Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a game requiring an element of a participants physical...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-10-02
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a game requiring an element of a participants physical...
C463S030000, C463S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296567
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to video game machines using a recording medium containing program data, such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory, and to recording media containing video game programs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many game systems have been proposed, such as a system comprised of a home-use game console and a television monitor, a commercial-use game machine, and a system comprised of a personal computer or work station, a display, and an audio output device.
These game systems each include a player-operated controller, a recording medium containing game-program data, a central processing unit (CPU) for performing control for the generation of sound and images based on the game-program data, a processor for generating images, a processor for generating sound, a monitor for displaying images, and a speaker for outputting the generated sound. In many cases, the types of recording medium include a compact-disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a semiconductor memory, and a cassette having a built-in semiconductor memory.
Conventional video games for these video game machines are known in which a game player selects a leading game character from among a plurality of predetermined leading game characters.
The conventional video games are nothing but simple games in which a leading game character can be selected from a plurality of leading game characters. Their game contents are single; that is, a selected leading game character is used to play the same game.
Accordingly, if the game player selects any one of leading game characters, nothing changes in the game content having the character. Repeatedly playing the game causes monotony, and the game becomes uninteresting.
In some video games, independent game contents are provided for a plurality of leading game characters. The game contents are not related to one another, and a plurality of types of games can be simply played.
In some video games, mutually related game contents are provided for a plurality of leading game characters, and when the game corresponding to a selected leading game character is played, a game subsequently played is influenced by action of the leading game character in the first game. In each game content, the other leading game character does not interest the player since the other leading game character does not appear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a video game machine in which a leading game character is selected from a plurality of leading game characters corresponding to a plurality of game contents and amusement by each game content is enhanced, and a computer-readable recording medium containing a video game program.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of a video game machine comprising a display unit for displaying images of a game performed in a predetermined game world; at least one operation unit for outputting an operation signal in accordance with an external operation; a first-game-content storage unit for storing a first game content using a first game character as a leading game character, and a second game character; a second-game-content storage unit for storing a second game content using the second character as a leading game character, and the first character; a leading-character selection unit for selecting either the first character or the second character as a leading game character; a game-screen output unit for outputting, to the display unit, game screens in accordance with the game content corresponding to the selected leading character; a game-progress control unit for advancing the set game content by using the operation signal to control the action of the leading character displayed on the display unit; a first condition determination unit for determining whether a predetermined first game condition for the first game content is met; a second condition determination unit for determining whether a predetermined second game condition for the second game content is met; a permission unit in which when either the first game condition or the second game condition is met, the permission unit permits the leading-character selection unit to select the other game character; a third-game-content storage unit for storing a third game content provided so that either the first character or the second character can be selected as a leading game character; a third-game leading-character selection unit for selecting either the first character or the second character as the leading character of the third game content; and a third-game screen-output unit for outputting, to the display unit, game screens in accordance with the third game content when both the first and second game conditions are met.
The first game content may be a fighting game in which the first character fights so as to cause a predetermined amount of damage to at least one first enemy game character. The second game content may be a fighting game in which the second character fights so as to cause a predetermined amount of damage to at least one second enemy game character. The first game condition may be met when the first character causes the predetermined amount of damage to the first enemy character on condition that the second game condition is met, or may be met when the first character causes a predetermined amount of damage to a first boss-enemy game character appearing after causing the predetermined amount of damage to the first enemy character in the case where the second game condition is not met. The second game condition may be met when the second character causes the predetermined amount of damage to the second enemy character on condition that the first game condition is met, or may be met when the second character causes a predetermined amount of damage to the first boss-enemy character appearing after causing the predetermined amount of damage to the second enemy character in the case where the first game condition is not met. The third game content may be a fighting game in which the selected leading character fights so as to cause a predetermined amount of damage to a second boss-enemy game character.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of a computer-readable recording medium containing a video game program for performing a game in a predetermined game world, the video game program having a first game content using a first game character as a leading game character, and a second game character; a second game content using the second character as a leading game character, and the first game character; and a third game content provided so that either the first character or the second character is selected as a leading game character; the video game program comprising a leading-character selection step for selecting either the first character or the second character as a leading game character; a game-screen output step for outputting, to a display unit, game screens in accordance with the game content corresponding to the selected game character; a game-progress control step for advancing the set game content by using an operation signal in accordance with an operation by an operation unit to control the action of the leading character displayed on the display unit; a first condition determination step for determining whether a predetermined first game condition for the first game content is met; a second condition determination step for determining whether a predetermined second game condition for the second game content is met; a permission step in which when either the first game condition or the second game condition is met, the permission unit permits the leading-character selection unit to select the other game character; a third-game leading-character selection step for selecting either the first character or the second character as the leading character of the third game content; and a third-game screen-outpu
Cheng Joe H.
Christman Kathleen M.
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Konami Co. Ltd.
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