Summary:

The ‘585 patent describes a game system where the camera in the game will change depending on the actions of the player. Whenever a play performs a predetermined action, the displayed point of view in the game will change in response. Examples of when this camera change occurs are: when the character is swimming or flying, when the character is in a predetermined display area, and when the position of the character is in a current display frame.

Abstract:

A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The video game methodology features camera perspective or point of view control features. The system changes the "camera" angle (i.e., the displayed point of view in the three-dimensional world) automatically based upon various conditions and in response to actuation of a plurality of distinct controller keys/buttons/switches, e.g., four "C" buttons in the exemplary embodiment. The control keys allow the user at any time to move in for a close up or pull back for a wide view or pan the camera to the right and left to change the apparent camera angle. Such user initiated camera manipulation permits a player to better judge jumps or determine more precisely where an object is located in relation to the player controlled character.

Illustrative Claim:

1. For use with a video game system console having a game program executing processing system for executing a video game program to create a display simulating a three-dimensional world, and at least one player controller operable by a player to generate video game control signals, a storage device for controlling the operation of said video game system console comprising: a memory media for storing video game instructions and graphics data; said video game instructions including instructions for initiating one of a plurality of camera modes and instructions for causing said game program executing processing system to respond to the detection of a player controlled character being in a predetermined state and for changing the displayed point of view perspective in the displayed three-dimensional world in response to detecting the predetermined state.

Summary:

The ‘586 patent describes a system used in role playing games where the player is given full control over his character, including the ability to command the character. The player can manipulate the movement of the character by pressing certain keys. The game records every command that the player inputs. Points are awarded for successful commands. Commands may also be strung together to create combos. Once a combo has been successfully performed, the player can continuously move because the commands are stored and are selected with greater speed with each time they are performed.

Abstract:

An entertainment system includes an application program recording system which record an application program which can input at least one command of operation an which the player sets the action of the character on a display screen. The command is stored in an action set frame in the unit of one operation to action set frame used to create the movements of the player character. The system further has an input, operation system where the player inputs instructions and a control system which controls the operation of the player character on the display screen based on the command from the application program recorded by the application program record system and the input operation system.

Illustrative Claim:

1. A recording medium containing a program that allows a player to advance a game by manipulating a selected character displayed on a display screen through a key input according to the player's intention, wherein the said program recorded in the recording medium enables input of a plurality of commands related to actions of said selected character in an action set frame on said display screen so as to set up the actions of said selected character as a single operation, wherein said action set frame is determined and generated on said display screen in response to said plurality of commands input by said player, and wherein said recorded program is capable of recording two or more of said commands if total action points are within the permissible range of action points for said action set frame, and the total allowed action points for said action set frame and points corresponding to each of said action command type are decided in advance.

Summary:

The ‘083 patent provides a method for enabling extra features of a video game based upon which type of controller is used to play the game. A player is rewarded with extra features of the video game whenever the controller used is of a matching type.

Abstract:

A video game system and method is provided in which the enabled content of a video game depends upon the type of video game controller coupled to the video game console. Specifically, in response to recognizing the video game controller as being of a matching type, the video game enables or "unlocks" extra features or "secrets" of the video game which are not otherwise available. By creating such a strong synergy between the video game and the matching video game controller, consumers are most likely to be attracted to the matching video game controller instead of other game controllers available in the marketplace.

Illustrative Claim:

1. A method of enabling extra features of a video game based upon a type of video game controller used to play the video game, the method comprising: providing the game controller with controller information indicating whether or not the game controller is of a matching type; reading the controller information; and enabling the extra features of the video game in response to the controller information indicating that the game controller is of the matching type.

Summary:

The ‘414 patent describes a method during a video game where the player is able to customize his character to look the way he wants. The character is presented naked and the player can select from a list of items to place on the character. The items the player selects have an effect on the character. Thus, the player needs to carefully decide which items to use so as to maximize his character’s attributes.

Abstract:

In character representation whereby an actual or imaginary character is represented electronically, naked body image data showing the state of the character when not carrying or wearing any equipment at all is previously prepared, and furthermore, item image data showing the state of an item of equipment when it is applied to the naked body image data is previously prepared for each type of equipment item. When an item of equipment to be worn or carried by the character is selected, the naked body image data is composed with item image data corresponding to the item of equipment selected at the item of equipment selection state, and the composed data is displayed.

Illustrative Claim:

1. A software product comprising: an image display program to be executed by a processing unit in cooperation with a display device for displaying an appearance image of a character; reference character image data representative of a reference state image of said character free from any item; and item image data representative of images of items to be equipped by said character, said image display program comprising the processes of: selecting said at least one item from the item image data; creating a new image data, by said processing unit, based on said reference character image data and at least one item image data selected; and displaying created image data as said appearance image on said image display device, wherein: said character has a set of numeral values each of which depends on a specific attribute of said character; said item has correctional values for modifying the numeral value set; the software product comprises a video game program to be executed by the processing unit; actions of the character in the video game are commanded by an input device cooperating with said processing unit; a player of the video game is aimed to meet the condition representing the end of the game to play said video game program; and said correctional values depend on the number of times that said condition is met.