JP2010239990A - Game system, game device, and game server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system for ranking the contents of a game not according to elements previously set when the game is created, but according to users' evaluation for the contents. <P>SOLUTION: The game system includes a game server in which a plurality of replay data for replaying the content of the game are recorded, and a game device for replaying the content of the game based on the replay data selected by a user. In the game system, the game device transmits a replay point value which reflects the content of a vote input by the user to the game server (S32), and the game server updates the replay point based on the replay point value at prescribed timing and creates ranking information in which the replay data is ranked based on the replay point. Then, the game device displays the ranking information received from the game server (S26) to be selected by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system, a game device, and a game server.

  Conventionally, various battle games have been proposed. Among the fighting games, there is a strong popularity in fighting games in which a player operates a character appearing in the game to fight a character operated by another player or a character operated by computer control. In a fighting game, it is generally said that the opponent's physical strength level is reduced by an attack technique such as punching or kicking, and when the opponent's physical strength level disappears, the battle is won. Alternatively, when a predetermined time elapses before both physical strength levels disappear, it is determined that the player with the higher physical strength level has won the battle. In addition, when the opponent has an attack technique, a score corresponding to the attack technique is awarded.

  Among attacks, there are special techniques that are difficult to operate and timing, and continuous techniques that perform multiple attack techniques in succession. With these attack techniques, the opponent's physical strength level can be greatly reduced, You can get a score. In addition, when these attack techniques are completed, a stunning video is displayed on the screen. Therefore, fighting advanced players with high scores is very interesting just by looking at them because of their high difficulty and special skills. In addition, the battle of advanced players is also useful for players who enjoy the fighting game, such as excellent timing of issuing attack techniques and appropriate attack techniques according to the situation. Therefore, there has been a demand to see how to fight other players, especially how to fight advanced players.

  As a game apparatus that reproduces the game contents of other players in order to satisfy this demand, Patent Document 1 describes a game apparatus that reproduces the game contents of the highest scorer at the time of demonstration. Moreover, what is selected by the player from the game contents of the scoring superior is reproduced at the time of game play of the player, and what is produced as if the player is playing against the superior is disclosed in Patent Document 2. Are listed.

Japanese Patent No. 2844397 Japanese Patent No. 4081121

  However, the game content of the top scorer can always be highly evaluated by the user (“player” is described when actually playing the game, and “user” is described when reproducing the game content). Not necessarily. For example, even if you are not a top scorer, there are players who have excellent operation timing and skillfully use attack techniques according to the situation, and there are also good matches where the situation changes rapidly. There is a possibility that there are more users who want to see the game content of such a player and the game content of a good game than the game content of the top scorer. That is, there is a problem that the ranking based on the score may not match the ranking reflecting the evaluation from the user.

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and does not rank game contents based on elements set in advance at the time of game production such as scores, but ranks based on user evaluation of game contents. The purpose of this is to provide a game system.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

  A game system provided by a first aspect of the present invention is a game system including a game server and a game device that are connected to a network and perform data communication with each other, and the game server stores game content by the game device. Recording means for recording a plurality of game reproduction data for reproduction, and the reproduction of the game reproduction data desired by the user, based on the evaluation information input to the game device by the user operation, From ranking information creating means for creating ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data in game reproduction data, ranking information transmitting means for transmitting ranking information in response to a request from the game apparatus, and the game apparatus A game for transmitting the game reproduction data requested to be transmitted to the game device Current data transmission means, and the game device is transmitted from the game server in response to the ranking information transmission request means for requesting transmission of the ranking information to the game server, and the ranking information transmission request. Display means for displaying the ranking information, operation means for allowing the user to select desired game reproduction data from the ranking game reproduction data displayed on the display means, and selection input by the operation means The game reproduction data transmission requesting means for requesting the game server to transmit the game reproduction data received, and the display means based on the game reproduction data transmitted from the game server in response to the game reproduction data transmission request. And a game reproduction means for reproducing the game contents.

Note that the evaluation information refers to information input by a user who viewed the game content, which is reproduction of game reproduction data, to evaluate the game content, or a game to request transmission of game reproduction data that the user wants to view. A transmission request input from a device.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation information is an evaluation score input by the user for evaluating the game content reproduced on the display means, and the game device inputs the evaluation score. Input means for performing, evaluation score information generating means for generating evaluation score information based on the evaluation score received by the input means, and evaluation score information generated by the evaluation score information generating means, Evaluation score information transmitting means for transmitting to the game server after completion of the reproduction of the game reproduction data.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game server associates the recording means with game reproduction data reproduced by the game device at a predetermined timing based on evaluation score information transmitted from the game device. Is further provided with game evaluation information updating means for updating game evaluation information indicating the evaluation of the game reproduction data, wherein the ranking information creating means updates the game evaluation information by the game evaluation information updating means. Each time, the ranking information is created using the game evaluation information.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recording unit records evaluation score information transmitted from the game device in association with the game reproduction data, and the game reproduction data transmission unit includes the game reproduction data. The evaluation score information is also transmitted, and the evaluation score information transmission means adds the value calculated based on the evaluation score to the evaluation score information transmitted from the game server, and the evaluation score information after the addition Send.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game evaluation information update means adds a value based on the number of transmission requests for the game reproduction data to the evaluation score information to update the game evaluation information.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the input means is for inputting an evaluation score for each of a plurality of evaluation items.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation information is a transmission request for game reproduction data transmitted from the game device, and the game server transmits a transmission request for the game reproduction data based on the transmission request. The ranking information creating means creates ranking information using the number of transmission requests counted by the transmission request number counting means.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game device transmits a game progress means for progressing a game and game reproduction data for reproducing the game content progressed by the game progress means to the game server. Second game reproduction data transmission means, and the game server further comprises data recording control means for recording game reproduction data received from the game device in the recording means.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game is a game played by a plurality of players, and the second game reproduction data transmitting means of the game device operated by any of the plurality of players includes the game Send game replay data about the game.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data recording control means records the game reproduction data received from the game device in the pre-recording means and has a predetermined order recorded in the recording means at a predetermined timing. A value larger than the game evaluation information corresponding to the game reproduction data is recorded in the recording means in association with the game reproduction data as game evaluation information, and the ranking information creating means is based only on the game reproduction data within the predetermined rank. The ranking information is created.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game server further includes a deletion unit that deletes game reproduction data not included in the ranking information from the recording unit.

  A game system provided by the second aspect of the present invention is a game system that reproduces game content based on game reproduction data for reproducing the game content via a network, and a plurality of the game reproduction data Ranking information for creating ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data in the plurality of game reproduction data based on evaluation information input for reproduction of the game reproduction data desired by the user Creating means; display means for displaying ranking information created by the ranking information creating means; and causing the user to select desired game reproduction data from among the ranking game reproduction data displayed on the display means. And an operation unit for receiving a selection input by the operation unit. Based on the beam reproduce data, characterized in that it includes a game reproduction means for reproducing the game contents on the display means.

  A game system provided by a third aspect of the present invention is a game system including a game server and a game device that are connected to a network and perform data communication with each other, and the game server stores game content by the game device. Recording means for recording a plurality of game reproduction data for reproduction, and information based on evaluation information input from the game device for reproduction of game reproduction data desired by a user in association with the game reproduction data Recording control means to be recorded in the means, and in response to a request from the game device, specific information for specifying each of the plurality of game reproduction data recorded in the recording means and the respective game reproduction data There is an information transmission means for transmitting information based on the evaluation information, and there is a transmission request from the game device Game reproduction data transmitting means for transmitting the game reproduction data to the game device, and the game device sends an information transmission request to the game server based on the specific information and the evaluation information. Based on the requesting means and the information based on the specific information and the evaluation information transmitted from the game server in response to the transmission request by the information transmission requesting means, the ranking of each game reproduction data in the plurality of game reproduction data is determined. Ranking information creating means for creating ranking information to be displayed; display means for displaying ranking information created by the ranking information creating means; and the game reproduction data ranked on the display means to the user. Operation means for selecting desired game reproduction data, and the operation means Based on the game reproduction data transmitted from the game server in response to the game reproduction data transmission request, the game reproduction data transmission requesting means for requesting the game server to transmit the game reproduction data for which selection input has been accepted. The display means includes game reproduction means for reproducing game contents.

  The game device provided by the fourth aspect of the present invention records a plurality of pieces of game reproduction data for reproducing the game contents, and for each game reproduction data based on predetermined data input by the user. A game server that generates game evaluation information and creates ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data based on the game evaluation information is connected to be communicable via a network, and the user is connected from the game server. A game device capable of acquiring game reproduction data and viewing the game content, wherein the ranking information transmission requesting means for requesting the game server to transmit the ranking information, and according to the ranking information transmission request Display means for displaying ranking information transmitted from the game server; and An operation means for allowing the user to select desired game reproduction data from among the ranking game reproduction data displayed on the screen, and a game reproduction data transmission request for which selection input has been accepted by the operation means. Game reproduction data transmission requesting means for the server, game reproduction means for reproducing the game content on the display means based on the game reproduction data transmitted from the game server in response to the game reproduction data transmission request, and the user Is input to the game content reproduced on the display means, and evaluation score information generated based on the evaluation score received by the input means is reproduced in the game. Evaluation score information transmitting means for transmitting to the game server after completion of data reproduction. And wherein the door.

  The game server provided by the fifth aspect of the present invention is a game server that is communicably connected via a network to a game device that allows a user to select desired game content and reproduce the game content. And a recording means for recording a plurality of game reproduction data for the game device to reproduce the game contents, based on evaluation information input from the game device for reproduction of the game reproduction data desired by the user. Ranking information creating means for creating ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data in the plurality of game reproduction data; ranking information transmitting means for transmitting the ranking information in response to a request from the game device; A game for transmitting the game reproduction data requested to be transmitted from the game device to the game device Characterized in that it and a current data transmission means.

  According to the present invention, based on the evaluation information input from the game device, the game server creates ranking information indicating the ranking of the game reproduction data recorded in the recording means. The game device displays the ranking information, causes the user to select desired game reproduction data, receives the selected game reproduction data from the game server, and reproduces the game contents. This ranking information is not ranked based on elements set in advance at the time of game production, such as the score of a game, but is ranked reflecting the opinions of other users. Therefore, when the user selects game reproduction data, the ranking information can be referred to.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of an online game system. It is a figure for demonstrating the data structure of replay data. It is a flowchart of the game progress process performed with CPU of a game device, and is for demonstrating the upload process of replay data. It is a figure for demonstrating a network battle menu screen. It is a figure for demonstrating the upload selection screen. It is a flowchart of the upload process performed with CPU of a game server. It is a flowchart of the game progress process performed with CPU of a game device, and is for demonstrating the download process of replay data. It is a figure for demonstrating a ranking menu screen. It is a figure for demonstrating a replay ranking screen. It is a flowchart of the replay process performed by CPU of a game device. It is a figure for demonstrating the replay screen in replay. It is a figure for demonstrating the number of total votes based on the vote data recorded for every total period. It is a figure for demonstrating the total of voting data. It is a figure for demonstrating the data loss by overwrite of voting data. It is a flowchart of the replay ranking update process performed by CPU of a game server.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The game genre to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a battle game, and is not limited to a game played online, but in the following description, an online battle game will be described as an example. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an online game system. An online game system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is constructed for a specific fighting fighting game having an online fighting function represented by “Street Fighter (registered trademark)”, for example, A plurality of game apparatuses 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as “game apparatus 3”) and a game server 4 are included.

