IP Library Granted Patent US 12,274,944
Granted Patent B2
US 12,274,944 · App. 17/955,351 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Game device, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Inventors: Hitoshi Imai (Minato-ku, JP); Gaku Kawamura (Minato-ku, JP); Yuzaburo Maruyama (Chuo-Ku, JP)
Assignee: GREE, Inc.
A63F13/58A63F13/525A63F13/57A63F2300/6661
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,274,944
App. No.
17/955,351
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer game device and method including initiating a special game when at least one game parameter of an object in a main game falls below a predetermined threshold, the special game including matching a guide element against a virtual game element, the guide element corresponding to the object, and concluding the special game and returning to the main game in response to a failure of a user to maintain a matching state between the guide element and the virtual game element for a predetermined period of time.

Claims (28)

1. A computer game device comprising:

processing circuity configured to:

initiate a special game when at least one game parameter of an object in a main game falls below a predetermined threshold, the special game including matching a guide element against a virtual game element, the guide element corresponding to the object,

conclude the special game and return to the main game in response to a failure of a user to maintain a matching state between the guide element and the virtual game element for a predetermined period of time, and

conclude the special game and initiate a third game in response to the success of a user to maintain a matching state between the guide element and the virtual game element for a predetermined period of time, wherein the third game is different from both the main game and the special game, and if an interruption condition regarding object parameters is met while said third game is in progress then conclude the third game and return to the main game.

2. The computer game device according to claim 1 , wherein the object in the main game is a virtual fish object.

3. The computer game device according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual game element is a virtual fishing rod.

4. The computer game device according to claim 1 , wherein the object in the main game is a virtual fish object and the virtual game element is a virtual fishing rod and the main game is played between the virtual fishing rod and the virtual fish object.

5. The computer game device according to claim 4 , wherein the special game is played by a player changing the virtual fishing rod in such a way that a position and inclination of the virtual fishing rod coincide with a second position and inclination of the guide element.

6. The computer game device according to claim 1 , wherein the special game is played by a player changing the virtual game element in such a way that a characteristic of the virtual game element coincides with a second characteristic of the guide element.

7. A computer game method comprising:

initiating a special game when at least one game parameter of an object in a main game falls below a predetermined threshold, the special game including matching a guide element against a virtual game element, the guide element corresponding to the object;

concluding the special game and returning to the main game in response to a failure of a user to maintain a matching state between the guide element and the virtual game element for a predetermined period of time; and

concluding the special game and initiating a third game in response to the success of a user to maintain a matching state between the guide element and the virtual game element for a predetermined period of time, wherein the third game is different from both the main game and the special game, and if an interruption condition regarding object parameters is met while said third game is in progress then concluding the third game and returning to the main game.

8. The computer game method according to claim 7 , wherein the object in the main game is a virtual fish object.

9. The computer game method according to claim 7 , wherein the virtual game element is a virtual fishing rod.

10. The computer game method according to claim 7 , wherein the object in the main game is a virtual fish object and the virtual game element is a virtual fishing rod and the main game is played between the virtual fishing rod and the virtual fish object.

11. The computer game method according to claim 10 , wherein the special game is played by a player changing the virtual fishing rod in such a way that a position and inclination of the virtual fishing rod coincide with a second position and inclination of the guide element.

12. The computer game method according to claim 7 , wherein the special game is played by a player changing the virtual game element in such a way that a characteristic of the virtual game element coincides with a second characteristic of the guide element.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program that when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement a computer game method comprising:

initiating a special game when at least one game parameter of an object in a main game falls below a predetermined threshold, the special game including matching a guide element against a virtual game element, the guide element corresponding to the object;

concluding the special game and returning to the main game in response to a failure of a user to maintain a matching state between the guide element and the virtual game element for a predetermined period of time; and

concluding the special game and initiating a third game in response to the success of a user to maintain a matching state between the guide element and the virtual game element for a predetermined period of time, wherein the third game is different from both the main game and the special game, and if an interruption condition regarding object parameters is met while said third game is in progress then concluding the third game and returning to the main game.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the object in the main game is a virtual fish object.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the virtual game element is a virtual fishing rod.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the object in the main game is a virtual fish object and the virtual game element is a virtual fishing rod and the main game is played between the virtual fishing rod and the virtual fish object.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein the special game is played by a player changing the virtual fishing rod in such a way that a position and inclination of the virtual fishing rod coincide with a second position and inclination of the guide element.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the special game is played by a player changing the virtual game element in such a way that a characteristic of the virtual game element coincides with a second characteristic of the guide element.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY STREET ADDRESS AND ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 71308 FRAME: 765. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071611/0252 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071308/0765 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-081008 · Apr 19, 2018 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17137266 · Dec 29, 2020
Continuation 16388164 · Apr 18, 2019
Related Publication 20230018367A1 · Jan 19, 2023
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