US 5,265,888 A · Game apparatus and memory cartridge used therefor

Abstract

A player initially sets the degree of difficulty of a display type game, and if desired, more than one player may participate with each player selecting an associated level of difficulty. First and second objects having different shapes, e.g. capsules and viruses, and different characteristics, e.g. different colors or shadings, are displayed in a predefined display area. First objects are generated based on random number data stored in a ROM and displayed as "falling" in a vertical direction across the predefined display area. Coordinate positions of the first objects on the display are changed by a player operating a controller. Second objects are displayed at arbitrary positions in the display area based on random number data. If a prescribed number of at least a portion of first objects and/or second objects having the same type characteristics are detected as being continuously aligned in a vertical or lateral direction, those continuously aligned objects are erased. Remaining portions of first objects (or remaining first objects) previously supported by erased objects are displayed as falling in the vertical direction to the lower region of the prescribed displayed area. When all second objects are erased, the game is successfully completed.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A game apparatus for use in playing a game comprising:

a display having an object display area defined by a predetermined shape for displaying a plurality of different types of first and second objects, each different type of first and second objects having distinguishing display characteristics;
operating means for allowing a player to interactively operate objects in the object display area, wherein the display status changes based on command signals from the operating means and on data generated automatically and independently from the signals from the operating means;
first object data generating means for randomly selecting the type of a first object and for intermittently generating data for displaying first objects with randomly selected types throughout the game;
second object data generating means for randomly selecting the type and position of a second object fixedly displayed in the object display area and for generating data for displaying the second objects of the selected type at the selected positions at the start of the game;
stacked state detecting means for detecting when a first object moving across the object display area stops moving upon contact with a second object or a stationary first object;
continuously aligned state means for detecting whether at least a prescribed number of objects of a particular type are continuously aligned;
and
display control means for erasing display of the objects detected as continuously aligned.

5 more elements

A game apparatus for use in playing a game, comprising:

a display having an object display area defined by a predetermined shape for displaying a plurality of different types of first and second objects, each different type of first and second objects having distinguishing display characteristics;
operating means for allowing a player to interactively operate objects in the object display area, wherein the display status changes based on command signals from the operating means and on data generated automatically and independently from the signal from the operating means;
first difficulty setting means for variably setting a degree of difficulty with respect to a first change of the game based on player performance;
second difficulty setting means for variably setting the degree of difficulty with respect to a second change in the game based on player performance;
first object generating means for randomly selecting characteristics of a first object and for intermittently generating data for displaying first objects having the selected characteristics during the game;
second object data generating means for randomly selecting the characteristics and display position for a second object and for generating data for displaying the second object having the selected characteristics and display position depending upon the degree of difficulty set by the second difficulty setting means;
stacked state detecting means for detecting when at least a portion of a first object moving across the object display area stops moving upon contact with the second object or a stationary first object;
continuously aligned state detecting means for detecting whether at least a prescribed number of objects of a certain type are continuously aligned;
and
display control means for erasing display of the objects detected as continuously aligned.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Game apparatus and memory cartridge used therefor

Life of this patent

Game apparatus and memory cartridge used therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22