IP Library Granted Patent US 12,458,889
Granted Patent B2
US 12,458,889 · App. 18/324,075 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Storage medium, information processing system, and game processing method

Inventors: Yuya Sato (Kyoto, JP); Takuma Deguchi (Kyoto, JP); Yosuke Sakooka (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
A63F13/56A63F13/44
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,458,889
App. No.
18/324,075
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example of an information processing system performs a control for moving a non-player character so as to accompany a player character, and a control for stopping movement of the non-player character within a first range according to stop of movement of the player character. The information processing system executes a control corresponding to the non-player character according to a second operation input performed in a state where a predetermined positional relationship indicating that the player character and the non-player character are near to each other is satisfied. In a case where the player character resumes moving after having been stopped, if the player character is positioned within a second range including the first range, the non-player character does not resume moving along with the player character, and the non-player character resumes moving according to the player character moving out of the second range.

Claims (72)

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a game program for causing a processor of an information processing apparatus to execute game processing,

the game program causing the processor to execute:

performing a control for moving a player character in a virtual space according to a first operation input performed by a user;

performing, in the virtual space, a movement control including at least

a control for moving a non-player character so as to accompany the player character, according to movement of the player character, and

a control for stopping movement of the non-player character within a first range including the player character, according to stop of movement of the player character,

executing a first control corresponding to the non-player character, according to a second operation input performed by the user in a state where a predetermined positional relationship indicating that the player character and the non-player character are near to each other is satisfied, and

in a case where the player character resumes moving after having been stopped,

(1) if the player character is positioned within a second range including the first range, not resuming the control for moving the non-player character so as to accompany the player character even when the player character moves, and

(2) resuming the control for moving the non-player character so as to accompany the player character, according to the player character having moved out of the second range.

2 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor

performs the movement control with respect to a plurality of non-player characters, and

stops movements of the plurality of non-player characters within the first range, according to stop of movement of the player character.

3 . The storage medium according to claim 2 , wherein

the processor stops the movements of the plurality of non-player characters at positions such that the player character is surrounded by the plurality of non-player characters, according to stop of movement of the player character.

4 . The storage medium according to claim 2 , wherein

the processor allows the first control corresponding to the non-player character to be executed again, on condition that a predetermined time has elapsed from the execution of the first control corresponding to the non-player character.

5 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor moves the non-player character according to movement of the player character such that the non-player character is positioned forward of the player character when the player character faces forward and moves forward.

6 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor makes a moving speed of the non-player character lower than a moving speed of the player character, according to the player character moving toward the non-player character while the non-player character is moving accompanying the player character.

7 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

if the non-player character is positioned outside the first range at a time point when the player character has stopped moving, the processor moves the non-player character into the first range and stops the non-player character there.

8 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the game program causes the processor to further execute:

setting a stop target position, which is a target position for the non-player character to stop moving according to stop of movement of the player character, within the first range based on a position at which the player character has stopped moving.

9 . The storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein

the predetermined positional relationship is a relationship in which the non-player character is positioned within a third range that is set based on the position of the player character, and

the processor

performs the movement control with respect to a plurality of non-player characters, and

sets stop target positions for the plurality of non-player characters such that two stop target positions are not simultaneously located within the third range.

10 . The storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein

if the non-player character is positioned within the first range when the player character has stopped moving, the processor stops movement of the non-player character regardless of whether or not the non-player character is positioned at the stop target position.

11 . The storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein

when the player character has stopped moving, if the non-player character is positioned within a fourth range that is a range within the first range, the processor stops movement of the non-player character regardless of whether or not the non-player character is positioned at the stop target position, whereas, if the non-player character is positioned outside the fourth range, the processor moves the non-player character to the stop target position.

12 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the second range is a range that is an inner side of at least one of the first range and a range within a predetermined distance from the non-player character.

13 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the predetermined positional relationship is a relationship in which the non-player character is positioned in a third range that is set based on the position of the player character, and

the game program causes the processor to further execute:

executing a second control corresponding to an object, according to the second operation input performed by the user in a state where the object is positioned within a fourth range that is set based on the position of the player character; and

stopping the non-player character at a position not within the third range based on the position of the player character in the state where the object is positioned within the fourth range.

14 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the first control is a control for shifting the non-player character to a readiness state of a third control corresponding to the non-player character, and

the game program causes the processor to further execute:

executing the third control toward a direction or a position being designated, according to a third operation input, including designation of the direction or the position, having been performed by the user in a case where the non-player character is in the readiness state of the third control.

15 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

if a fighting condition for the non-player character to fight against another character has been satisfied, the processor moves the non-player character regardless of whether or not the player character is outside the second range.

16 . The storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the first control is a control for causing the non-player character to attack another character, and

the processor performs a control for causing the player character to attack another character, according to a fourth operation input performed by the user.

17 . An information processing system comprising one or more processors,

the one or more processors executing:

moving a player character in a virtual space according to a first operation input performed by a user;

performing, in the virtual space, a movement control including at least

a control for moving a non-player character so as to accompany the player character, according to movement of the player character, and

a control for stopping movement of the non-player character within a first range including the player character, according to stop of movement of the player character,

executing a control corresponding to the non-player character, according to a second operation input performed by the user in a state where a predetermined positional relationship indicating that the player character and the non-player character are near to each other is satisfied, and

in a case where the player character resumes moving after having been stopped,

(1) if the player character is positioned within a second range including the first range, not resuming the control for moving the non-player character so as to accompany the player character even when the player character moves, and

(2) resuming the control for moving the non-player character so as to accompany the player character, according to the player character having moved out of the second range.

18 . A game processing method executed by an information processing system,

the information processing system executing:

moving a player character in a virtual space according to a first operation input performed by a user;

performing, in the virtual space, a movement control including at least

a control for moving a non-player character so as to accompany the player character, according to movement of the player character, and

a control for stopping movement of the non-player character within a first range including the player character, according to stop of movement of the player character,

executing a control corresponding to the non-player character, according to a second operation input performed by the user in a state where a predetermined positional relationship indicating that the player character and the non-player character are near to each other is satisfied, and

in a case where the player character resumes moving after having been stopped,

(1) if the player character is positioned within a second range including the first range, not resuming the control for moving the non-player character so as to accompany the player character even when the player character moves, and

(2) resuming the control for moving the non-player character so as to accompany the player character, according to the player character having moved out of the second range.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2023
From: SATO, YUYA; DEGUCHI, TAKUMA; SAKOOKA, YOSUKE
To: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063768/0594 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-144903 · Sep 12, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240082725A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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