CA2192768C - Method for backing up state of progress in television game - Google Patents
Method for backing up state of progress in television game Download PDFInfo
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- CA2192768C CA2192768C CA002192768A CA2192768A CA2192768C CA 2192768 C CA2192768 C CA 2192768C CA 002192768 A CA002192768 A CA 002192768A CA 2192768 A CA2192768 A CA 2192768A CA 2192768 C CA2192768 C CA 2192768C
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 241000238876 Acari Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/45—Controlling the progress of the video game
- A63F13/49—Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
- A63F13/493—Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/40—Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
- A63F13/44—Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/55—Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
- A63F13/58—Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/90—Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
- A63F13/95—Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
- A63F2300/63—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for controlling the execution of the game in time
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
- A63F2300/63—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for controlling the execution of the game in time
- A63F2300/636—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for controlling the execution of the game in time involving process of starting or resuming a game
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
- A63F2300/65—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for computing the condition of a game character
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/80—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
- A63F2300/807—Role playing or strategy games
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for backing up a state of progress in a television game which has the steps of:
dividing the state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing the common item into a common file and the separate item into a separate file.
dividing the state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing the common item into a common file and the separate item into a separate file.
Description
2 2 y2768 METHOD FOR BACKING UP STATE OF
PROGRESS IN TELEVISION GAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, and more particularly to, a method for backing up a state of progress in a television game in which the state of a character, a scenery etc. varies in the process of time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Some conventional television games need to play for a long time period, i.e., it is difficult for them to be finished within one play. In such games, the state of progress at the time when playing is stopped can be saved(stored) in a back-up file. when the game is restarted, the player can play the game from the same state of progress.
In many cases, a plurality of back-up files to be saved are prepared. Thus, the player can select any of the states of progress when the game is restarted. The back-up file can be also made during the playing. For example, if the player wants to restart the game from a scene in which he is interested, the state of progress corresponding to the scene can be saved into a back-up file, and he can restart the game from the same scene by reading out the back-up file any time. As long as the content of the back-up file remains, the game can be 21 N~768 repeatedly restarted from the same state.
FIG.1 shows relationships between back-up files and states of progress and between saving and loading in a game. In this example, the saving is conducted in the order of progress states A, B and C as shown by (1) to (3) in FIG.1. When the progress state B is, as shown by (4) in FIG.1, loaded, the game can be restarted from the progress state B.
In FIG.1, a progress state D is rewritten in the back-up file where the progress state C was saved((5)).
At this time, the progress state C is erased from the back-up file, and the progress states A, B and D are left in the respective back-up files. Though the player can restart the game from any of the progress states A, B and D at this time, he cannot restart it from the progress state C. Anyway, since the progress states in the back-up files are independent of one another, each of the progress states can be always reproduced to go back to the time when it is saved.
However, the conventional back-up method for the television game cannot be suitably adapted to a new type of television game. The reasons are as follows.
There is a television game in which real time (actual time ticked away by a clock) is incorporated into the game story to give a kind of virtual reality.
Though such a game can also employ the conventional back-up method, a problem occurs in the case that there exists a character whose state varies in the process of According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, comprising the steps of:
dividing said state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing said common item into a common file and said separate item into a separate file;
wherein said television game continuously progresses according to real time provided by a clock means and wherein when a player chooses to save the state of progress of the game, said common file is always rewritten to a back-up memory with a newest state of said common item, and said separate file stores a state of said separate item at a time when said state of said common item is stored.
According to another aspect of the present invention, which is claimed in Divisional Application Serial No. 2, 398, 164, there is provided a method of executing a television game, said game having one character operated by a player and another character, comprising:
backing up a first state of progress of the game at a first time, said first state of progress including a first state of said one character and a first state of said another character;
backing up a second state of progress of the game at a second time after the first time, said second state of progress including a second state of said one character and a second state of said another character; and restarting progress of the game from the first time so that said one character has the first state backed up at the first time and said another character has the second state backed up at the second time.
3a According to a further aspect of the present invention, which is claimed in Divisional Application Serial No.
