I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US009770659B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Atobe
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`Sep.26,2017
`
`(54) STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME
`PROGRAM, GAME PROCESSING METHOD,
`AND INFORMATION PROCESSING
`APPARATUS
`
`(71) Applicant: GREE, Inc., Tokyo (JP)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Hirohiko Atobe, Tokyo (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: GREE, Inc. (JP)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 15/391,123
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 27, 2016
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2017/0106284 Al
`
`Apr. 20, 2017
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 15/253,964, filed on
`Sep. 1, 2016, now Pat. No. 9,636,583, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`May 31, 2013
`Dec. 26, 2013
`Mar. 5, 2014
`
`(JP) ................................. 2013-116039
`(JP) ................................. 2013-268385
`(JP) ................................. 2014-042491
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A63F 13/08
`A63F 13/52
`
`(2006.01)
`(2014.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .............. A63F 13/52 (2014.09); A63F 13/21
`(2014.09); A63F 13/25 (2014.09); A63F 13/35
`(2014.09);
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC .. .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 463/30, 31, 34
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2006/0281545 Al
`2007/0032282 Al*
`
`12/2006 Nakano et al.
`2/2007 Hamamoto ............. A63F 13/10
`463/9
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`
`8/2006
`2006-223904
`12/2006
`2006-341024 A
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Notice of Reasons for Refusal dated Jul. 12, 2016 of corresponding
`Japanese Application No. 2014-042491 with English translation.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Pierre E Elisca
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - DLA Piper LLP (US)
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A game in which a first user and a second user do battle
`includes storing a first panel database that includes a plu(cid:173)
`rality of panels that the first user possesses, and a second
`panel database that includes a plurality of panels that the
`second user possesses; selecting one or more panels to be
`disposed in one or more divisions of a game display screen
`including a display region formed by the divisions, from the
`first panel database and the second panel database; disposing
`the panels selected by the panel section function in the
`divisions; and displaying the game display screen on a
`screen display unit, wherein the data storage function further
`stores points set for the first user, which are decreased by
`disposing a panel, and the panel selection function selects a
`panel from the first panel database according to the points set
`for the first user.
`
`(Continued)
`
`15 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`100
`,,J
`
`STEP1t0
`
`SELECT PANELS TO BE DISPOSED
`IN FRAMES OF GAME DISPLAY SCREEN
`
`STEP120
`
`DISPOSE SELECTED PANELS IN FRAMES
`
`STEP130
`
`DISPLAY GAME DISPLAY SCREEN
`ON SCREEN DJSPLA Y UNIT
`
`STEP140
`
`EMPHASIZE ANO D!SPLA Y DISPOSED
`PANELS BASED ON PANEL INFORMATION
`
`STEP150
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 1
`
`

`

`US 9,770,659 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`continuation of application No. 14/291,358, filed on
`May 30, 2014, now Pat. No. 9,457,273.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A63F 13/822
`A63F 13/21
`A63F 13/25
`A63F 13/35
`A63F 13/537
`A63F 13/95
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .......... A63F 13/537 (2014.09); A63F 13/822
`(2014.09); A63F 13/95 (2014.09); A63F
`2300/308 (2013.01); A63F 2300/65 (2013.01)
`
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2013/0288787 Al* 10/2013 Yoshie .................. A63F 13/847
`463/30
`8/2014 Fujioka ............... A63F 13/2145
`463/31
`
`2014/0221094 Al*
`
`2014/0248947 Al*
`
`9/2014 Yoshie .................. A63F 13/847
`463/30
`2014/0295937 Al* 10/2014 Takahashi ............... G07F 17/34
`463/20
`2/2015 Tagawa ................... A63F 13/33
`463/42
`
`2015/0057085 Al*
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`
`2007-252696 A
`2013-054519 A
`
`10/2007
`3/2013
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Japanese Office Action dated Nov. 29, 2016 of corresponding
`Japanese Application No. 2016-190205 with English translation.
`Japanese Office Action dated Apr. 11, 2017, of corresponding
`Japanese Application No. 2017-026791 with English translation.
`R. Knizia, "Samurai Invasion," Online, !Phone AC, Jan. 2, 2011, pp.
`1-11, https://web.archive.org/web/2110102190809/hrtp://iphoneac.
`corn/samurai.html.
