US6165073A — Video game apparatus and memory medium therefor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 203 words

A video game apparatus coupled to a display, comprising: a first image data generator for generating first image data to display a player object; a second image data generator for generating second image data to display non-player objects; an image processor for supplying an image signal to said display according to at least one of said first image data and said second image data in order to display, in a virtual three-dimension space on said display, at least one of the player object and the non-player object photographed through a hypothetical camera; a controller including a first operation member to instruct a moving direction of the player object and a second operating member that is operated when attention is to be paid by the player object to the non-player object; a non-player object detector for detecting whether the non-player object exists or not, in response to an operation of said second operating member; A selector for selecting as an attention non-player object the non-player object detected by said non-player object detector; and a camera controller for changing the position of said hypothetical camera such that photographing can be made on the player object directly facing the attention non-player object selected by said selector.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 203 words

A video game apparatus coupled to a display, comprising: a first image data generator for generating first image data to display a player object; a second image data generator for generating second image data to display non-player objects; an image processor for supplying an image signal to said display according to at least one of said first image data and said second image data in order to display, in a virtual three-dimension space on said display, at least one of the player object and the non-player object photographed through a hypothetical camera; a controller including a first operation member to instruct a moving direction of the player object and a second operating member that is operated when attention is to be paid by the player object to the non-player object; a non-player object detector for detecting whether the non-player object exists or not, in response to an operation of said second operating member; A selector for selecting as an attention non-player object the non-player object detected by said non-player object detector; and a camera controller for changing the position of said hypothetical camera such that photographing can be made on the player object directly facing the attention non-player object selected by said selector.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a priority orderer for giving predetermined priority orders to respective non-player objects when said non-player object detector detects a plurality of non-player objects, wherein said selector first selects as the attention non-player object a non-player object having a highest priority order.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when said non-player object detector detects one non-player object within a field of vision of the player object, said priority orderer gives a first priority order to the one non-player object.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when said non-player object detector detects a non-player object outside the field of vision of the player object, said priority orderer gives a second priority order to the non-player object.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when said non-player object detector detects a plurality of non-player objects within a field of vision of the player object, said priority orderer gives a first priority order to a particular one of the non-player objects.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when said non-player object detector detects one or a plurality of non-player objects outside the field of vision of the player object, said priority orderer gives priority orders subsequent to the priority order of the non-player object within the field of vision to the non-player objects outside the field of vision.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said priority orderer determines priority orders depending upon a distance between each of the plurality of non-player objects and the player object.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said selector selects different non-player objects as attention non-player objects according to the priority orders, each time said second operating member is operated.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said camera controller moves said hypothetical camera so as to photograph, from the behind of the player object, the attention non-player object and the player object.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an attention lock for causing the player object to continuously pay attention to the attention non-player object when said second operating member is continuously operated.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 77 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first operating member includes a direction indicator by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be indicated, and further comprising a first object mover for moving the player object in a direction toward the attention non-player object if the "UP" direction is indicated by said direction indicator when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said attention lock.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 78 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first operating member includes a direction indicator by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be indicated, and further comprising a second object mover for moving the player object in a direction away from the attention non-player object if the "DOWN" direction is indicated by said direction indicator when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said attention lock.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 87 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first operating member includes a direction indicator by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be indicated, and further comprising a third object mover for moving the player object in a right direction while keeping constant a distance between the player object and the attention non-player object if the "RIGHT" direction is indicated by said direction indicator when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said attention lock.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 86 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first operating member includes a direction indicator by which at least four, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be indicated, and further comprising a fourth object mover for moving the player object in a left direction while keeping constant a distance between the player object and the attention non-player object if the "LEFT" direction is indicated by said direction indicator when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by the attention lock.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 61 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a selection object image data generator for generating selection object image data, wherein said image processor supplies to said display an image signal to display the selection object at a correlating position on said display to the attention non-player object when said attention lock causes the attention object to be locked.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a kind discriminator for discriminating a kind of the attention non-player object, wherein said selection object image data generator generates selection object image data in a different color depending upon the kind.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a visual lock indicator for a non-player object locked by said attention lock.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said visual lock indicator has a particular color depending upon the kind of the selected non-player object.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a screen reducer for reducing a display range of said display when said selector selects the attention non-player object.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selector selects an infinitely distant forward point of the player object when said non-player object detector cannot detect a non-player object.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising an attention lock for causing the player object to continuously pay attention to a point when said second operating member is continuously operated.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 89 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first operating member includes a direction indicator by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be indicated, and further comprising an object mover for moving the player object in a right direction or left direction while keeping constant a distance between the player object and the point if the "RIGHT" or "LEFT" direction is indicated by said direction indicator when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said attention lock.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 179 words

