U.S. Pat. No. 9,254,442

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video game apparatus100according to the embodiment of the invention. The video game apparatus100includes a video game apparatus main body10, a display device50, and a sound output device60. The video game apparatus main body10is constituted from, for example, a video game machine that is put on the market. In addition, the display device50is constituted from, for example, a television apparatus or a liquid crystal display, and has a plurality of image display units, for example, an upper image display unit51and a lower image display unit52.

The video game apparatus main body10includes a control unit11, a RAM (Random Access Memory)12, a HDD (Hard Disc Drive)13, a sound processor14, a graphic control unit15, a DVD/CD-ROM drive16, a communication interface17, an interface unit18, a frame memory19, a memory card slot20, and an input interface unit21.

The control unit11, the RAM12, the HDD13, the sound processor14, the graphic control unit15, the DVD/CD-ROM drive16, the communication interface17, and the interface unit18are connected to an internal bus22.

The control unit11includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and controls the entire video game apparatus100according to control programs stored in the HDD13or a storage medium70. The control unit11includes an internal timer that is used to generate timer interruption. The RAM12is also used as a work area for the control unit11.

The sound processor14functions as a sound input-output interface that performs D/A conversion or A/D conversion on a sound signal. The sound processor14is connected to the sound output device60which includes, for example, a speaker. The sound processor14outputs a sound signal to the sound output device60according to a sound output instruction from the control unit11, which is executing a processing according to various control programs.

The graphic control unit15is connected to the display device50that has, for example, the upper image display unit51and the lower image display unit52for screen display. The graphic control unit15develops an image to the frame memory19according to a drawing instruction from the control unit11, and simultaneously outputs, to the display device50, video signals such that the upper and lower image display units51and52display images. A switching time for images to be displayed according to the video signals is set to 1/30 seconds per frame, for example.

The storage medium70, such as DVD-ROM or CD-ROM, in which control programs for a game are stored, is mounted in the DVD/CD-ROM drive16. The DVD/CD-ROM drive16reads out various kinds of data, such as control programs, from the storage medium70. As the storage medium70, in addition to the DVD-ROM or the CD-ROM, various DVDs (DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL) or various CDs (CD-R, CD-RW, and the like) may be used.

The communication interface17is connected to a communication network80, such as Internet, in a wireless or wired manner. The video game apparatus main body10performs communication with, for example, another computer through the communication network80using a communication function of the communication interface17.

The input interface unit21, the memory card slot20, and a touch panel40as an operation input unit (controller) are connected to the interface unit18. The interface unit18causes the RAM12to store instruction data from the input interface unit21on the basis of operation of a keypad30by a player and instruction data on the basis of operation of the touch panel40with a touch pen41by the player. In response to the instruction data stored in the RAM12, the control unit11executes various arithmetic processing.

The touch panel40may be stacked on a display screen of at least one of the upper and lower image display units51and52. In this case, by managing and controlling a display timing of one of the upper and lower image display units51and52, on which the touch panel40is stacked, and an operation timing with the touch pen41on the touch panel40and the coordinates of a position where the touch pen41touches, the control unit11recognizes input information according to operation input by input operation from a player. Moreover, the display device50may constitute a display screen from a single image display unit, instead of having a plurality of image display units, such as the upper and lower image display units51and52.

As described above, the video game apparatus main body10is connected to the touch panel40through the interface unit18and simultaneously connected to the keypad30as an operation input unit (controller) through the input interface unit21.

A cross key31, a group of buttons32, a left joystick38, and a right joystick39are arranged on the upper surface of the keypad30. The cross key31includes an up key31a, a down key31b, a right key31c, and a left key31d, and the group of buttons32include a circle button32a, a x button32b, a triangle button32c, and a square button32d. Furthermore, a select button35or a start button37is arranged at a connection portion between a base on which the cross key31is arranged and a base on which the group of buttons32are arranged. In addition, a plurality of buttons such as an R1 button36and an L1 button33are arranged on the side surface of the keypad30.

Two types of detection signals generated in the keypad30are supplied to the input interface unit21. That is, the detection signals from the keypad30pass through the input interface unit21, by which detection information indicating which button on the keypad30is pressed and detection information indicating the state of each of the left joystick38and the right joystick39are generated. In this way, an operation instruction (operation input) by a user using the keypad30is supplied to the video game apparatus main body10.

Furthermore, the interface unit18performs, according to the instruction from the control unit11, a processing to store data indicative of the progress of the game stored in the RAM12into a memory card90installed in the memory card slot20. The interface unit18also performs a processing to read out data on the game stored in the memory card90at the time of suspending the game and to transmit such data to the RAM12, or the like.