`Culdcept Mobile [online], Top Hundreds of Mobile Garnes, Apr. 29,
`2016, pp. 1-2, https://web.archive.org/web/20060429142038/hrtp://
`conents.dwango.jp/garnes/culdcept/battle.htrnl.
`Japanese Office Action dated Jul. 4, 2017, of corresponding Japa(cid:173)
`nese Application No. 2017-026791 with English translation.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`START
`
`100
`,J
`
`STORE PANEL DATABASE
`
`STEP110
`
`SELECT PANELS TO BE DISPOSED
`IN FRAMES OF GAME DISPLAY SCREEN
`
`STEP120
`
`DISPOSE SELECTED PANELS IN FRAMES
`
`STEP130
`
`DISPLAY GAME DISPLAY SCREEN
`ON SCREEN DISPLAY UNIT
`
`STEP140
`
`EMPHASIZE AND DISPLAY DISPOSED
`PANELS BASED ON PANEL INFORMATION
`
`STEP150
`
`END
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 2 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG. 2
`
`200
`~
`
`210
`
`DATA STORAGE UNIT
`
`CONTROL UNIT
`222
`223
`
`211
`
`212
`
`FIRST PANEL
`DATABASE
`
`PANEL
`SELECTION
`SECTION
`
`PANEL
`LAYOUT
`SECTION
`
`SECOND PANEL
`DATABASE
`
`EMPHASIZED
`DISPLAY
`SECTION
`
`220
`
`221
`
`SCREEN
`DISPLAY
`CONTROL
`SECTION
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 3 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`(
`320l
`
`• PLAYER
`
`·ENEMY
`
`310-
`
`A
`
`--------------------------------------------------
`
`~B IIG
`
`40
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 4 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG.4
`
`y-"300
`
`• PLA.YER
`
`·ENEMY
`
`320 {
`
`310
`
`0
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 5 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG. SA
`
`FIG.SB
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 6 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG. 6
`
`10
`
`30
`
`20
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 7 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG.7
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 8 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 9 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 10 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`a
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 11 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`Cl)
`0:: ~
`~ ..:j
`
`a...
`
`©~
`-
`,..,
`,j,J
`ro
`'°
`
`w
`C
`·-
`0)
`©
`LU o, '°
`~
`ffi ~
`
`ct:::I
`
`-
`-
`
`d
`LC
`
`<( --
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 12 of 12
`
`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`FIG. 12
`
`• ENEMY
`
`• PLAYER
`
`r1u~rco,] l ~~
`!S~~D
`
`ll-llRD
`TURN
`
`FOURTH
`TURN
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 14
`
`

`

`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`1
`STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME
`PROGRAM, GAME PROCESSING METHOD,
`AND INFORMATION PROCESSING
`APPARATUS
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 15/253,964, filed Sep. 1, 2016, which is a
`continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/291,358, filed May 30,
`2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,457,273, that claims the benefit
`of JP 2013-116039, filed on May 31, 2013, JP 2013-268385,
`filed on Dec. 26, 2013, and JP 2014-42491, filed on Mar. 5,
`2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated
`by reference.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This disclosure relates to a storage medium storing a
`game program, a game processing method, and an informa(cid:173)
`tion processing apparatus and, in particular, to a storage
`medium storing a game program and a game processing
`method of a game in which a plurality of characters battle
`against each other, and an information processing apparatus 25
`that controls the game.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`SUMMARY
`
`My storage medium stores a game program for a game in
`which first and second characters do battle. The game
`program causes a computer to realize: a data storage func(cid:173)
`tion of storing a first panel database that includes a plurality
`of panels that the first character possesses, and a second
`panel database that includes a plurality of panels that the
`second character possesses; a panel selection function of
`selecting panels to be disposed in frames of a game display
`screen including a display region formed by one or more
`frames, from the first and second panel databases; a panel
`layout function of placing the panels selected by the panel
`selection function in the frames; a screen display control 65
`function of displaying the game display screen on a screen
`display unit; and a frame execution function of executing the
`
`2
`frames in which the panels are disposed by the panel layout
`function in predetermined order.
`The predetermined order may be determined based on
`arrangement, shapes, and/or sizes of the panels.
