Video game

Abstract

Video game apparatus in which a game object acts within a game environment of a video game under the control of a user controller, the video game ending in respect of that game object when a game continuation variable reaches a game end amount; comprises: means for adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount in response to time spent-playing that instance of the game; means for detecting game actions in respect of the game object; means for maintaining a game style variable indicative of the manner in which one or more predetermined game actions are carried out by the game object; means, responsive to a game action carried out successfully by the game object, for adjusting the game style variable to indicate a greater game style; means, responsive to a game action adverse to the game object, for adjusting the game style variable to indicate a lower game style or, if the game style variable reaches a level indicative of zero game style, for adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount; and means for enhancing the ability of the game object to perform a game action in dependence on the level of the game style variable.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . Video game apparatus in which a game object acts within a game environment of a video game under the control of a user controller, the video game ending in respect of that game object when a game continuation variable reaches a game end amount; the apparatus comprising:
 means for adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount in response to time spent playing that instance of the game;   means for detecting game actions in respect of the game object;   means for maintaining a game style variable indicative of the manner in which one or more predetermined game actions are carried out by the game object;   means, responsive to a game action carried out successfully by the game object, for adjusting the game style variable to indicate a greater game style; and   means, responsive to a game action adverse to the game object, for adjusting the game style variable to indicate a lower game style or, if the game style variable reaches a level indicative of zero game style, for adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount.   
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , comprising means for enhancing the ability of the game object to perform a game action in dependence on the level of the game style variable; in which
 the enhancing means comprises means for detecting whether the game style variable reaches an action enablement threshold and, if so, for enabling the game object to perform a game action associated with that action enablement threshold; and   when the game object carries out an action enabled by the game style variable reaching the action enablement threshold, the apparatus is arranged to adjust the game style variable towards a level indicative of zero game style and to adjust the game continuation variable away from the game end amount.   
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , in which the apparatus defines a set of game objects which a game object may collect in order to move the game continuation variable away from the game end amount. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , in which the game object is a game character. 
   
   
       14 . A method of operation of a video game in which a game object acts within a game environment of a video game under the control of a user controller, the video game ending in respect of that game object when a game continuation variable reaches a game end amount; the method comprising the steps of:
 adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount in response to time spent playing that instance of the game;   detecting game actions in respect of the game object;   maintaining a game style variable indicative of the manner in which one or more predetermined game actions are carried out by the game object;   in response to a game action carried out successfully by the game object, adjusting the game style variable to indicate a greater game style; and   in response to a game action adverse to the game object, adjusting the game style variable to indicate a lower game style or, if the game style variable reaches a level indicative of zero game style, adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount.   
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , comprising the step of:
 enhancing the ability of the game object to perform a game action in dependence on the level of the game style variable; in which   the enhancing step comprises detecting whether the game style variable reaches an action enablement threshold and if so, enabling the game object to perform a game action associated with that action enablement threshold; and   when the game object carries out an action enabled by the game style variable reaching the action enablement threshold, the game style variable is adjusted towards a level indicative of zero game style and the game continuation variable is adjusted away from the game end amount.   
   
   
       16 . Computer software having program code which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to carry out a method according to  claim 14 . 
   
   
       17 . A providing medium by which computer software according to  claim 16  is provided. 
   
   
       18 . A medium according to  claim 17 , the medium being a storage medium. 
   
   
       19 . A medium according to  claim 17 , the medium being a transmission medium. 
   
   
       20 . Video game apparatus in which a game object acts within a game environment of a video game under the control of a user controller, the video game ending in respect of that game object when a game continuation variable reaches a game end amount; the apparatus comprising:
 a unit for adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount in response to time spent playing that instance of the game;   a unit for detecting game actions in respect of the game object;   a unit for maintaining a game style variable indicative of the manner in which one or more predetermined game actions are carried out by the game object;   a unit, responsive to a game action carried out successfully by the game object, for adjusting the game style variable to indicate a greater game style; and   a unit, responsive to a game action adverse to the game object, for adjusting the game style variable to indicate a lower game style or, if the game style variable reaches a level indicative of zero game style, for adjusting the game continuation variable towards the game end amount.