Card-Based Game Machine and Method

Abstract

A card-based game machine includes a game item card storing machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value, and a game host unit. The game host unit includes: a game card reader for reading the machine-readable virtual item data; and a processor coupled to the game card reader, and generating a virtual game piece, a virtual item on the basis of the machine-readable virtual item data, and a game potency value on the basis of the potency value. The processor changes the game potency value during game play, and updates the machine-readable virtual item data through the game card reader at game completion, such that the potency value reflects the game potency value at game completion. A card-based game method is also disclosed.

1 . A card-based game machine, comprising:
 a game item card storing machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value; and   a game host unit including
 a game card reader for reading the machine-readable virtual item data on said game item card, and 
 a processor coupled to said game card reader, and executing a game program to generate a virtual game piece to be controlled by a player who is playing a game, a virtual item that is generated on the basis of the machine-readable virtual item data read by said game card reader and that is possessed by the virtual game piece to enhance ability of the player playing with the virtual game piece, and a game potency value that is generated on the basis of the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data read by said game card reader and that is used to control extent of enhancement associated with the virtual item during playing of the game; 
   wherein said processor changes the game potency value during playing of the game, and updates the machine-readable virtual item data on said game item card through said game card reader after completion of the game, such that the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data reflects the game potency value at the end of the game.   
   
   
       2 . The card-based game machine of  claim 1 , wherein said card-based game machine includes a plurality of said game item cards, and said game card reader of said game host unit includes a plurality of insert slots for insertion of said game item cards, respectively. 
   
   
       3 . The card-based game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable virtual item data is stored on said game item card using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and said game card reader of said game host unit is a RFID reader. 
   
   
       4 . The card-based game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable virtual item data is stored on said game item card using magnetic material, and said game card reader of said game host unit is a magnetic card reader. 
   
   
       5 . The card-based game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game potency value is changed by said processor on the basis of preset tasks associated with manipulation of the virtual item by the player during playing of the game. 
   
   
       6 . The card-based game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game potency value is changed by said processor in one of a time-based and repetition-based manner associated with the virtual item during playing of the game by the player. 
   
   
       7 . The card-based game machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a game piece card storing machine-readable virtual game piece data, said game card reader reading the machine-readable virtual game piece data stored on said game piece card, said processor executing the game program to generate the virtual game piece on the basis of the machine-readable virtual game piece data read by said game card reader. 
   
   
       8 . A card-based game machine, comprising:
 a game piece card storing machine-readable virtual game piece data which includes an attribute value; and   a game host unit including
 a game card reader for reading the machine-readable virtual game piece data on said game piece card, and 
 a processor coupled to said game card reader, and executing a game program to generate a virtual game piece on the basis of the machine-readable virtual game piece data read by said game card reader and that is to be controlled by a player who is playing a game, and a game attribute value that is generated on the basis of the attribute value contained in the machine-readable virtual game piece data read by said game card reader and that is possessed by the virtual game piece to set a performance level of the virtual game piece during playing of the game; 
   wherein said processor changes the game attribute value during playing of the game, and updates the machine-readable virtual game piece data on said game piece card through said game card reader after completion of the game, such that the attribute value contained in the machine-readable virtual game piece data reflects the game attribute value at the end of the game.   
   
   
       9 . The card-based game machine of  claim 8 , further comprising a game item card storing machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value,
 said game card reader reading the machine-readable virtual item data on said game item card, said processor generating a virtual item on the basis of the machine-readable virtual item data read by said game card reader, and that is possessed by the virtual game piece to enhance ability of the player playing with the virtual game piece.   
   
   
       10 . The card-based game machine of  claim 9 , wherein said processor further generates a game potency value on the basis of the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data read by said game card reader and that is used to control extent of enhancement associated with the virtual item during playing of the game,
 said processor changing the game potency value during playing of the game, and updating the machine-readable virtual item data on said game item card through said game card reader after completion of the game, such that the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data reflects the game potency value at the end of the game.   
   
   
       11 . The card-based game machine of  claim 9 , wherein the machine-readable virtual game piece data and the machine-readable virtual item data are stored on said game piece card and said game item card using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and said game card reader of said game host unit is a RFID reader. 
   
   
       12 . The card-based game machine of  claim 9 , wherein the machine-readable virtual game piece data and the machine-readable virtual item data are stored on said game piece card and said game item card using magnetic material, and said game card reader of said game host unit is a magnetic card reader. 
   
   
       13 . The card-based game machine of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the game attribute value and the game potency value is changed by said processor on the basis of preset tasks associated with manipulation of a corresponding one of the virtual game piece and the virtual item by the player during playing of the game. 
   
   
       14 . The card-based game machine of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the game attribute value and the game potency value is changed by said processor in one of a time-based and repetition-based manner associated with a corresponding one of the virtual game piece and the virtual item during playing of the game by the player. 
   
   
       15 . A card-based game method, comprising:
 a) providing a game item card storing machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value, and a game card reader;   b) reading the machine-readable virtual item data stored on the game item card using the game card reader;   c) executing a game program to generate: a virtual game piece that is to be controlled by a player who is playing a game; a virtual item on the basis of the machine-readable virtual item data read by the game card reader and that is possessed by the virtual game piece to enhance ability of the player playing with the virtual game piece; and a game potency value on the basis of the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data read by the game card reader and that is used to control extent of enhancement associated with the virtual item during playing of the game;   d) changing the game potency value during playing of the game; and   e) updating the machine-readable virtual item data on the game item card through the game card reader after completion of the game, such that the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data reflects the game potency value at the end of the game.   
   
   
       16 . The card-based game method of  claim 15 , wherein the machine-readable virtual item data is stored on the game item card using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and the game card reader is a RFID reader. 
   
   
       17 . The card-based game method of  claim 15 , wherein the machine-readable virtual item data is stored on the game item card using magnetic material, and the game card reader is a magnetic card reader. 
   
   
       18 . The card-based game method of  claim 15 , wherein, in step d), the game potency value is changed on the basis of preset tasks associated with manipulation of the virtual item by the player during playing of the game. 
   
   
       19 . The card-based game method of  claim 15 , wherein, in step d), the game potency value is changed in one of a time-based and repetition-based manner associated with the virtual item during playing of the game by the player. 
   
   
       20 . The card-based game method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 in step a), a game piece card is further provided that stores machine-readable virtual game piece data;   in step b), the machine-readable virtual game piece data stored on the game piece card is read using the game card reader; and   in step c), the virtual game piece is generated on the basis of the machine-readable virtual game piece data read using the game card reader.   
   
   
       21 . A card-based game method, comprising:
 a) providing a game piece card storing machine-readable virtual game piece data which includes an attribute value, and a game card reader;   b) reading the machine-readable virtual game data stored on the game piece card using the game card reader;   c) executing a game program to generate: a virtual game piece on the basis of the machine-readable virtual game piece data read by the game card reader and that is to be controlled by a player who is playing a game; and a game attribute value on the basis of the attribute value contained in the machine-readable virtual game piece data read by the game card reader and that is possessed by the virtual game piece to set a performance level of the virtual game piece during playing of the game;   d) changing the game attribute value during playing of the game; and   e) updating the machine-readable virtual game piece data on the game piece card through the game card reader after completion of the game, such that the attribute value contained in the machine-readable virtual game piece data reflects the game attribute value at the end of the game.   
   
   
       22 . The card-based game machine of  claim 21 , wherein:
 in step a, a game item card is further provided that stores machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value,   in step b), the machine-readable virtual item data on said game item card is read using the game card reader, and   in step c), the virtual item is generated on the basis of the machine-readable virtual item data read by said game card reader, and is possessed by the virtual game piece to enhance ability of the player playing with the virtual game piece.   
   
   
       23 . The card-based game machine of  claim 22 , wherein:
 in step c), a game potency value is further generated on the basis of the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data read using the game card reader and is used to control extent of enhancement associated with the virtual item during playing of the game,   in step d), the game potency value is changed during playing of the game, and   in step e), the machine-readable virtual item data is updated on the game item card through the game card reader after completion of the game, such that the potency value contained in the machine-readable virtual item data reflects the game potency value at the end of the game.   
   
   
       24 . The card-based game method of  claim 22 , wherein the machine-readable virtual game piece data and the machine-readable virtual item data are stored on the game piece card and the game item card using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and the game card reader is a RFID reader. 
   
   
       25 . The card-based game method of  claim 22 , wherein the machine-readable virtual game piece data and the machine-readable virtual item data are stored on the game piece card and the game item card using magnetic material, and the game card reader is a magnetic card reader. 
   
   
       26 . The card-based game method of  claim 23 , wherein, in step d), at least one of the game attribute value and the game potency value is changed on the basis of preset tasks associated with manipulation of a corresponding one of the virtual game piece and the virtual item by the player during playing of the game. 
   
   
       27 . The card-based game method of  claim 23 , wherein, in step d), at least one of the game attribute value and the game potency value is changed in one of a time-based and repetition-based manner associated with a corresponding one of the virtual game piece and the virtual item during playing of the game by the player.