Patents Assigned to Sega Corporation
  • Patent number: 8400445
    Abstract: Optical reflection and refraction are expressed of an object extending through a water surface by rather light load processing without using any cut models prepared in advance. A photographing angle of a virtual camera for displaying the object OB is set. Virtual cameras A, B and C are generated for photographing reflected and refracted object. The image processing is executed by projecting texture value of transparent degree for each of media different from texture for other media. Parameters are defined concerning the virtual cameras A, B and C, in order to achieve a desired visual expression of an object extending through various media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Katano
  • Patent number: 8382579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a card stack reader, a card thereof, a card case, a method for manufacturing the card, a game machine using the same, and a computer-readable storage medium on which a game program is recorded. The card stack reader comprises an imaging unit which reads an image from a peripheral side portion of a stack of cards, each card having a read code along a peripheral side edge thereof, the read code identifying the card, and a code recognizing unit which recognizes the read code of each card from the image read by the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Yoshida, Hidenori Shiba, Toshiyuki Kaji, Takao Yamauchi, Fumihiro Kato, Akira Nishino, Toru Ohara, Takaharu Terada
  • Patent number: 8287378
    Abstract: When the game machines (2100, 2110 and 2120) join the same network game, display images necessary for the users playing in a common virtual space are displayed in the displays (2105, 2115 and 2125) of the game machines. The game machines are connected with the controllers (2109, 2119 and 2129). The users operate various operations by means of the controllers for executing the game. The user can play match against or cooperate with the users participating in a common network game, and can also communicate with the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Yojiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8251812
    Abstract: A control program for an action game according to the present invention in which one of a plurality of characters moving in a game space is selected to be an attack target, in response to an operation of a game player, comprises: a selectable candidate object judging step of judging each of said plurality of characters as to whether or not it is a selectable candidate object which is qualified to be an attack target and which is in position relationship which could be selected as an attack target, a selection order deciding step of deciding an order of selecting those of said plurality of selectable candidate objects, which have been judged by the selectable candidate object judging step; and an attack target changing step of selecting, based on the selection order decided by the selection order deciding step, one of said plurality of characters as an attack target and sequentially changing the attack target in response to an attack target changing operation by the game player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Ishihata, Nobuyuki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20120190447
    Abstract: A computer, functioning as separate units, places at least first, second and viewed objects within a virtual space; displays the objects in a screen by performing a coordinate conversion based on a viewpoint and a viewed point set within the virtual space; moves the first object within the virtual space based on an operation by a player; controls movement of the viewpoint and the viewed point within the virtual space based on an operation by the player; generates an event based on relationship between the first and the second objects which move within the virtual space; determines a center point of the event based on coordinates of the first and the second objects; and sets a target point set on the viewed object as the viewed point, and sets the viewpoint on a half line starting from the viewed point to be passing the center point of the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA doing business as SEGA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tamotsu MAENO
  • Patent number: 8192265
    Abstract: The game system comprises a code reading means for reading a code recorded in a card, a computer program executing means for executing a game in which characters compute, and a display screen for displaying an image generated by the computer program. The game system further comprises a character generating means which, corresponding to a first code read by the reading means, generates a character indicated on the first card with the first code recorded in, a move generating means which, corresponding to a second code, sets a move indicated on the second card with the second cord recorded in, and a display means for displays on the display screen an image in which the character generated by the character generating means executes the move set by the move setting means to fight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoshi Ieizumi
  • Patent number: 8191896
    Abstract: A card game apparatus includes a large-size panel display, a main control unit that controls screens on the large-size panel display, and a plurality of terminal apparatuses that are communicably connected to the main control unit. A game player purchases an integrated circuit card and, for example, eleven player cards on each of which, a soccer player's photograph is printed. When the game player arranges the player cards on a player card arrangement panel of one of the terminal apparatuses, card data recorded on the back of the player card will be read by an internal image sensor. Then, a team is organized by the player cards, and a game starts. The game player can direct a player's position and formation by changing placement of the player card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kaji, Toshikazu Yoshida, Hidenori Shiba, Takao Yamauchi, Fumihiro Kato, Junichi Tsuchiya, Yoshitaka Maeyama, Jinichiro Okuda, Mitsuhiko Kakita
