JPS58121977A - Method and apparatus for self-adjustment of hardness degree of game - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the difficulty level of a competitive game.

[Prior art]

Recent advances in electronics technology, especially in the field of microprocessor development, have had a significant impact on the production and development in the electronic gaming industry. Such products have become commonly available not only in entertainment, but also in the mass entertainment sector in the form of coin-operated electronic games such as video games. For example, such coin-operated electronic gaming devices can now be found in public gathering places such as restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, as well as entertainment venues.

It is desirable that such coin-operated electronic gaming devices be played and enjoyed for as long as possible.

Coin-operated games where a single device can hold a variety of suitable levels of difficulty can provide players with hours of continuous fun. As a player's skill level improves as he gains experience, the coin-operated games he originally enjoyed playing become less difficult and, therefore, his interest in the game wanes. On the other hand, if a new electronic game is too difficult to compete in, it will not be fun, and for this reason people will avoid playing the game.

The question therefore becomes how to take a middle path for those who own and supply mass market coin-operated games. That is, a new game must be moderately difficult when first offered to the public, but not too difficult, and as the skill level of players improves while the game is popular. The difficulty of the game should not decrease (at least not too quickly ~ even if there is a way to adjust the difficulty of the game according to changes in the skill level of the game player, the information arising from the previous competition There is still another problem of maintaining the game competition parameters. Note that this information is used to select game competition parameters to increase or decrease difficulty. Another solution is to use an electronically readable, operator-selectable switch. However, this method does not allow the user to determine the average skill level of the players and readjust the difficulty of the game if necessary. Game play must be interrupted or game usage must be monitored by an operator.

[Object and structure of the invention]

The present invention provides an electronic game SL! A method and apparatus for self-adjusting one degree are provided. Broadly speaking, the method of the present invention includes the step (1) of determining a value representing the skill with which the player competed in the game, and comparing the determined skill of the player with the standard of the game competition skill level selected by the operator. The method consists of step (2) and step (3) of determining game competition operation parameters for adjusting the level of difficulty of the game competition in response to such a comparison.

Embodiments of the present invention provide microprocessor-based coin-operated video games with the ability to self-adjust difficulty. Typically, coin-operated video games provide players with increasing degrees of difficulty. suitable for showing. Therefore,
The skill level competed will be measured at the end of each game. Thus, the time for each game competition is determined and a weighted average is taken from the previous game competition. This weighted average results in a determined player skill value which is compared to operator selection criteria. If, as a result of the comparison, the player's skill value is also greater than the selected criterion, the game operating parameters change, making the next game competition more difficult.

In other words, if the selected criterion is greater than the determined skill level of the player and the game is too difficult, the game operating parameters are changed to make the next play less difficult.

The apparatus implementing the method of the invention includes a selection switch that allows the operator to select a reference average game time, and game control electronics, i.e. a microprocessor, that reads the selection switch and performs the necessary calculations. It has a counter circuit that generates a timing signal that creates a benchmark that slows down the measurement of time changes. moreover,
Even if the electricity goes out (intentionally or not), it is important to maintain the determined nine average for a long time (e.g., for many months in a row), so the microprocessor A changeable non-volatile memory is used as a storage element for the cumulative average forming the determined player skill level value. In this embodiment, an electrically rewritable read-only memory (ROM) is used as the storage element. Therefore, the EAROM does not eliminate the game's self-regulating ability even if the electricity is turned off momentarily or for an extended period of time.

With the present invention, there is no need to reset the engineering decision parameters every time the electricity is cut off. There is also no need for the operator to constantly monitor the game to determine whether the game competition has become less difficult or the game is too far apart to reduce interest and profit. is freed from these administrative duties, and the game's self-regulating ability provides a level of difficulty that matches the skill of those playing the game. This difficulty level will not be erased by a power interruption or similar event.