Various kinds of data, such as the control programs for performing the game with the video game apparatus100, are stored in, for example, the storage medium70. Various kinds of data, such as the control programs, stored in the storage medium70are read out by the DVD/CD-ROM drive16, in which the storage medium70is mounted, and loaded onto the RAM12.

The control unit11performs, according to the control programs loaded onto the RAM12, various kinds of processing, such as a processing to output a drawing command to the graphic control unit15and a processing to output a sound output command to the sound processor14. Moreover, while the control unit11performs the processing, interim data generated according to the progress of the game is stored in the RAM12used as a work memory.

Next, regions that are portioned in the RAM12shown inFIG. 1, and data to be stored in each region will be described in detail.

FIG. 2is a diagram showing regions that are portioned in the RAM12. As shown inFIG. 2, a program storage region121, an associated data storage region122, an image storage region123, and the like are portioned in the RAM12. The control unit11reads out the programs and data stored in the regions121to123from the storage medium70or the memory card90, and transmits the read programs or data to the RAM12.

The program storage region121stores programs required for executing the game, such as programs shown in the flowcharts described below.

In the associated data storage region122, an item data table124, a player character data storage unit125, a group of area data tables126, a ranking effect table127, a location-brand correspondence table128, a price coefficient table129, and a boom/slump table130are formed.

The item data table124stores, as shown inFIG. 3, ‘ID’, ‘ITEM NAME’, ‘CATEGORY’, ‘BRAND’, ‘PRICE’, and ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER)’ for each usable item of the player character. ‘ID’ is a 4-digit serial number of each item. ‘ITEM NAME’ represents the name of an item on the game or the content of a skill to be executed when the player character holds the item. ‘CATEGORY’ represents the effect of a skill for offense or recovery. ‘BRAND’ represents which brand of 13 kinds of brands to be described below the item belongs to. ‘PRICE’ represents a reference price when the item is bought or sold on the game. ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER)’ represents a power value (offensive power value/recovery power value) as a reference when the player character uses the item.

In this embodiment, the 13 kinds of brands are symbolized with 13 kinds of animals, that is, the 12 zodiac animals from ‘RAT’ to ‘BOAR’ and a cat.

Moreover, each of the brands is assigned with an image color. Accordingly, each brand may also be called according to the color, such as a red brand, a blue brand, or a green brand.

The player character data storage unit125stores, as shown inFIG. 4, ‘ACQUIRED ITEM’ indicative of an item acquired by a player character, and ‘HELD ITEM’ indicative of an item selected and held by the player character from ‘ACQUIRED ITEM’ according to ‘ID’ assigned by the item data table124. The player character data storage unit125also stores ‘POSSESSION MONEY’ indicative of usable virtual money in the game. ‘POSSESSION MONEY’ increases or decreases each time an item is bought or sold.

Though not shown, when a battle between a player character and an enemy character is executed, a battle management table is provided to manage a current life force (hereinafter, simply referred to as ‘HP (Hit Point)’) of each character, or to manage how many times the player character carries out an attack (or defense) with an item. Data stored in the battle management table is cleared when a next battle starts after the battle ends.

Accordingly, by referring to the player character data storage unit125, the item data table124, and the battle management table, it is possible to identify which brand an item held by the player character when the battle starts, or a used item belongs to.

In case of the game according to this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, a real area ‘Shibuya’ is divided into 23 areas (also referred to as ‘stage’ or ‘location’). Enemy characters and a boss character are arranged in each of the first to 23-th areas, and then a battle is executed within the area. Furthermore, the group of area data tables126is provided with area data tables126-1to126-23shown inFIG. 6corresponding to the first to 23-th areas. InFIG. 6, only the area data table126-1for a single area is shown.

As shown inFIG. 6, each of the 23 area data tables126-1to126-23stores ‘ADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’, ‘BRAND’, ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’, ‘VARIABLE VALUE’, ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’, ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’, and ‘NEW BRAND POINT’. ‘ADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’ is a coefficient that is equal to or less than ‘1’ and multiplied to ‘VARIABLE VALUE’, and randomly changes. ‘BRAND’ represents the above-described 13 brands from ‘RAT’ to ‘CAT’. ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’ is a percentage indicative of a market penetration factor of a brand in an area immediately before a battle starts.