2, 398, 164, there is provided a game cartridge for insertion into a main body of a television game machine for executing a television game, said game having one character operated by a player and another character, comprising:
a ROM for storing an operation program;
a non-volatile memory for backed up states of progress of the game;
wherein said operation program is configured, when executed by the television game machine, to cause the television game machine to perform the steps of:
backing up a first state of progress of the game at a first time, said f first state of progress including a first state of said one character and a first state of said another character;
backing up a second state of progress of the game at a second time after the first time, said second state of progress including a second state of said one character and a second state of said another character; and restarting progress of the game from the first time so that said one character has the first state backed up at the first time and said another character has the second state backed up at the second time.
The invention will be explained in more detail in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows relationships between back-up files and states of progress and between saving and loading in a conventional method for backing up a state of progress in a television game;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system which comprises a home television game machine main body and a RTC
3b (real time clock) built-in ROM cartridge that is used in a preferred embodiment according to the invention;
FIG. 3 shows a composition of back-up files for saving progress states in a game in the embodiment; and FIG. 4 shows a relationship between saving and loading of progress states of a game in the embodiment.
21y2768 television game, comprises the steps of:
dividing the state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing the common item into a common file and the separate item into a separate file; 0 wherein the television game is continuously progressed in the process of real time proceeded by a clock means with which a main body or an external storage device of a home television game machine is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be explained in more detail in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:
FIG.1 shows relationships between back-up files and states of progress and between saving and loading in a conventional. method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, FIG.2 is a block diagram showing a system which comprises a home television game machine main body and a RTC(real time clock) built-in ROM cartridge that is used in a preferred embodiment according to the invention, FIG.3 shows a composition of back-up files for saving progress sates in a game in the embodiment, and FIG.4 shows a relationship between saving and loading of progress states of a game in the embodiment.
~ 1 ~~'~~
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A method for backing up a state of progress in a television game in the preferred embodiment according to the invention will be explained below.
First of all, to carry out the invention in which a means for saving backing-up files is needed, it is necessary a rewritable back-up memory to be provided in a main body of a television game machine or in an external storage device.
FIG.2 is a block diagram showing a system which comprises a home television game machine main body 1 and a RTC(real time clock) built-in ROM cartridge 2 that is used in the embodiment. The game machine main body 1 and the ROM cartridge 2 are connected through interfaces 3A, 3B.
RTC 4 built in the ROM cartridge 2 automatically ticks away year, month, day, hour, minute, second and day of the week. RTC 4 is backed up by a battery 5 and ticks away independent of the game machine main body 1.
CPU 6 of the game machine can read and utilize the time of RTC 4 or can renew the time of RTC 4. A game software is stored in ROM 7 to be transferred to RAM 10.
The game machine main body 1 has ROM 7 for storing an operation program.
In the case that RTC is not built in the ROM
cartridge 2, a timer means included in the main body 1 of the game machine may be used to achieve the invention.
~~y2768 BRAM 8 is a memory backed up by the battery 5.
Therefore, even if the power of the main body 1 is shut off, contents stored in BRAM 8 will be backed up. In this embodiment, a back-up file is stored in BRAM 8.
The RTC 4 of the ROM cartridge 2 is used as a clock.
Meanwhile, if the game machine is provided with BRAM
and a timer means, ROM cartridges other than the above-mentioned ROM cartridge 2 can be applied to the invention.
In this embodiment, back-up files for saving progress sates in a game store a common item(data) and separate items(data), as shown in FIG.3. In FIG.3, a file to save the common item is called 'common file' and files to save the separate items are called 'separate file 1, separate file 2, separate file 3....', respectively.
The player can save the progress state of the game at an optional time. When a progress state is saved, it is divided into a common item and a separate item, and the common item is saved into the common file and the separate item is saved into a separate file n, where n is a file number. The maximum number of files to store the progress state is N, and an already written file can be repeatedly rewritten. Of course, it is possible to rewrite on a file even if the number of files to be saved does not reach N.
If the player wants to restart the game from a state which is already saved, he can select the 21 ~~27b~
corresponding file number in the same manner as in the conventional method. When a file number, for example, n, is selected, the separate file n and the common file are simultaneously loaded(read out) and the game starts from the progress state n. Though this process is similar to the conventional method, the content of the common file does not always correspond to the content saved at the time of the progress state n. Namely, the content of the common file is renewed whenever the progress state is saved. Therefore, the progress state at the time when the game is restarted may be different from that at the time when the separate file to be selected is saved.
