U.S. Pat. No. 7,666,079

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of a video game processing apparatus, a method and a computer program product for processing a video game according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appending drawings.

FIG. 1is a block diagram that illustrates a configuration of a video game apparatus100to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that other devices may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, a video game apparatus100of the present embodiment includes a video game apparatus main body10, a display device50, and a sound output device60. The video game apparatus main body10is constituted from a video game system that is put on the market, for example. Further, the display device50is constituted from, for example, a television apparatus, a liquid crystal display device, a micro-mirror device, a holographic display device, or any combination thereof. The display device50is provided with an image display screen51. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that any device capable of generating or reproducing an image may be used without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

The video game apparatus main body10includes a control section11, a RAM (Random Access Memory)12, a HDD (hard disk drive)13, a sound processor14, a graphics processor15, a DVD/CD-ROM drive16, a communications interface17, an interface section18, a frame memory19, a memory card slot20, and an input interface section21.

Each of the control section11, the RAM (Random Access Memory)12, the HDD (Hard Disk Drive)13, the sound processor14, the graphics processor15, the DVD/CD-ROM drive16, the communications interface17and the interface section18is connected to an internal bus22.

The control section11includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory) and the like. The control section11executes control processes of the whole video game apparatus100in accordance with control programs stored in the HDD13and/or a storage medium70. The control section11includes an internal timer used to generate a timer interruption. The RAM12is used as a work area for the control section11. The HDD13is a storage area for storing the control programs and various data.

The sound processor14is connected to a sound output device60, which includes a speaker, for example, but may include any other device capable of generating or reproducing an audible signal. The sound processor14outputs a sound signal to the sound output device60in accordance with a sound outputting command from the control section11that executes a process according to the control programs. In this regard, the sound output device60may be embedded in the display device50or the video game apparatus main body10, or may be affixed to a vibrating surface that may be caused to generate the audible signal.

The graphics processor15is connected to the display device50including the image display screen51on which an image is displayed. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the graphics processor may be coupled to other known types of display devices, such as a head-mounted display, a holographic three-dimensional display or the like, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The graphics processor15develops an image on the frame memory19in accordance with a drawing or graphics command from the control section11, and outputs video signals for displaying the image on the image display screen51to the display device50. A switching time for images to be displayed according to the video signals is set to 1/30 seconds per frame (for NTSC type displays), for example. However, the switching time may be any other frame rate (for example, 1/25 second per frame (for PAL type displays)) as those skilled in the art will appreciate without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

A storage medium70such as a DVD-ROM medium or a CD-ROM medium, or equivalent, in which control programs for a video game are stored is mounted in the DVD/CD-ROM drive16. The DVD/CD-ROM drive16executes a process for reading out various data such as control programs from the storage medium70.

The communications interface17is connected to a communication network80such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the like, in a wireless or wired manner. The video game apparatus main body10carries out communication with, for example, another computer via the communication network80using a communication function of the communications interface17.

Each of the input interface section21and the memory card slot20is connected to the interface section18. The interface section18causes instruction data from the input interface section21to be stored in the RAM12on the basis of operation(s) of a controller device such as a keypad30by a player of the video game apparatus100. In response to the instruction data stored in the RAM12, the control section11executes various arithmetic processing.

The video game apparatus main body10is connected to the controller device such as the keypad30as an operation input section (controller) via the input interface section21. However, other types of controllers may be used without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, for example, a cross key31, a group of buttons32, a left joystick38and a right joystick39are arranged on the upper surface of the keypad30. The cross key31includes an upper key31a, a lower key31b, a right key31cand a left key31d. The group of buttons32includes a circle button32a, an X key32b, a triangle key32cand a square key32d. Further, a select button35is arranged at a connecting portion between a base on which the cross key31is arranged and a base on which the group of buttons32are arranged. In addition, multiple buttons such as an R1 button36and an L1 button33are arranged at the side surface of the keypad30.

The keypad30is provided with multiple switches respectively connected to the cross key31, the circle button32a, the X button32b, the triangle button32c, the square button32d, the select button35, the R1 button36and the L1 button33. When pressing force is applied to any button, the corresponding switch is turned on. A detected signal in accordance with on/off of the switch is generated in the keypad30, and detected signals are generated, respectively, corresponding to inclined directions of the left joystick38and the right joystick39in the keypad30.

The two types of detected signals generated in the keypad30are outputted to the control section11via the input interface section21(through wired or wireless connection), by which detected information indicating that any button on the keypad30is pressed and detected information indicating the state of each of the left joystick38and the right joystick39are generated. In this way, operation instruction(s) by a user (player) using the keypad30, for example, is supplied to the video game apparatus main body10(that is, the control section11).