It is assumed that the area data table shown inFIG. 6is the area data table126-1of the first area. Then, in the first area, the brand ‘CAT’ having the previous brand point ‘14%’ is ‘BEST 1’, and the brand ‘BOAR’ having the previous brand point ‘13%’ is ‘BEST 2’. In addition, the brand ‘TIGER’ having the previous brand point ‘3%’ is ‘WORST 2’, and the brand ‘RAT’ having the previous brand point ‘2%’ is ‘WORST 1’.

‘VARIABLE VALUE’ is a reference value at the time of calculating a point to be added to the previous brand point at the end of the result, such as a current battle or an item transaction in a virtual shop. This is determined depending on the state of an item held by the player character or the content of an item (skill) used by the player during the battle. In regard to point addition when the player character holds an item, for example, ‘1 point’ is given for each held item, ‘1 point’ is given each time an item is used in the battle, and then the points are totalized when the battle ends, or points according to an item transaction in the area are totalized (‘VARIABLE VALUE’ may be automatically corrected according to the values of the boom/slump table130, as described below). For example, if the player character holds 5 items of the brand ‘RAT’, and uses each item once during a battle against the enemy character, the point of the brand ‘RAT’ is ‘10’, which is obtained by totalizing a point addition value ‘5’ when the player character holds items, and a point addition value ‘5’ when the items are used in the battle. This point becomes ‘VARIABLE VALUE’.

In this embodiment, ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ is the sum value of the number of items held by the player character, the number of utilizations of the items in the battle, and the number of transactions of the items. Alternatively, only the number of utilizations of the items in the battle by the player character may become ‘VARIABLE VALUE’.

‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ is a value that is obtained by ‘VARIABLE VALUE’בADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’. For example, in case of ‘RAT’, since ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ is ‘10.00’ and ‘ADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’ is ‘0.5’, ‘10.00×0.5=5.00’, that is, ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ becomes ‘5.00’.

‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ is a value that is obtained by adding ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ to ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’, and is calculated in ‘%’. For example, in case of ‘RAT’, since ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’ is ‘2.00%’ and ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ is ‘5.00’, ‘2.00+5.00=7.00%’, that is, ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ becomes ‘7.00%’.

The sum value of ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ for the 13 brands exceeds 100%, and as shown inFIG. 6, becomes ‘157.50%’. Then, a value obtained by rounding ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ to 100% is set to ‘NEW BRAND POINT’. Of course, ‘NEW BRAND POINT’ becomes ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’ when a next battle starts. In this way, by rounding the point calculated by adding the variable value every time to 100%, the point of each brand not only simply increases according to the progress of the game, but decreases on the basis of the relative relationship with the point of another brand.

The ranking effect table127stores, as shown inFIG. 7, ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER) THREE TIMES’ in association with ‘BEST 1’, ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER) 1.5 TIMES’ in association with ‘BEST 2’, ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER) 0.5 TIMES’ in association with ‘WORST 2’, and ‘BADGE UNAVAILABLE’ in association with ‘WORST 1’. Here, ‘BEST 1’, ‘BEST 2’, ‘WORST 2’, and ‘WORST 1’ represent rankings according to ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’ in the 23 area data tables126-1to126-23. In addition, each of ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER) THREE TIMES’, ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER) 1.5 TIMES’, and ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER) 0.5 TIMES’ represents ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER)’ in the item data table124shown inFIG. 3.

As described above, when it is assumed that the area data table shown inFIG. 6is the area data table126-1of the first area, in the first area, the brand ‘CAT’ having the previous brand point ‘14%’ is ‘BEST 1’, and the brand ‘BOAR’ having the previous brand point ‘13%’ is ‘BEST 2’. In addition, the brand ‘TIGER’ having the previous brand point ‘3%’ is ‘WORST 2’, and the brand ‘RAT’ having the previous brand point ‘2%’ is ‘WORST 1’. Then, when a player character executes a battle against an enemy character in the first area, if it is assumed that an item of the brand ‘CAT’, which is ‘BEST 1’, is used, and its power (offensive power/recovery power) is ‘50’, the player character can execute the battle against the enemy character with the power (offensive power/recovery power) ‘150’ corresponding to three times larger than the reference power ‘50’. Furthermore, if an item of the brand ‘BOAR’, which is ‘BEST 2’, is used, and its power (offensive power/recovery power) is ‘50’, the play character can execute the battle against the enemy character with the power (offensive power/recovery power) ‘75’ corresponding to one and half times larger than the reference power ‘50’. However, if an item of the brand ‘TIGER’, which is ‘WORST 2’, is used, and its power (offensive power/recovery power) is ‘50’, the player character executes the battle against the enemy character with the power (offensive power/recovery power) ‘25’ corresponding to half of the reference power. An item of the brand ‘RAT’, which is ‘WORST 1’, cannot be used.