These are just some of the objects and advantages of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages will become apparent as the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a video game 10 using the present invention. Video game 10 has a display screen 14 , control equipment including a control frame 16 and a start button 17 , and video game activation electronics within cabinet 12 . The electronic device includes a circuit board 18 carrying selection switches 20 that are selectable by an operator.

RED BARON (Ata, the applicant of the present invention)
riInc (trade name) is a single-player video game in which the display screen 14 depicts a scene from the cockpit of a World War I biplane airplane. Display targets in the form of enemy biplanes, airships, tanks, pillboxes, etc. are detected on the video screen 14 by means of techniques well known in the art as X-Y or vector generator techniques.
imaged above.

The game's targets are circular, in which you destroy as many enemy targets as possible (e.g., a biplane, a small airship, a tank, a pillbox, etc.) while conducting operations in an area that includes pyramidal structures. The player is
The player uses the control frame 16 to move the player's 6-plane biplane.The control frame 16 allows the player to move in 4 directions (front, left, right).
You can create the feeling of swooping down, rising, or turning left or right.

Video game 10 is coin operated and game competition is initiated by the player inserting a suitable coin into a coin slot (not shown) of video game 10 and pressing the start button IT. Enemy targets can be shot down or destroyed by activating a fire button 16a provided on the control frame 16 and pressable with a finger. If you "hit" an enemy's target, you are awarded points, and these points are added up as the game progresses. However, enemy targets have the ability to counterattack, so the player's biplane will not be able to avoid damage caused by enemy fire or if his biplane hits a target (e.g., a building, mountain, etc.) due to a miscalculation of movement. It may also be destroyed. Furthermore, the player has a predetermined number of "lives" (selected in advance by the operator).
For example, you start the game with a biplane (for example, a biplane). Upon reaching a predetermined number of points, it is also possible to award the player with more lives (of biplanes) during the game competition.

It is clear that the playing time of each game is highly dependent on the skill of the player and the difficulty of the video game 10. Accordingly, the skill level of video game 10 may be determined by the speed of movement of a target appearing on display screen 14 (e.g., representing the relative speed of a player's biplane and an enemy target) or the size of a displayed target. , can be set according to operating parameters. Skill in a particular game competition can also be measured by the amount of time it takes to complete the game.

Compare this game competition time with a predetermined standard and find out whether the game competition time is too long (the skill required for this game is low) or short (this game is too difficult)
All you have to do is decide.

Selection switch 20 (2-position switch SW that can be operated with your finger)
I-SWN) provides the operator with the ability to select one of many time values that represent a particular skill level criterion for gaming competition. This operator selection criterion is compared to the player's skill level value determined from previous game competitions in the form of a weighted average of the time it took to play a number of previous games. If this weighted average exceeds the operator selection criteria, the microprocessor changes the game parameters to make the competition more difficult. Also, if the selected reference value is greater, the game parameters are changed to reduce the difficulty of the game competition. Essentially, this self-regulatory property determines which game parameters to use in future actions of the video game 10 based on past actions, and as the player's skill level increases, the average skill This is to set an appropriate difficulty level.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control electronics for video game 10 (FIG. 1). As shown, video game 10
is a type with valve opening/mask (NMI) capability.
It has a microprocessor unit (MPU) 30 that performs calculations necessary to control the game. MPU3
0 is the input/output (110) inter 7 eighth unit 32. Video signal generation 8834 is connected to memory device 36 and electrically rewritable read only memory (EAROM) 42 . The memory device 36 stores a read-only memo 'J (
A program memory 38 in the form of a ROM) and a random-
It includes working memory 40 in the form of access-memory (RAM'). MPtT 30 and other devices to which MPU 30 is connected are connected by a 16-bit address bus 44 and an 8-bit data bus 46.

32 is the selection switch 2G
(e.g. two position switch SWI-gWN) and player input controls (e.g. control stick 16 and fire button 16)
a) receives input information and sends it to MPU 30 via data bus 46; The Inter 7 Eighth Units) 32 also receives and formats the information generated by the MPU 5O, for example display light emitters (
(not shown) and to various player output devices such as an audio output device (not shown).

