JP2019063628A - Network game system, game device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent some players from performing an event that should be essentially executed together by a plurality of players, in a game.SOLUTION: When a plurality of players execute an event including reproduction of a movie in which the reproduction can be completed according to input by the players, a shift is performed to processing for performing the same event in each terminal after completion of reproduction of the movie in terminals operated by the players. In this case, an image for indicating a reproduction situation or completion of reproduction of the movie in terminals operated by other players is displayed in the terminals of players.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a network game in which a plurality of players participate and a game progresses, and in particular, a network in which transition is made to execution of an event after displaying an event preparation image which can be ended at a desired timing by the player in each terminal device. It is about the game.

  With recent advances in network technology, a network game (online game) in which a plurality of players participate and a game progresses has been actively played. A system for playing a network game comprises a server device managed by a person who operates the network game, and a client device of each player connectable to the server device via a network such as the Internet. There is.

  Among the above network games, in RPG (Role Playing Game), when a large number of players participate at the same time, the player characters cooperate in battle with the enemy character, or the players are player characters. It is supposed to proceed with battles. In particular, recently, MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online RPG), which allows more players to participate, is also being performed.

  In such a network game in which a plurality of players participate at the same time, the operation of the player character is uniformly transmitted to the client devices operated by all the participating players without any contradiction in the server device. It manages the operation of the player character and the timing of the process.

  Then, in performing the network game, the server device periodically synchronizes with each client device, and in the progress of the game of each common client device, the processing timing is unified. As a result, in the progress of the game to be cooperatively executed by each client device, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a habit in the progress of the game, such as processing of time-series information being shifted (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-99906 A (paragraph 0008, etc.)

  In this way, by synchronizing with each client device, it is possible to execute processing of an event related to the progress of a cooperative game in each client device, but as a prior step, for example, a movie etc. Can be played back and each player can view the movie at the same time. However, in a network game such as an MMORPG in which a large number of players participate, a large number of advanced players and beginners are mixed in the players, and when the advanced players and the beginners advance their cooperative game Even if the playback of a movie performed in the course of the game is for the first time to watch for beginners, but if it has already been experienced for advanced users, advanced users will spend a long time watching such movies Sometimes I feel bothersome about being bound.

  If this movie is to be played back, it may be possible to freely skip on each client device as in the case of a standalone game and release the player from restraint for a long time. However, if an event such as a battle occurs continuously after the end of the movie, etc., a cooperative game is to be played, considering that there is a possibility that the timing of processing related to the event in each client device in the game progress will occur. Then, it is not preferable that the player character start the battle without permission while the other players are not ready yet (watching the movie).

  An object of the present invention is to provide a network game system and the like in which it is ensured that an event in a game which a plurality of players should originally play together is not performed by only a part of the players.

  According to a non-limiting aspect, a program according to the present invention is a program executed in a computer device, and the computer device performs playback without waiting for a fixed period in response to an input from a user of the computer device. The computer apparatus includes a reproduction function for causing a display means included in the computer apparatus to reproduce a movie which can be ended, and a plurality of computer apparatuses including the computer apparatus and computer apparatuses of other users who form a party with the user of the computer apparatus. When a predetermined event including movie playback is executed, a transition function of shifting to processing for performing the same event on each computer device is realized after the playback of the movie is completed on each computer device, In the reproduction function, the computer apparatus of the other user may An image indicating the end of reproduction situation or reproduction of Bi is intended for realizing the function of displaying on the display means.

  According to a non-limiting aspect, a computer device according to the present invention is a computer device that forms a network system with another computer device, and playback is performed without waiting for a certain period in response to an input from a user of the computer device. A plurality of computer devices including reproduction means for causing a display means included in the computer device to reproduce a movie which can end the process, and the computer devices of the other user who party with the computer device and the user of the computer device Transition means for shifting to a process for performing the same event on each computer device after the completion of the movie reproduction on each computer device when a predetermined event including the reproduction of the movie is executed; The reproduction means is the computer system of the other user. Characterized in that to display an image representing the end of the movie playing state or playback on the display means.

  According to a non-limiting aspect, a network system according to the present invention is a network system comprising a computer device and a plurality of computer devices including computer devices of other users who form a party with a user of the computer device, the computer system Playback means for causing a display means included in the computer device to play back a movie whose playback can be ended without waiting for a predetermined period according to an input from a user of the device; and playing back the movie by the plurality of computer devices And a transition means for shifting to a process for performing the same event on each computer device after the reproduction of the movie is completed on each computer device, when the predetermined event including the step is executed; In the movie of the other user's computer device An image representing the end of the raw state or reproduction, characterized in that to be displayed on the display means.