Taking the case of a derivative scenario that a pet is fed, the embodiment will be further detailed. The content of the derivative scenario is as follows: 1) the pet has a strength, 2) the strength of the pet is decreased by one point an hour with real time(=actual time ticked away by RTC 4, 3) when the strength becomes zero, the pet dies, 4) the pet can be fed only in a pet shop.
In the above derivative scenario, the strength data of the pet is saved as the common item of the back-up file, and the other state data by which the progress state can be reproduced, for example, a scenery, a state data of a hero(a character operated by the player), is saved as the~separate item of the back-up file.
FIG.4 shows saving and loading of progress states 21 y2768 of the game. The game is played on a specific day of a specific month. Here, the progress of game is saved at the time of state 1 and then saved at the time of sate 2. At state 1, the strength of the pet is eight, where it is observed that the pet walks vigorously. Then, at state 2, the strength is reduced to three, where the pet is depressed with its head dropped. In this case, the progress state 1 is saved into file 1 and the progress state 2 is saved into file 2. At state 1, the strength of eight is recorded in the common file. After that, by the saving at state 2, the content of the common file is rewritten such that the strength of the pet is three. Thereafter, the saving is not conducted.
Next, on another specific day of another specific month, the game is restarted from the progress state 1.
The player expected the strength of the pet to be that recorded at state 1 of the previous day, but he notices that the strength is reduced to three. Thus, the player has to play the game to feed the pet not to die.
As a result, developments of the game on this day becomes quite different from those of the former day.
Since information other than the pet is stored in the separate file, the states of hero, scenery etc. does not change. However, if only the state of the pet is changed, the developments become quite different.
Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiment for complete and clear 21 y2i 6~
disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modification and alternative constructions that may be occurred to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching here is set forth.
PROGRESS IN TELEVISION GAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, and more particularly to, a method for backing up a state of progress in a television game in which the state of a character, a scenery etc. varies in the process of time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Some conventional television games need to play for a long time period, i.e., it is difficult for them to be finished within one play. In such games, the state of progress at the time when playing is stopped can be saved(stored) in a back-up file. when the game is restarted, the player can play the game from the same state of progress.
In many cases, a plurality of back-up files to be saved are prepared. Thus, the player can select any of the states of progress when the game is restarted. The back-up file can be also made during the playing. For example, if the player wants to restart the game from a scene in which he is interested, the state of progress corresponding to the scene can be saved into a back-up file, and he can restart the game from the same scene by reading out the back-up file any time. As long as the content of the back-up file remains, the game can be 21 N~768 repeatedly restarted from the same state.
FIG.1 shows relationships between back-up files and states of progress and between saving and loading in a game. In this example, the saving is conducted in the order of progress states A, B and C as shown by (1) to (3) in FIG.1. When the progress state B is, as shown by (4) in FIG.1, loaded, the game can be restarted from the progress state B.
In FIG.1, a progress state D is rewritten in the back-up file where the progress state C was saved((5)).
At this time, the progress state C is erased from the back-up file, and the progress states A, B and D are left in the respective back-up files. Though the player can restart the game from any of the progress states A, B and D at this time, he cannot restart it from the progress state C. Anyway, since the progress states in the back-up files are independent of one another, each of the progress states can be always reproduced to go back to the time when it is saved.
However, the conventional back-up method for the television game cannot be suitably adapted to a new type of television game. The reasons are as follows.
There is a television game in which real time (actual time ticked away by a clock) is incorporated into the game story to give a kind of virtual reality.
Though such a game can also employ the conventional back-up method, a problem occurs in the case that there exists a character whose state varies in the process of According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, comprising the steps of:
dividing said state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing said common item into a common file and said separate item into a separate file;
wherein said television game continuously progresses according to real time provided by a clock means and wherein when a player chooses to save the state of progress of the game, said common file is always rewritten to a back-up memory with a newest state of said common item, and said separate file stores a state of said separate item at a time when said state of said common item is stored.
According to another aspect of the present invention, which is claimed in Divisional Application Serial No. 2, 398, 164, there is provided a method of executing a television game, said game having one character operated by a player and another character, comprising:
backing up a first state of progress of the game at a first time, said first state of progress including a first state of said one character and a first state of said another character;
backing up a second state of progress of the game at a second time after the first time, said second state of progress including a second state of said one character and a second state of said another character; and restarting progress of the game from the first time so that said one character has the first state backed up at the first time and said another character has the second state backed up at the second time.