`My storage medium stores a game program that is for a
`game in which first and second characters do battle. The
`game program causes a computer to realize: a data storage
`function of storing a first panel database that includes a
`plurality of panels that the first character possesses, and a
`10 second panel database that includes a plurality of panels that
`the second character possesses; a panel selection function of
`selecting panels to be disposed in frames of a game display
`screen including a display region formed by one or more
`frames, from the first and second panel databases; a panel
`15 layout function of placing the panels selected by the panel
`selection function in the frames; a screen display control
`function of displaying the game display screen on a screen
`display unit; and a frame execution function of executing the
`frames in which the panels are disposed by the panel layout
`20 function, based on panel information indicating character(cid:173)
`istics of the panels disposed in the frames.
`The first character may be a user, the second character
`may be an enemy of the user, and the user and the enemy
`may play as a friend and a foe.
`The first character may be a user, the second character
`may be a friend of the user, and the user and the friend may
`play as friends.
`The plurality of panels may be given according to prog(cid:173)
`ress of the game.
`The storage medium storing a game program described
`above may cause a computer to further realize an empha(cid:173)
`sized display function of emphasizing and displaying the
`panels disposed in the frames executed by the frame execu(cid:173)
`tion function.
`The panel information may include information regarding
`the size of each panel.
`The panel information may include information regarding
`the capability of each panel, and the strength of the capa(cid:173)
`bility may correspond to the size of each panel.
`The display region may be divided by a plurality of turns.
`Each of the panels may display a still image.
`Each of the frames may further have a text display portion
`that displays texts, and the text display portion may be
`displayed to overlap the panel disposed in the frame.
`Each of the frames may have a frame portion, and a frame
`portion of a frame, in which a panel selected from the first
`panel database is disposed, and a frame portion of a frame,
`in which a panel selected from the second panel database is
`disposed, may be constructed in different colors.
`My game processing method is for a game in which first
`and second characters do battle. The game processing
`method causes a computer to execute: a data storage step of
`storing a first panel database that includes a plurality of
`panels that the first character possesses, and a second panel
`55 database that includes a plurality of panels that the second
`character possesses; a panel selection step of selecting
`panels to be disposed in frames of a game display screen
`including a display region formed by one or more frames,
`from the first and second panel databases; a panel layout step
`60 of placing the panels selected in the panel selection step in
`the frames; a screen display control step of displaying the
`game display screen on a screen display unit; and a frame
`execution step of executing the frames, in which the panels
`are disposed in the panel layout step, in predetermined order.
`My game processing method is for a game in which first
`and second characters do battle. The game processing
`method causes a computer to execute: a data storage step of
`
`35
`
`In recent years, with the spread of electronic apparatuses 30
`such as smart phones and tablets, games played on these
`electronic apparatuses have been actively developed.
`As an example of such a game, there is a card game in
`which the user plays against other users or against the
`computer using cards collected in the game.
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
`2007-252696 discloses a technique regarding the card game
`described above. According to that technique, the user
`configures a deck with cards used in a play which is selected
`from a plurality of cards that the user owns, and plays a 40
`rock-paper-scissors game or the like with an opponent using
`the deck.
`Such a card game system is familiar to many users today.
`However, since the use of a two-dimensional card in the
`battle scene is sometimes boring, there have been calls for 45
`improvement.
`It could therefore be helpful to provide a storage medium
`storing a game program and a game processing method of a
`game that gives a user a high visual effect, and an informa(cid:173)
`tion processing apparatus that controls the game.
`
`50
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 15
`
`

`

`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`4
`a screen display control function of displaying the game
`display screen on a screen display unit, wherein
`the divisions include a division where a panel selected
`from the first panel database is allowed to be disposed and
`5 a division where a panel selected from the second panel
`database is allowed to be disposed, and
`the panel layout function disposes the panel selected by
`the selection function in a target division when the panel is
`allowed to be disposed in the target division.
`I further provide a game processing method for a game in
`10 which a first user and a second user do battle, and when
`executed by a computer, the game processing method causes
`the computer to perform:
`a data storage step of storing a first panel database that
`includes a plurality of panels that the first user possesses,
`15 and a second panel database that includes a plurality of
`panels that the second user possesses;
`a panel selection step of selecting one or more panels
`indicating characters, which are to be disposed in one or
`more divisions of a game display screen including a display
`20 region formed by the divisions, from the first panel database
`and the second panel database;
`a panel layout step of disposing the panels selected by the
`panel selection step in the divisions; and
`a screen display control step of displaying the game
`25 display screen on a screen display unit, wherein
`the divisions include a division where a panel selected
`from the first panel database is allowed to be disposed and
`a division where a panel selected from the second panel
`database is allowed to be disposed, and
`the panel layout step disposes the panel selected by the
`selection step in a target division when the panel is allowed
`to be disposed in the target division.