  In the following description, in order to distinguish between the game device operated by the player A and the game device operated by the player B, the former game device is denoted by “3A” as necessary. The description will be made assuming that the code is “3B”.

  In the fighting type fighting game, generally, a player and a computer (specifically, a CPU in a game device used by the player) or a plurality of (mainly two) game characters respectively operated by a plurality of players (mainly two people). Are struck in the form of drawing out martial arts or a form similar thereto, and winning or losing is determined according to a predetermined rule on the game.

  Each game device 3 and game server 4 are connected to a network line 2. Each game device 3 and game server 4 have a function of performing data communication with each other via the network line 2. In each game apparatus 3, a recording medium 5 in which a game program of a specific fighting type fighting game having an online fighting function (hereinafter, abbreviated as “fighting game”) and game data used in the game program are recorded. Can be enjoyed by running a game program read from the recording medium 5.

  In the present embodiment, the game device 3 can reproduce the battle content by downloading data related to the battle content recorded in the game server 4 (hereinafter referred to as “replay data”). The replay data corresponds to the “game reproduction data” of the present invention. Hereinafter, the act of reproducing the battle content based on the replay data in the game apparatus 3 is referred to as “replay”. Each replay data is evaluated by the vote of the user who viewed the content of the battle reproduced by the replay. The user can vote to evaluate the content of the battle by pressing a predetermined operation button during replay. The number of votes cast by the user corresponds to “evaluation information” and “evaluation score” of the present invention. The number of votes cast by each user is counted based on the timing at which the vote is performed, and is recorded in the game server 4 as vote data that is a part of the replay data. At the time of replay, the number of votes is displayed based on this vote data (see FIG. 11). The number of votes displayed at this time (hereinafter, the displayed number of votes is referred to as “displayed vote number”) is set in accordance with the progress of the replayed battle content based on the timing at which each user has voted. Count up is displayed.

  The replay data includes replay points calculated based on the voting data and indicating the evaluation of the replay data. The replay point corresponds to the “game evaluation information” of the present invention. The game server 4 ranks the replay data based on the replay points. In the present embodiment, the number of replay data that can be registered in the game server 4 (the number that can be registered) is, for example, 2000, so 2000 replay data are ranked and recorded. That is, in the game server 4, the replay data from the 1st place to the 2000th place is ranked. This ranking ranking (1st to 2000th in this embodiment) is defined as a “ranking zone”.

  In addition, the game server 4 creates a list of replay data that falls within a predetermined rank among the replay data that are in the ranking area. Hereinafter, the created list is referred to as a “replay ranking list”. The replay ranking list corresponds to the “ranking information” of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a replay ranking list is created in which the number of replay data targeted for the replay ranking list (the number of replay ranking lists that can be registered) is ranked, for example, from 1st place to 1000th place. . The ranking registered in the replay ranking list (1st to 1000th in this embodiment) is defined as “ranking list area”. Therefore, the replay data from the 1001st place to the 2000th place is in the ranking area but not in the ranking list area (out of the ranking list area). The created replay ranking list is downloaded from the game server 4 and displayed on the game apparatus 3. The user can select and replay the replay data to be viewed from the displayed replay ranking list. That is, only the replay data within the ranking list is selected for replay by the user. In addition, since a replay point changes with a user's vote, the order | rank of a replay ranking list also fluctuates.

  In the present embodiment, the right to upload replay data is given to the winner player of the final battle in the championship mode, which will be described later. The game device 3 of the winner player creates replay data and transmits it to the game server 4 to upload the replay data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of replay data. As shown in the figure, the replay data includes battle data related to battles, vote data related to voting results, and popularity data related to popularity.

  The battle data is data for reproducing the battle, the battle regulation, the battle date and time, the winning / losing result, the handle name, nationality ID, character ID used, title ID of the 1P player (left side) and 2P player (right side) , Icon ID, and key input data. The battle regulation includes data such as the battle location of the battle, the type of battle, the number of rounds, and the required time for each round. The battle date is data composed of the date and time when the battle was performed. The winning / losing result is data indicating which of the 1P player and the 2P player has won the match. The nationality ID, the character ID used, the title ID, and the icon ID are the drawing data of the national flag image, the character image, the title image, and the character icon that are recorded by each game device 3. It is an ID for withdrawing. The 1P player is a host player in the battle, and the 2P player is a guest player in the battle. The host player is a player who has recruited an opponent (created a session) in the battle, and the guest player is a player who has responded to the recruitment of the opponent (participated in the session). At the start of the battle, the character used by the 1P player is displayed on the left side of the display screen, and the character used by the 2P player is displayed on the right side.

  While the game device 3A and the game device 3B are competing, the game device 3A and the game device 3B transmit and receive necessary information to each other, and receive battle data (such as key input data) other than the winning / losing result. It is recorded. After the match is over, the game device 3 on the winner side creates match data including the win / loss result data in both the key input data and the like, voting data, and popularity data as replay data. Upload. Hereinafter, a case where the player A who operates the game apparatus 3A wins the battle and the game apparatus 3A uploads replay data will be described.

  The battle regulation data and the battle date and time are recorded in the game device 3A of the player A at the time of the battle. The winning / losing result is recorded in the game apparatus 3A based on the battle result. When player A is a host player, data indicating that the winner is a 1P player (host player) is recorded in the winning / losing result, and when player A is a guest player, the winner is a 2P player in the winning / losing result. Data indicating that it is a (guest player) is recorded.

  The handle name, nationality ID, used character ID, title ID, and icon ID of the player A are recorded in the game apparatus 3A by the player A setting in advance. The handle name, nationality ID, character ID used, title ID, and icon ID of player B, who is the opponent, are recorded in game device 3B according to player B's own settings. Each data of the player B is transmitted from the game apparatus 3B to the game apparatus 3A before the battle starts. When the player A is a host player, each data recorded in the game apparatus 3A is each data of the 1P player, and each data transmitted from the game apparatus 3B is each data of the 2P player. Conversely, when the player A is a guest player, each data recorded in the game apparatus 3A is each data of the 2P player, and each data transmitted from the game apparatus 3B is each data of the 1P player.

  The key input data is a record of key operation signals input at the time of a battle, together with timing data (one frame unit data). The key input data is created as data in which the key operation signal received during the period from the start of key input reception during the battle to the end of key input reception is associated with the received timing. The key input data of the player A is created based on the key operation signal input to the game apparatus 3A by the player A himself. On the other hand, the key input data of the player B is created based on a key operation signal input from the game device 3B of the player B to the game device 3A of the player A via the network line 2. When the player A is a host player, the key input data based on the input of the player A is the key input data of the 1P player, and the key input data based on the input of the player B is the key input data of the 2P player. On the contrary, when the player A is a guest player, the key input data based on the input of the player A is the key input data of the 2P player, and the key input data based on the input of the player B is the key input data of the 1P player.

  The voting data is data including a total value of the number of votes voted by a user who replayed and viewed the replay data. In the present embodiment, voting by the user is performed for each of three evaluation items of Humor evaluation, Excellent evaluation, and Beautiful evaluation. Humor rating, excellent rating, and beautiful rating are expected to be voted when the user feels “interesting”, “great”, and “beautiful” while watching the replay. The voting data consists of three data groups corresponding to the number of evaluation items. The number of evaluation items is not limited to three, and may be one, two, or four or more. Each evaluation item is not limited to Humor / Excellent / Beautiful, and may be set as appropriate, for example, Nice / Great / Excellent. Further, a negative evaluation item (for example, Booing evaluation) may be provided.

  Voting by the user is performed by pressing a predetermined button corresponding to each evaluation item. In this embodiment, in order to count the number of votes at each voted timing, the replay image is divided into a counting period of 0.5 second unit (30 frames) from the start of the replay. Each number of votes is a numerical value counted as the number of times the user has voted in each counting period (the number of times a predetermined button is pressed). The total number of votes for each user is counted as the total number of votes. The voting data of each evaluation item is a data group whose data elements are the total number of votes counted for each counting period. Therefore, when an image having a replay time of 200 seconds (12000 frames) is included, the replay time includes 400 counting periods. Therefore, the voting data of each evaluation item includes a data group including 400 counting votes. Become. Note that the total period is not limited to 0.5 seconds.

  The voting data is recorded in the game server 4 and downloaded to the game apparatus 3 as replay data. When the user votes during the replay of the replay data, the number of votes for each counting period is counted based on the vote, and is counted for the total number of votes for each counting period of the voting data downloaded from the game server 4. Thus, the voted data after aggregation is uploaded to the game server 4.

  During replay, the number of displayed votes is displayed based on the vote data (see FIG. 11). As for the number of displayed votes, the total number of votes for the counting period is added and displayed at the start of each counting period in replay (so-called count-up display).

  The voting data (initial value) at the time of replay data creation is determined based on the replay time (elapsed time from the start to the end of the battle process) and the number of data elements is all set to “0”. Is done.

  Popularity data includes replay points calculated from voting data. The replay point is calculated by adding the total number of votes for each evaluation period of each evaluation item of the voting data to the new bonus point. Instead of simple addition, for example, the total number of votes of evaluation items for excellent evaluation may be doubled and added, for example. Further, not only the total vote count but also the download count of the replay data may be taken into consideration, or the replay points may be calculated based only on the download count.

  Replay points (initial values) at the time of replay data creation are new arrival bonus points because the total number of votes cast in each count period of the vote data is “0”. The new bonus point is set to prevent the created replay data from being out of the ranking list area from the beginning. The new bonus point is calculated by adding “1” to the replay point of the replay data at the lowest position in the replay ranking list. For example, in the present embodiment, since the number of replay ranking list registrations that can be registered is 1000, new bonus points are calculated by adding “1” to the replay points of the 1000th replay data that is the lowest. When the replay point is “500”, “501” obtained by adding “1” to the replay point is set as a new bonus point. If the number of registered replay data is smaller than the number of replay ranking list registration possible, the new bonus point is set to “0”. By using the replay point at the time of replay data creation as a new bonus point, newly created replay data can be within 1000th place in the replay ranking list.

  In addition, you may make it decrease the new arrival bonus point once provided at the time of replay data creation with progress of time. For example, if the new bonus point at the time of replay data creation is BP, it may be BP × 0.5 after 1 day, BP × 0.2 after 2 days, and “0” after 3 days. In this way, it will not be out of the ranking list from the time it was created, and it can be suppressed that the new arrival bonus points are too large. In addition, when new arrival replay data can be ranked in, such as enabling ranking of all new replay data, it is not necessary to provide new arrival bonus points. That is, in this case, the new replay data is ranked at the bottom of the ranking.

  The created replay data is uploaded to the game server 4 and recorded. The game server 4 creates a replay point value based on the replay point of the uploaded replay data, and records it in association with the replay data. The replay point value is used for updating the replay point. Like the replay point, the replay point value is obtained by adding the total number of votes for each evaluation period of each evaluation item of the vote data to the new bonus point. The replay point value is increased and updated by the user's vote. The replay point value corresponds to the “evaluation score information” of the present invention. The replay point value (initial value) at the time of creating the replay data is the same value as the replay point of the uploaded replay data, that is, a new arrival bonus point.

