U.S. Pat. No. 9,999,832

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present technology will be described.

InFIG. 1, a hand-held game apparatus10includes an input device11, a display device12, a processor13, an internal storage unit14, a main memory15, and an infrared communication device16.

The input device11is operated by a user and outputs a signal based on an operation by the user. The input device11is, for example, a cross switch, a push button, or a touch panel.

The display device12displays an image generated by the hand-held game apparatus10on a screen. Typically, the display device12is a liquid crystal display.

The internal storage unit14stores a computer program executed by the processor13. Typically, the internal storage unit14is a flash EEPROM.

The main memory15temporarily stores the computer program and information.

The infrared communication device16is used for conducting infrared communication with another hand-held game apparatus. The infrared communication device16transmits/receives an infrared signal to/from the other hand-held game apparatus.

The processor13executes predetermined processing in accordance with the computer program stored in the internal storage unit14or an external storage unit17.

In the exemplary embodiment, a game system including two hand-held game apparatuses10a,10bas shown inFIG. 2will be described. In the following description, components of the hand-held game apparatus10aare denoted respectively by the reference numerals shown inFIG. 1each with a suffix letter “a” while components of the hand-held game apparatus10bare denoted respectively by the reference numerals shown inFIG. 1each with a suffix letter “b,” as appropriate, thereby discriminating between the components of the hand-held game apparatus10aand the components of the hand-held game apparatus10b.

Each of the hand-held game apparatus10aand the hand-held game apparatus10bhas a configuration similar to that of the hand-held game apparatus10shown inFIG. 1. An external storage unit17ais attached to the hand-held game apparatus10awhile an external storage unit17bis attached to the hand-held game apparatus10b. The hand-held game apparatus10aand the hand-held game apparatus10bconduct infrared communication using the infrared communication device16, thereby transmitting/receiving “keys” described below.

In the external storage unit17a, a game program of a version A of one game title is stored. Meanwhile, in the external storage unit17b, a game program of a version B of the game title is stored. The version A and the version B are basically the same in story line but different from each other in some points. For example, both of the version A and the version B are role-playing games set in basically the same game world. However, in the version A, a town called “A town” is located at a predetermined position in the game world while, in the version B, a town called “B town” is located at the predetermined position in the game world instead of the “A town.” The “A town” and the “B town” not only have different names from each other but also have located therein different non-player characters, faculties, and the like.

Next, an outline of an operation of the hand-held game apparatus10will be described.

The hand-held game apparatus10executes a predetermined game (e.g., the role-playing game described above) based on the game program stored in the external storage unit17. The user can call up a “key-related menu” screen at any timing during a game play. The “key-related menu” screen can be called up in both of the game program of the version A and the game program of the version B. In the following description, a case of the hand-held game apparatus10awill be described.

FIG. 3shows an example of the “key-related menu” screen displayed on a display device12abased on an instruction of the user (hereinafter, referred to as user A for the sake of convenience) of the hand-held game apparatus10a. On the “key-related menu” screen, three options20ato20cand a cursor21are displayed.

When the user A selects the options20aof “change setting” inFIG. 3, a “change setting” screen shown inFIG. 4is displayed. On the “change setting” screen, three options20dto20fand the cursor21are displayed.

When the user A selects the option20dof “change degree of difficulty” inFIG. 4, a “change degree of difficulty” screen shown inFIG. 5is displayed. On the “change degree of difficulty” screen, four options20gto20jand the cursor21are displayed. Further, on the “change degree of difficulty” screen, a mark22indicating an option currently being selected and marks23aand23beach indicating an unselectable option are also displayed. InFIG. 5, the marks23aand23beach indicating an unselectable mode are displayed on the option20gof “difficult mode” and the option20iof “easy mode,” respectively. Accordingly, these modes cannot be selected at this time point. In order for these modes to become selectable, a “difficult mode key” and an “easy mode key” described below need to be obtained, respectively.