It is a block diagram showing composition of a network game system concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the video game apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the table managed in the server apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of data stored in the video game device of FIGS. 1 and 2; It is a figure which shows typically advancing of the network game concerning embodiment of this invention, and the flow of the data which concerns on it. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed in a server apparatus and a video game apparatus. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display screen which concerns on the battle of each video game apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the network game according to this embodiment, a plurality of players participating in the network game simultaneously cause their player character to battle with an enemy character present in the field in the field as a virtual space. It is an MMORPG that goes on. In this network game, the player can form a party consisting of a plurality of player characters by the player character of the player and the other player characters, and can battle the party as one unit.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a network system in which a network game according to this embodiment is performed. As illustrated, this network system is configured by connecting a plurality of video game devices 100 to a server device 200 via the Internet 151.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video game apparatus 100 of FIG. As shown, the video game device 100 is constructed centering on the device body 101. The apparatus main body 101 includes a control unit 103 connected to the internal bus 119, a random access memory (RAM) 105, a hard disk drive (HDD) 107, a sound processing unit 109, a graphic processing unit 111, and a DVD / CD-ROM drive. And 113, a communication interface 115, and an interface unit 117.

  The sound processing unit 109 of the device main body 101 is connected to a sound output device 125 which is a speaker, and the graphic processing unit 111 is connected to a display device 121 having a display screen 122. A recording medium (in the present embodiment, a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM) 131 can be attached to the DVD / CD-ROM drive 113. The communication interface 115 is connected to the network 151. A light emitting unit 160, a receiving unit 161, and a memory card 162 are connected to the interface unit 117.

  The control unit 103 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, and executes a program stored on the HDD 107 or the recording medium 131 to control the apparatus main body 101. The control unit 103 includes an internal timer. The RAM 105 is a work area of the control unit 103, and information regarding the position of a player character, which will be described later, HP (hit points, which will be described later) and the like is temporarily stored in the RAM 105. The HDD 107 is a storage area for storing programs and data. When the program executed by the control unit 103 instructs to output a sound, the sound processing unit 109 interprets the instruction and outputs a sound signal to the sound output device 125.

  According to the drawing command output from the control unit 103, the graphic processing unit 111 is drawn outside the frame memory 112 (in the figure, outside of the graphic processing unit 111) Image data, and outputs a video signal for displaying the image on the display screen 122 of the display device 121. One frame time of the image included in the video signal output from the graphic processing unit 111 is, for example, 1/30 second. Two sets of frame memories 112 are provided, and data writing and reading are switched for each frame period.

  The DVD / CD-ROM drive 113 reads a program and data from the recording medium 131. The communication interface 115 is connected to the network 151 and communicates with other computers. The light emitting unit 160 includes a plurality of LEDs whose light irradiation directions are different from each other, and is installed at a position (upper or lower part of the display device 121) having a predetermined relationship with the display device 121.

  The input device 163 includes a light receiving unit 163a, an acceleration sensor 163b, and a transmitting unit 163c. The light receiving unit 163 a receives light emitted from each of the LEDs included in the light emitting unit 160. The orientation of the input device 163 causes a difference in the number and positions of LEDs from which the light receiving unit 163a can receive light. The acceleration sensor 163b is composed of a multi-axis acceleration sensor with three or more axes, and detects inclination and three-dimensional movement of the input device 163. The input device 163 also includes direction keys and a plurality of operation buttons.

  The transmitting unit 163c is an infrared signal according to the condition of the input device 163, more specifically, the light receiving state of the light receiving unit 163a, the inclination of the input device 163 detected by the acceleration sensor 163b, the moving direction and speed of the input device 163, An infrared signal is transmitted according to the input from the direction key and the operation button. The infrared signal transmitted from the transmitter 163 c is received by the receiver 161 as input data from the input device 163.

  The interface unit 117 outputs the input data received by the receiving unit 161 to the RAM 105, and the control unit 103 interprets the input data and performs arithmetic processing. The interface unit 117 also causes the memory card 162 to store data indicating the progress of the game stored in the RAM 105 based on an instruction from the control unit 103, and the game at the time of interruption stored in the memory card 162. Data are read and transferred to the RAM 105. Although not shown, a keyboard is used as an input device for inputting characters in a chat function to be described later. The keyboard may be input to the interface unit 117 via the input device 163 or may be directly input.