A method for controlling a video game apparatus coupled to a display and a controller means including a first operating member to instruct a moving direction of a player object and a second operating member that is operated when attention is to be paid by the player object to a non-player object, comprising the steps of: (a) generating first image data to display the player object; (b) generating second image data to display the non-player object; (c) supplying an image signal to said display, according to at least one of the first image data and the second image data, to display, in a three-dimension virtual space on said display, at least of one of the player object and the non-player object photographed through a hypothetical camera; (d) detecting whether or not the non-player object exists, in response to an operation of said second operating member; (e) selecting a detected non-player object as an attention non-player object; and (f) changing a position of said hypothetical camera so that the player object directly facing the attention non-player object can be photographed.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 179 words

A method for controlling a video game apparatus coupled to a display and a controller means including a first operating member to instruct a moving direction of a player object and a second operating member that is operated when attention is to be paid by the player object to a non-player object, comprising the steps of: (a) generating first image data to display the player object; (b) generating second image data to display the non-player object; (c) supplying an image signal to said display, according to at least one of the first image data and the second image data, to display, in a three-dimension virtual space on said display, at least of one of the player object and the non-player object photographed through a hypothetical camera; (d) detecting whether or not the non-player object exists, in response to an operation of said second operating member; (e) selecting a detected non-player object as an attention non-player object; and (f) changing a position of said hypothetical camera so that the player object directly facing the attention non-player object can be photographed.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 54 words

A controlling method according to claim 23, further comprising a step (g) wherein, when a plurality of non-player objects are detected at the step (d), predetermined priority orders are given to the respective non-player objects, wherein the step (e) first selects a non-player object having a highest priority order as the attention non-player object.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

A controlling method according to claim 23, further comprising a step (h) of causing the player object to continuously pay attention to the attention non-player object when said second operating member is continuously operation for at least a predetermined time period.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

A controlling method according to claim 23, further comprising a step (i) of reducing a display range on said display when the attention non-player object is selected at the step (e).

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 214 words

A memory medium to be detachably attached to a video game apparatus provided with an image processor for supplying an image signal to a display, according to at least one of first image data and second image data, to display, in a virtual three-dimension space on said display, at least one of a player object and a non-player object, and a controller including a first operating member to instruct a moving direction of the player object and a second operating member operated when the player object is set paying attention to the non-player object, said memory medium memorizing a program for said image processor, comprising: a first image data generating program for generating the first image data to display the player object; a second image data generating program for generating the second image data to display the non-player object; a non-player object detecting program for detecting whether or not the non-player object exists in response to an operation of said second operating member; a selection program for selecting, as an attention non-player object, the non-player object detected by said non-player object detecting program; and a camera control program for changing a position of hypothetical camera so that the player object directly facing the attention non-player object selected by said selection program can be photographed.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 214 words

A memory medium to be detachably attached to a video game apparatus provided with an image processor for supplying an image signal to a display, according to at least one of first image data and second image data, to display, in a virtual three-dimension space on said display, at least one of a player object and a non-player object, and a controller including a first operating member to instruct a moving direction of the player object and a second operating member operated when the player object is set paying attention to the non-player object, said memory medium memorizing a program for said image processor, comprising: a first image data generating program for generating the first image data to display the player object; a second image data generating program for generating the second image data to display the non-player object; a non-player object detecting program for detecting whether or not the non-player object exists in response to an operation of said second operating member; a selection program for selecting, as an attention non-player object, the non-player object detected by said non-player object detecting program; and a camera control program for changing a position of hypothetical camera so that the player object directly facing the attention non-player object selected by said selection program can be photographed.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 55 words

A memory medium according to claim 27, further comprising a priority order giving program for giving predetermined priority orders to the respective non-player objects when said non-player object detecting program detects a plurality of non-player objects, wherein said selection program first selects as the attention non-player object a non-player object having a highest priority order.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 41 words

A memory medium according to claim 27, further comprising a lock program for causing the player object to continuously pay attention to the attention non-player object when said second operating member is continuously operated for at least a predetermined time period.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

A memory medium according to claim 27, further comprising a screen reducing program for reducing a display range on said display when the attention non-player object is selected according to said selection program.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 212 words

A video game apparatus coupled to a display, comprising: a first image data generating means for generating first image data to display a player object; a second image data generating means for generating second image data to display non-player objects; an image processing means for supplying an image signal to said display according to at least one of said first image data and said second image data in order to display, in a virtual three-dimension space on said display, at least one of the player object and the non-player object photographed through a hypothetical camera; a controller means including a first operating means to instruct a moving direction of the player object and a second operating means that is operated when attention is to be paid by the player object to the non-player object; a non-player object detecting means for detecting whether the non-player object exists or not, in response to an operation of said second operating means; a selecting means for selecting as an attention non-player object the non-player object detected by said non-player object detecting means; and a camera control means for changing in position of said hypothetical camera such that photographing can be made on the layer object directly facing the attention non-player object selected by said selecting means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 212 words

