# US 7,744,463 B2 · Image generation system, program and information storage medium

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- Number: US 7,744,463 B2
- Document ID: US7744463B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/934,372
- Filed: 2004-09-07
- Published: 2005-05-05
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2002-12-04
- Assignees: Namco Bandai Games Inc.
- Inventors: Satoru Ouchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744463B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/58: by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
- A63F 13/44: involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
- A63F 13/49: Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
- A63F 13/56: Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
- A63F 13/833: Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition
- A63F 13/525: Changing parameters of virtual cameras
- A63F 13/803: Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
- A63F 2300/554: by saving game or status data
- A63F 2300/638: according to the timing of operation or a time limit
- A63F 2300/65: for computing the condition of a game character
- A63F 2300/6607: for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
- A63F 2300/6623: for animating a group of characters
- A63F 2300/6661: for changing the position of the virtual camera
- A63F 2300/8017: Driving on land or water; Flying
- A63F 2300/8029: Fighting without shooting
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A parameter of a consumption item (fuel, life) consumed as a game progresses is calculated. When a setting of a game termination condition changes, a rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item is changed according to the change of the setting. The game termination condition is a condition relating to the number of laps on a course, a time limit of a game or a game quota. The rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item is increased as the number of laps on a course is reduced, as the time limit of a game is shortened, or as the game quota is reduced. When a value of the parameter of the consumption item becomes equal to zero as a game progresses, the movement or motion of an object is disabled. The parameter of the consumption item is changed from an initial value set by a player with the rate of change which has been specified based on the game termination condition set by the player.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image generation system which generates an image comprising:
a memory which stores a program and data for generating an image; and
at least one processor which is connected to the memory and performs a processing for generating an image,
wherein the processor comprises:
a game processing section which performs a game processing based on operation data from a control section, and performs a processing to terminate a game when a predetermined game termination condition is satisfied;
a parameter calculation section which calculates a parameter of a consumption item which is consumed as a game progresses at a predetermined rate of consumption based on the predetermined game termination condition; and
an image generation section which generates a game image based on a result of the game processing,
wherein the predetermined game termination condition is a condition that, when satisfied, terminates the game;
wherein the predetermined game termination condition is at least one of a number of laps on a course corresponding to a maximum number of laps required by one game play, a time limit of a game corresponding to a time period measured from the start of the game to the termination of the game, or a setting of a game quota corresponding to a quota to be attained by a player in the game, and
wherein the parameter calculation section increases the rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item, as the number of laps on the course is reduced, as the time limit of the game is shortened, or as the setting of the game quota is reduced.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image generation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor includes an object control section which controls a movement or a motion of an object, and
wherein, when a value of the parameter of the consumption item becomes equal to zero as a game progresses, the object control section disables or limits a movement or a motion of an object.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image generation system as defined in claim 1,
wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set an initial value of the parameter of the consumption item, and
wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item from the initial value which has been set by a player.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image generation system as defined in claim 1,
wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set the game termination condition, and
wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item with the rate of change specified based on the game termination condition which has been set by a player.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image generation system as defined in claim 1,
wherein the parameter of the consumption item is a parameter relating to a fuel, a part, a life or the number of bullets in a weapon.

### Claim 6

A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for generating an image, the program causing a computer to function as:
a game processing section which performs a game processing based on operation data from a control section, and performs a processing to terminate a game when a predetermined game termination condition is satisfied;
a parameter calculation section which calculates a parameter of a consumption item which is consumed as a game progresses at a predetermined rate of consumption based on the predetermined game termination condition; and
an image generation section which generates a game image based on a result of the game processing,
wherein the predetermined game termination condition is a condition that, when satisfied, terminates the game;
wherein the predetermined game termination condition is at least one of a number of laps on a course corresponding to a maximum number of laps required by one game play, a time limit of a game corresponding to a time period measured from the start of the game to the termination of the game, or a setting of a game quota corresponding to a quota to be attained by a player in the game, and
wherein the parameter calculation section increases the rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item, as the number of laps on the course is reduced, as the time limit of the game is shortened, or as the setting of the game quota is reduced.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6, the program causing a computer to function as:
an object control section which controls a movement or a motion of an object, and
wherein, when a value of the parameter of the consumption item becomes equal to zero as a game progresses, the object control section disables or limits a movement or a motion of an object.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6, wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set an initial value of the parameter of the consumption item, and
wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item from the initial value which has been set by a player.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6,
wherein the game processing section performs a processing for causing a player to set the game termination condition, and
wherein the parameter calculation section changes the parameter of the consumption item with the rate of change specified based on the game termination condition which has been set by a player.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The computer-readable information storage medium as defined in claim 6, wherein the parameter of the consumption item is a parameter relating to a fuel, a part, a life or the number of bullets in a weapon.