`I yet further provide an information processing apparatus
`that controls a game in which a first user and a second user
`35 do battle, comprising:
`a server apparatus or user terminal, comprising;
`a data storage unit that stores a first panel database that
`includes a plurality of panels that the first user possesses,
`and a second panel database that includes a plurality of
`40 panels that the second user possesses; and
`a control unit,
`wherein the control unit includes:
`a screen display control section that displays a game
`display screen that includes a display region formed by one
`45 or more divisions, on a screen display unit;
`a panel selection section that selects panels indicating
`characters to be disposed in the divisions of the display
`region, from the first panel database and the second panel
`database; and
`a panel layout section that disposes the panels selected by
`the panel selection section in the divisions, wherein
`the divisions include a division where a panel selected
`from the first panel database is allowed to be disposed and
`a division where a panel selected from the second panel
`55 database is allowed to be disposed, and
`the panel layout section disposes the panel selected by the
`selection section in a target division when the panel is
`allowed to be disposed in the target division.
`According to the storage medium, the game processing
`60 method, and the information processing apparatus, it is
`possible to provide a game that gives a user a high visual
`effect.
`
`50
`
`3
`storing a first panel database that includes a plurality of
`panels that the first character possesses, and a second panel
`database that includes a plurality of panels that the second
`character possesses; a panel selection step of selecting
`panels to be disposed in frames of a game display screen
`including a display region formed by one or more frames,
`from the first and second panel databases; a panel layout step
`of placing the panels selected in the panel selection step in
`the frames; a screen display control step of displaying the
`game display screen on a screen display unit; and a frame
`execution step of executing the frames in which the panels
`are disposed in the panel layout step, based on panel
`information indicating characteristics of the panels disposed
`in the frames.
`My information processing apparatus is an information
`processing apparatus that controls a game in which first and
`second characters do battle. The information processing
`apparatus includes: a data storage unit that stores a first panel
`database that includes a plurality of panels that the first
`character possesses, and a second panel database that
`includes a plurality of panels that the second character
`possesses; and a control unit. The control unit includes: a
`screen display control section that displays a game display
`screen that includes a display region formed by one or more
`frames on a screen display unit; a panel selection section that
`selects panels to be disposed in the frames of the display
`region, from the first and second panel databases; a panel
`layout section that places the panels selected by the panel
`selection section in the frames; and a frame execution 30
`section that executes the frames, in which the panels are
`disposed by the panel layout section, in predetermined order.
`My information processing apparatus controls a game in
`which first and second characters do battle. The information
`processing apparatus includes: a data storage unit that stores
`a first panel database that includes a plurality of panels that
`the first character possesses, and a second panel database
`that includes a plurality of panels that the second character
`possesses; and a control unit. The control unit includes: a
`screen display control section that displays a game display
`screen that includes a display region formed by one or more
`frames on a screen display unit; a panel selection section that
`selects panels to be disposed in the frames of the display
`region, from the first and second panel databases; a panel
`layout section that places the panels selected by the panel
`selection section in the frames; and a frame execution
`section that executes the frames in which the panels are
`disposed by the panel layout section, based on panel infor(cid:173)
`mation indicating characteristics of the panels disposed in
`the frames.
`I provide a non-transitory computer readable recording
`medium storing game program code instructions for a game
`in which a first user and a second user do battle, and when
`the game program code instructions are executed by a
`computer, the game program code instructions cause the
`computer to perform:
`a data storage function of storing a first panel database
`that includes a plurality of panels that the first user pos(cid:173)
`sesses, and a second panel database that includes a plurality
`of panels that the second user possesses;
`a panel selection function of selecting one or more panels
`indicating characters to be disposed in one or more divisions
`of a game display screen including a display region formed
`by the divisions, from the first panel database and the second
`panel database;
`a panel layout function of disposing the panels selected by
`the panel selection function in the divisions; and
`
`65
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a game
`program.