Further, the interface section18executes, according to the command(s) from the control section11, a process to store data indicative of the progress of the video game stored in the RAM12into the memory card90installed in the memory card slot20. The interface section18also executes processes to read out data on the video game stored in the memory card90at the time of suspending the video game and to transfer such data to the RAM12, and the like.

Various data, such as control program data for performing the video game with the video game apparatus100, are stored in the storage medium70, for example. The various data, such as the control program data stored in the storage medium70, are read out by the DVD/CD-ROM drive16in which the storage medium70is installed. The data thus read out are loaded onto the RAM12. The control section11executes, in accordance with the control program loaded on the RAM12, various processes such as a process to output the drawing or graphics command to the graphics processor15, and a process to output the sound outputting command to the sound processor14. In this regard, the interim data generated in response to the progress of the video game (for example, data indicative of scoring of the video game, the state of a player character and the like) are stored in the RAM12used as a work memory while the control section11executes processing.

It is assumed that a three-dimensional video game according to an aspect of the present embodiment is a video game wherein multiple characters, including a player character (that is, a character that moves in accordance with the operation of the keypad30by the player), move on a field provided in a virtual three-dimensional space, by which the video game proceeds. In this regard, it is assumed that the virtual three-dimensional space in which the field is formed is indicated by coordinates of the world coordinate system. The field is defined by multiple surfaces, and coordinates of vertexes of the respective constituent surfaces are shown as characteristic points.

Next, an operation of the video game apparatus100according to an aspect of the present embodiment will now be described.

Here, in order to simplify the explanation of the operation of the video game apparatus100, it is assumed that only a single player character and multiple non-player characters (which are moved in accordance with control processes of the video game apparatus100(more specifically, control processes of the control section11), and hereinafter, referred to simply as “NPC”) exist as objects that are movable in the virtual three-dimensional space. However, the explanations for any process other than the processes relating to the present invention are omitted, in particular. In this regard, in the present embodiment, video game control for a RPG is executed, but those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that changes to the present invention can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 2is a flowchart that illustrates an example of a main process of the video game apparatus100according to the present embodiment. The main process is a process for generating an image for one frame and a process required for the control of the video game. The process is executed in accordance with a timer interruption at every 1/30 second. However, it is to be noted that timing of “at every 1/30 second” is only one example, as mentioned above. Instead, for example, the main process may be executed in accordance with a timer interruption at every single field period (every 1/60 second) or at every two frame periods (every 1/15 second), or any other appropriate field rate that may be recognized by those skilled in the art to be appropriate without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, a video game (that is, a RPG game) proceeds in a common field (that is, a single field where a battle field and a movement field are not distinguished from each other) in which various actions (such as a battle action and/or a movement action), including the movement of the player character and a battle by the player character, are allowed. In the case where a predetermined object in the field is accomplished, one stage may be terminated and the processing may proceed to another stage executed in a next field. Further, in the present embodiment, a same time base is applied to the respective characters existing in such a field. Once a NPC enters the stage in the field, the NPC moves on the field or stands still on the field in accordance with the same time base until a hit point (which is a value indicating life force, and hereinafter, referred to simply as “HP”) thereof becomes zero. In this case, a portion displayed on the image display screen51as a character image is a portion that exists within the field of view of a virtual camera in the field.

In the main process, the control section11determines whether an instruction to start a video game is generated through an operation of the keypad30, via manipulation of the controller30by the player or not in the case where the state is still before the video game start. Alternatively, once the video game has started or is in progress, the control section11determines whether a timing state is reached to change the scene (for example, change the field) or not in the case where the state is during execution of the video game (Step S101). The timing state to change the scene is, for example, the time at which a virtual three-dimensional space illustrating a new scene is displayed on the image display screen51in order to finish the scene that has been displayed on the image display screen51until that point (for example, a scene displayed by means of a virtual three-dimensional space, and a scene displayed by means of a directorial moving image) and to switch the displayed scene to the new scene.

In the case where it is determined that an instruction to start a video game is generated or that the timing state reaches a state to change the scene (“Yes” at Step S101), the control section11determines an initial screen (an initial screen shown at the time of a start of the video game, or an initial screen shown at the time of a change in the scene) in accordance with the control program (Step S102). In this case, various data, such as image data used for the video game and characters, are stored in the storage medium70. At Step S102, an initial display position of the player character in an initial screen or a scene after a scene change (for example, a new stage in the RPG), a non-player character or non-player characters to be displayed, an initial display position of each of the non-player characters (NPCs) to be displayed and the like are determined in accordance with the control program.