  The replay points are updated based on the latest replay point value by a replay ranking update process described later. The replay ranking list is updated based on the updated replay points. The replay ranking update process is also performed immediately after the replay point value is created. As a result, the uploaded replay data is ranked in the replay ranking list.

  The replay point value need not be created by the game server 4. For example, when a replay point is created by the game apparatus 3, a replay point value may be created and uploaded to the game server 4 together with the replay data.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the game apparatus 3 has a game apparatus body 31 having a data communication function, an operation controller 32, a display 33, and a network adapter 34 as a basic configuration, and a memory card for storing game data as necessary. 6 is attached to the game apparatus main body 31. The operation controller 32, the display 33, and the network adapter 34 are connected to the game apparatus main body 31 by a dedicated cable.

  The game apparatus body 31 is generally a home game machine such as “Wii (registered trademark)” or “PlayStation (registered trademark)”. Or a portable game machine such as “PlayStation Portable (registered trademark)” or “Nintendo DS (registered trademark)”. When a portable game machine is used, the operation controller 32 and the display 33 are not required because the monitor and the operation member are integrally provided.

  In the present embodiment, the game apparatus body 31 is provided with a wired data communication function, but may be provided with a wireless data communication function like a portable game machine. In this case, it is necessary to provide a router for wireless LAN in place of the network adapter 34.

  The operation controller 32 is an operation member for inputting operation information of a user (player) to the game apparatus main body 31, and an operation controller dedicated to a game machine is usually used. The operation controller 32 is provided with a known cross key 321, joystick 322, four operation buttons 323 of A, B, X, and Y, an R button 324, and an L button 325. In the following description, when it is necessary to distinguish the operation buttons A, B, X, and Y, they are referred to as an A button 323a, a B button 323b, an X button 323x, and a Y button 323y.

  The cross key 321 and the joystick 322 function as operation members for designating a direction in which the game character (player character) operated by the player is moved in the game space when the fighting game is being executed. In addition, the four operation buttons 323, the R button 324, and the L button 325 function as operation members for causing the player character to perform a specific attack or defense. When performing various operations such as preparatory work before executing a fighting game or viewing status information of a game character using various menu screens, the cross key 321 and the joystick 322 are mainly items displayed on the menu screen. Functions as an operation member for selecting (equivalent to movement of the cursor display), and the four operation buttons 323, R button 324, and L button 325 mainly determine the selected item, and shift to the operation of the item. It functions as an operating member for making it happen. The A button 323a, the B button 323b, and the R button 324 also function as operation members for voting.

  For example, the battle mode is selected from selection items displayed on the menu screen, as will be described later. The selection operation in this case is performed with the cross key 321 or the joystick 322, and the selection determination operation is performed with the A button 323a. In addition, the fighting game according to the present embodiment has a function of voting during replay to be described later. At this time, the user votes by using the A button 323a, the B button 323b, and the R button 324.

  A television receiver is generally used as the display 33, but a monitor in a computer system can also be used. When a television receiver is used, the pair of speakers 33a and 33a of the television receiver are used for sound output (sound effect output). However, when a monitor without a speaker is used, the game apparatus main body 31 is sounded. An output speaker is externally connected. The network adapter 34 is a device for connecting the game apparatus body 31 to the network line 2.

  The game apparatus main body 31 includes a control unit 311, a drawing processing unit 312, an audio processing unit 313, a disk drive unit 314, a memory card connection unit 315, an I / O interface unit 316, and the like. A drawing processing unit 312, an audio processing unit 313, an I / O interface unit 316, and the like are connected to the control unit 311. The I / O interface unit 316 is further connected to a disk drive unit 314, a memory card connection unit 315, an operation controller. 32, a display 33, a network adapter 34, and the like are connected.

  In the game apparatus 3, the game program and game data are read into the RAM 311 c from the recording medium 5 mounted in the game apparatus main body 311 by the disk drive unit 314, and the CPU 311 a executes the game program so that the player can enjoy the game. Can do. The player can advance the game by operating an operation button or the like of the operation controller 32.

  Note that the game program of the fighting game includes a plurality of independent programs and a plurality of programs associated with each other. These programs include, for example, a program for controlling the line connection with the game server 4, a data transmission / reception control with the game server 4, and with another game device 3 that is an opponent. Programs are included.

  Further, for example, a program for executing a battle process (a program for a battle process) includes a plurality of programs created by dividing a battle process into a plurality of battle modes. Each time the battle mode is selected, the battle processing program and the game data necessary for processing of the selected battle mode are read from the recording medium 5 into the RAM 311c (loading is performed), and the CPU 311a The battle processing program is executed.

  The control unit 311 includes a microcomputer that controls the overall operation of the game apparatus main body 31. The microcomputer includes a CPU 311a, a ROM 311b, and a RAM 311c, and these members are connected to each other via a bus line.

  The CPU 311a performs overall control of the game progress by executing a game program read from the recording medium 5 to the RAM 311c by the disk drive unit 314. The ROM 311b stores a basic program indicating basic functions of the game apparatus 3 such as the above-described game program and game data loading function, a procedure for reading the game program and game data recorded on the recording medium 5, and the like. . The RAM 311c provides an area for storing a game program and game data read from the recording medium 5 by the disk drive unit 314, and a work area necessary for the CPU 311a to execute the game program.

  When the recording medium 5 is loaded in the disk drive unit 314, the CPU 311a operates the disk drive unit 314 according to the basic program stored in the ROM 311b, reads the game program and game data from the recording medium 5 into the RAM 311c, and sets the game start state. The game program and game data at this time are for the player to set a desired way of playing such as selecting various game modes prepared for the fighting game. A state in which the game apparatus main body 31 performs necessary preparation work in order to enjoy a desired fighting game.

  In the battle process, the CPU 311a transmits an operation signal of the player A input from the operation controller 32 via the network line 2 to the game device 3B of the player B who is the opponent, and from the game device 3B to the player B. An operation signal or the like is received, and a fighting process based on both operation signals is performed according to a game program for network battle. Then, the CPU 311 a causes the drawing processing unit 312 to create a three-dimensional game progress screen according to the fight processing result, causes the sound processing unit 313 to generate a sound effect, and transfers the sound effect to the display 33. On the display 33, a three-dimensional game progress screen is displayed and a sound effect is output from the speaker 33a.

  Further, the CPU 311a stores the operation signal input by the player A himself and the operation signal of the player B input via the network line 2 in the RAM 311c together with timing data when the operation signal is input. Data composed of the operation signal and timing data is key input data for replaying the content of the battle, and forms part of the replay data. The replay data is recorded in the hard disk device 44 of the game server 4 by an upload process described later. Further, if the replay data is read into the RAM 311c by a download process to be described later, the content of the battle can be replayed.

  Further, the CPU 311a measures the elapsed time from the start of the battle process until the end of the battle process, for example, in units of 1/60 seconds. Each counting period of the voting data is determined based on the elapsed time. Similarly, the CPU 311a measures the elapsed time from the start of replay, for example, in units of 1/60 seconds. The number of votes voted by the user during the replay is counted for each counting period based on the elapsed time. The number of displayed votes displayed during replay is counted up based on the elapsed time.

  The drawing processing unit 312 performs a drawing process of a game screen to be displayed on the display 33. The drawing processing unit 312 is provided with a VRAM (not shown). For example, the drawing processing unit 312 is a one-frame (one frame) game based on a drawing command input from the CPU 311a every 1/60 seconds. An image of the screen is created on the VRAM. The drawing command transmitted from the CPU 311a is, for example, information on the result of the battle process described above in the battle process. In order to select a menu screen or an item in the process of causing the player to select a mode or view a status instead of the battle process. This is information for instructing a selection screen. Further, when replaying based on the downloaded replay data, information on the result of performing the battle process based on the replay data becomes a drawing command.

  Based on the drawing command input from the CPU 311a, the drawing processing unit 312 performs processing required for drawing (for example, whether or not a continuous attack technique can be established, determination of the effectiveness of an attack / defense, changes in physical strength values, etc.) And the rendering process is performed on the VRAM based on the processing result. The image of the game screen of each frame drawn in the VRAM is converted to a video signal every 1/60 seconds, for example, and output to the display 33.

  The sound processing unit 313 generates sound effects and BGM to be output from the speaker 33a. The sound processing unit 313 reads sound data such as sound effects or BGM from the RAM 311c based on a sound generation command input from the CPU 311a, performs predetermined processing and D / A conversion processing, and then outputs them to the display 33. To do.

  The disk drive unit 314 is a unit for reading a game program and game data recorded on the recording medium 5. The disk drive unit 314 reads the game program and game data specified from the recording medium 5 into the RAM 311c based on a loading command from the CPU 311a (a read command specifying the game program and game data to be loaded).

  The memory card connection unit 315 is a unit for writing / reading information relating to game progress to / from the memory card 6. When a “save data” command is issued from the player while the game is in progress or at the end of the game, the CPU 311a sends information related to the game progress to the memory card 6 via the memory card connection unit 315 (this information includes, for example, the player Information on the type of game character set, competition results, various benefits such as points and items acquired, etc.) is stored.

  The I / O interface unit 316 transmits the game program and game data read by the disk drive unit 314 and the memory card connection unit 315, an operation signal from the operation controller 32, etc. to the control unit 311, and from the control unit 311. The video signal, the audio signal, and the like are transmitted to the display 33. Further, the I / O interface unit 316 transmits data to and from the game server 4 and other game apparatuses 3 via the network line 2 and the network adapter 34.

  The game server 4 is configured by one or a plurality of computers connected to the network line 2, and includes a matching process of battles via the network of each game apparatus 3, storage of replay data, and replay ranking update. I do. The matching process is a process of providing information about other players that meet the match conditions desired by each player to a large number of players who wish to play via the network. Since the matching process is not directly related to the present invention, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The game server 4 includes a CPU 41, ROM 42, RAM 43, hard disk device 44 and I / F (Interface) 45. The ROM 42, the RAM 43 and the I / F 45 are connected by a bus line 46. The hard disk device 44 is connected to the CPU 41 via the I / F 45 and the bus line 46.

  In addition to the matching process, the CPU 41 records the replay data transmitted from the game device 3 in the hard disk device 44, reads the replay data from the hard disk device 44 in response to a request from the game device 3, and transmits the replay data to the game device 3. To do. Further, the replay ranking is updated at a predetermined timing, and the replay ranking list is transmitted to the game apparatus 3 in response to a request from the game apparatus 3. The ROM 42 stores processing programs and necessary data for matching processing, upload processing, download processing, ranking processing, and the like. In this processing program, for example, a basic program showing a procedure for reading data recorded in the hard disk device 44, a communication control program for communicating with each game device 3, and a match condition provided by each player There are a search program for searching for other players, a program for calculating replay points based on voting data, a program for updating replay rankings based on replay points, and the like.

  The RAM 43 provides a work area necessary for the CPU 41 to execute the processing program. The I / F 45 transmits data read from the hard disk device 44 to each game device 3 via the network line 2 or receives data transmitted from each game device 3 and transmits the data to the CPU 41. Interface.

  The network line 2 is a communication line that connects the game server 4 and the plurality of game apparatuses 3 so that they can communicate with each other. In the present embodiment, for example, an Internet line is applied.