It should be noted that immediately after start of the game of the version A (that is, immediately after start from the beginning but not from the middle of the game having been resumed), a “normal mode” is being selected and the “difficult mode” and the “easy mode” are still unselectable) as shown inFIG. 5. Similarly, also immediately after start of the game of the version B, the “normal mode” is being selected and the difficult mode” and the easy mode” are still unselectable.

When the “difficult mode” is selected, a level of a particular enemy character in the game world is higher than in the “normal mode,” which makes the enemy character less easy to defeat. When the “easy mode” is selected, the level of the particular enemy character is lower than in the “normal mode,” which makes the enemy character easier to defeat. An experience point (value which affects growth of a player character) obtained when the particular enemy character is defeated in the “difficult mode” is greater than that in the “normal mode.” Meanwhile, an experience point obtained when the particular enemy character is defeated in the “easy mode” is the same as that in the “normal mode.”

When the user A selects the option20eof “switch towns” inFIG. 4, a “switch towns” screen shown inFIG. 6is displayed. On the “switch towns” screen, three options20kto20mand the cursor21are displayed. Further, on the “switch towns” screen, the mark22indicating an option currently being selected and a mark23cindicating an unselectable option are also displayed. InFIG. 6, the mark23cindicating an unselectable mode is displayed on the option201of “B town.” Accordingly, the “B town” cannot be selected at this time point. In order for the “B town” to become selectable, a “B town key” described below needs to be obtained.

It should be noted that the “A town” is being selected and the “B town” is still unselectable as shown inFIG. 6immediately after the start of the game of version A. Meanwhile, the “B town” is being selected and the “A town” is still unselectable immediately after the start of the game of the version B.

Next, methods of obtaining respective various keys such as the above-described “difficult mode key” and the like will be described with reference toFIG. 7andFIG. 8.

In the exemplary embodiment, four keys which are the “easy mode key,” the “difficult mode key,” an “A town key,” and the “B town key” are provided. However, in the game of the version A, only the “easy mode key” and the “A town key” can be obtained while only the difficult mode key” and the “B town key” can be obtained in the game of the version B.

For example, in the game of the version A, the “easy mode key” can be obtained when a condition A1(for example, the game is cleared (that is, a main objective of the game is attained)) is satisfied while the “A town key” can be obtained when a condition A2(for example, a particular enemy character is defeated) is satisfied as shown inFIG. 7. However, the other keys (the “difficult mode key” and the “B town key”) cannot be obtained by just playing the game of the version A.

Meanwhile, in the game of the version B, the “difficult mode key” can be obtained when a condition B1(for example the game is cleared (that is, a main objective of the game is attained) is satisfied while the “B town key” can be obtained when a condition B2(for example, a particular enemy character is defeated) is satisfied as shown inFIG. 8. However, the other keys (the “easy mode key” and the “A town key”) cannot be obtained by just playing the game of the version B.

The user A of the hand-held game apparatus10acan obtain the “easy mode key” by satisfying the above described condition A1in the game of the version A. Once the “easy mode key” is obtained, in the game of the version A, the mark23b(FIG. 5) displayed on the “change degree of difficulty” screen is deleted and the option20iof “easy mode” can be selected as shown inFIG. 9.

Similarly, the user A of the hand-held game apparatus10acan obtain the “A town key” by satisfying the above described condition A2in the game of the version A. It should be noted that, in the game of the version A, the option20kof “A town” is selectable from the start as shown inFIG. 6. Accordingly, no particular change is made on a content of the “switch towns” screen even if the “A town key” is obtained.

In order to make an option which is unselectable in an initial state selectable, in addition to the method of satisfying a predetermined condition in the game and thereby obtaining a corresponding key as described above, there is provided a method of receiving a corresponding key from another hand-held game apparatus10. Hereinafter, the method will be described in detail.