Subsequently, the control section11determines a viewpoint position of a virtual camera, a direction of a visual axis, and a size of a visual angle in accordance with the control program. The control section11then executes an initial setup for the virtual camera to execute a perspective transformation (Step S103). Then, the processing flow proceeds to Step S115.

On the other hand, in the case where it is determined that the video game is executed, and it is not time to change the scene (“No” at Step S101), the control section11receives instruction data in accordance with the operation of the keypad30by the player (Step S104). Namely, the control section11determines whether or not instruction data for executing movement of the player character or the like are inputted from the keypad30via the input interface section21. In the case where effective instruction data (that is, it means that such effective instruction data are instruction data that is allowed to be received by the control section11) are inputted, the control section11receives the effective instruction data.

In the case where the control section11receives instruction data for instructing an action of the player character relating to the movement of the player character (that is, movement instruction data: a movement instruction by a movement command or the cross key (directional instruction key)) in accordance with the operation of the keypad30relating to the movement of the player character (movement operation) at Step S104(“Yes” at Step S105), the control section11executes a movement process in accordance with the movement instruction data thus received (Step S106). In the movement process, the control section11causes the position of the player character to be moved in a virtual space (on the present field) in accordance with the received movement instruction data. In this regard, such a movement command may include a dash instruction command, for example. The dash instruction command is a command to move the player character quickly, and a command for supplying an instruction that the player character goes away (or runs away) from a battle area quickly if the player character is in a melee, for example.

Subsequently, the control section11generates movement information on the basis of the position information of the player character derived along with the movement process (Step S107). Namely, in accordance with the movement of the position of the player character by means of the movement process, the control section11updates necessary data among data on the viewpoint position of the virtual camera, data on the direction of a visual axis, data on the size of a visual angle, and the like. The control section11then changes the setting content of the virtual camera. The movement information includes various kinds of information on the movement such as the position of the player character after the movement, the viewpoint position of the virtual camera, the direction of the visual axis, and the size of the visual angle changed along with the movement of the player character as well as the information on the movement of the player character. Then, the processing flow proceeds to Step S113.

In the case where the control section11receives instruction data for instructing an action for the player character relating to a battle (that is, battle instruction data: a battle command) in accordance with the operation of the keypad30by the player for instructing the action of the player character relating to a battle (a battle operation) at Step S104(“Yes” at Step S108), the control section11executes a battle process in accordance with the received battle instruction data (Step S109). In the battle process, the control section11executes, for example, a process to determine a battle result and/or battle development between an enemy character (that is, a non-player character to battle against) and the player character, and the like.

Subsequently, the control section11generates battle information on the basis of the battle result and/or battle development determined by means of the battle process (Step S110). Namely, in accordance with the battle result and/or battle development by the battle process, the control section11updates and sets necessary information. The set information may include, for example, the name of the player character that battles an enemy character in the battle process, the name of the enemy character, battle development information, battle result information, a parameter (or parameters) that defines the ability (or abilities) of the player character, and the like. The battle information includes various kinds of information on the battle, such as the name of the player character that battles the enemy character, the name of the enemy character, battle development, battle result thereof, and a parameter that defines the ability of the player character. Then, the processing flow proceeds to Step S113.

In the case where the control section11receives instruction data for other instructions (that is, other instruction data: an other command) in accordance with the operation of the keypad30for executing other instruction (other operation) at Step S104(“No” at Step S105, “No” at Step S108, and “Yes” at Step S111), the control section11executes a process (for example, a conversation between characters, a purchase action, a pick up action, and the like) in accordance with the other instruction data thus received (Step S112). The other information corresponding to the process result at Step S112is then generated, and the processing flow proceeds to Step S113.

The control section11updates the current position of the player character by storing the movement information generated at Step S107in a predetermined data area of the RAM12at Step S113. Further, the control section11memorizes and stores various action histories of the player character by storing the battle information generated at Step S110and the other information generated after Step S112in a predetermined data area of the RAM12at Step S113.

Subsequently, the control section11executes an action estimate process on the basis of the information indicating the action histories of the player character once stored in the RAM12(Step S114). More specifically, information required to be digitized is digitized using conversion tables prepared in advance. Further, with respect to information required to be weighted, a score is calculated by multiplying predetermined numerical values and summing these multiplied numerical values. The calculated score is added to a previous score stored in a predetermined data area of the RAM12, and the added score is again stored in the predetermined data area. In this way, the score is updated as estimate information.

Then, the control section11perspectively transforms the virtual three-dimensional space including the player character and the non-player characters to be displayed from the virtual camera onto the virtual screen in accordance with the setting contents of the virtual camera and the like. The control section11then executes a display process to generate a two-dimensional image to be displayed on the image display screen51(Step S115). When the display process is terminated, this main process is also terminated. Then, when a timer interruption is generated at the time of a start of a next frame period, a next main process is executed (that is, the main process is repeated). By repeatedly executing the main process, a character image is switched or shifted every frame period, and a moving image (animation) is resultantly displayed on the image display screen51.