  Next, replay data upload processing in the battle-type fighting game according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the fighting game according to this embodiment, battle methods such as a rank match mode, a player match mode, and a championship mode are prepared. Rank match mode is a battle method in which battle points vary depending on the result of the battle. A battle point is a score that represents a rating of the player's own strength (play skill), and is a point that increases by winning a battle in a rank match mode or a championship mode to be described later, and decreases by losing. . The player match mode is a battle that is positioned in a practice game in which battle points do not fluctuate.

  Championship mode is a battle method by tournament battle. The so-called tournament game is different from the so-called remaining tournament game in which only the opponent having the same number of consecutive wins is played and the player who has reached the predetermined number of consecutive wins becomes the winner. In the case of a winning tournament game, it is necessary to create a tournament table in advance and manage it with the game server 4. In addition, since the battle is performed according to the tournament table, there is also a problem that it takes time because the opponent cannot be determined and the upper round cannot be played unless the victory or defeat of the lower round is decided. On the other hand, in the case of a tournament battle in the championship mode, the game server 4 only has to manage the number of consecutive wins with each game device 3 and play against the opponent with the same number of consecutive wins, so the game server 4 has a burden for tournament management. It does not take. In addition, it is possible to create a tournament table later by the game device 3 by recording the battle history in each game device 3 and exchanging the battle history with each other at the time of the battle.

  In the championship mode, each game apparatus 3 records the number of consecutive wins of the player, and the fact that the number of consecutive wins is the same is used as a search condition for matching opponents. When the matched players having the same number of consecutive wins end the match, the game device 3A of the winner player A increases the recorded number of consecutive wins by 1, and the game device 3B of the loser player B records the number of consecutive wins. Is reset to “0”.

  In this embodiment, it is possible to upload only the replay data of the final game in the championship mode (a battle between players whose number of consecutive wins is one less than a predetermined number). Thus, by limiting the battles that allow uploading of replay data, the storage capacity of the hard disk device 44 of the game server 4 can be saved. Note that the battles that allow uploading are limited to championship mode finals only, and are not limited thereto. For example, replay data of semi-final matches may be uploaded. In addition to the above tournament game, for example, replay data such as a final game of a general winning tournament or a battle between players having high battle points may be uploaded. Further, when a lottery with a predetermined probability is won, uploading may be possible, and uploading may not be limited.

  In this embodiment, only the player who has won in the championship mode (the player whose number of consecutive wins is a predetermined number) has the right to upload. This is to prevent the loser from uploading a replay by performing a fraud such as forcibly ending so as not to leave the history (facts) of the battle that he lost. In addition, since it is a runner-up winner who has advanced to the final, although it is a loser of the final match, it may be possible to give the right to upload to the loser, or you may upload it under the agreement of both . Also, the game that can be uploaded is not limited to the final game, but a player who is given the right to upload may be able to upload a desired match. This is because the final match is not necessarily a match that the winner will be satisfied with, for example, the first round or the semi-final match is a more satisfying match and may be a match that is highly evaluated by the user.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the game progress process performed by the CPU 311a of the game apparatus 3 for the competitive fighting game according to the present embodiment, and is for explaining the replay data upload process.

  In the game progress process, a recording medium 5 (for example, a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM) on which a game program of a fighting game is recorded is mounted on the disk drive unit 314, and the game program for causing the player to perform a preparation work for the fighting game. Is started after being loaded into the RAM 311c.

  First, the main menu screen is displayed on the display 33 (S1). On the main menu screen, an arcade mode and a network battle mode are displayed as game modes that can be selected by the player A. The arcade mode is a game mode in which a game character operated by the player A is played against a game character controlled by a computer (the CPU 311a of the game apparatus 3A operated by the player A). The network battle mode is an operation performed by the player A. This is a game mode in which a game character to be played is played against a game character operated by another player B (a player who performs a fighting game on another game device 3B connected via the network line 2). In the main menu screen, a player data mode described later can also be selected. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, a case where the player selects the network battle mode is described, and a case where another mode is selected is omitted. When the network battle mode is selected, a network battle menu screen is displayed on the display 33 (S2).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a network battle menu screen. On the network battle menu screen 7 (hereinafter simply referred to as “screen 7”), a mode list display 71 for selecting a battle mode arranged on the left side and a game condition set by the player arranged on the right side are displayed. And a guidance display 73 indicating the operation method of the operation controller 32 on the screen 7 arranged at the lower right.

  In the mode list display 71, displays such as a plurality of battle modes are arranged vertically. In the mode list display 71, in addition to the display of the battle mode such as the rank match mode, the player match mode, and the championship mode, data (game history, game history, Display of a mode for browsing the competition results, acquired items, various data such as points, etc.).

  The status display 72 includes items indicating the handle name, title, and icon of the player A.

  In the guidance display 73, if the A button 322a is pressed, it is decided to process the selected item, and if the B button 322b is pressed, the screen 7 returns to the previous state (that is, the main menu screen), If the R button 324 is pressed, the status editing screen is displayed. The status edit screen is a screen for setting the title of the status display 72, the contents of the icon, and the like, but detailed description thereof is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

  A cursor is displayed on the uppermost mode item in the mode list display 71 to indicate that the mode item is a selection candidate. The cursor display is, for example, reverse display of the entire item or highlight display of the item frame. The player can move the cursor display position of the mode list display 71 upward or downward by operating the up and down keys of the cross key 321 of the operation controller 32. When the player moves the cursor display to a desired mode item and then presses the A button 322a, the mode item is determined. For example, when the cursor display is moved to “championship mode” and the A button 322a is pressed, the player can play a battle in the championship mode. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the case where the player selects the championship mode is described, and the case where another mode is selected is omitted.

  When the championship mode is selected, a session menu is displayed on the display 33 (S3). The session menu is a menu for creating a session and searching for a session. The session creation is a mode in which session information such as a desired opponent condition is transmitted to the game server 4 to create a session and wait for the opponent to appear. The session search is a mode in which the session information received from the sessions created in the game server 4 as being matched with the conditions of the opponent is applied and a match is applied to the desired opponent. Note that session creation and search are not directly related to the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the opponent is determined (session establishment), the battle process is started (S4). In the present embodiment, the battle process is performed by communication (so-called peer-to-peer communication) between the game apparatuses 3 not via the game server 4, but is not limited to this communication mode. For example, a communication form via the game server 4 may be used. In the battle process, the fight process is performed based on the key operation signal of the player A input from the operation controller 32 and the key operation signal of the player B input via the network line 2, and according to the result of the fight process. A game progress screen and sound effects are created and output. Further, the key operation signals of the players A and B and the input timing of the key operation signals during the battle period are recorded as key input data. When the battle is over, it is determined whether or not the battle is a final game in the championship mode (S5). Whether or not the match is a final match is based on whether or not the number of consecutive wins recorded in the game device of the winner player (if the player A wins the match, the game device 3A of the player A) has reached a predetermined number. It is determined by. For example, if the predetermined number of times is five, if the number of consecutive wins is five in the current battle (the battle process in S4), it is determined that the battle was a final battle, and the number of times is four or less. If there is, it is determined that it was not the final match. If it is not the final match (S5: NO), the process returns to step S2, and the network battle menu (see FIG. 4) is displayed to allow the player to select the next battle. Note that the session menu may be displayed by returning to step S3, or the main menu may be displayed by returning to step S1.

  When it is a final match (S5: YES), it is determined whether or not the player A is a winner (S6). If the player is a loser (S6: NO), the process returns to step S2, and the network battle menu is displayed, causing the player A to select the next battle. Note that the session menu may be displayed by returning to step S3, or the main menu may be displayed by returning to step S1.

  If the player is a winner (S6: YES), a screen for allowing the player A to select whether or not to upload replay data is displayed (S7). FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the upload selection screen. On the left side of the upload selection screen 8, a character string indicating that the player A has won and an image 81 of the play character of the player A are displayed. On the right side of the screen, the replay data of the current battle is uploaded to the player A. A display 82 that prompts the user to select whether he / she has the right to upload or not is displayed, and a guidance display 83 indicating the operation method of the operation controller 32 on the screen 8 is displayed on the lower right side of the screen.

  When the player A does not select upload (S7: NO), that is, when the pressing signal of the B button 323b is input on the upload selection screen (see FIG. 5), the process returns to step S2 and the network battle menu is displayed. Displayed, causing player A to select the next match. Note that the session menu may be displayed by returning to step S3, or the main menu may be displayed by returning to step S1.

  When the player A selects upload (S7: YES), that is, when the pressing signal of the A button 323a is input on the upload selection screen (see FIG. 5), upload of replay data is started (S8). . That is, the CPU 311a transmits the replay data (see FIG. 2) recorded in the RAM 311c to the game server 4 via the network line 2. Although not shown, after the upload selection process (S7), the game apparatus 3A of the winner player A resets the recorded number of consecutive wins to “0”.

  As described above, the replay data includes each data of the player B transmitted from the game device 3B before the battle, such as key input data recorded at the time of the battle (S4), and the player A recorded in the game device 3A. Match data including each of the above data, voting data (initial value) created after the match, and popularity data including replay points (initial value). When uploading is selected (S7: YES), before starting uploading (S8), the CPU 311a requests the game server 4 to transmit a replay point of replay data that is at the bottom of the replay ranking list. As described above, the CPU 311a calculates “new arrival bonus points” by adding “1” to the replay points of the replay data at the lowest position of the replay ranking list transmitted from the game server 4.

  After waiting until it is determined that the upload has been completed (S9: YES), the process returns to step S2, the network battle menu is displayed, and the player A is made to select the next battle. Note that the session menu may be displayed by returning to step S3, or the main menu may be displayed by returning to step S1.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the upload process performed by the CPU 41 of the game server 4 for the competitive fighting game according to the present embodiment. When the winner player in the championship mode selects upload, replay data is transmitted from the game apparatus 3 to the game server 4. The upload process is started when replay data is received from the game apparatus 3.

  First, the player is identified by the handle name of the received replay data or the player ID given to each player, and it is determined whether or not the replay data of the player has already been recorded on the hard disk device 44 (S11). ). Note that the player may be identified using a game device ID assigned to each game device or other information.

  When the replay data of the player has not been recorded yet (S11: NO), the received replay data is recorded in the hard disk device 44, and the ranking is updated (S12). The voting data and popularity data of the replay data recorded at this time are set to initial values (the voting data is “0” for each item in each counting period, and the replay points of the popularity data are new bonus points).

  Further, the game apparatus 3 transmits a replay point value creation request associated with identification information such as a handle name to the game server 4 after the replay data upload is completed. The game server 4 receives the request, creates a replay point value based on the replay point value of the replay data recorded in the hard disk device 44, and records the replay point value in association with the replay data in the hard disk device 44. Note that the game device 3 may create the replay point value when the game server 4 records the replay data in the hard disk device 44 without transmitting the creation request.

