IP Library Granted Patent US 9,814,969
Granted Patent B2
US 9,814,969 · App. 14/155,689 · Granted Nov 14, 2017

Video game processing apparatus and video game processing program

Inventors: Hajime Tabata (Tokyo, JP); Masayasu Nishida (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
A63F13/12A63F13/45A63F13/795A63F13/822
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,814,969
App. No.
14/155,689
Granted
Nov 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a multiplayer participatory video game is provided. A player plays the multiplayer participatory video game using a game medium in which parameters are set up. The video game processing apparatus includes a virtual mission information memory for storing virtual mission information. The virtual mission information is information on virtual missions. The player works on one of the virtual missions using the game medium. The video game processing apparatus provides the virtual mission to the player on the basis of the virtual mission information. The video game processing apparatus gives other player a game medium associated with the player using the game medium. The other player is associated with the game medium used in the virtual mission.

Claims (61)

1. A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a multiplayer participatory video game via a network, the multiplayer participatory video game being played using a first game medium, parameters being set up in the first game medium, the video game processing apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing virtual mission information, the virtual mission information being information on virtual missions, a player of the video game processing apparatus working on one of the virtual missions using the first game medium;

a processor for: specifying a second game medium associated with the player to be given to an other player; and executing the one of the virtual missions based on the virtual mission information; and

a communication interface for giving the second game medium associated with the player using the first game medium to an other player via the network in response to the player accomplishing the one of the virtual missions, the other player being associated with the first game medium used by the player in the one of the virtual missions executed by the processor,

wherein the first game medium and the second game medium comprise virtual media, and

the second game medium is associated with identification data of the player working on the one of the virtual missions before the player accomplishes the one of the virtual missions.

2. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the memory stores player information, the player information indicating a status of each of a plurality of players, a player game medium possessed by each of the plurality of players, and an other player associated with the player game medium of each of the plurality of players,

the processor specifies, at predetermined timing, a status of the other player corresponding to the player game medium possessed by the player, and

the processor updates at least one predetermined parameter based on the status of the other player, the at least one predetermined parameter being set up in the player game medium.

3. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a display controller for selectably displaying the player game medium,

wherein, in a case where the processor updates the at least one parameter of the player game medium, the display controller displays the player game medium together with at least a part of the at least one parameter updated by the processor.

4. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor specifies the player who fails the one of the virtual missions as a player to be rescued,

the processor specifies a rescue mission to rescue the player to be rescued based on the virtual mission information stored in the memory,

the communication interface informs a plurality of players of the rescue mission via the network,

the processor specifies a rescue mission executing player, the rescue mission executing player being one of the plurality of players who carries out the rescue mission,

the processor provides the rescue mission to the rescue mission executing player, and

the communication interface gives the second game medium associated with the player to be rescued to the rescue mission executing player who succeeded the rescue mission.

5. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller interface for receiving selections from the player,

wherein the memory stores game medium information, the game medium information containing information on game media, the information on the game media containing information on a player associated game medium and information on a non-associated game medium, the player associated game medium being associated with a specific player, the non-associated game medium not being associated with any player,

the controller interface receives a selection of the one of the virtual missions from the player,

the processor determines the non-associated game medium in accordance with a predetermined rule, the non-associated game medium corresponding to the one of the virtual missions selected by the player, and

the processor gives the player the non-associated game medium for use in the one of the virtual missions.

6. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second game medium comprises a virtual card.

7. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the communication interface gives the second game medium to the other video game processing apparatus in response to the player not failing the one of the virtual missions.

8. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the communication interface is configured to not give the second game medium to the other video game processing apparatus when the player fails the one of the virtual missions.

9. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the players receives an accomplishment privilege for completing the one of the virtual missions and giving the second game medium to the other video game processing apparatus.

10. A system for controlling for controlling the progress of the multiplayer participatory video game via the network, the system comprising:

the video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 ;

a server that specifies the one of the virtual missions to be provided to the player of the video game processing apparatus; and

the other video game processing apparatus.

11. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an other player of the other video game processing apparatus is registered in a server as a friend of the player.

12. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

a plurality of other players are registered in a server as a friend of the player,

the processor acquires log-in times of the plurality of other players from the server via the communication interface, and

the processor determines the other player from among the plurality of other players based on the log-in times of the plurality of other players.

13. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the second game medium associated with the player to be given to the other player is specified at a start of the one of the virtual missions.

14. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the video game processing apparatus specifies the second game medium associated with the player to be given to the other player.

15. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the video game processing apparatus specifies, at the start of the virtual mission, an accomplishment privilege to apply to the player.

16. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein

the second game medium is given to the other player and the accomplishment privilege is applied to the player at accomplishment of the one of the virtual missions.

17. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein

the video game processing apparatus specifies each of the second game medium and the accomplishment privilege independently.

18. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first game medium is associated with identification data of the other player before the player accomplishes the one of the virtual missions.

19. The video game processing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein

when the player accomplishes the one of the virtual missions, player information of the second game medium is updated to be associated with the identification data of the other player.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a video game processing program product for causing a computer to control progress of a multiplayer participatory video game, the multiplayer participatory video game being played over a network and using a first game medium, parameters being set up in the first game medium,

wherein the computer comprises a memory for storing virtual mission information, the virtual mission information being information on virtual missions, a player of the video game processing apparatus working on one of the virtual missions using the first game medium, and

the video game processing program product causes the computer to execute operations including:

specifying a second game medium associated with the player to be given to an other player;

executing the one of the virtual missions based on the virtual mission information; and

giving the second game medium associated with the player using the first game medium to an other video game processing apparatus via the network in response to the player accomplishing the one of the virtual missions, the other player being associated with the second game medium used by the player in the one of the virtual missions,

wherein the first game medium and the second game medium comprise virtual media, and

the second game medium is associated with identification data of the player working on the one of the virtual missions before the player accomplishes the one of the virtual missions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2014
From: TABATA, HAJIME; NISHIDA, MASAYASU
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (ALSO TRADING AS SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)
Reel/Frame 031974/0613 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-005737 · Jan 16, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140200083A1 · Jul 17, 2014