Now, the display process at Step S115will be briefly described. At Step S115, the control section11first transforms at least the coordinates of the vertexes of respective polygons included within a range to be perspectively transformed on the virtual screen among the coordinates of the vertexes of polygons constituting the virtual three-dimensional space, in which the player character and the three-dimensional non-player characters are included, from the coordinates of the world coordinate system to the coordinates of the viewpoint coordinate system. Subsequently, the control section11transmits the coordinates of the vertexes of the polygons of the player character and the non-player characters in the viewpoint coordinate system to the graphics processor15, thereby outputting a drawing or graphics command to the graphics processor15.

When the drawing or graphics command is inputted to the graphics processor15, the graphics processor15updates, on the basis of the coordinates of the viewpoint coordinate system, the content of the Z buffer so that data on the points that reside at the front side are retained with respect to each of points constituting respective surfaces. When the content of the Z buffer is updated, the graphics processor15develops image data on the points that reside at the front side on the frame memory19. Moreover, the graphics processor15executes some processes such as a shading process and a texture mapping process with respect to the developed image data.

Then, the graphics processor15in turn reads out the image data developed on the frame memory19, and generates video signals by adding a sync signal to the image data to output the video signals to the display device50. The display device50displays an image corresponding to the video signals outputted from the graphics processor15on the image display screen51. By switching images displayed on the image display screen51every single frame period, the player can see images including the state in which the player character and/or the non-player characters are moved on the field and perceive the images as moving images.

FIG. 3is an explanatory drawing that shows an example of a table for determining a direct attack reaction to determine a reaction of an attack target character.

As shown inFIG. 3, the direct attack reaction determining table is a table including data in which the type of weapon that the player character uses in the attack, a positional relationship between the player character and the attack target character, the kind of ground level in a battle field where a battle is executed, an attack target weight indicating weight of the attack target character, a PC reaction indicating a reaction of the player character, and a direct attack reaction indicating a reaction of the attack target character correspond to each other.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, with respect to the types of weapon with which the player character can be equipped, a “sword”, a “flail”, a “hammer”, a “might”, and a “bow” are provided. A range where a direct attack can be executed against an enemy character is defined with respect to each of the types of weapons.

Further, with respect to the positional relationship, “adjacent to face”, “predetermined range of front”, “predetermined range of face”, and “adjacent to circumference” are provided. The “adjacent to face” means a position adjacent to the face of the player character. The “predetermined range of front” means a predetermined range of the front of the player character having a predetermined width in the horizontal direction of the image display screen51. The “predetermined range of face” means a predetermined range of the face of the player character. The “adjacent to circumference” means a position adjacent to the circumference of the player character.

Moreover, with respect to the ground level, a “floor”, a “grass” and an “ice” are provided. On the “floor” or the “grass”, the player character and other characters, including enemy characters, are relatively hardly slipped. Since the “ice” is relatively slippery, the player character and other characters are relatively easily slipped. With respect to the PC reaction, “slip (move) backward” is set to a part of the PC reaction.

Furthermore, “blow off”, “flick off”, “slip”, “jump”, “knock back”, or “skewer” or a combination of any of these direct attack reactions are set to each of the direct attack reactions. In addition, the length of a distance to be moved in the reaction (for example, long or short), the height to be jumped in the reaction (for example, high or low) and the like may be included in the direct attack reaction.

In this regard, the items in the table for determining a direct attack reaction shown inFIG. 3are provided just as examples. Other items such as the type of player character and a weight value of the player character may be included in the items.

Next, a direct attack reaction and an indirect attack reaction will now be described in detail.

FIG. 4is an explanatory drawing that shows a reaction when an enemy character executing a direct attack reaction hits other enemy character (one example of the indirect attack reaction) and a reaction when the enemy character hits a wall (another example of the indirect attack reaction).FIGS. 5 to 10are explanatory drawings that show contents of each of direct attack reactions and indirect attack reactions.

A direct attack reaction “blow off” means a reaction in which the enemy character is caused to fly high in a predetermined distance. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 5A, when the direct attack reaction due to an attack of the player character is determined to the reaction “blow off”, an enemy character A that is an attack target character executes a reaction to jump high in a predetermined distance.