In the location-brand correspondence table128, as shown inFIG. 8, the vertical axis represents codes indicating the 23 areas (locations), and the horizontal axis represents the numeric values from 1 to 13 corresponding to the 13 brands. At the intersection areas thereof, ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ shown inFIG. 6is added and stored. Then, when the player character executes a battle with the brand 8 (sheep) in an area ‘no001’, as shown in a region A, an acquisition point of ‘BRAND 8’ in the area ‘no001’ increases.

‘DOMINANT BRAND’ refers to a brand, the acquisition point of which exceeds 30% of the total in the corresponding area. Referring toFIG. 8, ‘BRAND 11’ in an area ‘ce002’, ‘BRAND 8’ in an area ‘no001’, ‘BRAND 9’ in an area ‘no004’, and the like are the dominant brands. An area where a dominant brand exists is displayed on a map in image color of the corresponding brand through a processing described below. Of course, if the acquisition point of another brand increases, the percentage of the dominant brand is comparatively lowered. If the percentage is equal to or less than 30%, it is in a state ‘NO DOMINANT BRAND’, and the color of the corresponding area is changed to an initial color, that is, gray.

Each of the numerals in a frame B at the lower portion is the total point for each brand. Accordingly, the brand ranking over Shibuya can be determined according to the total point. The price coefficient table129stores, as shown inFIG. 9, in correspondence with the first to 13-th rankings over Shibuya, a coefficient to be multiplied to a price (seeFIG. 3) when an item of a corresponding brand is bought or sold. Referring toFIG. 3, although the price of the item ‘FIRE (lev.1)’ corresponding to the ID ‘0001’ is ‘100’, if the brand ‘CAT’ of the item ‘FIRE (lev.1)’ corresponding to the ID ‘0001’ is the first ranking, the item is bought or sold at a price, ‘500’, which is five times higher than the reference price. To the contrary, if the brand ‘CAT’ of the item ‘FIRE (lev.1)’ corresponding to the ID ‘0001’ is the 13-th ranking, the item is bought or sold at a price, ‘25’, which is quarter of the reference price.

The boom/slump table130stores, as shown inFIG. 10, actual time 0 to 23 o'clock in correspondence with a first week, a second week, a third week, . . . , for which a player plays a game in an actual time. The boom/slump table130also stores the brand name, which is turned into ‘boom’, or the brand name, which is turned into ‘slump’, in correspondence with each actual time. Within the actual time, in case of a brand, which is turned into ‘boom’ each time the battle ends, a predetermined fixed value is added to ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ of the area data tables126-1to126-23shown inFIG. 6. To the contrary, in case of a brand, which is turned into ‘slump’, ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ is set to ‘0’. In this way, by varying ‘VARIABLE VALUE’, even if the player willingly buys or sells an item of a specific brand to promote the ranking of the corresponding brand, or executes a battle while holding the corresponding item, a ranking manipulation cannot easily progress just as the player intended.

Accordingly, ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ of the area data tables126-1to126-23shown inFIG. 6may be automatically corrected according to the values of the boom/slump table130.

Next, a processing procedure of a game according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to flowcharts ofFIG. 11and later. A processing described below is a processing that is executed in a case where the control unit11controls other constituent elements in the game apparatus on the basis of a game program stored in the storage medium70.

FIG. 11is a flowchart showing a processing in the entire game. First, the control unit11executes a pre-game start processing (Step S1) to portion the program storage region121, the associated data storage region122, the image storage region123, and the like in the RAM12, as shown inFIG. 2, and stores the above-described data and the like read out from the storage medium70or the memory card90in the areas. Next, the control unit11causes, for example, the lower image display unit52of the display device50to display a selection screen for selecting an item to be held by the player character from ‘ACQUIRED ITEM’ stored in the player character data storage unit125(Step S2).

Next, it is determined whether or not an item to be held by the player character is selected from ‘ACQUIRED ITEM’ by operation of the keypad30on the selection screen (Step S3). If an item to be held is selected, its ID is stored in ‘HELD ITEM’ of the player character data storage unit125(Step S4). In addition, it is determined whether or not item selection is completed, and a loop of Steps S2to S5is repeated until the selection is completed. Accordingly, the player can allow the player character to hold a plurality of items. The maximum number of items to be held by the player character may be limited to, for example, 4 or the like.

