U.S. Patent No. 7,402,104: Game performing method, game apparatus, storage medium, data signal and program
Issued July 22, 2008, to Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
Filed: September 20, 2004 (claiming priority to September 25, 2003)
Katamai Damacy’s famous “roll up stuff on Earth into a big ball because your dad, the King of the Cosmos, broke the stars” game mechanic is patented.
Overview:
U.S. Patent No. 7,402,104 (the ‘104 patent) relates to a game where objects are to be stuck to a main control object, which is rolled around a virtual space. The ‘104 patent details a game where a player controls a main operation object in a 3D virtual space by rolling and moving it to collect other objects as they stick to the main control object. Several displacement points, capable of displacing only in predetermined directions from a reference point on the operation object, are displaced when the operation object comes into contact with an object to be stuck. The first point to be displaced is adjacent to a position where the operation object touches the object to be stuck. A second displacement point is set in a position when a predetermined part of the object stuck to the operation object meets a predetermined distance condition, sticking out far enough to be predetermined to need a new displacement point.
The rolling of the operation of the object is controlled via several rolling surface reference points, including the first and second displacement points. All of this outputting to a display device based on the virtual space.
The ‘104 patent may be familiar as implemented in the game, Katamari Damacy, and its subsequent sequels. The operation object is called a Katamari, and the player controls a little prince character who rolls it around various 3D virtual environments, generally trying to make it as large as possible. As the Katamari grows, more objects become available for a player to stick to it. The game’s novel design was well received, and Time even called one of the coolest games of the year 2004, for being one of the most unusual and original games to hit the PS2.
Abstract:
A game performing method for executing a game by arranging a plurality of objects comprising a plurality of objects to be stuck and an operation object, in a virtual space, controlling rolling and movement of the operation object according to a player’s input, and rolling and moving the operation object while sticking the objects which the operation object comes in contact with, comprises: setting a plurality of first displacement points capable of displacing only in predetermined radial directions different from each other, from a reference point respectively; displacing the first displacement point adjacent to a contact position, in the predetermined radial direction when the operation object comes in contact with the object to be stuck; setting a second displacement point in a position which meets a predetermined distance condition; and controlling the rolling of the operation object based on rolling surface reference points comprising the first and second displacement points.
Illustrative Claim:
- A game performing method for executing a given game by arranging a plurality of objects comprising a plurality of objects to be stuck and an operation object, in a 3D virtual space, controlling rolling and movement of the operation object according to operation input by a player via an input device, and rolling and moving the operation object while sticking the objects to be stuck which the operation object comes in contact with, the method comprising: setting a plurality of first displacement points capable of displacing only in predetermined radial directions from a reference point in the operation object respectively, the radial directions being different from each other; displacing a first displacement point from among the plurality of first displacement points in its respective predetermined radial direction when the operation object comes in contact with an object to be stuck, the first displacement point to be displaced being adjacent to a position where the operation object comes in contact with the object to be stuck; setting a second displacement point in a position where a distance from the reference point to a predetermined part of the object stuck to the operation object meets a predetermined distance condition; controlling the rolling of the operation object on a basis of rolling surface reference points comprising the first displacement point and the second displacement point; and outputting an output to a display device, based upon the 3D virtual space.