  On the other hand, if already recorded (S11: YES), the replay data of the player recorded in the hard disk device 44 is deleted, and the replay point value associated with the replay data is also deleted (S13). . In step S12, the replay data is recorded in the hard disk device 44, and the ranking is updated. The updating of the ranking here is to delete the ranking of the replay data deleted in S13 and to add (rank in) the newly uploaded replay data to the ranking. Thereby, the replay data of the player recorded in the hard disk device 44 is overwritten, and the replay data is ranked. In this case as well, a replay point value is generated based on the newly recorded replay data upon receipt of the replay point value creation request, and is recorded in the hard disk device 44 in association with the replay data.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the replay data recorded on the hard disk device 44 is limited to only one item for one player because only the replay data of some players is recorded. It is for preventing it. Since the replay points are included in the replay data, if the replay data is overwritten in steps S12 and S13, the previous replay points are also deleted. Therefore, for example, when a player whose replay data uploaded by himself / herself is higher in the ranking does not want to upload new replay data, uploading may not be selected (S7: NO). Further, the number of records that can be recorded for one player may be up to a predetermined number (for example, three). Further, replay data may be recorded without limiting the number of uploadable items.

  Next, replay data download processing and replay processing in the battle-type fighting game according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the game progress process performed by the CPU 311a of the game apparatus 3 for the competitive fighting game according to the present embodiment, and is for explaining the replay data download process.

  The game progress process is started after the fighting game program is loaded into the RAM 311c, as in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and the main menu screen is displayed on the display 33 (S21). In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, a case where the user selects the player data mode is described, and a case where another mode is selected is omitted. When the player data mode is selected, a player data menu screen is displayed on the display 33 (S22).

  On the player data menu screen, several modes such as a ranking mode can be selected. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the case where the user selects the ranking mode is described, and the case where another mode is selected is omitted. When the ranking mode is selected, a ranking menu screen is displayed on the display 33 (S23).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the ranking menu screen. The ranking menu screen 9 (hereinafter simply referred to as “screen 9”) includes a ranking list display 91 for selecting a ranking arranged on the left side, and an operation controller 32 on the screen 9 arranged on the lower right. A guidance display 93 indicating the operation method is included.

  In the ranking list display 91, various ranking displays such as a replay ranking, a battle point ranking, and a victory frequency ranking are vertically arranged. The replay ranking is a ranking based on the vote result of the user of the replay data uploaded to the game server 4. The battle point ranking is a ranking based on the battle points of each player, and the victory frequency ranking is a ranking based on the victory frequency of each player. In the guidance display 93, if the A button 322a is pressed, it is determined that the selected item is to be processed, and if the B button 322b is pressed, the screen 9 returns to the previous state (that is, the player data menu screen). It has been shown. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the case where the user selects the replay ranking is described, and the case where another ranking is selected is omitted.

  When the user selects the ranking mode on the player data menu screen, the replay ranking screen (see FIG. 9 described later) may be displayed without displaying the ranking menu screen 9. In this case, various rankings may be selected on the replay ranking screen. For example, if various rankings are switched by pressing the R button 324 and the L button 325, the user can select and browse a desired ranking.

  When the replay ranking is selected, the download of the replay ranking list created by the game server 4 by the ranking based on the replay points described above is started (S24). That is, a transmission request signal is transmitted to the game server 4 and waits for reception of the replay ranking list from the game server 4. The replay ranking list includes, among the replay data, data including the handle name and nationality ID of the winner player, the icon IDs of the winner player and the loser player, the battle date and time, and the replay points, and ranking ranking data determined based on the replay points. And in a predetermined order (for example, 1st to 1000th) are arranged in ascending order. Note that it is determined which of the 1P player and the 2P player is the winner player based on the winning / losing result of the replay data. After waiting until it is determined that the replay ranking list has been downloaded (S25: YES), the replay ranking screen is displayed (S26).

  In the present embodiment, since up to 1000th is the target of replay, a replay ranking list for replay data from 1st to 1000th is created. However, 1000 or more pieces of replay data are recorded in the hard disk device 44 of the game server 4, and replay data that is not included in the replay target (those ranked 1001 or less) is also ranked. For example, when 2000 pieces of replay data are recorded, the replay data from the 1st place to the 2000th place are within the ranking range, and only the replay data from the 1st place to the 1000th place are within the ranking list, and in ascending order. A replay ranking list is created in line. The replay data from the 1001st place to the 2000th place (within the ranking area but outside the ranking list area) is not displayed in the replay ranking display described later (it is not a replayable target). By setting the replay target to the 1000th place, the user can easily select the replay data, and the data amount of the replay ranking list to be transmitted to the game apparatus 3 can be reduced to reduce the communication burden.

  In the present embodiment, the number of replay data to be recorded on the hard disk device 44 of the game server 4 is limited to 2000, and the replay data that is ranked 2001 or lower (out of ranking) is deleted. Thereby, the recording capacity of the hard disk device 44 can be saved, and the processing load and the like can be reduced. Further, in this embodiment, the replay data from the 1001st place to the 2000th place which are within the ranking range and outside the ranking list range are left without being deleted from the hard disk device 44. This is because when creating rankings that are limited to newly arrived replay data, replay data outside the ranking list area may also be required, and due to changes in the ranking, it may be temporarily out of the ranking list area. It is. That is, there is a case where the replay ranking (replay points) described later is delayed, and thus temporarily out of the ranking list area.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the replay ranking screen. The replay ranking screen 10 includes a ranking list display 101 arranged at the center of the screen and a guidance display 103 indicating the operation method of the operation controller 32 on the replay ranking screen 10 arranged at the lower right of the screen.

  The ranking list display 101 is displayed based on the replay ranking list downloaded from the game server 4, and FIG. 9 shows a list display of information on seven pieces of replay data from the first to the seventh in the entire ranking. (Exemplary) In FIG. 9, the display from the third place to the seventh place is omitted. The number of items displayed per screen (one page) (the number of items displayed) is 7 from the balance of the screen layout. For example, the display for one item is enlarged and three items are displayed as a list on one page. Alternatively, the display of one item may be reduced and 20 items may be displayed as a list on one page.

  In each list, ranking ranking, battle combination, battle date, uploader name, nationality, and replay points are displayed in order from the left. The battle combination is displayed as an image of a character icon corresponding to the icon ID of the winner player and the loser player. The uploader name is displayed based on the handle name of the winner player. The nationality is displayed by a national flag image indicating the nationality corresponding to the nationality ID of the winner player. Note that these displays are merely examples, and the battle combination may be a title instead of an icon, or other data may be displayed. For example, information used as a guide for the user to select replay data may be downloaded from the game server 4 as a replay ranking list and displayed.

  For example, if the replay points are calculated for each evaluation item and the replay points for each evaluation item are also displayed, the user can know which item has the highest evaluation. Therefore, the user can select, for example, replay data with a high Humor evaluation.

  The user can move the cursor display position of the ranking list display 101 upward or downward by operating the up and down keys of the cross key 321 of the operation controller 32. For example, when scrolling one item at a time, the cursor display is moved to the lowest position, and if the down key is further operated, the ranking list display 101 is scrolled upward and the next ranking is displayed. The display is displayed. Conversely, when the cursor display is moved to the top position and the upward key is further operated, the ranking list display 101 is scrolled downward to display the previous ranking display. It is also possible to scroll in page units. When the X button 323x of the operation controller 32 is pressed, the next page is displayed, and when the Y button 323y is pressed, the previous page is displayed. For example, when the X button 323x is pressed in the state of FIG. 9, a list from the 8th place to the 14th place is displayed.

  The ranking list displayed on the replay ranking screen is not limited to the ranking list (so-called comprehensive ranking) of all the replay data described above. For example, classification is performed based on rankings (new arrival rankings) of only replay data for which a predetermined time (for example, 72 hours) has not elapsed since the replay data was uploaded to the game server 4, rankings by character, battle points, etc. It may be possible to select from rankings by class (for example, advanced class, beginner class, etc.). When replay points are calculated for each evaluation item, the replay points may be selected from rankings based on the replay points of the respective evaluation items (for example, ranking based on Humor evaluation). In these cases, a replay ranking list for each ranking may be created.

  After the replay ranking screen is displayed, it is in a standby state until browsing is stopped (S27: YES) or replay data to be replayed is determined (S28: YES). When the user closes the replay ranking screen 10 and stops browsing (S27: YES), that is, when the pressing signal of the B button 323b is input on the replay ranking screen 10, the process returns to step S23 to display the ranking menu (FIG. 8) is displayed. Note that the player data menu may be displayed by returning to step S22, or the main menu may be displayed by returning to step S21.

  When the replay data to be replayed is determined (S28: YES), that is, when the pressing signal of the A button 323a is input on the replay ranking screen (see FIG. 9), the selected replay data (the cursor display is located). Download of the replay data indicated by the list is started (S29). That is, a transmission request signal for the selected replay data is transmitted to the game server 4 and the reception of the replay data from the game server 4 is awaited. Formally, a part of the replay data (characters used by the 1P player and 2P player and key input data, data indicating the battle location necessary for image reproduction among the battle regulation data, each voting data, etc.) and the replay Point values are downloaded. Here, the replay point value is downloaded instead of the replay point. In this embodiment, the replay point is updated only by a predetermined update process, and the replay point value is updated in the update based on the user's vote in the replay. Note that the replay points may be directly updated. When downloading of the replay data is completed (S30: YES), loading of character data and the like necessary for replay is performed (S31).

  In order to replay, game data such as character data and stage data is required in addition to the key input data included in the replay data. Accordingly, game data based on each used character ID of the replay data and battle regulation is loaded from the recording medium 5 into the RAM 311c.

  When the loading is completed, the replay process is started (S32). The replay process is a process of performing replay and uploading the voting data reflecting the voting contents voted by the user while the replay is being performed to the game server 4, and details thereof will be described later. When the replay process ends, a selection display is made as to whether or not to replay again (S33). When replay is selected (S33: YES), the process returns to step S32, and the replay process is started again (S32). In this case, the user can view the replay again and vote again.

  When the end is selected (S33: NO), the process returns to step S26 and the replay ranking screen (see FIG. 9) is displayed. It should be noted that the ranking menu may be displayed by returning to step S23, the player data menu may be displayed by returning to step S22, or the main menu may be returned to step S21. It may be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the replay process (S32) can be performed any number of times by selecting the replay so that the same replay data need not be downloaded each time to replay. It is not limited to this. The number of replay processes may be limited to a predetermined number, or after step S32, the process may return to step S26, and the replay process may be performed only once per download. In the case of replaying, the user may not accept voting or may not upload voting data, and the reflection of the voting content by the user on the game server 4 may be limited to only once. In this embodiment, even in the case of replaying, the number of votes that a user can vote during one replay (hereinafter referred to as “the number of votes that can be voted”) is not changed, but is not limited thereto. For example, in the case of re-playing, the number of votes that can be voted may be that in which the number of votes performed during the previous replay is reduced. That is, although the number of replays is not limited, the number of votes that can be voted may be limited so that the total number of votes in all replays is a predetermined number of votes.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a replay process performed by the CPU 311a of the game apparatus 3 for the competitive fighting game according to the present embodiment.

  First, a replay is performed based on the key input data of the downloaded replay data and the loaded game data (S41). In the present embodiment, during replay, voting content made in the past is reproduced for the replay data, and voting by the user is accepted.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a replay screen during replay. On the replay screen 11, an image replayed based on the battle data of the replay data downloaded from the game server 4 in S29 of FIG. 7 is displayed. In addition, three voting icons 111a, 111b, and 111c are displayed at the center of the screen, the number of votes for each voting icon (displayed number of votes) is displayed above each voting icon, and the remaining voting remaining of the user is displayed below. A remaining vote 111d indicating the number is displayed. In addition, a guidance display 113 indicating how to operate the operation controller 32 on the replay screen 11 is displayed at the lower right of the screen.