  • Patent number: 8187094
    Abstract: In the game program, a computer 100 is operated as means for moving a game character in a game field, based on an input signal inputted from an operation unit 114 and outputting the motions to display means 110. The game program comprises the processing of setting a player character PC which moves, based on an operation signal inputted from an operation unit 114 by a game player and a partner character PT which moves, based on a prescribed movement algorithm, and judging whether or not a first input signal has been inputted from the operation unit, and the processing of restricting a range where the player character PC is movable to a prescribed range with a present position of the partner character PT in the gate field as a reference when it is judged that the first input signal has been inputted. The game program permits a player character a player operates and a partner character which supports the player character to make various cooperative motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sawada, Yasunori Gotoh
  • Patent number: 8172229
    Abstract: A card game system, including a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a card data reading unit for detecting unique data of each of cards when an operator arranges and manipulates a set of cards selected by the operator on a flat surface of the panel on the terminal apparatus, and a game execution unit which is arranged to organize a playing team in a virtual game space based on the data detected from the cards placed on the flat surface of the panel and to execute a game against another playing team organized on another terminal apparatus connected via a network. A progress of the game is controlled in response to manipulation by the operator with the cards on the panel, a main control unit to which individual game data is transmitted from the plurality of the terminal apparatuses, and a display connected to the main control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kaji, Toshikazu Yoshida, Hidenori Shiba, Takao Yamauchi, Fumihiro Kato, Junichi Tsuchiya, Yoshitaka Maeyama, Jinichiro Okuda, Mitsuhiko Kakita
  • Patent number: 8118656
    Abstract: A roulette-shaped big monopoly unit 12 is disposed at the center of a casing 10, and a triangular pointer 14 for pointing a partition of the annular board 13 is disposed at the summit of the big monopoly unit 12. The players playing in the satellites 20 satisfy prescribed conditions to thereby to play in a big monopoly game using the big monopoly unit 12. In the big monopoly game, the players sequentially revolve the annular board 12. The game is advanced in accordance with contents of a partition pointed by the pointer 14 which is common among all the players when the revolving annular board 13 stops. The game can be played closely related among the satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hamada
  • Patent number: 8105142
    Abstract: The following types of processing are provided in the present invention. 1) Projection processing in which a shadow projected onto the ground of a flying object flying through a virtual space is prevented from becoming too small. 2) Viewpoint moving processing in which a viewpoint is moved automatically so that a character to be displayed is accommodated within the field of vision of the viewpoint at all times. 3) Semi-transparentizing processing in which, when display objects overlap, the display object with the smaller surface area according to [a comparison of] the displayed surface area is made semi-transparent. 4) Relative strength judgment processing in which the relative strength of teams in a team competition is determined on the basis of the sum of the fighting abilities. 5) Leader setting processing in which a leader character is determined and the outcome of the game is judged according to whether or not the leader character is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Ishihata, Nobukazu Naruke
  • Publication number: 20120018954
    Abstract: A game machine is provided with a target, a CRT, a card reader and a cash-box on a front face. A player inserts his own ID card into the card reader. The CRT displays information concerning a game and has a function of a game display when a game adopting darts is executed. A target is both a target hit by an arrow and also a tool by which players obtain points, areas or numerals by arrow throwing. A button is provided on the game machine for “Player Change” of the darts, which is used as an operation input switch for a control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masataka Noda, Rie Tomimatsu
  • Publication number: 20120004025
    Abstract: Disclosed is a game machine capable of raising game cycle execution frequency and increasing the enjoyment and fun of a game in loop play. A game machine includes: a game result determining part (82) for determining a game result for each game cycle; a game result displaying part (83, 30) for executing display of the game result for the game cycle; a loop play part (86) for executing loop play in which the game cycle is automatically repeated multiple times; and a display judging part (88) for judging whether or not a given display condition is satisfied for each game cycle in the loop play, in which: in a case of the game cycle judged by the display judging part (88) to have satisfied the display condition, the next game cycle is executed after executing the display of the game result; and in a case of the game cycle judged by the display judging part (88) to have failed to satisfy the display condition, the next game cycle is executed without executing the display of the game result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA doing business as SEGA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8075407
    Abstract: A ranking determination system is provided which can make all the game participants ranking-conscious and eager to play again, even if it is a widely popular game played by a large number of people. In the system wherein results of a game played in multiple game machines are collected through a communication network for ranking purposes, the ranking chart has several levels, each level consisting of one or more groups having a preset number of teams, each team being allocated a region for storing one or more sets of player information. The system is configured such that respective teams of players are ranked based on the game results of their member players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110287841
    Abstract: A game system is provided where a main game and a second game can be executed, and a player can actively participate in a play. In a game system where a main unit SV is connected to a plurality of game machines GM in which a play is conducted using a medal in a usual play, the main unit SV provides a second game which can be conducted in common at the plurality of game machines GM 1-GM 4. A token which is a play medium different from the metal is required for participating in the second game. The token is given when winning a lottery based on bet number information for each play in the game machines GM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Doing Business as Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8062123
    Abstract: A game system is disclosed that comprises a server system and a game parlor connected to the server system through a network, the server system forming and retaining a unit price schedule data that set a unit price for a predetermined unit time, the game parlor including a plurality of game terminals connected to a parlor LAN, and a parlor server, the game parlor retaining corresponding unit price schedule data sent from the server system to the parlor server, the plurality of game terminals accessing the parlor server at a time interval shorter than the predetermined unit time to acquire unit price information in accordance with the unit price schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Ueda, Shuhei Fujibe, Jiro Yoshida, Chisaki Kusajima, Junichi Miyamoto, Manabu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8062112
    Abstract: In processing new damage, when a character passes a first devastating flame and drops into a next devastating flame, damage of the latter devastating flame is deemed first damage, and the “game continuity ability value” is exempted from decrement. If the character drops into a further devastating flame, such drop is not new damage, and the “game continuity ability value” is decreased by a predetermined decrement value. In processing recurrent damage, when the character passes a first devastating flame, drops into a second devastating flame and drops again into a third devastating flame, the first failure occurs at the second devastating flame, and the “game continuity ability value” is decreased by a predetermined value, and is exempted from decrement at the third devastating flame because the drop is a recurrent failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8057304
    Abstract: To provide a game machine capable of recording a play score for a team constituted of self and partners in a portable recording medium separately for each team, and executing team-specific game processing by using recorded data regarding the team. Comprising a means for reading data from a first recording medium mounted on a mounting unit of the game machine by a first player, reading data from a second recording medium mounted by a second player, and determining them both to be a team when a recording medium-specific ID other than self's is recorded in at least one of the first and second recording media and the means for ascribing information about a competition score during a game progress or a competition result from cooperative competition of the team to the recording medium-specific ID of a cooperator, to record it in at least one recording medium of the first and second recording media as team score recording data of the team.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uemura, Tomonori Nebuya, Taro Nishiyama, Shuichi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20110263338
    Abstract: To provide a game device that can reduce the size of the device and can execute the simulation of a match game scene based on an operation input by a game player. A field panel 9 imitating a field of a sporting event, card holding stages 10 that are arranged in the locations indicating the positions of players in the sporting event on the field panel 9, and holding card 11 in a raised state, a card information reading means for reading card information recorded on the cards 11 held by the card holding stages 10, and a game execution control means for controlling the execution of a game are provided. Further, the game execution control means includes a means for controlling, based on the card information read by the card information reading means, the execution of the simulation of the match game scene, which is displayed on the touch panel 6 based on the operation by the game player, to be a predetermined number of times that is set in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Horie, Atsushi Ueno, Toru Mori, Yuichiro Murotsuka, Masahiro Mihara
  • Patent number: 8020869
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a game execution unit, casing, card arrangement panel, luminator that illuminates the panel, sensor unit that receives light from the panel and generates image data, and recognition unit to separate data of each card, and detect positions of the cards. Each of the plurality of cards is printed with a game character on one of its surfaces and formed on the other of the surfaces with a code pattern including data relating the game character. The sensor unit generates data of the image including the code patterns of the cards on the panel. The recognition unit separates data of each card, and detects position on play field of cards arranged on the panel, from the data of the image and supplies information thus obtained to the execution unit. The execution unit executes a game in response to card manipulation by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kaji, Toshikazu Yoshida, Hidenori Shiba, Takao Yamauchi, Fumihiro Kato, Junichi Tsuchiya, Yoshitaka Maeyama, Jinichiro Okuda, Mitsuhiko Kakita