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 16
`
`

`

`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`5
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an
`information processing apparatus.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a
`game display screen,
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the
`game display screen.
`FIGS. SA and SB are schematic diagrams showing
`examples of a panel.
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the
`panel.
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram explaining an example of
`the game,
`FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram explaining an example of
`the game.
`FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram explaining an example of 15
`the game.
`FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram explaining an example of
`the game.
`FIGS. llA and l1B are schematic diagrams explaining
`examples of the game.
`FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram explaining an example of
`the game.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`20
`
`6
`panel of the panels disposed in the frames noticeably com(cid:173)
`pared with the other panels. As examples of emphasized
`display, it is possible to display a movie or display a frame
`to surround the panel. This function can be realized by an
`5 emphasized display section to be described later.
`The game program can be executed in a server apparatus
`or a user terminal to perform each process of the game
`described above. In addition, the game program can be
`provided in a state where the game program is recorded on
`10 a computer-readable recording medium. Recording media is
`not particularly limited as long as the recording media can
`be read by the computer such as a CD-ROM and a DVD.
`Next, a game processing method according to an example
`will be described.
`The game processing method is for a game in which the
`first and second characters battle against each other, and
`includes a data storage step, a panel selection step, a panel
`layout step, a screen display control step, and an emphasized
`display step.
`In the data storage step, a first panel database including a
`plurality of panels that the first character possesses and a
`second panel database including a plurality of panels that the
`second character possesses are stored. This step can be
`processed by the data storage unit to be described later.
`In the panel selection step, panels to be disposed in frames
`of the game display screen including a battle display region
`formed by one or more frames are selected from the first and
`second panel databases. This step can be processed by the
`panel selection section to be described later.
`In the panel layout step, the panels selected in the panel
`selection step are disposed in the frames. This step can be
`processed by the panel layout section to be described later.
`In the screen display control step, the game display screen
`is displayed on the screen display unit. This step can be
`35 processed by the screen display control section to be
`described later.
`In the emphasized display step, the panel disposed in the
`panel layout step is emphasized and displayed on the screen
`display unit based on the panel information indicating the
`40 characteristics of the panel. This step can be processed by
`the emphasized display section to be described later.
`Next, an information processing apparatus according to
`an example will be described with reference to the accom(cid:173)
`panying diagrams.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an
`example of the information processing apparatus.
`An information processing apparatus 200 controls a game
`in which the first and second characters battle against each
`other, and includes a data storage unit 210 and a control unit
`50 220.
`The data storage unit 210 stores a first panel database 211
`that includes a plurality of panels that the first character
`possesses, and a second panel database 212 that includes a
`plurality of panels that the second character possesses.
`The control unit 220 includes: a screen display control
`section 221 that displays a game display screen that includes
`a battle display region formed by one or more frames on the
`screen display unit; a panel selection section 222 that selects
`panels to be disposed in the frames of the battle display
`60 region, from the first panel databases 211 and second panel
`databases 212; a panel layout section 223 that disposes the
`panels selected by the panel selection section 222 in the
`frames; and an emphasized display section 224 that empha(cid:173)
`sizes and displays the panels disposed by the panel layout
`65 section 223 on the screen display unit based on the panel
`information indicating the characteristics of the panels. As
`the screen display unit, a display device and the like can be
`
`25
`
`A game program according to examples will be described
`with reference to the accompanying diagrams.
`The game program is for a game in which the first and
`second characters battle against each other, and causes a
`computer to realize a data storage function, a panel selection 30
`function, a panel layout function, a screen display control
`function, and an emphasized display function.
`FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a game
`program 100.
`Using the data storage function, a first panel database
`including a plurality of panels that the first character pos(cid:173)
`sesses and a second panel database including a plurality of
`panels that the second character possesses are stored (STEP
`110). This function can be realized by a data storage unit to
`be described later.
`Using the panel selection function, panels to be disposed
`in frames of the game display screen including a battle
`display region formed by one or more frames are selected
`from the first panel database including a plurality of panels
`that the first character possesses and the second panel 45
`database including a plurality of panels that the second
`character possesses (STEP 120). This function can be real(cid:173)
`ized by a panel selection section to be described later.
