Ability value display control in a video game

Abstract

A player character's current ability value, which changes in accordance with a game progress, is displayed in such a way that a player is able to grasp the value instinctively and instantaneously without feeling visual impediment. A player character (PC) table and an enemy character (EC) table are updated. A hit point ratio (HPP), which is a ratio of hit points (HP) to a maximum hit point value (HPMAX), is calculated by using HP in the updated PC table. A drawing hit point angle (HPA) is calculated by HPA=HPP×360°. Furthermore, the drawing angle HPA portion of a ring gauge is displayed in a predetermined color. Consequently, a length and angle of a belt portion of each ring gauge changes in accordance with the change of the HP as the game advances. As the length of the belt portion only changes inside the ring gauge, even in the case where it becomes long, no visual effect is brought about on a game area of a display screen.

1 . A game apparatus for realizing a virtual battle between characters on a display and changing an ability value of a character in a game, the apparatus comprising: 
 an acquirer that acquires a current ability value of the character;    a calculator that calculates a ratio of the current ability value to a maximum ability for the character; and    a display processor that displays the current ability value as a ratio in a circular gauge on the display based on the ratio calculated by the calculator.    
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 a plurality of types of ability values are provided;    the acquirer acquires the current ability value for each of the plurality of types of ability values;    the calculator calculates the ratio for each of the plurality of types of ability values; and    the display processor divides the circular gauge into a plurality of portions according to each of the plurality of types of ability values and displays the current ability value for each of the plurality of types of ability values as a ratio in each of the portions.    
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display processor displays a corresponding character as an object inside the circular gauge.  
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the character is a player character controlled in accordance with an operation by a user.  
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the characters include the player character controlled in accordance with the operation by the user and a friendly character acting as a friend of the player character in the game; 
 the acquirer acquires an ability value for each of the player character and the friendly character;    the calculator calculates the ratio for each of the player character and the friendly character; and    the display processor displays the current ability value as a ratio for each of the player character and the friendly character.    
     
     
         6 . An ability value display control method for a video game that realizes a virtual battle between characters on a display and changes an ability value of a character, the method comprising: 
 acquiring a current ability value of the character;    calculating a ratio of the current ability value to a maximum ability value for the character; and    displaying the current ability value as a ratio in a circular gauge on the display based on the calculated ratio.    
     
     
         7 . The ability value display control method according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 a plurality of types of ability values are provided;    the current ability value is acquired for each of the plurality of types of ability values;    the ratio is calculated for each of the plurality of types of ability values by the calculation, and    the circular gauge is divided into a plurality of portions according to each of the plurality of types of ability values and the current ability value for each of the plurality of types of ability values is displayed as a ratio in each of the portions.    
     
     
         8 . The ability value display control method according to either  claim 6 , wherein a corresponding character is displayed as an object inside the circular gauge.  
     
     
         9 . The ability value display control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the character is a player character controlled in accordance with an operation by a player.  
     
     
         10 . The ability value display control method according to  claim 6 , wherein; 
 the characters comprise the player character controlled in accordance with an operation by a user and a friendly character acting as a friend of the player character in the game;    the ability value is acquired for each of the player character and the friendly character;    the ratio is calculated for each of the player character and the friendly character; and    the current ability value is displayed as a ratio for each of the player character and the friendly character.    
     
     
         11 . An ability value display control program executed by a computer included in a game apparatus for realizing a virtual battle between characters on a display and changing an ability value of a character in a game, the program causing the computer to execute: 
 acquiring a current ability value of the character;    calculating a ratio of the current ability value to a maximum ability value for the character; and    displaying the current ability value as a ratio in a circular gauge on the display based on the calculated ratio.    
     
     
         12 . The ability value display control program according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 a plurality of types of ability values are provided;    the current ability value is acquired for each of the plurality of types of ability values;    the ratio is calculated for each of the plurality of types of ability values by the calculation, and    the circular gauge is divided into a plurality of portions according to each of the plurality of types of ability values and the current ability value for each of the plurality of types of ability values is displayed as a ratio in each of the portions.    
     
     
         13 . The ability value display control program according  claim 11 , wherein a corresponding character is displayed as an object inside the circular gauge.  
     
     
         14 . The ability value display control program according to  claim 11 , wherein the character is a player character controlled in accordance with an operation by a player.  
     
     
         15 . The ability value display control program according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the characters include a player character controlled in accordance with an operation by a user and a friendly character acting as a friend of the player character in the game;    the ability value is acquired for each of the player character and the friendly character;    the ratio is calculated for each of the player character and the friendly character; and    the current ability value is displayed as a ratio for each of the player character and the friendly character.    
     
     
         16 . A computer readable recording medium recording an ability value display control program executed by a computer included in a game apparatus for realizing a virtual battle between characters on a display and changing an ability value of a character in a game, the program causing the computer to execute: 
 acquiring a current ability value of the character;    calculating a ratio of the current ability value to a maximum ability value set for the character; and    displaying the current ability value as a ratio in a circular gauge on the display based on the calculated ratio.    
     
     
         17 . The recording medium according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 a plurality of types of ability values are provided;    the current ability value is acquired for each of the plurality of types of ability values;    the ratio is calculated for each of the plurality of types of ability values by the calculation, and    the circular gauge is divided into a plurality of portions according to each of the plurality of types of ability values and the current ability value for each of the plurality of types of ability values is displayed as a ratio in each of the portions.    
     
     
         18 . The recording medium according to  claim 16 , wherein a corresponding character is displayed as an object in the circular gauge.  
     
     
         19 . The recording medium according to  claim 16 , wherein the character is a player character controlled in accordance with an operation by a user.  
     
     
         20 . The recording medium according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the characters include the player character controlled in accordance with an operation by a user and a friendly character acting as a friend of the player character in the game;    the ability value is acquired for each of the player character and the friendly character;    the ratio is calculated for each of the player character and the friendly character; and    the current ability value is displayed as a ratio for each of the player character and the friendly character.