# US 10,307,673 B2 · Network game system for executing event in network game

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,307,673 B2
- Document ID: US10307673B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/635,835
- Filed: 2017-06-28
- Published: 2017-10-19
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-07
- Assignees: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
- Inventors: Yoichi Kuroda; Ryoko Kato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307673B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/493: Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
- A63F 13/31: Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
- A63F 13/335: using Internet
- A63F 13/35: Details of game servers
- A63F 13/358: Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
- A63F 13/44: involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
- A63F 13/537: using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
- A63F 13/822: Strategy games; Role-playing games (A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence)
- A63F 13/847: Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
- A63F 2300/407: Data transfer via internet
- A63F 2300/534: for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
- A63F 2300/5533: using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
- A63F 2300/5566: by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
- A63F 2300/5593: involving scheduling aspects
- A63F 2300/636: involving process of starting or resuming a game
- A63F 2300/8029: Fighting without shooting
- A63F 2300/807: Role playing or strategy games
- A63F 2300/8076: Shooting
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A network game system includes a server apparatus and a plurality of video game apparatuses connected to the server apparatus. A party includes player characters of a plurality of players. When the party battles with an opponent character, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits movie playback information to each video game apparatus for starting playback of a movie. Each of the players can skip the movie at a desired timing. A screen is displayed on each video game apparatus that has skipped the movie until the battle starts. When information is received from each video game apparatus that indicates playback of the movie has ended, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits battle start information to each video game apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium including a program which is executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform operations including:
receiving, by a receiver, an input from a player who uses the computer;
communicating, by a transmitter, with other computers on a network;
displaying, on a display device included in the computer, when a predetermined event generation condition in a displayed game performed by the player of the computer and other players using the other computers is met, a movie, the movie being further displayed on the other computers when the predetermined event generation condition in the displayed game performed by the player of the computer and the other players using the other computers is met, termination of displays of the movie being enabled in accordance with the input from the player and inputs from the other players;
terminating, by a processor, a display of the movie on the display device in accordance with the input from the player;
executing, by the processor, a virtual character battle during the game after the displays of the movie are terminated in accordance with the input from the player and the inputs from the other players; and
displaying, on the display device included in the computer, an image which represents at least one of a display state of the displays of the movie in the other computers and the termination of the displays of the movie in the other computers before the virtual character battle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 1, wherein the movie comprises a dynamic image relating to the virtual character battle, the virtual character battle following the termination of the displays of the movie.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 1, wherein the computer and each of the other computers terminates one of the displays of the movie by operating an input device before a given period elapses.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 1, wherein the movie includes a hint for the virtual character battle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 1, wherein a first computer of the computer and the other computers which terminates the display of the movie quickest receives an advantage during the virtual character battle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 5, wherein a second computer of the computer and the other computers which terminates the display of the movie less quick than the first computer receives a disadvantage during the virtual character battle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 1, wherein positions of characters of the computer and each of the other computers are decided by an order in which playback of the movie is terminated.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 1, wherein a frequency of actions of characters of the computer and each of the other computers in the virtual character battle is decided by an order in which playback of the movie is terminated.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 8, wherein the actions include attacks.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recoding medium according to claim 1, wherein one of the computer and the other computers which terminates the display of the movie second quickest receives a disadvantage during the virtual character battle.

### Claim 11

A server connected a network game system, the network game system including the server and a plurality of computers, the server comprising:
a receiver that receives an input from each of the plurality of computers;
a transmitter that communicates with the plurality of computers on a network;
a processor that causes, when a predetermined event generation condition in a displayed game performed by the plurality of computers is met, a display device included in each of the plurality of computers to display a movie, termination of the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers being enabled in accordance with the input from each of the plurality of computers;
the processor that terminates the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers in accordance with the input from each of the plurality of computers;
the processor that executes a virtual character battle during the game after the input for causing the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers to be terminated is received from each of the plurality of computers; and
the processor that causes the display device included in each of the plurality of computers to display an image which represents at least one of a display state of the movie in each of the plurality of computers and the termination of the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers before the virtual character battle.

### Claim 12

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium including a program which is executable by a server for causing the server to perform operations including:
receiving, by a receiver, an input from each of a plurality of computers;
communicating, by a transmitter, with the plurality of computers on a network;
causing, by a processor, when a predetermined event generation condition in a displayed game performed by the plurality of computers is met, a display device included in each of the plurality of computers to display a movie, termination of the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers being enabled in accordance with the input from each of the plurality of computers;
terminating, by the processor, the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers in accordance with the input from each of the plurality of computers;
executing, by the processor, a virtual character battle during the game after the input for causing the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers to be terminated is received from each of the plurality of computers; and
causing, by the processor, the display device included in each of the plurality of computers to display an image which represents at least one of a display state of the movie in each of the plurality of computers and the termination of the display of the movie in each of the plurality of computers before the virtual character battle.