  The voting icons 111a, 111b, and 111c represent Humor evaluation, excellent evaluation, and beautiful evaluation, respectively, and the number of displayed votes for each evaluation is displayed above each voting icon 111a, 111b, and 111c.

  The number of displayed votes displayed on the upper side of the vote icons 111a, 111b, and 111c is counted up in accordance with the progress of the replay image based on the vote timing included in the vote data. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively (visually) know how much evaluation has increased at what timing. That is, it can be easily understood in which scene other users have evaluated in the past during replay. As will be described later, the count-up display of the number of displayed votes can be counted up by adding the contents voted by the user viewing the replay to the vote data. That is, the contents voted (evaluated) by the viewing user during replay are also reflected in the display of the number of displayed votes.

  The remaining vote number 111d indicates the remaining number of votes that the user can vote during replay, and the initial value is the number that can be voted. A predetermined number (for example, 100 votes) is given to the user as the number of votes that can be voted at the start of replay. Users can watch replays and vote for “Humor”, “Excellent”, and “Beautiful” when they feel “interesting”, “great”, “beautiful”, etc. The vote remaining number 111d is reduced (counted down) each time a vote is made. In this embodiment, the total number of votes that can be voted is 100, but the number of votes that can be voted may be set for each item. What is necessary is just to set suitably how many votes can be voted.

  The guidance display 113 indicates that if the A button 322a, the B button 322b, and the R button 324 are pressed, it is possible to vote for Humor evaluation, Excellent evaluation, and Beautiful evaluation, respectively.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the total number of votes based on the vote data recorded for each total period. FIG. 9A shows voting data of evaluation items for Humor evaluation, which is downloaded from the game server 4 and recorded in the RAM 311c of the game apparatus 3 by the process of S29 in FIG. The voting data is a data group in which the total number of votes in each counting period (0.5 second unit) is used as a data element. According to the figure, the total number of votes in the total period 3 (corresponding to a period of 1 to 1.5 seconds from the start of replay) is “1”. Similarly, the total votes for the total periods 4, 5, and 6 are “2”, “1”, and “1”, respectively.

  When the user who is viewing the replay does not vote, only the total vote count of the vote data in FIG. The number of displayed votes is counted up. That is, the number of votes displayed on the upper side of the vote icon 111a is “0” from the start of replay until one second has elapsed, and is counted up to “1” when one second has elapsed. Similarly, “1.5” counts up from “1” to “3”, 2 seconds pass from “3” to “4”, and 2.5 seconds pass from “4” to “4”. Counts up to “5”.

  In this embodiment, at the time of replay, when the user feels, for example, “interesting” while watching the replay, the frequency according to the degree of feeling at that timing (if it feels stronger, it increases in a short time) When the A button 323a (Humor evaluation) is pressed by pressing the A button 323a, the displayed number of votes is counted up as the replay progresses based on the number of votes reflecting the degree of feeling. That is, it is possible to immediately add and display the number of votes voted by the player in the count-up display of the vote count displayed in the vote data. Thereby, since the user can additionally display his / her own evaluation on the evaluation voted by another user, the user can sympathize with the evaluation on the content of the battle (game content) replayed with the other user.

  For example, it is assumed that the user who is viewing the replay voted for the Humor evaluation one vote at the timing of the counting period 5 and the counting period 7 in FIG. In this case, the count-up display is performed at the timing when the user has voted (presses the A button 323a). That is, the number of votes displayed on the upper side of the voting icon 111a is counted up to “4” when 2 seconds have elapsed from the start of the replay, but in the counting period 5, one vote is given by the user. To "5". Then, when 2.5 seconds have elapsed, “5” to “6” are counted up and the vote is counted up from “6” to “7” at the timing because one vote is voted by the user in the counting period 7. The Rukoto.

  Each counting period is not limited to 0.5 seconds, and may be shorter or longer. Further, the number of votes accepted during each counting period may be limited (for example, only one vote is accepted within each counting period regardless of the number of times the user has voted). Moreover, it is not limited to the structure which divides replay for every total period, What is necessary is just a structure which can record the timing of voting and can display based on the said timing at the time of replay. For example, the configuration may be such that the time from the start of replay is counted and the contents of the vote are recorded in association with the elapsed time when the vote (operation button pressing) is performed. Moreover, although only the Humor evaluation has been illustrated and described, the same applies to the excellent evaluation and the beautiful evaluation. In the following description, only the Humor evaluation will be described by way of example, but the same applies to other evaluation items.

  In addition, a data group in FIG. 5B showing the contents of the vote performed by the user based on the button press is recorded in the RAM 311c. This data group is added to the latest voting data and uploaded to the server. Details will be described later. As will be described later, in this embodiment, the voting data (total number of votes) is downloaded again immediately before uploading the voting data. Therefore, the replay is viewed on the re-downloaded voting data (total number of votes). Uploads reflect the number of users who vote.

  FIG. 4B shows the contents of the voting of the evaluation items of the Humor evaluation that the user has voted on, and is created based on the pressing of the A button 323a by the user and recorded in the RAM 311c (hereinafter referred to as “the humor evaluation”). “Voting content data”). This voting content data is a data group whose data element is the number of votes cast by the user in each counting period (0.5 second unit). The number of votes indicates the number of times the A button 323a is pressed during each counting period (0.5 seconds). For example, if the user presses the A button 323a three times during a certain counting period during replay, the number of votes in the counting period is “3”. The number of votes in the counting period when the A button 323a is not pressed is “0”. In FIG. 5B, the user votes for one vote in the counting period 5 (corresponding to a period of 2 to 2.5 seconds from the start of replay), and the counting period 7 (3 to 3.5 seconds from the start of replay). The voting content data in the case of voting one vote in the period) is shown.

  Returning to FIG. 10, when the replay is completed, it is determined whether or not the evaluation item is input (voted) by the user (S42). This determination is made based on the vote content data (see FIG. 12B) of each evaluation item recorded in the RAM 311c. That is, if the number of votes in the totaling period of the vote contents data of all evaluation items is “0”, it is determined that there is no vote. If the number of votes in any total period is other than “0”, there is a vote. Determined. When the evaluation item is input (voted) (S42: YES), downloading of the voting data and the replay point value is started (S43). That is, the corresponding voting data and replay point value transmission request signal is transmitted to the game server 4 and waits for reception of the voting data and the replay point value from the game server 4. In addition, when an evaluation item is input (voted) (S42: YES), the user can select whether to reflect the voting input on the game server 4 (whether to upload) without starting the download immediately, and the user selects Downloading may be started when it is selected to reflect. When the user selects not to reflect, the replay process may be terminated, or the process may return to step S41 to accept replay reproduction and voting again.

  When the downloading of the voting data and the replay point value is completed (S44: YES), vote counting is performed (S45). In the vote counting, counting of voting data and counting of replay point values are performed. In the voting data aggregation, the voting content data created during the process of step S41 is aggregated into the voting data downloaded by the process of step S43.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining counting of vote data. FIG. 5A shows voting data of evaluation items for Humor evaluation, which is downloaded from the game server 4 and recorded in the RAM 311c of the game apparatus 3 by the process of step S43 of FIG. . The voting data (see FIG. 12A) downloaded and recorded by the process of step S29 in FIG. 7 is overwritten by the voting data downloaded again (see FIG. 13A). The voting data shown in FIG. 13 (a) is voting data at the time of re-downloading, and is the same as the voting data shown in FIG. 12 (a), but the total number of votes in the total periods 4, 5, and 6 is different. Yes. This is an example in which the voting data recorded in the game server 4 is changed between the download by the process of step S29 in FIG. 7 and the download by the process of step S43 in FIG. The voting data shown in FIG. 13 (b) is the voting data of the evaluation items for the Humor evaluation after aggregation created by adding the voting content data shown in FIG. 12 (b) to the voting data shown in FIG. 13 (a). It is.

  The voting data is totaled by adding the number of votes in the same counting period of the voting content data to the total number of votes in each counting period of the downloaded voting data. As shown in FIG. 12B, the total number of votes in the total period 5 is “3”, which is the total number of votes in the total period 5 of the vote data shown in FIG. It becomes “4” obtained by adding “1” which is the number of votes in the total period 5 of the content data. Similarly, the total number of votes in each counting period is equal to the total number of votes in the same counting period of the voting data shown in FIG. 12A, and the number of votes in the same counting period of the voting content data shown in FIG. It is the value which added each. By counting the voting data, the voting data recorded in the RAM 311c (see (a) in the figure) is updated to the created voting data after counting (see (b) in the same figure). Moreover, although only the Humor evaluation has been illustrated and described, the same applies to the excellent evaluation and the beautiful evaluation. In the following description, only the Humor evaluation will be described by way of example, but the same applies to other evaluation items.

  Here, the downloading of the voting data again (second time) before the vote counting is performed is recorded in the game server 4 at the time of downloading before starting the replay (FIG. 7: S29) when not downloading again. This is because the voting data changed by uploading the voting data of another user may be overwritten until the voting data being uploaded is uploaded (S46). That is, this reduces the chance of data loss due to overwriting.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for specifically explaining data loss due to overwriting that occurs when the voting data downloaded before the start of replay is different from the voting data recorded in the game server 4 at the time of uploading. In FIG. 5A, V is the voting data of certain replay data recorded in the game server 4. When the game device 3A downloads the replay data and the voting data becomes V + Va by voting during the replay, the voting data recorded on the game server 4 by being uploaded by the game device 3A changes from V to V ′ = V + Va. Change. On the other hand, during the replay on the game device 3A, the game device 3B downloads the replay data in a state where the voting data V recorded in the game server 4 has not changed, and the voting data becomes V + Vb by voting during the replay. Suppose that In this case, the voting data recorded in the game server 4 by being uploaded by the game apparatus 3B changes from V ′ to V ″ = V + Vb. That is, in the game server 4, the voting data V is V ′ by the game apparatus 3A. In spite of being updated to (reflected data of user A's vote contents only), the game apparatus 3B overwrites the vote data V ′ with V ″ (reflected data of user B's vote contents only), and the game apparatus 3A. The voting content Va (the content of voting by the user A) is not reflected.

In order to eliminate this inconvenience, in this embodiment, the voting data is downloaded again before voting is counted. In FIG. 5B, the voting data is downloaded again (broken arrows in the figure) before the vote count. Thereby, the voting data V ′ (= V + Va) reflecting the voting content Va in the game device 3A is downloaded to the game device 3B, the voting content Vb in the game device 3B is reflected, and the voting data is V ′ + Vb. It becomes. In this case, the voting data uploaded by the game apparatus 3B is V ″ = V ′ + Vb = V
+ Va + Vb, which reflects the voting content Va in the game apparatus 3A. Steps S43 and S44 may be omitted so that the second download is not performed.

  Further, if the game apparatus 3 uploads only voting data indicating the contents of the voting performed by the user and the game server 4 counts the votes, it is not necessary to download the voting data twice.