  A program for playing a game on the video game apparatus 100, data, data of the movie itself, etc. are initially stored in, for example, the recording medium 131. The program, data, data of the movie itself and the like stored in the recording medium 131 are read by the DVD / CD-ROM drive 113 at the time of execution and loaded into the RAM 105. The control unit 103 processes the program and data loaded in the RAM 105, outputs a drawing instruction to the graphic processing unit 111, and outputs a sound output instruction to the sound processing unit 109. Intermediate data is stored in the RAM 105 while the control unit 103 is performing processing.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server apparatus 200 of FIG. As illustrated, the server apparatus 200 is constructed centering on the server main body 201. The server body 201 includes a control unit 203 connected to the internal bus 219, a RAM 205, a hard disk drive (HDD) 207, a DVD / CD-ROM drive 213, and a communication interface 215. A recording medium (DVD-ROM or CD-ROM) 231 can be attached to the DVD / CD-ROM drive 213.

  The control unit 203 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, executes a program stored on the HDD 207 or the recording medium 231, and controls the game server apparatus 200. The control unit 203 includes an internal timer that counts the current time. A RAM 205 is a work area of the control unit 203. The HDD 207 is a storage area for storing programs and data. The communication interface 215 is connected to the network 151 and communicates with each of the video game devices 100.

  Programs and data for playing a network game on the game server device 200 are initially stored, for example, in the recording medium 231, and installed in the HDD 207 from here. Then, this program and data are read from the HDD 207 at the time of execution and loaded into the RAM 205. The control unit 203 processes the program and data loaded in the RAM 205, and advances the network game based on data sent from each of the video game devices 100. Intermediate data is stored in the RAM 205 while the control unit 203 is performing processing.

  Next, the battle on the field in the network game according to this embodiment will be described. A plurality of player characters forming a plurality of parties and a plurality of enemy characters exist in the field of this network game, and in particular, the battle between the player character and the enemy characters (hereinafter referred to as the battle of 1 of this embodiment) The number of enemy characters in is described as 1) in the battlefield. When a party is formed by a plurality of player characters, a battle with the enemy character is performed between the party and the enemy character.

  In the battle, the player character and the enemy character attack each other, and their HP (hit points, which will be described later) decreases each time the attack is made, and the player character and HP with the HP of 0 can not act It becomes. If the HP of the enemy character becomes 0 and can not act, the player character in that battle will win, and a battle with the next new enemy character can be performed.

  Also, this battle may be performed through the playback of a movie that is executed over a certain period of time. This movie is associated with the battle started thereafter, and the player will watch the movie on his / her video game device 100. After the end of the movie, each player character is placed in the battle field and battles with the enemy character.

  On the other hand, such a movie can be ended (skip) without waiting for a certain period when the player operates the input device 163. At this time, the player character of the player who performed the skip operation of the movie is arranged in the battle field earlier than the player character whose playback of the movie has not been completed yet. On the other hand, if there is a player character whose movie has not ended, the player character remains placed outside the battle field, and the situation is displayed on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 of the player whose movie ended first. It is supposed to be

  That is, the player character relating to the video game apparatus 100 in which the reproduction of the movie is finished appears from outside the battle field to the battle field. At this time, the reproduction of the movie is ended first, and the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player character already arranged in the battlefield is the player who later ends the reproduction of the movie and moves to the battlefield from outside the battlefield. The appearance of the appearance of the character is displayed. The difference between the player character in the battle field and the display of the player character outside the battle field on the display screen 122 and the movement thereof will be described in detail in the description of a specific example of the display screen 122 described later.

  Next, the arrangement of player characters on the battle field in a battle (hereinafter referred to as “battle arrangement”) will be described. The battle arrangement is determined in the order in which the movie ends in each video game apparatus 100 (in detail, the order in which the server apparatus 200 receives information related to the end of the movie described later (skip input, movie last information)). It has become a thing. This battle arrangement will be described below in the case of a party formed of three player characters.

  In this case, in the video game apparatus 100, the distance between the player character (first) whose movie is to be ended earliest and the player character (third) whose movie is ended latest is the distance to the enemy character. It will be placed in a distant battle arrangement. On the other hand, the player character (second) whose movie ends as the next point is arranged in the battle arrangement in which the distance to the enemy character is short.

  As described above, in the battle arrangement in which the distance to the enemy character is different, there is a difference in the frequency of attacks from the enemy character in the actual battle, and the power of the attack (the reduction amount of HP for one attack). The attack frequency of the enemy character is close and the attack power is high for the battle arrangement (second), and the attack frequency of the enemy character is high for the battle arrangement (first and third) where the distance is long. The attack power is low.