After the items to be held are selected, as shown in FIG.15A, for example, the upper image display unit51of the display device50displays an entire area map43including all of the areas ce001 to we004 (Step S6) and simultaneously displays the player character (Step S7). At the time of display of all of the areas in Step S5, the location-brand correspondence table128shown inFIG. 8is referred to. Among the areas ce001 to we004, an area where the acquisition point exceeds 30% and ‘DOMINANT BRAND’ is present is displayed in an image color of the corresponding brand. As shown inFIG. 15A, for example, an area54is displayed red on the entire area map43.

As shown inFIG. 15A, when items held by a player character55are green, blue, and blue brand items, as shown inFIG. 15B, the game may be played unsolicitously, that is, the red area54may be selected as it is. In addition, as shown inFIG. 16A, the held items may be all changed to the red brand, and as shown inFIG. 16B, the red area54may be repainted blue, and the held items may be all changed to the blue brand.

As shown inFIG. 15B, at the time of playing the game unsolicitously, if the player touches the area54with the touch pen41, it is determined YES in Step S8, and thus the process progresses from Step S8to Step S12. Meanwhile, if the player does not touch the area54with the touch pen41, it is determined NO in Step S8, and thus the process progresses from Step S8to Step S9. Then, a loop of Steps S8, S9, and S8is repeated in that order.

In a state where the loop is repeated, when the player wants to change the held items, for example, to change all of the held items to the red brand or to change all of the held items to the blue brand, the player instructs to change the held items with the touch pen41. If so, it is determined YES in Step S9, and the process progresses from Step S9to Step S10. Then, a screen for changing the held items to desired contents is displayed.

If the held items are all changed, it is determined YES in Step S11. Accordingly, in Step S12, the IDs of the changed held items are written into ‘HELD ITEM’ of the player character data storage unit125to update ‘HELD ITEM’ of the player character data storage unit125(Step S12). Next, the process returns to the area selection screen (Step S6).

In a state where the above-described loop of Step S8, S9, and S8is repeated, if the player touches the area54with the touch pen41, it is determined YES in Step S8. Then, only the selected area is displayed in detail on magnified scale, and simultaneously the player character is displayed in the area (Step S13). At the time of displaying the selected area in detail on magnified scale, a map image that is closely related to a department store and a building existing in the area54of Shibuya is displayed.

In addition, at the time of displaying the selected area in detail on magnified scale, display is performed whether or not ‘DOMINANT BRAND’ exists in the corresponding area. In this embodiment, when the red brand is a dominant brand in the area54, a plurality of non-player character (NPC: a character that operates under the control of the game machine (specifically, under the control of the control unit11)), which are called a brand mania, are displayed, and the background is also changed by adding the sign of the dominant brand to a building or the like in the area. To the contrary, when the dominant brand does not exist, a map image that is closely related to a department store and a building existing in the area54of Shibuya is simply displayed.

Next, it is determined whether a transaction operation of an item is made or not (Step S14). If the transaction operation is made, a transaction processing is executed (Step S15). Furthermore, it is determined whether or not a battle between a player character and an enemy character starts (Step S16). If the battle starts, a battle processing is executed (Step S17). In addition, during the battle, if the player character or the enemy character wins, and the battle result is generated, it is determined whether or not the battle ends (Step S18).

If the battle result is generated, and the battle ends, a table update processing is executed (Step S19). Accordingly, the table update processing is executed each time the battle result is generated and the battle ends. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the player instructs to terminate the game with the keypad30(Step S20). Until the game termination instruction is input, the processing from Step S2is repeatedly performed. When the game termination instruction is input, a game termination processing is executed, data to be preserved, which is stored in the associated data storage region122, is preserved in the memory card90(Step S21).

Accordingly, the group of area data tables126and the location-brand correspondence table128, in which data during the game is written, are also preserved in the memory card90, together with other data during the game.

Next, it is determined whether a transmission instruction is input or not (Step S22). When the transmission instruction is input, the group of area data tables126and the location-brand correspondence table128are transmitted to the outside through the communication interface17and the communication network80(Step S23). Next, it is determined whether or not a reception instruction is input (Step S24). When the reception instruction is input, the group of area data tables and the location-brand correspondence table are received from the outside through the communication interface17and the communication network80, and the group of area data tables126and the location-brand correspondence table128stored in the memory card90are changed (Step S25).

The change of the group of area data tables126and the location-brand correspondence table128stored in the memory card90may be performed by overwriting the group of area data tables and the location-brand correspondence table received from the outside as they are. Alternatively, it may be performed by changing each of the values of the group of area data tables126and the location-brand correspondence table128to the average of corresponding values thereof. In this way, the group of area data tables126and the location-brand correspondence table128, which are changed according to his/her play, can be reflected in data of another player. To the contrary, the group of area data tables126and the location-brand correspondence table128, which are changed according to another player's play, can be reflected in his/her play.