  In the vote counting (S45), the replay point values are also counted. The total number of replay point values is calculated based on the replay point values downloaded in the process of step S43 and recorded in the RAM 311c, and the number of votes in each count period of the voting content data created during the process of step S41 (see FIG. 12B). This is done by adding the total value of. When the vote counting is completed, uploading of the vote data and the replay point value is started (S46). That is, the CPU 311a transmits the updated voting data and replay point value recorded in the RAM 311c to the game server 4 via the network line 2. When the upload is completed (S47: YES), the replay process is terminated.

  In addition, when the replay is selected in step S33 of FIG. 7, the replay process is performed again (S32). The number of votes displayed on the upper side of the voting icons 111a, 111b, and 111c displayed on the replay screen 11 (see FIG. 11) during the replay (FIG. 10: S41) at this time is determined by the replay process before the replay. Count-up display is performed based on the voting data updated by counting (FIG. 10: S45). That is, the content of the vote performed by the user during the previous replay is also reflected.

  The replay is mainly composed of a confrontation effect screen, a battle screen, and a KO effect screen. The confrontation effect screen is a screen that displays an image in which the characters of both players are confronting each other, and is a screen that provides an effect for several seconds from the start of replay until the battle screen starts. In this embodiment, voting on the confrontation effect screen is not accepted. The battle screen is a screen that displays a video from the start of the battle to the moment when the battle is settled, and the user votes while viewing this video. The KO effect screen is a screen that displays an image that produced a KO scene for a few seconds after the conclusion of the battle. In the present embodiment, voting on the KO effect screen is also accepted so that the user can vote while the aftereffect after KO remains. In addition, voting as a general comment can be accepted. Note that voting on the KO effect screen may not be accepted, or voting on the confrontation screen may be accepted.

  In addition, since the battle in the championship mode is usually 3 rounds (if one wins 2 rounds in a row, only 2 rounds), the replay of the battle in the championship mode is the battle screen, battle screen, KO screen. The round constituted by is configured to be repeated three times. The game apparatus 3 counts the elapsed time from the start of replay (start of the first round) to the end of replay (end of the third round), and counts the number of votes for each counting period based on the measured elapsed time. Yes. The content of the vote by the user from the start to the end of the replay (the number of votes for each counting period) becomes the vote content data (see FIG. 12B), and the vote data downloaded from the game server 4 (see FIG. 13A). Is added to In the present embodiment, the voting content data and the voting data are created by setting the number of votes in the counting period corresponding to the period in which voting is not accepted (confrontation effect screen) to “0”, and the voting data is uploaded. It is not limited to this. For example, the data of the total period corresponding to the period during which voting is not accepted among the created voting data may not be uploaded. Also, during the period when voting is not accepted, the voting content data and the voting data may be created without counting time.

  Next, replay ranking update processing in the competitive fighting game according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the replay ranking update process performed by the CPU 41 of the game server 4 when the player plays the competitive fighting game according to the present embodiment. As described above, the replay ranking list is a list created in order to display the ranking of the replay data based on the user's evaluation on the game device 3 in order for the user to select the replay data. The replay ranking is updated at a predetermined timing (timing due to a replay ranking update request from the game apparatus 3).

  The game server 4 monitors a replay ranking update request or a replay ranking list transmission request from the game device 3 (loop of S51 to S52), and performs each response process described below each time there is a request.

  That is, when a replay ranking update request is received from a game device 3 (player) that has uploaded replay data among a large number of game devices 3 connected to the network line 2, it is determined that there has been an update request (S51). : YES), the replay data of the player created by the game device 3 is searched from the hard disk device 44 using unique information such as a handle name included in the replay data (S53). When the replay data can be searched (S53: YES), the replay point value associated with the replay data is transmitted to the game apparatus 3 (S54). As described above, the replay point value represents the latest degree of popularity reflecting the latest voting content (total number of votes) by the user who viewed the replay. Thereafter, the process waits until a replay point update request is received from the game apparatus 3 (S55). In each game device 3, when a replay point value is received from the game server 4, a program for transmitting an update request for the replay point to the game server 4 is executed.

  When the replay point update request is received (S55: YES), the replay points recorded in the hard disk device 44 are updated to update the replay ranking (S56). In the replay point update request, the replay point value transmitted from the game server 4 (S54) is transmitted from the game apparatus 3. The replay point recorded in the hard disk device 44 is updated to the transmitted replay point value.

  In step S53, when the replay data cannot be searched (S53: NO), that is, when the replay data created by the player of the game apparatus 3 does not exist in the hard disk device 44, the replay ranking is not updated. Return to step S51.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the replay ranking is updated in response to an update request from a player whose replay data is recorded in the game server 4. This is because if the replay ranking is updated each time each game device 3 is voted, the processing load on the game server 4 becomes large, and the replay ranking update timing is set to a predetermined timing. It is for limiting. In the present embodiment, a replay point value for reflecting the vote made in each game device 3 to be updated to the latest content is provided separately from the replay point, and a predetermined timing (replay data is recorded in the game server 4). The replay point value is updated to the replay point value by an update request from the player (game device 3), and the replay ranking is updated. Note that the replay ranking may be updated every time the voting data is uploaded from each game device 3 without performing the replay ranking updating process in steps S51 and S53 to S56.

  For example, each game apparatus 3 transmits only the vote content data input by the user to the game server 4 and adds the number of votes for each counting period of the received vote content data to the replay points recorded by the game server 4. Thus, the replay points may be updated. In this case, the vote content data corresponds to the “evaluation score information” of the present invention. In this case, a replay point value may not be provided. Even in this case, a replay point value is provided so that the content of the vote in each game device 3 is reflected in the replay point value, and the replay point is updated by an update request from the game device 3 that uploaded the replay data. It may be based on. In addition, the game device 3 updates the downloaded replay points according to the contents of the user's vote, transmits the updated replay points to the game server, and records the replay points recorded by the replay points received by the game server 4. You may make it update. In this case, the replay point corresponds to “evaluation score information” of the present invention. In this case, a replay point value may not be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the predetermined timing at which each game apparatus 3 makes a replay ranking update request is during loading (see S4 in FIG. 3), that is, a period during which the player's operation input is not accepted (network battle). While the screen is facing). This is because it is desirable to make it during a period when the processing load on the CPU 311a of the game apparatus 3 is low, and an update request may be made at another timing. Further, the replay ranking update is not limited to an update request from the game apparatus 3. The game server 4 may be updated periodically.

  In addition, when ranking is performed in consideration of not only the content of voting by the user but also the number of downloads of replay data (number of transmission requests), the replay points should be updated by adding a value based on the number of downloads. That's fine. For example, the number of downloads since the previous update is counted, and the replay point value received from the game apparatus 3 (S55) is the count number or a predetermined value (hereinafter referred to as “request point”). A value obtained by adding the products of the above may be used as a replay point value, and the replay point may be updated with the replay point value. For example, if the number of downloads from the previous update is 10 and the request point is “10”, if the replay point value is 1000, it is updated to 1100 (= 1000 + 10 × 10), and the request point is also updated to 1100. The When the replay data is downloaded to the game apparatus 3, the number of downloads is counted, and the replay point value is updated based only on the contents of the vote. Note that the request point may be added to the replay point value each time the replay data is downloaded.

  When a replay ranking list transmission request is received from any of a large number of game apparatuses 3 connected to the network line 2 and it is determined that there is a transmission request (S52: YES), the replay ranking is assigned to the game apparatus 3. The list is transmitted (S57), and the process returns to step S51. The game device 3 that has received the replay ranking list (the game device 3 that has issued the replay ranking list transmission request) displays the replay ranking on the display 33 based on the replay ranking list (see FIG. 9).

  Next, the operation of the game system 1 will be described.

  In this embodiment, voting is performed by a user who has replayed and viewed the replay data, and the voting results are aggregated to determine the ranking of each replay data. The ranking is not based on factors set in advance at the time of game production, such as the score of a game, but is based on an evaluation that each user actually views. Therefore, since the ranking can be used as a reference when selecting replay data to be viewed by the user, the user can see the replay evaluated that other users are good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the replay ranking list is created based on the replay points calculated from the voting data has been described. However, the replay ranking list is created in descending order of the number of transmission requests for each replay data. Also good. In this case, the replay data transmission request corresponds to the “evaluation information” of the present invention. In order to realize this, for example, the game server 4 is provided with a counter for counting the number of transmission requests for each replay data, the corresponding replay data counter is increased for each replay data transmission request from the game apparatus 3, Instead of the replay points, the replay ranking list may be updated based on the count value of the counter.

  In this case, a ranking is created so that replay data that more users desire to view is ranked higher. Therefore, since the ranking can be used as a reference when selecting replay data to be viewed by the user, the user can view replays that the user frequently desires to view.

  In the above embodiment, the replay data from the 1001st place to the 2000th place that are within the ranking area but outside the ranking list area are left without being deleted from the hard disk device 44, but are out of the ranking list area (below 1001). The replay data may be deleted from the hard disk device 44. In this case, the recording capacity of the hard disk device 44 can be further saved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the replay data evaluation by the user is displayed on the replay screen (see FIG. 11) by the count-up display of the number of displayed votes is not limited thereto. For example, if the game apparatus 3 has a character input device such as a keyboard, a comment can be input instead of changing the number of votes by pressing an operation button, and the comment data is recorded instead of the vote data. The recorded comment data may be displayed. In this case, a free comment can be input without being bound by the evaluation items for voting. If the comment display timing is matched with the timing when the comment is input, the comment is displayed at the timing when the comment input person feels the comment content. Therefore, the user can feel the replay with the comment input person and feel as if the comment input person is listening in real time. The replay points may be calculated based on the number of input comments and the number of input characters. Further, both voting input and character input may be performed.

  Further, instead of counting up the displayed vote count, a predetermined image corresponding to the vote count may be displayed, or a sound (such as a sound effect) corresponding to the vote count may be expressed. In addition, a sound may be generated in accordance with an increase in the number of displayed votes.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the game server 4 creates a replay ranking list and transmits it to the game apparatus 3 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the game apparatus 3 may create a replay ranking list. In this case, the game server 4 may transmit data for creating a replay ranking list to the game apparatus 3 in response to a request from the game apparatus 3. The data for creating the replay ranking list is the handle name and nationality ID of the winner player, the winner player and the loser among the data necessary for display on the ranking list display 101 of the replay ranking screen 10 (see FIG. 9). The player's icon ID, match date and time (the above corresponds to “specific information” of the present invention), replay points (corresponding to “information based on evaluation information” of the present invention), and the like. In addition, the game server 4 transmits each piece of data about all registered replay data (for example, 2000 pieces) to the game apparatus 3. The game apparatus 3 may rank each piece of data about the received replay data based on the replay points, and create and display a replay ranking list for the replay data within the ranking list (for example, 1st place to 1000th place).

  In the above embodiment, the replay ranking list is displayed and the user is allowed to select the replay data to be replayed. However, since the user only needs to be able to evaluate and rank by voting, select from the replay ranking list. Not limited to. For example, the replay data ranked may be selected from randomly picked up data, may be selected from the uploaded date, or may be selected from the new arrival list.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the game server 4 performs only limited processing such as storage of replay data and each game apparatus 3 performs various processing has been described. How to bear each process between the game server 4 and each game apparatus 3 may be appropriately designed. For example, using the game device 3 as an operation terminal that only inputs a key operation signal, the game server 4 may perform all processing including game progress processing. In this case, the game server 4 combines the image of the display vote number reflecting the number of votes input from the game apparatus 3 and the image (game content) of one frame to be displayed, and the image is displayed on the game apparatus 3. If it transmits, an image can be displayed reflecting the content of a user's vote.

