Storage medium, information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024082721-A1
Application number	US-202318240813-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2023
Priority date	Sep 12, 2022
Publication date	Mar 14, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An example of an information processing system moves a player character in accordance with an operation of a player, automatically moves a first non-player character, and when the player character is on a movable object and the movable object is moving, places the first non-player character on the movable object and causes the first non-player character to transition to an implementable state. If the first non-player character is in the implementable state, The example of the information processing system causes the first non-player character to perform a first action in accordance with an operation input provided by the player.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of an information processing apparatus to execute game processing comprising:
moving a player character in a virtual space based on a first operation input; automatically moving a first non-player character in the virtual space; if the player character is on an object and the object is moving, placing the first non-player character on the object and causing the first non-player character to transition to an implementable state where the first non-player character can implement a first action; and if the first non-player character is in the implementable state, causing the first non-player character to perform the first action in accordance with a second operation input.

2 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, in a case where the first non-player character is not in the implementable state, and if the player character and the first non-player character have a predetermined positional relationship, causing the first non-player character to transition to the implementable state in accordance with provision of a third operation input.

3 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 2 , wherein
the game processing further comprises shooting the first non-player character in a predetermined direction as the first action.

4 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3 , wherein
the game processing further comprises setting the predetermined direction at least based on a direction of a line of sight of a virtual camera at a timing when the second operation input is provided.

5 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3 , wherein
the game processing further comprises setting the predetermined direction at least based on a direction of the object at a timing when the second operation input is provided.

6 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, after the first non-player character is shot, and if the player character is on the object and the object is moving, moving the first non-player character onto the object, placing the first non-player character again, and causing the first non-player character to transition to the implementable state.

7 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, if the first non-player character is shot, causing the first non-player character to transition from the implementable state to a non-implementable state where the first non-player character cannot implement the first action, and maintaining the first non-player character in the non-implementable state until a predetermined time elapses.

8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, if the shot first non-player character hits an enemy character in the virtual space, causing damage on the enemy character, or if the shot first non-player character hits a predetermined obstacle object in the virtual space, destroying or removing the obstacle object.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 2 , wherein
the game processing further comprises:
automatically moving a second non-player character in the virtual space; and
if the player character and the second non-player character have a predetermined positional relationship, producing a second effect in accordance with the second operation input.

10 . An information processing system comprising:
a processor; and a storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to execute game processing comprising: moving a player character in a virtual space based on a first operation input; automatically moving a first non-player character in the virtual space; if the player character is on an object and the object is moving, placing the first non-player character on the object and cause the first non-player character to transition to an implementable state where the first non-player character can implement a first action; and if the first non-player character is in the implementable state, causing the first non-player character to perform the first action in accordance with a second operation input.

11 . The information processing system according to claim 10 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, in a case where the first non-player character is not in the implementable state, and if the player character and the first non-player character have a predetermined positional relationship, causing the first non-player character to transition to the implementable state in accordance with provision of a third operation input.

12 . The information processing system according to claim 11 , wherein
the game processing further comprises shooting the first non-player character in a predetermined direction as the first action.

13 . The information processing system according to claim 12 , wherein
the game processing further comprises setting the predetermined direction at least based on a direction of a line of sight of a virtual camera at a timing when the second operation input is provided.

14 . The information processing system according to claim 12 , wherein
the game processing further comprises setting the predetermined direction at least based on a direction of the object at a timing when the second operation input is provided.

15 . The information processing system according to claim 12 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, after the first non-player character is shot, and if the player character is on the object and the object is moving, moving the first non-player character onto the object, placing the first non-player character again, and causing the first non-player character to transition to the implementable state.

16 . The information processing system according to claim 15 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, if the first non-player character is shot, causing the first non-player character to transition from the implementable state to a non-implementable state where the first non-player character cannot implement the first action, and maintaining the first non-player character in the non-implementable state until a predetermined time elapses.

17 . The information processing system according to claim 12 , wherein
the game processing further comprises, if the shot first non-player character hits an enemy character in the virtual space, causing damage on the enemy character, or if the shot first non-player character hits a predetermined obstacle object in the virtual space, destroying or removing the obstacle object.

18 . The information processing system according to claim 11 , wherein
the game processing further comprises:
automatically moving a second non-player character in the virtual space; and
if the player character and the second non-player character have a predetermined positional relationship, producing a second effect in accordance with the second operation input.

19 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
a processor; and a storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to execute game processing comprising: moving a playe

Assignees

• Nintendo Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sato Yuya
• Kuboki Takashi

Classifications

• A63F13/537

  using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen · CPC title

• A63F13/5258

  by dynamically adapting the position of the virtual camera to keep a game object or game character in its viewing frustum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball · CPC title

• A63F13/837

  Shooting of targets · CPC title

• A63F13/42

  by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle · CPC title

• A63F13/56 Primary

  Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding · CPC title