Further, when the enemy character executing the reaction “blow off” comes into contact with other enemy character, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character (direct reaction character) is terminated. The other enemy character with which the enemy character comes into contact executes an indirect attack reaction “blown off”. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 5B, the enemy character A that is the attack target character comes into contact with other enemy character B that is positioned at a landing region after the enemy character A jumps high in a predetermined distance as the direct attack reaction “blow off”. In such a case, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character A is terminated, and the enemy character B further executes the reaction “blow off”. In this regard, the contact during the execution of the direct attack reaction results in the indirect attack due to the direct attack. The HP of the enemy character that suffers this indirect attack decreases by a predetermined point (which is the same as below).

Moreover, when the enemy character executing the reaction “blow off” collides with a wall provided in the field, the direct attack reaction is terminated at the collision point. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 5C, when the enemy character A that is the attack target character collides with the wall provided in the field while flying high in a predetermined distance due to the reaction “blow off”, the enemy character A is stopped at the collision point. In this regard, the collision during the direct attack reaction results in the indirect attack due to the direct attack. The HP of the enemy character that suffers this indirect attack decreases by a predetermined point (which is the same as below).

A direct attack reaction “flick off” means a reaction in which the enemy character is caused to bounce and fly low at a predetermined number of times. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 6A, when the direct attack reaction due to an attack of the player character is determined to the reaction “flick off”, an enemy character A that is an attack target character executes a reaction to bounce and fly low at a predetermined number of times.

Further, when the enemy character executing the reaction “flick off” comes into contact with other enemy character, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character (direct reaction character) is not terminated. The other enemy character with which the enemy character comes into contact executes an indirect attack reaction “flick off”. Namely, for example, as shown in the top view ofFIG. 6B, the enemy character A that is the attack target character comes into contact with other enemy characters B and C that are positioned at a moving route when the enemy character A bounces and flies low at a predetermined number of times as the-direct attack reaction “flick off”. In such a case, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character A is not terminated, and each of the enemy characters B and C further executes the reaction “flick off”.

Moreover, when the enemy character executing the reaction “flick off” collides with a wall provided in the field, the attack target character bounces at the collision point and stops after further moving in a predetermined distance. Namely, for example, as shown in the top view ofFIG. 6C, when the enemy character A that is the attack target character collides with the wall provided in the field while bouncing and flying low at a predetermined number of times due to the reaction “flick off”, the enemy character A bounces at the collision point and stops after further moving in a predetermined distance.

A direct attack reaction “slip” (or slide) means a reaction in which the enemy character is caused to slip in a predetermined distance. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 7A, when the direct attack reaction due to an attack of the player character is determined to the reaction “slip”, an enemy character A that is an attack target character executes a reaction to slip in a predetermined distance.

Further, when the enemy character executing the reaction “slip” comes into contact with other enemy character, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character (direct reaction character) is not terminated. The other enemy character with which the enemy character comes into contact executes an indirect attack reaction “slip”. Namely, for example, as shown in the top view ofFIG. 7B, the enemy character A that is the attack target character comes into contact with other enemy characters B and C that are positioned at a moving route when the enemy character A slips in a predetermined distance as the direct attack reaction “slip”. In such a case, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character A is not terminated, and each of the enemy characters B and C further executes the reaction “slip”.

Moreover, when the enemy character executing the reaction “slip” collides with a wall provided in the field, the attack target character bounces at the collision point and stops after further moving (slipping) in a predetermined distance. Namely, for example, as shown in the top view ofFIG. 7C, when the enemy character A that is the attack target character collides with the wall provided in the field while slipping in a predetermined distance due to the reaction “slip”, the enemy character A bounces at the collision point and stops after further moving (slipping) in a predetermined distance.

A direct attack reaction “jump” means a reaction in which the enemy character is caused to jump to a predetermined height and then drop. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 8, when the direct attack reaction due to an attack of the player character is determined to the reaction “jump”, an enemy character A that is an attack target character executes a reaction to jump to a predetermined height and then drop.

In this regard, although the position at which the enemy character A suffers the attack is off from the position at which the enemy character A drops for the sake of convenience of the explanation ofFIG. 8, the enemy character A should drop at the same position as that when the enemy character A suffers the attack in the present embodiment. For that reason, the enemy character executing the reaction “jump” neither come into contact with other enemy character nor collide with a wall provided in the field.

A direct attack reaction “knock back” means a reaction in which the enemy character is caused to slip in a predetermined distance. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 9A, when the direct attack reaction due to an attack of the player character is determined to the reaction “knock back”, an enemy character A that is an attack target character executes a reaction to slip in a predetermined distance. In this regard, the enemy character executing the reaction “knock back” should not come into contact with other enemy character in the present embodiment.

Further, when the enemy character executing the reaction “knock back” collides with a wall provided in the field, the direct reaction of the enemy character is terminated at the collision point. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 9B, when the enemy character A that is the attack target character collides with the wall provided in the field while slipping in a predetermined distance due to the reaction “knock back”, the enemy character A stops at the collision point.

