IP Library Granted Patent US 7,011,582
Granted Patent B1
US 7,011,582 · App. 09/261,165 · Granted Mar 14, 2006

Game apparatus and computer-readable medium

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,011,582
App. No.
09/261,165
Granted
Mar 14, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

A game apparatus for causing a player's character controlled by a player to fight against an enemy character within a predetermined game space. The game apparatus includes a storage section for storing data of items held by the respective characters, an item computing section and a character reviving section for reviving a defeated character within the game space under a predetermined condition. The item computing section selects prize items from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule and displays the prize items on a display means. The item computing section adds the prize items to items held by a character who acquires said prize item, subtracts the prize items from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule, and updating the data of items in the storage section according to the results of addition and subtraction.

Claims (60)

1. A game apparatus for enabling a player to play a game in which the player's character controlled by the player fights against an enemy character within a predetermined three-dimensional (3D) game space, said game apparatus comprising:

a display apparatus that displays said 3D game space as a game image which is viewed in relation to the player's character;

storage means for storing item data relating to items held by said player's and enemy characters;

item computation means for:

selecting at least one prize item from items held by a defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule after one of said player's and enemy characters has defeated the other;

displaying said prize item in relation to a defeated character in said 3D game space so that characters other than the defeated character may acquire said prize item;

adding said prize item to items held by a character who acquires said prize item;

subtracting said prize item from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule; and

updating said item data in said storage means based on the results of addition and subtraction; and

character revival control means for reviving said defeated character in said game space under a predetermined condition, wherein said player's and enemy characters compete for items, wherein said prize item selection means displays said prize item for a predetermined time; and wherein

said item addition means adds said prize item to items held by a character who has performed a predetermined item-acquiring action within said predetermined display time.

2. The game apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said item computation means comprises:

prize item selection means for selecting at least one prize item from items held by a defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule after one of said player's and enemy characters has defeated the other and for displaying said prize item in relation to the defeated character in said 3D game space so that characters other than the defeated character may acquire said prize item;

item addition means for updating said item data by adding said prize item to items held by a character who acquires said prize item; and

item subtraction means for updating said item data by subtracting said prize item from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule.

3. The game apparatus as defined in claim 2 ,

wherein said prize item selection means selects said prize item from items held by the defeated character in the predetermined proportion; and

wherein said item subtraction means sets remaining items that have not been subtracted from items held by the defeated character as new items for the defeated character when the defeated character revives.

4. The game apparatus as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein said prize item selection means selects said prize item from items held by the defeated character in the predetermined proportion; and

wherein said item subtraction means sets remaining items that have not been subtracted from items held by the defeated character as new items for the defeated character when the defeated character revives.

5. The game apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further comprising means for determining the ranks of said player's and enemy characters according to the number of items held by said characters at the end of the game.

6. The game apparatus as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein a plurality of players compete with each other by separating into ally and enemy teams; and

wherein said game apparatus further comprises means for determining the result of the game according to the number of items held by said ally and enemy teams at the end of the game.

7. A game apparatus for enabling a player to play a game in which the player's character controlled by the player fights against an enemy character within a predetermined three-dimensional (3D) game space, said game apparatus comprising:

a display apparatus that displays said 3D game space as a game image which is viewed in relation to the player's character;

storage means for storing item data relating to items held by said player's and enemy characters;

item computation means for:

selecting at least one prize item from items held by a defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule after one of said player's and enemy characters has defeated the other;

displaying said prize item in relation to a defeated character in said 3D game space so that characters other than the defeated character may acquire said prize item;

adding said prize item to items held by a character who acquires said prize item;

subtracting said prize item from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule; and

updating said item data in said storage means based on the results of addition and subtraction; and

character revival control means for reviving said defeated character in said game space under a predetermined condition, wherein said player's and enemy characters compete for items

wherein said prize item selection means divides said prize items into a plurality of groups for displaying in a plurality of display areas; and

said item addition means adds said prize items in said display areas indicated by a predetermined item-acquiring action performed by a character to items held by that character.

8. A computer-readable medium for storing information for a game in which a player's character controlled by a player fights against an enemy character to compete for items within a predetermined three-dimensional (3D) game space, wherein said information comprises:

display information to display the 3D game space as a game image viewed in relation to the player's character;

first information for selecting at least one prize item from items held by a defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule after one of said player's and enemy characters has defeated the other, and for displaying said prize item in relation to a defeated character in said 3D game space so that characters other than the defeated character may acquire said prize item;

second information for adding said prize item to items held by a character who acquired said prize item;

third information for subtracting said prize item from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule; and

fourth information for reviving the defeated character under a predetermined condition, items of the defeated character having been reduced, wherein said first information includes information for displaying said prize item for a predetermined time; and wherein

said third information includes information for adding said prize item to items held by a character who has performed a predetermined item-acquiring action within said predetermined display time.

9. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 8 ,

wherein said first information includes information for selecting said prize item from items held by the defeated character in the predetermined proportion; and

wherein said third information includes information for setting remaining items that have not been subtracted from items held by the defeated character as new items for the defeated character when the defeated character revives.

10. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein said information for the game further comprises information for determining the ranks of said player's and enemy characters according to the number of items held by said characters at the end of the game.

11. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 8 ,

wherein said information for the game further includes:

information for causing a plurality of players to compete with each other by separating into ally and enemy teams; and

information for determining the result of the game according to the number of items held by said ally and enemy teams at the end of the game.

12. A computer-readable medium for storing information for a game in which a player's character controlled by a player fights against an enemy character to compete for items within a predetermined three-dimensional (3D) game space, wherein said information comprises:

display information to display the 3D game space as a game image viewed in relation to the player's character;

first information for selecting at least one prize item from items held by a defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule after one of said player's and enemy characters has defeated the other, and for displaying said prize item in relation to a defeated character in said 3D game space so that characters other than the defeated character may acquire said prize item;

second information for adding said prize item to items held by a character who acquired said prize item;

third information for subtracting said prize item from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule; and

fourth information for reviving the defeated character under a predetermined condition, items of the defeated character having been reduced

wherein said first information includes information for dividing said prize items into a plurality of groups for displaying in a plurality of display areas; and

said second information includes information for adding said prize items in said display areas indicated by a predetermined item-acquiring action performed by a character to items held by that character.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 8, 2016
From: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 038037/0842 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 29, 2014
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 033061/0930 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 15, 2007
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 020206/0292 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Sep 10, 2007
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC
Reel/Frame 019834/0562 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 15, 2006
From: NAMCO LIMITED/NAMCO LTD.
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 017996/0786 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 1999
From: YAMAMOTO, TAKEYASU
To: NAMCO LTD.
Reel/Frame 009928/0702 →