When the user A selects the option20bof “transmit/receive key” inFIG. 3, the hand-held game apparatus10atransmits/receives a key to/from another hand-held game apparatus via an infrared communication device16a. For example, inFIG. 2, a key possessed in the hand-held game apparatus10ais transmitted to the hand-held game apparatus10bby an infrared signal and simultaneously a key possessed in the hand-held game apparatus10bis transmitted to the hand-held game apparatus10aby an infrared signal.

For example, when the “difficult mode key” is possessed in the hand-held game apparatus10b, the hand-held game apparatus10areceives the “difficult mode key” from the hand-held game apparatus10b. In the hand-held game apparatus10a, once the “difficult mode key” is received, the mark23a(FIG. 5) is deleted and thereafter the option20gof “difficult mode” can be selected.

Similarly, when the “B town key” is possessed in the hand-held game apparatus10b, the hand-held game apparatus10areceives the “B town key” from the hand-held game apparatus10b. In the hand-held game apparatus10a, once the “B town key” is received, the mark23c(FIG. 6) is deleted and thereafter the option201of “B town” can be selected.

Next, an operation of the hand-held game apparatus10awill be described in detail with reference toFIG. 10toFIG. 13.

FIG. 10shows an example of a program and information stored in a main memory15aof the hand-held game apparatus10a.

A game program D1is a computer program for causing a processor13ato execute the game of the version A. The game program D1is read from the external storage unit17aand loaded into the main memory15a.

Game data D2is data necessary for executing the game and includes data of towns (town data of the A town, town data of the B town, and the like) located in the game world.

Possessed key information D3is information indicating which key is possessed.FIG. 11shows a specific example of the possessed key information D3. InFIG. 11, a possession flag is set to “0” with respect to a key which is not possessed while a possession flag is set to “1” with respect to a key which is possessed.

Selectable option information D4is information indicating which option is selectable.FIG. 12shows a specific example of the selectable option information D4. InFIG. 12, a selectable/unselectable flag is set to “0” with respect to an unselectable option while a selectable/unselectable flag is set to “1” with respect to a selectable option.

Next, a flow of processing executed by the processor13aof the hand-held game apparatus10abased on the game program D1will be described with reference to a flow chart ofFIG. 13.

Upon start of execution of the game program D1, the processor13afirstly performs an initialization process in step S10ofFIG. 13. In the initialization process, for example, a process of setting respective possession flags of all of the keys to “0” as shown inFIG. 11and a process of setting respective selectable/unselectable flags of the “easy mode,” the “difficult mode,” and the “B town” to “0” and setting a selectable/unselectable flag of the “A town” to “1” as shown inFIG. 12, and the like are performed. It should be noted that when the game having been suspended in the middle of the game is resumed, these flags are set in accordance with a content of save data saved when the game was suspended.

In step S11, the processor13aperforms a game process. The game process includes, for example, a process of controlling the player character in accordance with a signal from the input device11, a process of controlling a non-player character based on a predetermined algorithm, a process of causing a predetermined event in the game world, a process of generating a game image and outputting the game image to the display device12, and the like.

In step S12, the processor13adetermines whether a result of the game process satisfies a predetermined condition (the condition A1or the condition A2). Then, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the processor13aproceeds the processing to step S13. Otherwise, the processor13aproceeds the processing to S15.

In step S13, the processor13aupdates the possessed key information D3. Specifically, the processor13achanges a possession flag of a key corresponding to the satisfied condition to “1.” For example, the processor13achanges the possession flag of the “easy mode key” to “1” when the condition A1is satisfied and changes the possession flag of the “A town key” to “1” when the condition A2is satisfied.

In step S14, the processor13aupdates the selectable option information D4. Specifically, the processor13achanges a selectable/unselectable flag of an option corresponding to a newly obtained key to “1.” For example, when the “easy mode key” is obtained, the processor13achanges the selectable/unselectable flag of the “easy mode” to “1.” It should be noted that because the selectable/unselectable flag of the “A town” is initially set to “1,” the selectable/unselectable flag of the “A town” remains “1” when the “A town key” is obtained.