Video signal generator 34 receives commands and data from MPU 30 and generates a video signal. This video signal is suitably formatted and sent along with other control signals to display device 50 via communication link 52. The nine video amplification and control signals generated by video signal generator 34 are used to drive the electron beam in display device 50. This electron beam creates game symbols and targets on the display screen 14 (Figure 81).

Memory device 36 includes a program memory (ROM) 38 that continuously contains program instructions used by MPU 30 to operate the game. Additionally, the memory device 3 has a working memory (RAM) 40 accessible to the MPU 30 for temporarily storing various game parameters as they are generated during the course of programming and game play.

EAROM 42 is non-volatile and can retain stored information even if power is cut off. In addition, EARO
M42 can be used by MPU 30 to perform read and write operations. EAROM42 is New York
General Ina located in Hiekauille
trum@nts Product number ER2055 by Corpora Hon's Microelectronics Division can be used.

Synchronous operation is provided by clock generator 60. Although not shown, this clock generator 60 has a basic 12
It includes an oscillator circuit that generates a megahertz (MHz') square wave clock signal. In addition, the clock generator 6
0 includes various counter circuits (not shown) that receive the 12 MHX clock signal and generate low frequency signals. Accordingly, a microprocessor clock (MCLK) of, for example, 1.5 MHz is generated by a clock generator 60 and sent by a signal line 62 to the clock (CK) input of the MPU 30. 3 kilohertz (KHz)
) is generated by a clock generator 60 and is connected via signal line 66 to 9 NM1
It is sent to the clock (CK) input of counter 64. NMI counter 64 then generates a 250 hertz interrupt clock (ICLK') which is sent by signal line 68 to the NMI input of MPU 3G. Clock generator 60 also generates a system clock signal, which is sent to its destination via signal line 70.

In addition to the game program, the program memory 38 also contains
Six data words are stored. Each word represents a predetermined skill level of game competition in the form of the time required to play 32 games in video game 10.

Airplane A-B point (SWl) per game 5 TI TI
Ts T2O-D point (Hata V2) Ts
Ts TI TIE-謔(gW
3) TI TIOTll Tl鵞 The above table shows the parameters selected by the selection switch of FIG. 2 to create operator selection criteria representing the difficulty level of the game competition.

These times 11 to T'ts shown in the above table can be selected by the operator by setting the selection switch 20.

Therefore, as shown in the table above, the operator can decide to use the average time of TI as a target operator selection criterion.

In this case, the operator makes appropriate switch settings for the selection switch 20 by closing the switch and 8W6. Switch SWI, SW3~8W5.

The 8th one remains the same. That is, the switches are placed in an open or non-selected position. As shown in the table above, switches 8W1-8 also perform other functions. Switches SW1-S'w3 perform score additions that give the player a bonus plane (eg, one extra life) if a limit is exceeded in a certain game competition. Switches sw4-SW7 specify how many airplanes a player has per game competition.

Assume that the operator desires that the video game 10 have a skill level corresponding to an average game time represented by average time T7. In this case, first,
The operator is between switches.

Set SW6 to the selection position and the remaining switches (SWI).

ff3 to SW5, SW7) are placed at non-selected positions. When the operator begins the initialization routine, the EAROM 42 loads the MPU in the following manner.
1 seeded by 30. The selection switch 20 is
10 MPU 3 via interface unit 32
Read by 0. The information obtained from switch items 1 to SW7 is the "boi/ri" address of the memory location in program memory 38 where the data word (of 16 data words) representing the target operator selection criteria (here time T7) is stored. used to form. M.P.
U30 accesses the target time information from program memory 38 and stores it in a predetermined location in EAROM 42.

Therefore, the time T7 initially selected by the operator is
Serves as the initial determined player skill level value for the present invention's difficulty self-adjustment ability. Thus, the operator has the option of selecting an initial level of difficulty for the game competition and manually resetting the difficulty level if the game's ability to adjust the difficulty level is considered too slow. after that,
The selected initially determined player skill level value is automatically changed to ultimately indicate the truly determined player skill level.

The method of the invention is carried out in two parts, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The first part (FIG. 3) of this method indicates, prior to each game to be played, a target level of difficulty (e.g. selected and represented by the time of death T7).
It is used to calculate game competition parameters according to operator selection criteria and a weighted average of previous game competitions. The second part, shown in FIG. 4, uses the time it took to play the game that just finished to re-determine the weighted average. The weighted average calculated again is EARO
M 42 and is subsequently used to calculate game competition parameters for the next game.

The method illustrated in FIG. 3 used to implement the self-regulating video game 10 is as follows. When a player begins a game competition operation of video game 10, a new game subroutine J80 is started. Part of this subroutine includes steps 82-72, which include obtaining the weighted average game playing time value (
The process begins with step 62 of accessing ℃. EAROM 4
2 is initially seeded with the selected time value T7 and no game competition has started, then the accessed value T is T7 (i.e., the weighted average is initially set equal to one time reference). , whose value corresponds to the target average game time). On the other hand, if EAROM42 is seeded with T7 value and then video game 10 is played,
The accessed value T7 becomes another value. Next, at 64, the MPU 30 selects the selection switch 20 (i.e. 8
Read the "pointer" address by sampling W1 to SW7)1) and target time reference T7 (
66) for accessing the program memory 38
Switch settings are made to form the memory address of (2).

At 68 and TO in FIG. 3, the values T and T7 are compared with each other. As a result of the comparison in step 68, if T is greater than T7, i.e. (due to the game taking longer)
If the game is becoming more playable, game parameters are calculated and used during game play to increase the speed of movement of the display target on the display screen 14. The amount of speed increase depends on the amount by which T exceeds T7. That is, the difference between T and 17 is used as a starting point in calculating the game parameters used. On the other hand, the comparison in 6B is (i.e. T i > I T
However, in the comparison at 7G, if the cumulative average T is smaller than the operator selection criterion 〒7 and the player feels that the game is longer than expected, the game parameter calculation will be based on the magnitude of the difference. This results in game parameters that slow down game play. Accordingly, the results of the comparisons in steps 68 and 70 determine the speed of movement of the game parameters used by the MPU 30 and the increasing difficulty level of the game competition to match the player selected by the operator for playing the video game 10. Adjust it to match the difference in difficulty of the game.

The determined skill level of the player, that is, the weighted average T, is determined by the "end of game subroutine" 80 (Figure 4).
is calculated again at the end of each game competition. In game competitions, other MPU3 for game control and operation
G monitors the death time of the game, and N
The 250 Hz CLKIB received at the MI input and output by the NMI counter 64 is used as a henchmark. In fact, the MPU 30 counts each pulse received at the NMI input during game play. At the end of each game competition, MPU30
has a cumulative count (in a register (not shown)) representing the time spent in the just completed game. Step 82
At , the weighted average T is accessed from EAROM 42. At step 84, MPU 30 calculates a new weighted average game competition value T using the following equation:

Tmmw = T T/32 + TO This one new value of T is then returned to the memory location in EAROM 42 from which the old value was obtained, and later at the start of the next game, as shown in FIG. used.

In addition to the ability to self-regulate difficulty with little power wastage, the equipment used to implement this ability (i.e.
It also has other functions (NMI counter 64 and EAROM 42). For example, the M8U30 may determine the amount of time the device has been powered since a predetermined time, ie, the amount of time a video game has actually been played since said time. These numbers are periodically updated and stored in EAROM 42 and remain non-volatile even when power is interrupted. Such information is useful in providing the operator with an interesting display of the game. Additionally, the highest scores for video game 10 are stored in KAROM 42 and checked periodically by MP03G. Each smear is earned after each game is played. This information provides the operator/owner with information regarding options and optimizes game usage.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified in various ways, for example, the game competition technique is not based on the playing time of the video games 10, but on the score of each game. You can do it like this. This method may also be used to detect particularly unskilled players and to return money paid by the players. In addition, as an electric non-volatile memory device, a specific memory device, EAR
Although OM42 was used, other types of electrically rewritable non-volatile memory devices may be used. For example, nonvolatile devices such as magnetic bubble memory, ferrite core memory, thin film memory, etc. can be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a schematic diagram of a video game using the method and apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the circuitry used to operate the game of FIG. 1 with the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. is a flowchart illustrating portions of each pre-game initialization subroutine comprising a portion of the method of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a flowchart of the post-game subroutine comprising the second part of the method of the present invention. 10...Video game, 14@...Display screen, 16...Control frame, 18...O. Circuit board, 20@...Selection switch, 30...MPU, 3
2@...Shiichi interface unit, 34...轡・Video signal generator, 38---ROM, 40---
@RAM, 42-""electrically rewritable read-only memory, 44@... address bus, 46... data bus, 50... tatami display device, 60...
Clock generator, 64... fist bite counter. Patent Applicant Atari Incorporated Agent
Masaki Yamakawa (and 1 other person) FIG, 3

Claims (1)

Claims: (1) Operable by a player to perform a number of independent, sequential game competitions and responsive to at least one of a number of operating parameters that provide a level of difficulty that is at least a portion of each game competition. In electronically controlled game devices, the first level indicates the standard level of difficulty of game competition movements.
at the end of each game competition; ts indicating the skill of the player who has been operating the device up to now;
and determining, in response to said first and twentieth values, one of said plurality of operating parameters for controlling said apparatus to effectuate subsequent game competition. A method of self-adjusting the difficulty level of a game competition with 41 degrees of success. (2. In the method according to claim 1, the second value is a value corresponding to the average time of consecutive game competitions stored in the storage means; The steps include: generating a time value indicating the time during which the player operated the game device; accessing the second value of the storage means; and combining the accessed value and the time value. and a step of returning this latest second value to the storage means, and one operating parameter includes the latest j12 value and the first value. (3) In the method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, the game device includes a plurality of manual switches and a pre-selected switch. a memory device for storing a plurality of data words in memory locations, each of said data words corresponding to a different value, and providing said first value in response to a setting of a switch. First
A method comprising the step of selecting a data word as a value of . (4) The method according to claim 2, wherein the storage device comprises an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory device. (5) A standard representing a predetermined technique for competing a video game in a microprocessor-controlled video game in which each game competition is initiated by a player, including a device that operates in response to operating parameters to create a difficulty level for the game competition. The method includes a step of supplying a value, and a step of storing a technical value according to a reference value, and further includes, at the end of each game competition and before each consecutive game competition, (1) storing the technology of the completed game competition. (b) retrieving a stored technical value;
(e) combining the first value with the retrieved skill value for rounding to generate an updated friend skill value representative of the skill of the previous game competition of the gaming device; and (d) for the immediately next game competition. Level of difficulty of game competition movement, l
A method for self-adjusting the difficulty level of a game competition, characterized in that it consists of the step of: determining one of the above-mentioned operating parameters according to an updated technical value and a reference value in order to set a standard value. (6) In a microprocessor-controlled video game in which each game competition is initiated by a player, the device includes a device that operates in response to operating parameters to create a difficulty level for the game competition, the reference value representing a predetermined skill of competing the video game. and storing the technical value in accordance with the reference value; a step of generating a value (′b
) retrieving stored technical values; and (c)
(d) combining the retrieved skill value with the first value to generate an updated skill value representative of the skill of the previous game play of the gaming device; and (e) replacing the technical value with the updated nine technical values, in order to set the level of difficulty. A method for self-adjusting the difficulty level of a featured game competition. (7) A method according to claim 5, wherein the video game comprises a display screen and a device for displaying at least one moving target controlled by a computer on the display screen; A method characterized in that the parameters at least partially form the speed of movement of a moving target on a display screen. (8) Standards representing predetermined techniques for playing video games in a microcontroller-controlled video game in which each game competition is initiated by a player, including a device that operates according to operating parameters to create a difficulty level for the game competition. providing a value and storing a technical value in accordance with a reference value; furthermore, at the end of each game competition and before each successive game competition, (&) determining the time of each game competition; (b) generating a first value representative of the skill of the completed game competition; and (e)
(d) retrieving the stored technical values;
(e) combining the retrieved technical value with the first value to generate an updated technical value representative of the skill of the previous gaming competition of the gaming device; determining one of the operating parameters according to the updated technical value and the reference value, the step of generating the first value being based on the time of the completed game competition; Karahen 1
A method for self-adjusting the difficulty level of a game competition, comprising the step of forming a value of . (9) a microprocessor that operates in accordance with a game program to control game competition operations; (1) a game program; and (2) a plurality of data words, each of which corresponds to a different level of difficulty of the game competition; and a memory device connected to a microprocessor for storing, in a gaming device, the steps of: selecting one of said data words; determining a skill level value from an actual gaming action; and nine selected data words. A game for a gaming device, characterized in that the game comprises the steps of: determining a game competition motion parameter according to a skill level value; and modifying a game competition of successive games according to the calculated nine game competition motion parameters. How to self-adjust the difficulty of the competition. a microprocessor operating in accordance with the elG game program to control game competition operations; and storing (1) a game program; and (2) a plurality of data words each corresponding to a different level of difficulty of the game competition. , a memory device connected to a microprocessor, operating means by which an operator can select data words; selecting one of said data words; determining a level value; determining a game competition motion parameter according to the selected data word and the skill level value; and modifying the game competition of successive games according to the calculated game competition motion parameter. A method for self-adjusting the difficulty level of a game competition on a game device, the method comprising the steps of: αυ The method of claim 10, wherein the manual device includes a plurality of two-position switches. (13) A self-regulating method according to claim 11, characterized in that the switch is connected to and readable by a microprocessor. 9. A game representing a technique in which a video game is played in a video game having a microprocessor for controlling game playing operations in response to game parameters, and a memory device having a plurality of memory locations for storing a game program and game parameters. a device for monitoring each game competition movement to determine a competition value; a device for supplying a reference value representative of a predetermined technique; A device for self-adjusting the difficulty level of a game competition, characterized in that it comprises a device for re-determining game parameters according to A self-regulating device characterized in that it includes a clock device that generates a time signal in operation, and a counter device that is responsive to the time signal and provides a game value depending on the time of the game game operation. 41g In the apparatus described in item 13,
The memory device has a plurality of additional memory locations containing a number of different values of the reference value, and the device for supplying the reference value has a plurality of manual switches that allow an operator to select one of the different values of the reference value. An automatic adjustment device characterized by: (le) a control element operable by the player in a gaming action to generate a data input signal representative of the player's action on the gaming action; In an electronically controlled video game of the type that has a controlling microprocessor and a memory device that is connected to the microprocessor and stores a program memory and that can be operated in response to electric power, a characteristic that represents the game action performed by a player. It consists of a device for supplying values, a device for calculating cumulative characteristic values according to a plurality of game competitions, and an electrical rewrite/read-only memory device that is connected to a microprocessor and stores cumulative characteristic values. A rewritable, read-only memory device is a memory device that is accessible to a microprocessor for read and write operations to store and retrieve player-generated values, and that allows the storage of stored multiple values in the event of an interruption in video game power. An electrically controlled video game that operates to maintain a player-generated value of αη.In the game according to claim 16,
A video game characterized in that a game action is responsive to a characteristic cumulative value.