3a According to a further aspect of the present invention, which is claimed in Divisional Application Serial No.
2, 398, 164, there is provided a game cartridge for insertion into a main body of a television game machine for executing a television game, said game having one character operated by a player and another character, comprising:
a ROM for storing an operation program;
a non-volatile memory for backed up states of progress of the game;
wherein said operation program is configured, when executed by the television game machine, to cause the television game machine to perform the steps of:
backing up a first state of progress of the game at a first time, said f first state of progress including a first state of said one character and a first state of said another character;
backing up a second state of progress of the game at a second time after the first time, said second state of progress including a second state of said one character and a second state of said another character; and restarting progress of the game from the first time so that said one character has the first state backed up at the first time and said another character has the second state backed up at the second time.
The invention will be explained in more detail in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows relationships between back-up files and states of progress and between saving and loading in a conventional method for backing up a state of progress in a television game;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system which comprises a home television game machine main body and a RTC
3b (real time clock) built-in ROM cartridge that is used in a preferred embodiment according to the invention;
FIG. 3 shows a composition of back-up files for saving progress states in a game in the embodiment; and FIG. 4 shows a relationship between saving and loading of progress states of a game in the embodiment.
21y2768 television game, comprises the steps of:
dividing the state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing the common item into a common file and the separate item into a separate file; 0 wherein the television game is continuously progressed in the process of real time proceeded by a clock means with which a main body or an external storage device of a home television game machine is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be explained in more detail in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:
FIG.1 shows relationships between back-up files and states of progress and between saving and loading in a conventional. method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, FIG.2 is a block diagram showing a system which comprises a home television game machine main body and a RTC(real time clock) built-in ROM cartridge that is used in a preferred embodiment according to the invention, FIG.3 shows a composition of back-up files for saving progress sates in a game in the embodiment, and FIG.4 shows a relationship between saving and loading of progress states of a game in the embodiment.
~ 1 ~~'~~
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A method for backing up a state of progress in a television game in the preferred embodiment according to the invention will be explained below.
First of all, to carry out the invention in which a means for saving backing-up files is needed, it is necessary a rewritable back-up memory to be provided in a main body of a television game machine or in an external storage device.
FIG.2 is a block diagram showing a system which comprises a home television game machine main body 1 and a RTC(real time clock) built-in ROM cartridge 2 that is used in the embodiment. The game machine main body 1 and the ROM cartridge 2 are connected through interfaces 3A, 3B.
RTC 4 built in the ROM cartridge 2 automatically ticks away year, month, day, hour, minute, second and day of the week. RTC 4 is backed up by a battery 5 and ticks away independent of the game machine main body 1.
CPU 6 of the game machine can read and utilize the time of RTC 4 or can renew the time of RTC 4. A game software is stored in ROM 7 to be transferred to RAM 10.
The game machine main body 1 has ROM 7 for storing an operation program.
In the case that RTC is not built in the ROM
cartridge 2, a timer means included in the main body 1 of the game machine may be used to achieve the invention.
~~y2768 BRAM 8 is a memory backed up by the battery 5.
Therefore, even if the power of the main body 1 is shut off, contents stored in BRAM 8 will be backed up. In this embodiment, a back-up file is stored in BRAM 8.
The RTC 4 of the ROM cartridge 2 is used as a clock.
Meanwhile, if the game machine is provided with BRAM
and a timer means, ROM cartridges other than the above-mentioned ROM cartridge 2 can be applied to the invention.
In this embodiment, back-up files for saving progress sates in a game store a common item(data) and separate items(data), as shown in FIG.3. In FIG.3, a file to save the common item is called 'common file' and files to save the separate items are called 'separate file 1, separate file 2, separate file 3....', respectively.
The player can save the progress state of the game at an optional time. When a progress state is saved, it is divided into a common item and a separate item, and the common item is saved into the common file and the separate item is saved into a separate file n, where n is a file number. The maximum number of files to store the progress state is N, and an already written file can be repeatedly rewritten. Of course, it is possible to rewrite on a file even if the number of files to be saved does not reach N.
