Game apparatus, gaming method, and game program

Abstract

The present invention provides a game apparatus that comprises: an operation instructing unit 323 that outputs an operation instruction to a player; an operating unit, which is provided with one or a plurality of output regions, that accepts an input operation from the player; an outputting unit, which is provided to the operating unit corresponding to each of the output regions, that outputs one output pattern or any one of a plurality of output patterns to the corresponding output region; a changing unit 325, which is provided to the operating unit, that changes the output state of the output pattern output by at least one outputting unit in accordance with the game difficulty level; a determining unit 324 that determines an operation result based on the operation instruction and the output pattern output to the output region of the operating unit that accepted the player's input; and a game executing unit 321 that controls the execution of the game based on the determination result of the determining unit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a technique whereby the execution of a game is controlled in accordance with the game's level of difficulty.BACKGROUND ART[0002]A game's difficulty level is generally controlled by a program. For example, music game apparatuses incorporate programs called operation sequences. Based on the given operation sequence, the music game apparatus issues an instruction, on a monitor, regarding the operation members to be operated and the timing with which this instruction is to be carried out. Furthermore, the game apparatus computes a game result by comparing each instruction timing with the timing with which the selected operation member was actually operated.[0003]Instructions are issued regarding operation members and the instruction timing, for example, as follows. Instruction marks, which correspond to the operation members, are scrolled on a monitor screen toward a timing line, and the instruction mark of a certain operation member...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can facilitate the control of game difficulty levels.

[0010]According to the present invention, the difficulty of the input operation, and in turn the difficulty level of the game, is controlled by changing the output state of the output pattern in the output region as discussed above. Accordingly, according to the present invention, the game difficulty level can be controlled without changing a program; thereby the time needed to change the program as well as the burden on the program creator can be reduced. In addition, the game difficulty level can be controlled not only by changing the program but also by changing the output state of the output pattern in the output region; consequently, the number of variations available for setting the game difficulty level can be increased. In addition, because the output state of the output pattern in the operating unit, which is directly operated by the player, can be changed, the player can be presented with new attractions that are otherwise unobtainable by changing the program. For example, if the output state of the output pattern were to be changed, then it would be pointless to memorize the relationship between the operating unit and the output state of the output pattern at each operating unit; consequently, it is possible to introduce new interest to the game, such as testing the player's reflexes rather than the player's memory.

[0014]The game difficulty level can be controlled by changing the number of types of output patterns, such as the number of types of colors or designs output to the output region. For example, let us assume that the number of types of output patterns output to one operating unit in the flag waving game is changed from a two-color display to a three-color display. In such a case, the number of types of colors and the number of types of designs would increase and, in turn, finding the output region that corresponded to the operation instruction would become more difficult; thereby, the difficulty level of the game would also increase.

[0019]Furthermore, a plurality of the operating unit may be provided, and the light emitting state of the outputting unit built into each operating unit may be changed. In this case, the player would perform the input operation by waving the operating unit that includes the color contained in the instruction. Thus, in the event that there is a plurality of operating unit, the player must continually ascertain which operating unit includes the color; this increases the game's difficulty level, the game's interest, and the like.

[0022]The present invention can provide a technique whereby a game's difficulty level can be easily controlled.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, every time a musical performance changes or the number of musical performances increases, the creator is burdened with creating new operation sequences.

This increasingly adds to the burden of the creator.

This demand is one factor that makes eliminating the burden on the creator to create operation sequences very difficult.

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