FIG. 12is a flowchart showing the details of the transaction processing (Step S15). It is discriminated which ranking an item to be bought or sold takes among the first to 12-th brand rankings in the corresponding area over Shibuya (Steps S101. . . S103).

As described above, in the location-brand correspondence table128, each of the numerals in the frame B at the lower portion is the total point for each brand. Accordingly, the first to 13-th brand rankings can be determined over Shibuya according to the total point. Then, by comparing the brand rankings over Shibuya with the brand of an item to be bought or sold by a player in the area, it is discriminated which ranking the item to be bought or sold takes among the first to 12-th brand rankings over Shibuya. Of course, if the item does not correspond to the first to 12-th brand rankings (Step S103; NO), the brand of the item to be bought or sold takes the 13-th ranking.

In this way, if the first to 13-th brand rankings of the items to be bought or sold are discriminated, by referring to the price coefficient table129shown inFIG. 9and the reference price of ‘PRICE’ in the item data table124shown inFIG. 3, a price is determined (Steps S104, S105, . . . , S106, and S107). That is, if the item to be bought or sold takes the first brand ranking, the price of the item is determined to be 5.0 times higher than the reference price. If the item takes the second brand ranking, the price of the item is determined to be 2.0 times higher than the reference price, . . . , if the 12-th brand ranking, 0.5 times, and if it takes the 13-th brand ranking, its price is determined to be 0.25 times than the reference price. Accordingly, as described above, inFIG. 3, even if the price of the item ‘FIRE (lev.1)’ of the ID ‘0001’ is ‘100’, when the brand ‘RAT’ of the item ‘FIRE (lev.1)’ of the ID ‘0001’ takes the first ranking, the item is bought or sold at a price, ‘500’, which is 5 times higher than the reference price. To the contrary, if the brand ‘RAT’ of the item ‘FIRE (lev.1)’ of the ID ‘0001’ takes the 13-th ranking, the item is bought or sold at a price, ‘25’, which is 0.25 times lower than the reference price.

In this way, if the item to be bought or sold and the price are determined, the item to be bought or sold and the price are stored in the work area of the RAM12(Step S108). Next, it is determined whether or not the transaction ends (Step S108). The processing from Step S101is repeated until the transaction ends.

Here, the brand ranking over Shibuya is displayed on, for example, the upper image display unit51of the display device50according to the player's demand through the operation of the keypad30or continuously, such that the player can view the brand ranking. Accordingly, the player can get a gain by selling an item of a higher-ranking brand from the acquired items of the player character at a high price, and can purchase an item of a lower-ranking brand in large quantities at a low price.

If the transaction ends, the player character data storage unit125is updated. That is, on the basis of the data stored in the work area of the RAM12in Step S108, when the player purchases an item, its ID is written into ‘ACQUIRED ITEM’ of the player character data storage unit125, and the total amount of purchase money is subtracted from ‘POSSESSION MONEY’ to update ‘POSSESSION MONEY’. In addition, when the player sells an item, its ID is erased from ‘ACQUIRED ITEM’ of the player character data storage unit125, and the total amount of sales is added to ‘POSSESSION MONEY’ to update ‘POSSESSION MONEY’.

Furthermore, a transaction point P1for each brand is calculated (Step S111). The transaction point P1is a 1 point every transaction, regardless of the price. Accordingly, by purchasing the item of the lower-ranking brand at a low price in large quantities, the transaction point P1can be increased without needing costs.

FIG. 13is a flowchart showing the details of the battle processing (Step S17). It is discriminated whether the brand of an item used by the player character in the selected area is ‘BEST 1’, ‘BEST 2’, ‘WORST 2’, or ‘WORST 1’ in that area (Steps S121to S124).

As described above, the group of area data tables126is provided with the area data tables126-1to126-23shown inFIG. 6in correspondence with the first to 23-th areas. Here, it is assumed that an area, which is selected by the player and in which the player character executes a battle against the enemy character, is the first area, and the area data table shown inFIG. 6is the area data table126-1of the first area. Then, in the first area, the brand ‘CAT’ having the brand point ‘14%’ is ‘BEST 1’, and the brand ‘BOAR’ having the brand point ‘13%’ is ‘BEST 2’. In addition, the brand ‘TIGER’ having the brand point ‘3%’ is ‘WORST 2’, and the brand ‘RAT’ having the brand point ‘2%’ is ‘WORST 1’.