A direct attack reaction “skewer” means a reaction in which the enemy character is caused to slip until the enemy character hits a wall provided in the field. Namely, for example, as shown in the side view ofFIG. 10A, when the direct attack reaction due to an attack of the player character is determined to the reaction “skewer”, an enemy character A that is an attack target character executes a reaction to slip until the enemy character A hits a wall provided in the field.

Further, when the enemy character executing the reaction “skewer” comes into contact with other enemy character, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character (direct reaction character) is not terminated. The enemy character executes a reaction to slip until the enemy character hits a wall provided in the field together with other enemy character(s) with which the enemy character comes into contact. Namely, for example, as shown in the top view ofFIG. 10B, the enemy character A that is the attack target character in turn comes into contact with other enemy characters B and C that are positioned at a moving route when the enemy character A slips in the field as the direct attack reaction “skewer”. In such a case, the direct attack reaction of the enemy character A is not terminated, and the enemy character A slips in a skewered form together with the contacted enemy characters B and C until the skewered enemy characters A, B and C hit the wall. On the other hand, in the case where the enemy characters A, B and C further come into contact with other enemy characters D and E while slipping in the skewered form, the enemy characters A, B and C continue the reaction in the skewered form, and each of the contacted enemy characters D and E executes the reaction “skewer” individually.

Moreover, when the enemy character executing the reaction “skewer” collides with a wall provided in the field, the attack target character bounces at the collision point and stops after further moving (slipping) in a predetermined distance. Namely, for example, as shown in the top view ofFIG. 10C, when the enemy character A that is the attack target character collides with the wall provided in the field while slipping in the field due to the reaction “skewer”, the enemy character A bounces at the collision point and stops after further moving (slipping) in a predetermined distance. In this regard, in the case where the enemy characters A, B and C collide with the wall in the skewered form, as shown inFIG. 10C, the enemy characters A, B and C bounce back separately.

Next, a reaction control process of the video game apparatus100according to the present embodiment will now be described.

FIG. 11is a flowchart that illustrates an example of a reaction control process in the video game apparatus100of the present embodiment. The reaction control process is a process in which processes relating to reactions against an action (attack) of the player character are put into one flowchart. This reaction control process is executed by executing the main process described above repeatedly.

Here, the case where the player character P attacks an enemy character or enemy characters and then the enemy character (for example, enemy character A) that suffers the attack from the player character P executes an reaction will be described as one example.

In the reaction control process, the control section11first determines whether or not an attack from the player character P hits an enemy character (Step S201). More specifically, when an attack is instructed on the basis of an operation of the keypad30by the player, the control section11determines whether or not the attack hits any of the enemy characters positioned in the field in accordance with a weapon with which the player character P is equipped and a positional relationship between the player character P and the enemy character positioned in the field. Namely, the control section11determines whether or not the attack hits the enemy character by determining whether or not the enemy character is positioned within an attack effective area defined in advance in accordance with a weapon (see the “positional relationship” for every weapon shown inFIG. 3).

In the case where it is determined that the attack hits an enemy character A, the control section11determines the content of a reaction (direct attack reaction) of the enemy character A when the attack from the player character P hits the enemy character A (Step S202). At Step S202, the control section11determines the direct attack reaction in accordance with the setting contents of the table for determining a direct attack reaction (seeFIG. 3). More specifically, the control section11determines the direct attack reaction on the basis of the weapon with which the player character P is equipped, the positional relationship between the player character P and the enemy character A, the type of ground level, the weight value set to the enemy character A that is an attack target, and the like.

For example, assume the case where: the weapon with which the player character P is equipped is a “sword”; the enemy character A is positioned adjacent to the face of the player character P; the type of ground level is a “floor” or a “grass”; and the weight value set to the enemy character A that is an attack target is less than50. In this case, as shown inFIG. 3, the control section11determines a reaction “blow off by a relatively short predetermined distance” as the direct attack reaction.

In this regard, at Step S202, the control section11may determine a moving direction of the enemy character A for the direct attack reaction, and/or, if needed, a moving direction of the player character P (for example, the case where the player character P is also moved, see the “PC reaction” ofFIG. 3).

When the direct attack reaction is determined, the control section11starts to execute the determined direct attack reaction for the enemy character A (Step S203). For example, in the case where the reaction “blow off by a relatively short predetermined distance” is determined as the direct attack reaction, the control section11starts to cause the display device50to display an image in which the enemy character A is being blown off.

