# US 2013/0281185 A1 · Game system, computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, game processing method and game apparatus

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- Number: US 2013/0281185 A1
- Document ID: US20130281185A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/793,300
- Filed: 2013-03-11
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-19
- Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Junichi MASUDA; Toru NAGIHASHI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130281185A1

## CPC

- A63F 13/50: Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
- A63F 13/69: by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
- A63F 13/88: Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded
- A63F 13/42: by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

In a game system including a single or a plurality of game apparatuses, a first game execution unit executes a first game in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via an input unit. A second game execution unit executes a second game in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the input unit. The second game execution unit sets a new game mode of a first degree of difficulty so as to be accessible in the second game in response to an execution result of the first game having satisfied a predetermined condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A game system including a single or a plurality of game apparatuses, the game system comprising:
at least one input unit;
a first game execution unit which executes a first game in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the input unit; and
a second game execution unit which executes a second game in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the input unit, wherein
the second game execution unit includes
a second setting unit which sets a new game mode of a first degree of difficulty so as to be accessible in the second game in response to an execution result of the first game having satisfied a predetermined condition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein
the first game execution unit includes:
a first determination unit which determines whether the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition;
a first data output enabling unit which enables output of predetermined first data indicating that the execution result of the first game satisfies the predetermined condition in response to the execution result of the first game having satisfied the predetermined condition; and
a first data output unit which outputs the first data, and
the second game execution unit includes
a first data input unit which receives the first data, and
the second setting unit sets the game mode of the first degree of difficulty which is accessible in the first game so as to be inaccessible in the second game when the first data is yet to be received, and sets the game mode of the first degree of difficulty so as to be accessible in the second game in response to the first data having been received.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The game system according to claim 2, wherein
the first data output unit transmits a signal representing the first data via wireless communication, thereby outputting the first data, and
the first data input unit receives the signal via wireless communication, thereby receiving the first data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein
the game mode of the first degree of difficulty is a game mode of a lower degree of difficulty than a game mode which is accessible in the second game when the execution result of the first game does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein
the game mode of the first degree of difficulty is a game mode of a higher degree of difficulty than a game mode which is accessible in the second game when the execution result of the first game does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is to clear the first game.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein
the first game execution unit includes
a first display control unit which causes a display device to display a setting change screen for urging a user to select whether or not to use the game mode of the first degree of difficulty, and
the first display control unit causes the display device to display the setting change screen in a different display mode in accordance with whether the game mode of the first degree of difficulty is set so as to be accessible by the second setting unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein
the first game execution unit further includes
a first setting unit which sets a new game mode of a second degree of difficulty so as to be accessible in the first game in response to an execution result of the second game having satisfied a second predetermined condition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein
the game system comprises:
a first game apparatus which includes the input unit and the first game execution unit and;
a second game apparatus which includes the input unit and the second game execution unit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, comprising:
a first storage medium having stored therein a first game program for causing the game apparatus to function as the first game execution unit; and
a second storage medium having stored therein a second game program for causing the game apparatus to function as the second game execution unit, wherein
the game apparatus can selectively access to one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein the first game and the second game are different versions of a same game title.

### Claim 12

A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having stored therein a game program to be executed in a game system including a single or a plurality of game apparatuses and comprising at least one input unit, the game program causing a computer of the game apparatus to execute:
a first game execution process of executing a first game in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the input unit; and
a second game execution process of executing a second game in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the input unit, wherein
the second game execution process includes a second setting process of setting a new game mode of a first degree of difficulty so as to be accessible in the second game in response to an execution result of the first game having satisfied a predetermined condition.

### Claim 13

A game processing method performed in a game system including a single or a plurality of game apparatuses and comprising at least one input unit, the game processing method comprising:
executing a first game process in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the input unit; and
executing a second game process in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the input unit, wherein
the second game process includes a second setting process of setting a new game mode of a first degree of difficulty so as to be accessible in the second game process in response to an execution result of the first game having satisfied a predetermined condition.

### Claim 14

A game apparatus comprising:
an input unit;
a first game execution unit which executes a first game in accordance with an instruction of a player inputted via the input unit; and
a second game execution unit which executes a second game in accordance with an instruction of the player inputted via the input unit, wherein
the second game execution unit includes a second setting unit which sets a new game mode of a first degree of difficulty so as to be accessible in the second game in response to an execution result of the first game having satisfied a predetermined condition.