The reference power of each item can be obtained by referring to ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER)’ of the item data table124shown inFIG. 3. Accordingly, when an item of the brand ‘CAT’, which is ‘BEST 1’, is used, and the reference power of the item is ‘100’, on the basis of the ranking effect table127shown inFIG. 7, the power (offensive power/recovery power) is set to ‘300’ three times higher than the reference power (Step S125), and then the battle processing against the enemy character is performed. If an item of the brand ‘BOAR’, which is ‘BEST 2’, is used, and the reference power of the item is ‘100’, the power (offensive power/recovery power) is set to ‘150’, which is one and half times higher than the reference power (Step S126). In addition, if an item of the brand ‘TIGER’, which is ‘WORST 2’, is used, and the reference power of the item is ‘100’, the power (offensive power/recovery power) is set ‘50’ 0.5 times lower than the reference power (Step S127), and then the battle processing against the enemy character is performed.

In regard to an item of the brand ‘RAT’, which is ‘WORST 1’, it becomes unavailable (Step S128). In addition, in regard to an item of a brand other than ‘BEST 1’, ‘BEST 2’, ‘WORST 2’, and ‘WORST 1’, the battle processing against the enemy character is performed using the reference power stored in ‘POWER (OFFENSIVE POWER/RECOVERY POWER)’ of the item data table124shown inFIG. 3.

Accordingly, since the power of the item becomes higher or lower than the reference power, or unavailable, the battle against the enemy character is not developed just as the player expected, such that the player can get stimulation from the battle or game development. As a result, the game can be made more interesting.

If the player character uses an item, the kind of used item and the use frequency of the item, and the kind of lost item are stored in the work area of the RAM12(Step S129). Next, it is determined whether or not victory or defeat of a single battle is decided and the battle ends (Step S130). The processing from Step S121is repeated until victory or defeat of the battle is decided and the battle ends.

If it is determined that the victory or defeat of the single battle is decided, and the battle ends, the battle management table is updated. That is, on the basis of the data stored in the work area of the RAM12in Step S108, when an item is lost, its ID is erased from ‘ACQUIRED ITEM’ of the player character data storage unit125.

In addition, a battle point P2and an item holding point P3for each brand are calculated (Step S132). The battle point P2is a 1 point for each item held by the player character, and a 1 point whenever each item is used once. The item holding point P3is a 1 point for each item held by the player character. Accordingly, by holding an item of the same brand or using the item several times, the battle point P2of the corresponding brand can be increased.

FIG. 14is a flowchart showing the details of a table update processing (Step S19). First, a correction coefficient is generated, and is written into an area data table of a selected area among the area data tables126-1to126-23shown inFIG. 6as ‘ADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’ (Step S141).

As described above, the group of area data tables126is provided with the area data tables126-1to126-23shown inFIG. 6in correspondence with the first to 23-th areas. Here, it is assumed that an area, which is selected by the player and in which the player character executes a battle against the enemy character, is the first area, the area data table shown inFIG. 6is the area data table126-1of the first area, and the generated correction coefficient is ‘0.50’. Then, as shown inFIG. 6, ‘0.50’ is written as ‘ADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’.

Next, the variable value for each brand is calculated (Step S142). The variable value is calculated by the transaction point P1for each brand calculated in Step S111ofFIG. 12, and the battle point P2and the item holding point P3for each brand calculated in Step S132ofFIG. 13. Specifically, the variable value is calculated as ‘VARIABLE VALUE=P1+P2+P3’ for each brand.

Subsequently, on the basis of an actual game time from the control unit11, referring to the boom/slump table130shown inFIG. 10, it is determined whether or not a brand, which is turned into ‘BOOM’ at the actual game time, exists (Step S143). If a brand, which is turned into ‘BOOM’, exists, a predetermined value α is added to the variable value calculated in Step S142, and the obtained value is set as the variable value of the brand in that area (Step S144).

If no brand, which is turned into ‘BOOM’, exists, it is determined whether or not a brand, which is turned into ‘SLUMP’, exists (Step S145). If a brand, which is turned into ‘SLUMP’, exists, the variable value calculated in Step S142is set to ‘0’, and ‘0’ is set as the variable value of the brand in that area (Step S146).

In regard to a brand, which is turned into neither ‘BOOM’ nor ‘SLUMP’, Steps S144and S146are not performed, and thus ‘P1+P2+P3’ calculated in Step S142becomes the variable value as it is.