If the player wants to restart the game from a state which is already saved, he can select the 21 ~~27b~
corresponding file number in the same manner as in the conventional method. When a file number, for example, n, is selected, the separate file n and the common file are simultaneously loaded(read out) and the game starts from the progress state n. Though this process is similar to the conventional method, the content of the common file does not always correspond to the content saved at the time of the progress state n. Namely, the content of the common file is renewed whenever the progress state is saved. Therefore, the progress state at the time when the game is restarted may be different from that at the time when the separate file to be selected is saved.
Taking the case of a derivative scenario that a pet is fed, the embodiment will be further detailed. The content of the derivative scenario is as follows: 1) the pet has a strength, 2) the strength of the pet is decreased by one point an hour with real time(=actual time ticked away by RTC 4, 3) when the strength becomes zero, the pet dies, 4) the pet can be fed only in a pet shop.
In the above derivative scenario, the strength data of the pet is saved as the common item of the back-up file, and the other state data by which the progress state can be reproduced, for example, a scenery, a state data of a hero(a character operated by the player), is saved as the~separate item of the back-up file.
FIG.4 shows saving and loading of progress states 21 y2768 of the game. The game is played on a specific day of a specific month. Here, the progress of game is saved at the time of state 1 and then saved at the time of sate 2. At state 1, the strength of the pet is eight, where it is observed that the pet walks vigorously. Then, at state 2, the strength is reduced to three, where the pet is depressed with its head dropped. In this case, the progress state 1 is saved into file 1 and the progress state 2 is saved into file 2. At state 1, the strength of eight is recorded in the common file. After that, by the saving at state 2, the content of the common file is rewritten such that the strength of the pet is three. Thereafter, the saving is not conducted.
Next, on another specific day of another specific month, the game is restarted from the progress state 1.
The player expected the strength of the pet to be that recorded at state 1 of the previous day, but he notices that the strength is reduced to three. Thus, the player has to play the game to feed the pet not to die.
As a result, developments of the game on this day becomes quite different from those of the former day.
Since information other than the pet is stored in the separate file, the states of hero, scenery etc. does not change. However, if only the state of the pet is changed, the developments become quite different.
Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiment for complete and clear 21 y2i 6~
disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modification and alternative constructions that may be occurred to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching here is set forth.
Claims (2)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, comprising the steps of:
dividing said state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing said common item into a common file and said separate item into a separate file;
wherein said television game continuously progresses according to real time provided by a clock means and wherein when a player chooses to save the state of progress of the game, said common file is always rewritten to a back-up memory with a newest state of said common item, and said separate file stores a state of said separate item at a time when said state of said common item is stored.
dividing said state of progress into a common item and a separate item; and storing said common item into a common file and said separate item into a separate file;
wherein said television game continuously progresses according to real time provided by a clock means and wherein when a player chooses to save the state of progress of the game, said common file is always rewritten to a back-up memory with a newest state of said common item, and said separate file stores a state of said separate item at a time when said state of said common item is stored.
2. A method for backing up a state of progress in a television game, according to claim 1, wherein:
the number of said common item is one and the number of said separate item is plural.
the number of said common item is one and the number of said separate item is plural.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2398164 CA2398164A1 (en) | 1995-12-25 | 1996-12-12 | Method of executing a television game |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP7-350901 | 1995-12-25 | ||
| JP35090195A JP3549971B2 (en) | 1995-12-25 | 1995-12-25 | Video game progress backup method and video game machine |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2398164 Division CA2398164A1 (en) | 1995-12-25 | 1996-12-12 | Method of executing a television game |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2192768A1 CA2192768A1 (en) | 1997-06-26 |
| CA2192768C true CA2192768C (en) | 2004-02-17 |
Family
ID=18413673
