Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Perceptible output or display
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-08-14
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Perceptible output or display
C463S008000, C463S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273818
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video game, and more particularly, to a technique for designating one or more enemy characters to be attacked.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are various kinds of video games. In some of them, a player character operated by a player and enemy characters controlled by a computer fight a baffle.
In the video games where the battle between the player character and the enemy characters is controlled, processing is required for designating, among the enemy characters in the battle, one or more enemy characters to be attacked next by the player character in accordance with predetermined factors.
For designating an enemy character to be attacked, there are available, for example, such methods, wherein an enemy character to be attacked is designated among enemy characters depending on an operation inputted by a player, and wherein an attack area of fixed shape and size representing a range where an attack by a player character is effective is displayed so that one or more enemy characters located in the displayed attack area are designated as attack targets.
Then, processing, such as calculating damages caused by attacks and producing images and sounds, is executed for the battle between the player character and one or more designated enemy characters. The enemy character designation among the enemy characters for the next attack is an important strategic factor for the battle.
For enhancing the attractiveness of the video games wherein a battle between a player character and enemy characters is controlled, it is desirable to improve a designation manner of one or more enemy characters to be attacked.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a video game wherein a designation manner of one or more enemy characters to be attacked is changed depending on whether a player character possesses a predetermined item.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game apparatus for playing a video game wherein a battle is made between a first and a second character, the apparatus comprising storage means for storing an item and an attack area corresponding to each of attacks executable by the first character; detecting means for, when one of the attacks is designated in response to an operation inputted by a player, detecting whether the first character possesses one of the items which is stored in the storage means so as to correspond to the designated attack; area displaying means for, when the detecting means detects that the first character possesses the one of the items, displaying one of the attack areas which is stored in the storage means so as to correspond to the designated attack; and attack allowing means for allowing the first character to attack the second character when the second character is located in the one of the attack areas displayed by the area displaying means.
In the foregoing video game apparatus, when an attack is designated during a battle between characters, it is detected whether a predetermined character possesses an item corresponding to the designated attack. If such an item is possessed, an attack area corresponding to the designated attack is displayed so that the predetermined character is allowed to attack one or more characters located in the displayed attack area. Thus, depending on whether the predetermined character possesses an item corresponding to a designated attack, an attack area may be displayed or may not be displayed. This enhances the attractiveness of the game.
Further, an attack area to be displayed differs corresponding to a designated attack. Accordingly, an area where an attack is allowed differs depending on a kind of attack. This also enhances the attractiveness of the game.
In the foregoing video game apparatus, it may be arranged that the area displaying means moves a display position of the one of the attack areas In response to an operation inputted by the player.
In this case, one or more characters located in a displayed attack area can be changed by moving a display position thereof.
Thus, designation of one or more characters to be attacked can be easily changed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game apparatus for playing a video game wherein a battle is made between characters, the apparatus comprising means for displaying an image showing a battle state between the characters in response to an operation inputted by a player; means for displaying an attack area on the displayed image; means for moving the attack area following a predetermined rule in response to an operation inputted by the player; means for, when at least one of the characters is located in the attack area, changing a display manner of the at least one of the characters; and means for specifiying as an attack target the at least one of the characters whose display manner is changed.
In this video game apparatus, when an attack area is moved so that a character is located in the attack area, a display manner of the character is changed. Thus, a character to be attacked is made clear visually.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of playing a video game wherein a battle is made between a first and a second character, the method comprising a detecting step for, when an attack to be made by the first character is designated in response to an operation inputted by a player, detecting whether the first character possesses an item which is stored in advance corresponding to the designated attack; an area displaying step for, when the detecting step detects that the first character possesses the item, displaying an attack area which is stored in advance corresponding to the designated attack; and an attack allowing step for allowing the first character to attack the second character when the second character is located in the attack area displayed at the area displaying step.
In the foregoing method, it may be arranged that the area displaying step moves a display position of the attack area in response to an operation inputted by the player.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of playing a video game wherein a battle is made between characters, the method comprising a step for displaying an image showing a battle state between the characters in response to an operation inputted by a player; a step for displaying an attack area on the displayed image; a step for moving the attack area following a predetermined rule in response to an operation inputted by the player; a step for, when at least one of the characters is located in the attack area, changing a display manner of the at least one of the characters; and a step for specifiying as an attack target the at least one of the characters whose display manner is changed.
By using a computer to execute the foregoing steps, the same effects can be achieved as those achieved by the foregoing video game apparatus.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a video game wherein a battle is made between a first and a second character, the program comprising a detecting step for, when an attack to be made by the first character is designated in response to an operation inputted by a player, detecting whether the first character possesses an item which is stored in advance corresponding to the designated attack; an area displaying step for, when the detecting step detects that the first character possesses the item, displaying an attack area which is stored in advance corresponding to the designated attack; and an attack allowing step for allowing the first character to attack the second character when the second character is located in the attack area displayed at the area displaying step.
In the foregoing computer-readable storage medium, it may be arranged that the area displaying step moves a display
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
O'Neill Michael
Square Co., Ltd.
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