing together, game computation may be performed to implement a game play between the player and a computer in a common game space. Thus, a player who does not want to play with any other player can enjoy a game play.
The game machine may further comprise means for reserving at least one of: other players with whom a player can play a game; and a game space in which the player can play a game with other players. Thus, the player can later play a game together with the selected player who is not able to play at that time. This increases the range of selection for the player. The player can reserve a game play in a game space while referring to other players who are to play a game in that game space.
When a player selects another player who is playing with a different player at that time, a new game play with the selected player may be reserved. Thus, the player can later play the game together with the selected player who is playing with a different player at that time. This can increase the range of selection for the player.
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Namco Ltd.
O'Neill Michael
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
LandOfFree
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