  Further, the game server 4 may be a game device having a game function and a replay function. Further, the replay data may be stored in a database server provided separately from the game server 4.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the online battle is performed with the game apparatus 3 connected to the game server 4 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Uploading and downloading of replay data requires connection to the game server 4, but replay data uploaded to the game server 4 is not limited to online battles, but offline battles (game devices) performed on the game device 3. 3) against the CPU 311a). In this case, what is necessary is just to limit so that replay data can be uploaded when 10 characters are won continuously or when a predetermined boss character is won.

  In the above embodiment, a one-on-one battle-type fighting game has been described as an example. In this case, the replay data may be uploaded by selecting at least one player (for example, a host player who created the session) of the winning team.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to a fighting game but can be applied to a battle game such as shogi or go. Even in these competitive games, there is a demand for watching replays, and it is meaningful to rank by popularity vote. Further, for example, in a sport game such as baseball or soccer, when a great play can be performed (for example, triple play or artistic shoot), there is a demand for public presentation and a demand for appreciation thereof. Can be applied. In addition, in games of genres other than competitive games, there is a demand for watching replays, and any game that has the meaning of ranking by popularity voting can be applied. For example, in an action game, if you want to see the player's operation method (when to jump, which route to advance, etc.) when you clear the stage in a fast time or get a high score There is a demand.

  In addition, for example, a game such as “Monster Hunter (registered trademark)”, in which characters operated by a plurality of players or characters controlled by a CPU form a team to achieve the same quest (the purpose of the game) It can also be applied to. In this case, the replay data may be uploaded by selecting at least one player (for example, a host player who created the session) among the plurality of players. Since games other than these fighting games can be played offline, replay data of game content played offline may be uploaded.

  Although the home game device has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to an arcade game machine connected to a game server via a network line.

  Note that the display items of the ranking list display 101 displayed on the replay ranking screen (see FIG. 9) are not limited. For example, a graph showing changes in the total number of votes shown in FIG. 16 may be displayed. FIG. 4A shows the total number of votes in each counting period of the voting data of the replay data, and FIG. 4B shows the total number of total votes. When these graphs are displayed in the ranking list display 101, it is possible to refer to the timing at which voting has increased, which can be used as a guide when the user selects replay data. In this case, it is necessary to include voting data in the replay ranking list. Further, instead of displaying on the replay ranking screen, it may be displayed at the time of loading before the replay process (see step S31 in FIG. 7). In this case, since the voting data is included in the replay data downloaded at the time of downloading (see step S29 in FIG. 7), it may be displayed using this. Thereby, the user can refer to the timing at which the vote has increased in the replay data to be replayed before the viewing.

  Note that the content of the replay data created by the game apparatus 3 is not limited. For example, the data recorded for reproducing the game content is not limited to key input data. Image data may be recorded instead of key input data. Further, the voting data is not limited to the structure illustrated in FIG. 12A (data structure including each counting period and the corresponding total number of votes), and is data in which only the total number of votes is arranged in time series (for example, 0012110). ...). Further, the replay data may be created not by the game apparatus 3 but by the game server 4.

  The game system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the game system according to the present invention can be modified in various ways.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Online game system 2 Network line 3 Game apparatus 31 Game apparatus main body 311 Control part 312 Drawing process part 313 Audio | voice process part 314 Disk drive unit 315 Memory card connection unit 316 I / O interface part 32 Operation controller 321 Cross key 322 Joystick 323 Operation button 324 R button 325 L button 33 Display 33a Speaker 34 Network adapter 4 Game server 41 CPU
42 ROM
43 RAM
44 Hard disk device 45 I / F
5 Recording media (DVD-ROM)
6 Memory Card 7 Network Battle Menu Screen 8 Upload Selection Screen 9 Ranking Menu Screen 10 Replay Ranking Screen 11 Replay Screen A, B Player

Claims (15)

A game system including a game server and a game device connected to a network and performing data communication with each other,
The game server
Recording means for recording a plurality of game reproduction data for the game device to reproduce the game contents;
For the reproduction of the game reproduction data desired by the user, ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data in the plurality of game reproduction data is created based on the evaluation information input to the game device by the user's operation Ranking information creation means,
Ranking information transmitting means for transmitting the ranking information in response to a request from the game device;
Game reproduction data transmitting means for transmitting the game reproduction data requested to be transmitted from the game device to the game device;
With
The game device includes:
Ranking information transmission request means for making a transmission request for the ranking information to the game server;
Display means for displaying ranking information transmitted from the game server in response to a transmission request for the ranking information;
Operating means for allowing the user to select desired game reproduction data from among the ranking game reproduction data displayed on the display means;
Game reproduction data transmission requesting means for making a transmission request for game reproduction data for which selection input has been accepted by the operation means to the game server;
Game reproduction means for reproducing game contents on the display means based on game reproduction data transmitted from the game server in response to a request for transmission of the game reproduction data;
A game system comprising: The evaluation information is an evaluation score input by the user for evaluating the game content reproduced on the display means,
The game device includes:
Input means for inputting the evaluation score;
Evaluation score information generating means for generating evaluation score information based on the evaluation score received by the input means;
Evaluation score information transmitting means for transmitting the evaluation score information generated by the evaluation score information generating means to the game server after completion of reproduction of the game reproduction data;
Further comprising
The game system according to claim 1. The game server stores the game reproduction data recorded in the recording means in association with the game reproduction data reproduced by the game device at a predetermined timing based on the evaluation score information transmitted from the game device. Game evaluation information updating means for updating the game evaluation information indicating the evaluation of
The ranking information creating means creates the ranking information using the game evaluation information every time the game evaluation information is updated by the game evaluation information updating means.
The game system according to claim 2. The recording means records evaluation score information transmitted from the game device in association with the game reproduction data,
The game reproduction data transmitting means transmits the evaluation score information together with the game reproduction data,
The evaluation score information transmission means adds the value calculated based on the evaluation score to the evaluation score information transmitted from the game server, and transmits the evaluation score information after the addition.
The game system according to claim 3. The game evaluation information update means adds a value based on the number of transmission requests for the game reproduction data to the evaluation score information to update the game evaluation information.
The game system according to claim 3 or 4. The input means is for inputting an evaluation score for each of a plurality of evaluation items.
The game system according to claim 2. The evaluation information is a transmission request for game reproduction data transmitted from the game device,
The game server further includes a transmission request number counting means for counting the number of transmission requests for the game reproduction data based on the transmission request,
The ranking information creating means creates the ranking information using the number of transmission requests counted by the transmission request number counting means;
The game system according to claim 1. The game device includes:
Game progression means for proceeding with the game;
Second game reproduction data transmission means for transmitting game reproduction data for reproducing the game content advanced by the game progression means to the game server;
Further comprising
The game server further includes data recording control means for recording game reproduction data received from the game device in the recording means,
The game system according to claim 1. The game is a game performed by a plurality of players,
Second game reproduction data transmission means of the game device operated by any of the plurality of players transmits game reproduction data for the game;
The game system according to claim 8. The data recording control means records game reproduction data received from the game device in the recording means, and game evaluation information corresponding to game reproduction data of a predetermined order recorded in the recording means at a predetermined timing A larger value is recorded in the recording means in association with the game reproduction data as game evaluation information,
The ranking information creating means creates the ranking information only from the game reproduction data within the predetermined rank;
The game system according to claim 8 or 9. The game server further includes a deletion unit that deletes game reproduction data not included in the ranking information from the recording unit.
The game system according to claim 10. A game system for reproducing game contents based on game reproduction data for reproducing game contents via a network,
Recording means for recording a plurality of the game reproduction data;
Ranking information creating means for creating ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data in the plurality of game reproduction data based on evaluation information input for reproduction of game reproduction data desired by a user;
Display means for displaying the ranking information created by the ranking information creating means;
Operating means for allowing the user to select desired game reproduction data from among the ranking game reproduction data displayed on the display means;
Game reproduction means for reproducing the game content on the display means based on the game reproduction data for which selection input has been accepted by the operation means;
A game system comprising: A game system including a game server and a game device connected to a network and performing data communication with each other,
The game server
Recording means for recording a plurality of game reproduction data for the game device to reproduce the game contents;
Recording control means for recording information based on evaluation information input from the game device for reproduction of game reproduction data desired by a user in the recording means in association with the game reproduction data;
In response to a request from the game device, transmitting specific information for specifying each of the plurality of game reproduction data recorded in the recording means and information based on evaluation information associated with each game reproduction data Information transmitting means to
Game reproduction data transmitting means for transmitting the game reproduction data requested to be transmitted from the game device to the game device;
With
The game device includes:
Information transmission request means for requesting transmission of information based on the specific information and the evaluation information to the game server;
Ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data in the plurality of game reproduction data based on the information based on the specific information and the evaluation information transmitted from the game server in response to a transmission request by the information transmission request means. Ranking information creation means to create,
Display means for displaying the ranking information created by the ranking information creating means;
Operating means for allowing the user to select desired game reproduction data from among the ranking game reproduction data displayed on the display means;
Game reproduction data transmission requesting means for making a transmission request for game reproduction data for which selection input has been accepted by the operation means to the game server;
Game reproduction means for reproducing game contents on the display means based on game reproduction data transmitted from the game server in response to a request for transmission of the game reproduction data;
A game system comprising: A plurality of game reproduction data for reproducing the game contents is recorded, and predetermined game evaluation information is generated for each game reproduction data based on predetermined data input by the user, and each game evaluation data is generated based on the game evaluation information. A game server that creates ranking information indicating the ranking of game reproduction data is connected to be communicable via a network so that the user can acquire game reproduction data from the game server and view the game contents. A game device capable of
Ranking information transmission request means for making a transmission request for the ranking information to the game server;
Display means for displaying ranking information transmitted from the game server in response to a transmission request for the ranking information;
Operating means for allowing the user to select desired game reproduction data from among the ranking game reproduction data displayed on the display means;
Game reproduction data transmission requesting means for making a transmission request for game reproduction data for which selection input has been accepted by the operation means to the game server;
Game reproduction means for reproducing game contents on the display means based on game reproduction data transmitted from the game server in response to a request for transmission of the game reproduction data;
An input means for the user to input an evaluation score for the game content reproduced on the display means;
Evaluation score information transmitting means for transmitting evaluation score information generated based on the evaluation score accepted by the input means to the game server after completion of reproduction of the game reproduction data;
A game apparatus comprising: A game server connected to a game device that allows a user to select desired game content and reproduce the game content via a network,
Recording means for recording a plurality of game reproduction data for the game device to reproduce the game contents;
Ranking information creating means for creating ranking information indicating the ranking of each game reproduction data in the plurality of game reproduction data based on evaluation information input from the game device with respect to reproduction of game reproduction data desired by a user; ,
Ranking information transmitting means for transmitting the ranking information in response to a request from the game device;
Game reproduction data transmitting means for transmitting the game reproduction data requested to be transmitted from the game device to the game device;
A game server comprising: