U.S. Patent No. 6,251,010: Game machine apparatus and method with enhanced time-related display of pokemon-type characters
Issued June 26, 2001, Nintendo Co., Ltd., Game Freak Inc., and Creatures Inc.
Filed: May 18, 2000 (claiming priority to August 26, 1999)
Overview:
U.S. Patent No. 6,251,010 (the ‘010 patent) relates to varying the likelihood for a character to appear in a particular territory based on the time of day. The ‘010 patent details a player object moving within a displayed territory to encounter a character, the player object being able to potentially encounter several different characters. There is a clock generating time information and time related criteria is evaluated using the time information from the clock, varying the likelihood of a character to appear in said territory.
The ‘010 patent is likely exemplified in a great many Pokémon games, and is how the same area can have different Pokémon spawn at different times of day.
Abstract:
A game machine of a type that a player object is moved on a map to encounter with a character includes a program storage storing a game program, a clock at least clocking a time, an operation device for operating the player object, and an image processor for varying a display image based on the operation of the operation device. The game program storage stores a program for varying an appearance condition of the character appearing on the game map based on time information of the clock.
Illustrative Claim:
- A game machine for executing a game program of a type having an associated display wherein a player object is moved within a displayed territory to encounter a character, comprising: a program storage for storing a game program; a clock for generating time related information; an operation control member actuated by a player for controlling the display of a player object; and a processor for executing said program to vary a displayed image based on the operation of said operation control member, wherein said game program storage stores a program for evaluating a time related criteria using said time related information, and for varying the likelihood for a character to appear on the game display in a portion of said territory based at least in part on the evaluation of said time related criteria.