Subsequently, the control section11determines whether or not the enemy character A executing the direct attack reaction comes into contact with other enemy character (Step S204). In the case where it is determined that the enemy character A comes into contact with the other enemy character, the control section11determines a reaction of the enemy character A due to the contact (indirect attack reaction), and determines a reaction of the contacted other character due to the contact (indirect attack reaction) (Step S205).

At Step S205, for example, the control section11determines the indirect attack reactions to be executed using the combination of contact related information and a table for determining an indirect and direct attack reaction (not shown in the drawings). The contact related information includes the kind of direct attack reaction during execution, an execution state of the direct attack reaction (for example, how long does a distance to be slipped remain?), the weight value of the enemy character that executes the direct attack reaction, and the weight value of the contacted other enemy character, for example. Further, respective indirect attack reactions correspond to the contact related information in the table for determining an indirect and direct attack reaction. More specifically, for example, in the case where the direct attack reaction that the enemy character A is executing is “blow off” and the enemy character A comes into contact with an enemy character B, the control section11determines that the indirect attack reaction of the enemy character A is “stop” and the indirect attack reaction of the enemy character B is “blow off”.

In this regard, at Step S205, the control section11determines a moving direction of each of the enemy characters A and B due to the indirect attack reaction.

When the indirect attack reactions are determined, the control section11starts to execute the determined indirect attack reactions for the enemy characters A and B (Step S206). For example, in the case where it is determined that the indirect attack reaction of the enemy character A is “stop” and the indirect attack reaction of the enemy character B is “blow off”, the control section11starts to cause the display device50to display an image in which the enemy character A is stopped due to the contact and the enemy character B is blown off due to the contact (seeFIG. 5B).

Subsequently, the control section11determines whether or not the enemy character A executing the direct attack reaction collides with an obstacle such as a wall provided in the field (Step S207). In the case where it is determined that the enemy character A collides with the obstacle, the control section11determines a reaction of the enemy character A due to the collision (reaction at collision) (Step S208). In this case, the “reaction at collision” is one example of the indirect attack reaction.

At Step S208, for example, the control section11determines the reaction at collision to be executed using the combination of collision related information and a table for determining a reaction at collision (not shown in the drawings). The collision related information includes the kind of direct attack reaction during execution, an execution state of the direct attack reaction (for example, how long does a distance to be slipped remain?), and the weight value of the enemy character that executes the direct attack reaction, for example. Further, respective reactions at collision correspond to the collision related information in the table for determining a reaction at collision. More specifically, for example, in the case where the direct attack reaction that the enemy character A is executing is “blow off” and the enemy character A collides with the wall, the control section11determines that the reaction at collision of the enemy character A is “stop”.

In this regard, at Step S208, the control section11determines a moving direction of each of the enemy character A due to the reaction at collision.

When the reaction at collision is determined, the control section11starts to execute the determined reaction at collision for the enemy character A (Step S209). For example, in the case where it is determined that the reaction at collision of the enemy character A is “stop”, the control section11starts to cause the display device50to display an image in which the enemy character A is stopped due to the collision (seeFIG. 5C).

The control section11then determines whether or not all of the reactions during the execution (that is, the direct attack reaction, and the indirect attack reaction and/or the reaction at collision) are terminated (Step S210). In the case where it is determined that there is any reaction whose execution is not terminated yet, the processing flow returns to Step S204. On the other hand, in the case where it is determined that all of the reactions during the execution are terminated, this reaction control process is also terminated.

The direct attack reaction due to the direct attack from the player character P and the indirect attack reaction(s) due to the indirect attack from the player character P are executed in the manner as described above. In this regard, a predetermined point is subtracted from the HP of each of the enemy characters that suffer the direct attack or the indirect attack when each of the reactions is started.

As explained above, in the embodiment described above, the video game apparatus100is constructed as follows. Namely, it is determined whether the attack from the player character P hits the enemy character A that is an attack target character or not when the specification of the attack for the player character P is received on the basis of an attack specifying operation of the player (see Step S201). A direct attack reaction indicating a reaction of the enemy character A that suffers the direct attack is determined in the case where it is determined that the attack hits the attack target character, that is, the enemy character A (see Step S202). The enemy character A is then caused to execute the determined direct attack reaction (Step S203). It is determined whether or not an indirect attack caused by contact between the enemy character A executing the direct attack reaction and other attack target character hits an enemy character B other than the enemy character A (see Step S204). In the case where it is determined that the indirect attack hits the enemy character B, the indirect attack reaction indicating a reaction of the enemy character B that suffers the indirect attack and the indirect attack reaction indicating a reaction of the enemy character A that comes into contact with the enemy character B are determined (see Step S205). The enemy characters A and B are then caused to execute the determined indirect attack reactions, respectively. Thus, the indirect attack due to the direct attack can be executed against the enemy character regardless of limiting a predetermined range. Therefore, it is possible to increase variations in an attack during a battle in the video game, and this makes it possible to improve player's interest in the video game.