`Using the panel layout function, the panels selected by the
`panel selection function are disposed in the frames (STEP
`130). This function can be realized by a panel layout section
`to be described later.
`Using the screen display control function, the game
`display screen is displayed on a screen display unit (STEP
`140). The screen display unit receives a signal output from 55
`a screen display control section of an information processing
`apparatus, which will be described later. For example, a
`display device provided in a user terminal can be used. In
`addition, it is possible to use a touch panel type display that
`also serves as an input unit to be described later. This
`function can be realized by the screen display control section
`to be described later.
`Using the emphasized display function, the panel dis(cid:173)
`posed by the panel layout function is emphasized and
`displayed on the screen display unit based on the panel
`information indicating the characteristics of the panel (STEP
`150). "Emphasized display" refers to displaying a specific
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1001
`Page 17
`
`

`

`US 9,770,659 B2
`
`7
`mentioned. In addition, it is possible to use a touch panel
`type display that also serves as an input unit to be described
`later.
`A first panel group configured to include a plurality of
`panels that the first character possesses is stored in the first 5
`panel database 211.
`A second panel group configured to include a plurality of
`panels that the second character possesses is stored in the
`second panel database 212.
`Although not shown in the diagram, the information 10
`processing apparatus 200 can include an input receiving unit
`that receives an input to give an instruction to the control
`unit 220. As means for the input received by the input
`receiving unit, everything that the information processing
`apparatus operated by the user may have such as buttons, a 15
`keyboard or a mouse, is included. In addition, as described
`above, it is also possible to use a touch panel type input.
`While the information processing apparatus 200 can be a
`server apparatus or a user terminal such as a mobile phone
`or a smart phone, the information processing apparatus 200 20
`can also be configured to include a user terminal and a server
`apparatus.
`FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of
`a game display screen 300 displayed on the screen display
`unit. As shown in FIG. 3, the game display screen 300 is a 25
`game display screen of a game in which the first and second
`characters battle against each other. The game display screen
`300 includes a battle display region 310 formed by one or
`more frames (in FIG. 3, frames A to G).
`As shown in FIG. 3, a character (PLAYER) that the user 30
`uses can be set as the first character, and a character
`(ENEMY) that the computer uses can be set as the second
`character. Alternatively, although not shown in the diagram,
`the character (PLAYER) that the user uses can be set as the
`first character, and a character (FRIEND) that another user 35
`uses can be set as the second character.
`Panels selected from the first panel group configured to
`include a plurality of panels that the first character possesses
`and the second panel group configured to include a plurality
`of panels that the second character possesses are disposed in 40
`the frames A to G. In the example shown in FIG. 3, panels
`selected from the first panel group are disposed in the frames
`A, B, D, and F, and panels selected from the second panel
`group are disposed in the frames C, E, and G.
`The emphasized display section 224 can execute the 45
`frames in predetermined order, and emphasize and display
`the panels disposed in the executed frames. The battle
`proceeds by executing the frames A to G in order of the
`frames A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
`That is, according to the game display screen 300 accord- 50
`ing to the example, the battle between the first and second
`characters proceeds in a format like a cartoon. Therefore,
`since the user can play the game with a sense of reading a
`cartoon, the visual effect that the user receives is greatly
`improved compared to known games.
`In the game display screen 300, the battle can be per(cid:173)
`formed based on the panel information regarding the panel
`that is emphasized and displayed by the emphasized display
`section 224. In this case, the panel information is assumed
`to include information regarding the size of the panel.
`In addition, each panel described above can have an
`arbitrary size. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the game
`display screen 300 includes the battle display region 310
`formed by frames H to 0. In the battle display region 310
`divided into cells of "4 colunmsx4 rows," each of panels 65
`disposed in the frames H and N has a size corresponding to
`four cells. Similarly, each of panels disposed in the frames
`
`8
`J and O has a size corresponding to two cells, and each of
`panels disposed in the frames I, K, L, and M has a size
`corresponding to one cell.
`Specifically, assuming that each row indicates a tum of a
`battle, the occupancy of action in each tum in horizontally
`long frames such as the frames H, N, and 0, is high
`compared to that in horizontally short frames such as the
`frames I, J, K, L, and M. Accordingly, for example, in the
`first tum, only the action of the first player is performed.
`In the vertically long frames such as the frames J and N,
`their actions are first performed in the previous tum. That i