A video game apparatus coupled to a display, comprising: a first image data generating means for generating first image data to display a player object; a second image data generating means for generating second image data to display non-player objects; an image processing means for supplying an image signal to said display according to at least one of said first image data and said second image data in order to display, in a virtual three-dimension space on said display, at least one of the player object and the non-player object photographed through a hypothetical camera; a controller means including a first operating means to instruct a moving direction of the player object and a second operating means that is operated when attention is to be paid by the player object to the non-player object; a non-player object detecting means for detecting whether the non-player object exists or not, in response to an operation of said second operating means; a selecting means for selecting as an attention non-player object the non-player object detected by said non-player object detecting means; and a camera control means for changing in position of said hypothetical camera such that photographing can be made on the layer object directly facing the attention non-player object selected by said selecting means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 56 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a priority order giving means for giving predetermined priority orders to the respective non-player objects when said non-player object detecting means detects a plurality of non-player objects, wherein said selecting means first selects as the attention non-player object a non-player object having a highest priority order.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 42 words

A video game according to claim 32, wherein, when said non-player object detecting means detects one non-player object within a field of vision of the player object, said priority order giving means gives a first priority order to the one non-player object.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 42 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 33, wherein, when said non-player object detecting means detects a non-player object outside the field of vision of the player object, said priority order giving means gives a second priority order to the non-player object.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 48 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 34, wherein, when said non-player object detecting means detects a plurality of non-player objects within a field of vision of the player object, said priority giving means gives a first priority order to particular one of the plurality of non-player objects.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 63 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 35, wherein, when said non-player object detecting means detects one or a plurality of non-player objects outside the field of vision of the player object, said priority order giving means gives priority orders subsequent to the priority order of the non-player object within the field of vision to the non-player objects outside the field of vision.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 33 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said priority order giving means determines priority orders depending upon a distance between each of the plurality of non-player objects and the player object.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 33 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said selecting means selects different non-player objects as attention non-player objects according to the priority orders, each time said second operating means is operated.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 36 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said camera control means moves said hypothetical camera so as to photograph, from the behind of the player object, the attention non-player object and the player object.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 35 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a lock means for causing the player object to continuously pay attention to the attention non-player object when said second operating means is continuously operated.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 80 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first operating means includes a direction instructing means by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be instructed, and further comprising a first object moving means for moving the player object in a direction toward the attention non-player object if the "UP" direction is instructed by said direction instructing means when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said lock means.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 81 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first operating means includes a direction instructing means by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be instructed, and further comprising a second object moving means for moving the player object in a direction away from the attention non-player object if the "DOWN" direction is instructed by said direction instructing means when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said lock means.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 90 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first operating means includes a direction instructing means by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be instructed, and further comprising a third object moving means for moving the player object in a right direction while keeping constant a distance between the player object and the attention non-player object if the "RIGHT" direction is instructed by said direction instructing means when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said lock means.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 90 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first operating means includes a direction instructing means by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be instructed, and further comprising a fourth object moving means for moving the player object in a left direction while keeping constant a distance between the player object and the attention non-player object if the "LEFT" direction is instructed by said direction instructing means when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by the lock means.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 63 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising a selection object image data generating means for generating selection object image data, wherein said image processing means supplies to said display an image signal to display the selection object at a correlating position on said display to the attention non-player object when said lock means causes the attention object to be locked.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 44 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising a kind discriminating means for discriminating a kind of the attention non-player object, wherein said selection object image data generating means generates selection object image data in a different color depending upon the kind.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 29 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising a lock mark giving means for giving a lock mark to a non-player object locked by said lock means.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 30 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said lock mark giving means gives a lock mark in a color depending upon the kind of the selected non-player object.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 31 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a screen reducing means for reducing a display range of said display when said selecting means selects the attention non-player object.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 33 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said selecting means selects an infinitely distant forward point of the player object when said non-player object detecting means cannot detect a non-player object.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 33 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a lock means for causing the player object to continuously pay attention to the point when said second operating means is continuously operated.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 92 words

A video game apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said first operating means includes a direction instructing means by which at least four directions, including "UP", "DOWN", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" can be instructed, and further comprising an object moving means for moving the player object in a right direction or left direction while keeping constant a distance between the player object and the point if the "RIGHT" or "LEFT" direction is instructed by said direction instructing means when the player object is locked to the attention non-player object by said lock means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-12-26	2004-06-26	2004-12-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-12-26	2008-06-26	2008-12-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-12-26	2012-06-26	2012-12-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Video game apparatus and memory medium therefor

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