Through Steps S142to S146, the variable value of each of the 13 brands in the selected area is decided (of course, a brand having a variable value ‘0’ is also included). Next, the variable values for each brand are overwritten into the column ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ of the area data table126-1shown inFIG. 6(Step S147).

Subsequently, ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ is calculated (Step S148). As described above, ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ is a value, which is obtained by ‘VARIABLE VALUE’בADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’. For example, in case of ‘RAT’, since ‘VARIABLE VALUE’ is ‘10.00’, and ‘ADDITION VALUE CORRECTION COEFFICIENT’ is ‘0.5’, ‘10.00×0.5=5.00’, that is, ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ becomes ‘5.00’. In addition, ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ is calculated (Step S149). As described above, ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ is a value, which is obtained by adding ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ to ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’, and is calculated in ‘%’. For example, in case of ‘RAT’, since ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’ is ‘2.00%’, and ‘CORRECTED VARIABLE VALUE’ is ‘5.00’, ‘2.00+5.00=7.00%’, that is, ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ becomes ‘7.00%’.

Next, ‘NEW BRAND POINT’ is calculated (Step S150). That is, the sum value of ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ for the 13 brands exceeds 100%, and as shown in the drawing, becomes ‘157.50%’. Then, a value, which is obtained by rounding ‘BRAND POINT IMMEDIATELY AFTER VARIATION’ to 100%, is set as ‘NEW BRAND POINT’.

Furthermore, ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’ is updated (Step S151). That is, the brand point for each brand in the column ‘NEW BRAND POINT’ is copied and overwritten into the column ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’. In the state shown inFIG. 6, the brand ‘CAT’ having the previous brand point ‘14%’ is ‘BEST 1’ and the brand ‘BOAR’ having the previous brand point ‘13%’ is ‘BEST 2’. In addition, the brand ‘TIGER’ having the previous brand point ‘3%’ is ‘WORST 2, and the brand ‘RAT’ having the previous brand point ‘2%’ is ‘WORST 1’. In contrast, if the brand point for each brand in the column ‘NEW BRAND POINT’ is overwritten into the column ‘PREVIOUS BRAND POINT’, the brand ‘SHEEP’ having the previous brand point ‘20.95%’ becomes ‘BEST 1’, and the brand ‘BOAR’ having the previous brand point ‘9.84%’ becomes ‘BEST 2. In addition, the brands ‘RAT’ and ‘SNAKE’ having the previous brand point ‘4.44%’ become ‘WORST 2’, and the brand ‘DRAGON’ having the previous brand point ‘3.81%’ becomes ‘WORST 1’.

By executing the battle processing shown inFIG. 13on the basis of ‘BEST 1’, ‘BEST 2’, ‘WORST 2’, and ‘WORST 1’, even if a battle is developed again in the same area, since the power of the item becomes higher or lower than the reference power, or becomes unavailable, a battle against the enemy character is not developed just as the player expected. Therefore, the player can get stimulation from the battle or game development.

In this embodiment, the rankings of ‘BEST 1’, ‘BEST 2’, ‘WORST 2’, and ‘WORST 1’ are determined on the basis of the data stored in the area data tables126-1to126-23corresponding to the first to 23-th areas shown inFIG. 6. Alternatively, the rankings of ‘BEST 1’, ‘BEST 2’, ‘WORST 2’, and ‘WORST 1’ may be determined on the basis of the data stored in the location-brand correspondence table128shown inFIG. 8. In this case, since an influence of the correction coefficient is not present, the rankings can be determined in real reflection of the use frequency of the item by the player character.

In the embodiment, the video game apparatus main body10and the display device50are provided separately from each other. Alternatively, the display device50may be integrated into the video game apparatus main body10. In addition, the display device50may further include many other image display units, in addition to the upper and lower image display units51and52. Furthermore, the display device50may be constituted from a single image display unit, which is divided into a plurality of display regions, so as to achieve the same effects.

Although, in the embodiment, the video game apparatus100is illustrated, the invention can be applied to various apparatuses, including a personal computer, a mobile phone, a portable game machine, and the like, insofar as they have an image generation function. Moreover, when the invention is applied to the portable game machine, a compact storage medium such as a semiconductor memory card may be used as the storage medium70, instead of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

In the embodiment, game data (various kinds of data such as control programs which are used in the game) for executing the above-described various processing in the video game apparatus main body10is stored in the storage medium70. Alternatively, the game data may be distributed by a server apparatus such as the WWW server. In this case, the video game apparatus main body10may acquire the game data, which is distributed by the server apparatus, through the communication network80, store the acquired game data in the HDD13, and load the game data from the HDD13onto the RAM12for use.