Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Data storage or retrieval
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2003-07-01
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Data storage or retrieval
C463S031000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06585599
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to such a game system that a player can virtually experience an adventure or a battle by causing a character set as an operation object of the player to act on a game screen according to directions from the player.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a game system of this kind, there is known such a role playing game as to make a hero of a game act according to directions from a player and thereby make the hero achieve a final object (such as relief of a heroine) while making the hero experience various battles and adventures. Heretofore, battles in the role playing games are typically the so-called turn systems the action chance is given alternately to the hero and his enemy. In the turn system, however, the game is fragmented, resulting in a lack of the feeling of speed and poor feeling of presence.
In a game system described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2794230, counters are provided for respective characters, and action timing of respective characters are controlled independently for respective characters. In other words, when a certain character takes action, a waiting period is set in a counter concerning that character. When that waiting period has elapsed, the next action is determined according to directions from a player or automatically. Upon determination of the action, an operation preparation time depending on the kind of the action is set. Upon elapse of the operation preparation time, the operation of the character is started. Also when the player is selecting action of the hero, therefore, an enemy character might start his action and attack the hero. As a result, the reality of the battle of the game increases.
In a typical role playing game, various kinds of trick and magic are prepared as choices of the action to be taken by a character. In addition, various kinds of trick and magic bringing about different effects are prepared. In the game system described in the above described Japanese Patent Publication No. 2794230, the preparation time required from selection of the action until execution of the action is changed according to the kind of the action. As the effect brought about by an action becomes higher, preparation time corresponding thereto is set equal to a greater value. In the case where an action bringing a high effect has been selected, therefore, the time required from selection of the action until the action is actually started is prolonged, resulting in slow game tempo and hampered speed feeling of battles. During a time required from the selection of the action until the start of the action, the character is attacked by an opponent and becomes unable to take action. If such a state frequently occurs, the player is forced to select an action requiring a comparatively short preparation time. As a result, an action bringing about a high effect prepared with efforts is not elected, and the pleasure of the game is dampened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system capable of enhancing the pleasure of the game by improving elements which exert influence upon the selection of a character action and a storage medium suited to the game system.
Hereafter, the present invention will be described. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals of accompanying drawing will be added in parentheses. However, the present invention is not restricted to the illustrated embodiment thereby.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the above described problem is solved by a game system including: a display apparatus (
11
) capable of displaying a game screen (
100
); an input apparatus (
14
) for outputting a signal corresponding to operation of a player; and a game control apparatus (
2
) for displaying a plurality of characters including at least one character (
111
) set as operation objects of the player on the game screen, and making respective characters take action in accordance with a predetermined program while referring to the output signal of the input apparatus, wherein the game control apparatus includes: counting devices for counting synchronized with progress of a game, the counting devices being provided so as to be respectively associated with the characters of operation objects; an action control device responsive to arrival of a count value of one of the counting devices at a predetermined value, for executing processing required to make a character of the operation object take action in response to directions given from the player via the input apparatus; and a counting control device responsive to start of action of the character made by the processing of the action control device, for decreasing a count value of the counting device by a value depending on a kind of the started action.
According to the first aspect, when a count value of one of the counting devices has arrived at a predetermined value with the advance of the game, processing required to make a character of the operation object take action in response to directions given from the player is executed. Upon completion of the processing, the action of the character is immediately started. After the start of the action, the count value of the counting device is decreased by a value depending on the action. If the decreased count value is restored to a predetermined value, processing concerning the next action is started in a procedure similar to the above described procedure. Even when the decreased quantity of the count value of the counting device is differentiated according to the content (kind) of the action, therefore, the change of the waiting time according to the action content appears not before the action but after the action. Even in the case where a trick or magic having a great effect is used, therefore, the game can be advanced quickly without waiting. Thus the player can enjoy the game without a hitch. Such a situation that a character consumes the physical strength due to action and the character cannot take the next action until the physical strength is recovered can be represented. As a result, the reality of the battle or the like of the game is increased.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, as processing required for making the character of the operation object take action, the action control device in the game system according to the first aspect of the invention executes processing of providing the player with an opportunity of selecting an action to be taken by the character (
111
) of operation object from a plurality of choices prepared beforehand via the input apparatus (
14
), and the action control device executes processing of ordering start of the selected action as regards the character of the operation object when the player has selected the action in response to the provided opportunity.
According to the second aspect, the player is provided with an opportunity of selecting an action to be taken by the character of operation object, when the count value of the counting device has arrived at a predetermined value. Upon completion of the selection, action start is ordered and the action of the character is started. As a result, the action start rapidly follows the action order. The game thus advances quickly.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the counting control device in the game system according to the first or second aspect of the invention decreases a count value of the counting device by a value depending on a kind of the action at a time when the action of the character has been finished or thereafter.
According to the third aspect, the count value of the counting device decreases by a quantity depending on the action after the action has finished. As a result, such a situation that the character has consumed the physical strength due to the action can be represented with greater reality.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a counting information display device for ma
Horigami Atsushi
Maeyama Tomohiro
Morimitsu Shinji
Nishizawa Jun
Sakano Yasushi
Brocketti Julie
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc.
O'Neill Michael
LandOfFree
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