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002192768A Expired - Fee Related CA2192768C (en) | 1995-12-25 | 1996-12-12 | Method for backing up state of progress in television game |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5971856A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0781582B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3549971B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1159061A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2192768C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69620988T2 (en) |
| TW (1) | TW389867B (en) |
Families Citing this family (20)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6722989B1 (en) * | 1999-10-07 | 2004-04-20 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Virtual pet game in which the virtual pet can converse with the player and learn new words and phrases from these conversations |
| US6699127B1 (en) | 2000-06-20 | 2004-03-02 | Nintendo Of America Inc. | Real-time replay system for video game |
| KR20000063715A (en) * | 2000-07-31 | 2000-11-06 | 김천수 | Web-STASH |
| JP2003010543A (en) * | 2001-06-29 | 2003-01-14 | Square Co Ltd | Computer readable recording medium recording program of video game, program of video game, method and device for processing video game |
| US6811490B2 (en) | 2001-10-10 | 2004-11-02 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | System and method for saving game data |
| KR20030082766A (en) * | 2002-04-18 | 2003-10-23 | 주식회사 아이제이소프트뱅크 | Method and system for offering games and game infomation through internet |
| DE60315645T2 (en) * | 2002-05-21 | 2008-06-05 | Sega Corp. | Method for controlling a game |
| JP3496152B2 (en) * | 2003-03-19 | 2004-02-09 | コナミ株式会社 | GAME DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER GAME SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD |
| JP3659418B2 (en) * | 2003-07-22 | 2005-06-15 | コナミ株式会社 | GAME DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER GAME SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD |
| JP3646171B2 (en) * | 2003-07-22 | 2005-05-11 | コナミ株式会社 | GAME DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER GAME SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD |
| US8275949B2 (en) * | 2005-12-13 | 2012-09-25 | International Business Machines Corporation | System support storage and computer system |
| ITMI20060342A1 (en) * | 2006-02-27 | 2007-08-28 | Gi Bi Effe Srl | BOX PERFECTED WITH POCKET FOR REMOVABLE SHEET |
| JP2007252501A (en) * | 2006-03-22 | 2007-10-04 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc | Game device and game control method |
| KR100793311B1 (en) * | 2006-11-08 | 2008-01-11 | 에스케이 텔레콤주식회사 | Method and system for providing mobile game replay service and mobile communication terminal therefor |
| US8996409B2 (en) | 2007-06-06 | 2015-03-31 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Management of online trading services using mediated communications |
| US8290604B2 (en) * | 2008-08-19 | 2012-10-16 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc | Audience-condition based media selection |
| US8447421B2 (en) * | 2008-08-19 | 2013-05-21 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Traffic-based media selection |
| US8484219B2 (en) | 2010-09-21 | 2013-07-09 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc | Developing a knowledge base associated with a user that facilitates evolution of an intelligent user interface |
| US8504487B2 (en) | 2010-09-21 | 2013-08-06 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc | Evolution of a user interface based on learned idiosyncrasies and collected data of a user |
| US9105178B2 (en) | 2012-12-03 | 2015-08-11 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Remote dynamic configuration of telemetry reporting through regular expressions |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4053740A (en) * | 1975-12-22 | 1977-10-11 | Lawrence David Rosenthal | Video game system |
| US4180805A (en) * | 1977-04-06 | 1979-12-25 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | System for displaying character and graphic information on a color video display with unique multiple memory arrangement |
| US4752068A (en) * | 1985-11-07 | 1988-06-21 | Namco Ltd. | Video game machine for business use |
| US4858930A (en) * | 1988-06-07 | 1989-08-22 | Namco, Ltd. | Game system |
| US5267734C1 (en) * | 1990-05-31 | 2001-07-17 | Rare Coin It Inc | Video game having calendar dependent functionality |
| US5273294A (en) * | 1991-02-04 | 1993-12-28 | Tengen Ltd. | Game memory |
-
1995
- 1995-12-25 JP JP35090195A patent/JP3549971B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-12-12 CA CA002192768A patent/CA2192768C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-12-16 US US08/768,109 patent/US5971856A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-12-19 TW TW085115726A patent/TW389867B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1996-12-20 CN CN96121482A patent/CN1159061A/en active Pending
- 1996-12-20 DE DE69620988T patent/DE69620988T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-12-20 EP EP96309380A patent/EP0781582B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0781582A2 (en) | 1997-07-02 |
| DE69620988T2 (en) | 2003-02-27 |
| EP0781582B1 (en) | 2002-05-02 |
| EP0781582A3 (en) | 1998-04-08 |
| JP3549971B2 (en) | 2004-08-04 |
| CN1159061A (en) | 1997-09-10 |
| JPH09173637A (en) | 1997-07-08 |
| CA2192768A1 (en) | 1997-06-26 |
| DE69620988D1 (en) | 2002-06-06 |
| US5971856A (en) | 1999-10-26 |
| TW389867B (en) | 2000-05-11 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20061212 |