In step S15, the processor13adetermines whether a screen for changing settings (specifically, the “change degree of difficulty” screen (FIG. 5) or the “switch towns” screen (FIG. 6)) has been called up by the user. Then, when the screen for changing the settings has been called up, the processor13aproceeds the processing to step S16. Otherwise, the processor13aproceeds the processing to S18.

In step S16, the processor13adisplays the screen for changing the settings (FIG. 5,FIG. 6) based on the selectable option information D4. Specifically, with respect to options whose selectable/unselectable flags are set to “0” in the selectable option information D4, the processor13adisplays the marks (23ato23c) each indicating that the option is unselectable, respectively.

In step S17, the processor13achanges the settings of the game in accordance with an option selected by the user. For example, when the “easy mode” is selected by the user, the processor13asets a level of a particular enemy character of the game world so as to be lower than in the “normal mode” so that the particular enemy character is easier to defeat. Further, for example, when the “B town” is selected by the user, the processor13achanges the town located at the predetermined position in the game world from the “A town” to the “B town.”

That is, the processor13achanges the town data in the game data D2which is used during the game process from the town data of the “A town” to the town data of the “B town.”

In step S18, the processor13adetermines whether a key transmission/reception instruction has been issued by the user. Then, when the key transmission/reception instruction has been issued, the processor13aproceeds the processing to step S19. Otherwise, the processor13aproceeds the processing to S22.

In step S19, the processor13atransmits a key whose possession flag is set to “1” in the possessed key information D3to the other hand-held game apparatus10bvia the infrared communication device16.

In step S20, the processor13areceives a key possessed by the other hand-held game apparatus10bvia the infrared communication device16.

In step S21, the processor13aupdates the selectable option information D4based on the received key. Specifically, the processor13achanges a selectable/unselectable flag of an option corresponding to the received key to “1” in the selectable option information D4. For example, when the “difficult mode key” is received from the other hand-held game apparatus10b, the processor13achanges the selectable/unselectable flag of the “difficult mode” to “1.”

In step S22, the processor13adetermines whether or not to end the game. Then, when the processor13adetermines to end the game, the processor13asaves save data (data for later resuming the game from where the game was suspended) in an internal storage unit14a, the external storage unit17a, or the like, as appropriate, and ends the execution of the game program D1. The save data includes the possessed key information D3and the selectable option information D4. When the processor13adetermines not to end the game, the processor13areturns the processing to step S11.

FIG. 10toFIG. 13show the program, the information, the flow chart related to the game of the version A. It should be noted that a program, information, and a flow chart related to the game of the version B are basically the same as those related to the game of the version A. However, those related to the game of the version B are different from those related to the game of the version A at least in the following points.That the selectable/unselectable flag of the “A town” is set to “0” and the selectable/unselectable flag of the “B town” is set to “1” in step S10.That it is determined whether the condition B1or the condition B2is satisfied in step S12.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment, a setting item which cannot be selected by simply playing one of the game of the version A and the game of the version B can become selectable by receiving a key which is obtained by playing the game of the other version. Accordingly, transmission/reception of keys between users who own games of different versions is promoted and thereby communication between the users can be activated.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, in the initial state, the “A town” is located at a particular position in the game world in the game of the version A. Meanwhile, in the game of the version B, the “B town” is located instead of the “A town” at the particular position in the game world which is basically the same as the game world of the version A. However, according to the exemplary embodiment, for example, by receiving the “B town key,” the “B town” can be caused to appear also in the game world of the game of the version A. Similarly, by receiving the “A town key,” the “A town” can be caused to appear also in the game world of the game of the version B. Accordingly, for example, a user who owns the game program of the version A can receive the “B town key” from another user who owns the game program of the version B, and thereby use the “B town” in the game of the version A without purchasing the game program of the version B. Further, as for a user who owns both of the game program of the version A and the game program of the version B, when the user desires to use the “B town” in the middle of playing the game of the version A, the user can call up the screen for changing the settings and cause the “B town” to appear in the game world easily. Thus, there is no need for the user to switch between the external storage units17a,17bwhich store the game programs of the respective versions and to start up the game program of the other version, which is convenient for the user.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, the “difficult mode” cannot be selected by normal game play in the game of the version A while the “easy mode” cannot be selected by normal game play in the game of the version B. However, according to the exemplary embodiment, for example, the “difficult mode” can be selected also in the game of the version A by receiving the “difficult mode key.” Similarly, the “easy mode” can be selected also in the game of the version B by receiving the “easy mode key.” Accordingly, for example, even after the user who owns the game program of the version A has cleared the game of the version A, the user can receive the difficult mode key” from another user who owns the game program of the version B, and thereby try the “difficult mode” in the game of the version A. Further, even when the user who owns the game program of the version B finds the “normal mode” of the game of the version B too difficult and cannot advance the game, the user can receive the “easy mode key” from another user (a friend who is a good game player, a family member, and the like) who owns the game program of the version A, and thereby change the game of the version B to the “easy mode” and advance the game.

