Patent ID: 6394895
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
A game apparatus for predicting results of sports, comprising:a storing module for storing factor data obtained by converting into data a plurality of factors, each of which either changed, or was generated and then disappeared, in accordance with changes in situations of each game or for a plurality of sports games previously actually performed; a prospect inputting module for inputting a video game player's prediction on how a prediction subject factor will change, or be generated and then disappear, in the situations specified by said plurality of factors for at least one prediction subject factor of said plurality of factors; a prospect preparing module for preparing a data-based prediction about said prediction subject factor based on factor data read out from said storing module; and a determining module for receiving inputs including said video game player's predictions, said data-based prediction, and results of prediction subject factor, and for determining for each of the player's and data-based predictions, whether it is right or wrong by comparing each of said player's and data-based predictions with the results, wherein said sports game is baseball, and said prediction subject factor is a type and a course of a next pitch that a pitcher throws, wherein said data-based prediction is generated based on won-lost records data regarding a specific pitcher and a specific batter; and wherein said data-based prediction is generated in accordance with a procedure that includes: (1) specifying situations of a game of sports from teams, scores, counts, whether bases are empty or runners are on bases, a specific pitcher and a specific batter; (2) retrieving from said storing module a type and a course of the next pitch in previous situations specified in (1), calculating a percentage of the same type and course of ball, and in the case where the calculation result is equal to or greater than a given percentage, it is regarded as a data-based prediction; (3) in the case where (2) is less than the given percentage, calculating a percentage of a type and a course of ball pitched by said specific pitcher in the past at batters who are similarly left-handed or right-handed and belong to the same team as the specific batter and, in the case where the calculation result is equal to or greater than a given percentage or more, it is regarded as a data-based prediction; (4) calculating a type and a course of ball pitched by the specific pitcher in the past at all the batters belonging to the same team as the specific batter in the case where (3) is less than the given percentage, and, in the case where the calculation result is equal to or greater than a given percentage, it is regarded as a data-based prediction; and (5) calculating a percentage of a type and a course of ball pitched by the specific pitcher in the past at all the batters in all the teams in the case where (4) is less than the given percentage, and regarding a type and a course of ball with highest percentage as a data-based prediction.