Namely, damage can be applied not only to an enemy character positioned within a predetermined range but also to an enemy character positioned outside the predetermined range by devising an attack method. Thus, it is possible to improve player's interest in the video game without monotonizing the attack.

For example, by predicting the reaction of an enemy character that suffers a direct attack, it is possible to apply damage to the enemy character further and to apply damage to other enemy character in a chain reaction. Since it is possible to adopt various devices in the method of the direct attack in this way, the present invention can be expected to maintain and improve interest of a skilled player in the video game, in particular.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game apparatus100is constructed so that the direct attack reaction is determined on the basis of the table for determining a direct attack reaction (seeFIG. 3) in which information for determining the direct attack reaction, including the weapon that the player character uses for the attack, is set. Thus, it is possible to change a direct attack reaction in accordance with a weapon used for an attack by the player character. This makes it possible to increase variations in an attack. In this regard, a change in the direct attack reaction of the present invention is not limited to the kind of weapon. For example, the direct attack reaction may be changed in accordance with other attack contents such as the kind of attack magic.

Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the video game apparatus100is constructed so that the direct attack reaction is determined on the basis of the table for determining a direct attack reaction (seeFIG. 3) in which information for determining a direct attack reaction, including the type of ground level in a battle field where a battle is executed, is set. Thus, it is possible to change a direct attack reaction in accordance with the type of ground level. This makes it possible to increase variations in an attack.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the video game apparatus100is constructed so that the direct attack reaction is determined on the basis of the table for determining a direct attack reaction (seeFIG. 3) in which information for determining a direct attack reaction, including the weight value preset as weight of a direct attack target character, is set. Thus, it is possible to change a direct attack reaction in accordance with the weight value of the direct attack target character. This makes it possible to increase variations in an attack.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game apparatus100is constructed so as to select one direct attack target character against which an attack is be executed using the table for determining a direct attack reaction (seeFIG. 3) in which multiple kinds of direct attack reactions are set. Thus, it is possible to determine the direct attack reaction quickly and easily.

Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the video game apparatus100is constructed so as to determine an indirect attack reaction in accordance with the kind of the direct attack reaction of the direct attack target character that comes into contact with an indirect attack target character. Thus, it is possible to determine the indirect attack reaction that is changed in accordance with the kind of the direct attack reaction of the direct attack target character. This makes it possible to increase variations in an attack.

In this regard, although the attack target character has been described using the enemy character as one example in the embodiment described above, a target of a direct attack or an indirect attack may be other character (other attack target character) such as an item that can be obtained or taken out as a result of destruction or the like, for example.

Furthermore, although the video game apparatus main body10and the display device50are constructed from separate components in the embodiment described above, the display device50may be incorporated in the video game apparatus main body10, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of spirit of the present invention.

Further, although one example of the video game control for the RPG has been explained in the embodiment described above, there is no wonder that the technique of the present invention can be applied to similar video games such as a gun action RPG. In addition, the technique of the present invention can also be applied to other kinds of video games appropriately, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of spirit of the present invention.

Further, although an aspect of the present invention has been described with the video game apparatus100as an example in the embodiment described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be applied to various apparatuses such as a personal computer, a cellular phone terminal, a portable game apparatus and the like as long as such an apparatus has an image generating function. In this regard, in the case where the present invention is applied to a portable game apparatus or the like, a small-sized storage medium such as a semiconductor memory card may be used as the storage medium70described above in place of a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, or any other type of storage medium as those skilled in the art will appreciate without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Moreover, in the embodiment described above, it has been described that game data for causing the video game apparatus main body10(video game apparatus100) to execute the various processes described above (that is, various data such as control program data used for the video game) are stored in the storage medium70. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The video game data may be delivered by a server apparatus such as a network server (WWW server), or other computer device connected (either wired or wireless) to a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or the like, or any combination thereof. In this case, the video game apparatus main body10may obtain the video game data delivered by the server apparatus via the communication network80, and store the video game data in the HDD13. The video game data may be used by being loaded on the RAM12from the HDD13. In this regard, although the video game data are explained in the embodiment described above, such data may include at least control program data for causing a computer to execute the image generating process in the embodiment as described above.

The present invention can be applied to a video game machine, a personal computer, a cellular phone terminal, a portable game apparatus or the like, or any combination thereof that causes an image display apparatus to display a player character on an image display screen, and controls progress of a video game by controlling an action of the player character displayed on the image display screen in response to an operation by a player. Therefore, the present invention is useful.