It is noted that the above exemplary embodiment is only for illustrative purposes and numerous other modifications can be devised.

For example, in the above exemplary embodiment, the hand-held game apparatus10is used. However, the present technology is not limited thereto, and any information processor (e.g., a stationary game apparatus, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a desk top computer, a notebook computer, and the like) may be used.

Further, in the exemplary embodiment, key transmission/reception is performed via infrared communication. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and the key transmission/reception may be performed via wireless communication based on any method, may be performed via a communication cable, or may be performed via a server apparatus on a network. Further, instead of transmitting/receiving a key, a password or save data may be used. For example, a character string (password) corresponding to a key possessed by the hand-held game apparatus10bmay be displayed on a display device12bof the hand-held game apparatus10b, and the displayed character string may be inputted to the hand-held game apparatus10avia an input device11aof the hand-held game apparatus10a. Further, for example, the possessed key information D3included in the save data saved in the hand-held game apparatus10bmay be read out by the processor13aof the hand-held game apparatus10a.

Further, in the exemplary embodiment, the two hand-held game apparatuses10a,10bare used. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and only the single hand-held game apparatus10amay be used and the game of the version A and the game of the version B may be alternately played by switching between the two external storage units17a,17b.

Further, in the exemplary embodiment, keys are transmitted/received between the games (game programs) of the different versions of the same title. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and keys may be transmitted/received between games (game programs) of different titles.

Further, in the exemplary embodiment, with respect to unselectable options, the marks (23ato23c) indicating that the options are unselectable are displayed, respectively in the screen for changing the settings (FIG. 5,FIG. 6). However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and the user may be informed of an unselectable option by any other method. For example, an unselectable item may be grayed out or hidden.

Further, in the exemplary embodiment, an example in which the degree of difficulty of the game and the towns are changed has been described. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, not only the towns but also any faculty or area located in the game world may be changed.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the plurality of processes shown inFIG. 13are executed by a single computer (the processor13a). However, in another embodiment, the plurality of processes may be shared and executed by a plurality of computers.

Further, in another embodiment, a part of or all of the plurality of processes may be realized by a dedicated circuit.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the plurality of processes shown inFIG. 13are executed in a single information processor (the hand-held game apparatus10a). However, in another embodiment, the plurality of processes may be shared and executed by a plurality of information processors (e.g., the hand-held game apparatus10aand a server apparatus).

Further, in the exemplary embodiment, the game program D1is loaded into the main memory15afrom the external storage unit17a. In another exemplary embodiment, the game program D1may be loaded into the main memory15afrom the internal storage unit14a. Still, in another exemplary embodiment, the game program D1may be received from the hand-held game apparatus10bor the server apparatus and loaded into the main memory15a.