  That is, when the player ends the movie, the player can end his / her player character in an advantageous battle arrangement with respect to the enemy character by ending the movie earliest or ending the movie latest, and the runner point When the movie ends, the player character is placed in a battle arrangement that is disadvantageous compared to other battle arrangements.

  However, the advantage / disadvantage in the battle may also be determined depending on which of the fire, water and wind attributes each player character and enemy character has. In this attribute, for example, an enemy character having the attribute of fire is highly effective in attacking a player character having the attribute of water, and is low in attack power against a player character having the attribute of wind. Furthermore, the enemy character having the wind attribute has high attack power against the player character having the fire attribute, and has low attack power against the player character having the water attribute. This is the same in the attack power of the player character against the enemy character.

  That is, in the attributes of fire, water, and wind, a so-called three freezing relationship (a relationship in which each other has an advantageous attribute and an adverse attribute) is established. Therefore, even if the battle arrangement at a battle short distance is an arrangement that is disadvantageous to the enemy character, the player character has an advantageous attribute to the attribute of the enemy character in the relationship of freezing (for example, the player character If the attribute of is fire, and the attribute of the enemy character is water, the player character does not necessarily have a disadvantage in the arrangement in the battle arrangement that is in close proximity to the enemy character.

  The attribute possessed by such an enemy character is understood when the player battles with the enemy character is actually performed when the battle with the enemy character is the first time, and the player characters having one set of attributes attack the enemy character. Sometimes it is (due to high or low attack power) but it can not be known until the battle starts. However, in the reproduction of the movie executed on each video game apparatus 100 before the battle, the player may be able to visually recognize a video (hint) indicating which attribute the enemy character has.

  That is, since hints in this movie can not of course be visually recognized if the player performs a skip operation before being displayed in the middle of the movie, for example, to obtain an advantageous battle arrangement. An early skip operation to do will lead to missing a hint, and not to miss a hint and hesitate to skip may miss an advantageous battle arrangement. An example of a specific timing at which the hint is displayed will be described in a specific example of a display screen described later.

  In addition, the player character that has already finished playing the movie and is placed in the battle field ends playing the movie in the video game apparatus 100 related to all the player characters forming the party, and all the player characters are battle field It is in a standby state until it is placed in. In this standby state, the player can execute the chat by the chat function of the network game by operating the input device.

  In addition, it is possible to change the equipment (for example, a weapon or armor) of the player character of the player and to practice the movement of the player character in a battle (for example, practice for so-called special maneuvers). By changing the equipment of the player character, it is possible to suppress the reduction amount of the HP of the player character by one attack of the enemy character and to increase the reduction amount of the HP of the enemy character. Also, in a party formed of three or more player characters, two player characters may be on standby at the same time before the battle is started, but the movie ends for the actions of the other player characters at this time. The movement other than the movement to the battle field is controlled by the own video game apparatus 100, and is not affected at all by the operation of the player related to the other player character in the standby state.

  Next, in order to advance the network game according to this embodiment, data managed by the server device 200 and data stored by the video game device 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a view showing a group of tables managed by the server device 200 to execute the network game according to this embodiment.

  FIG. 4A is a party management table 400 which manages the state of each party present in the network game according to this embodiment. FIG. 4B is a character management table 410 which is generated for each party and manages information concerning the position, appearance, and the like of characters forming the party.

  First, in the party management table 400 shown in FIG. 4A, a party ID 401, a participating character ID 402, a battle flag 403, and a pre-battle flag 404 are stored for each party. The party ID 401 is identification information for uniquely identifying each party present in the field. In addition, the participating character ID 402 stores all character IDs (described later) forming the party. The battle flag 403 indicates whether the party is bound by the process related to the battle (battle itself, including the reproduction of the movie), and becomes ON (1) in the battle, and OFF (0 in the battle) ).

  The pre-battle flag 404 indicates whether or not the player character relating to the video game apparatus 100 playing the movie is present among the player characters forming the party, and such a player character is present. If it does, it will be ON (1), and if it does not exist, it will be OFF (0). Of course, playback of the movie is performed as a pre- battle stage, so when the pre-battle flag 404 is on, the battle flag 403 is always on and the battle flag 403 is off The pre-battle flag 404 is never turned on.

  Subsequently, in the character management table 410 shown in FIG. 4B, the character ID 411, the transmission destination address 412, the name information 413, the form information 414, the attribute information 415, and the position for each character forming a party. Information 416, HP information 417, equipment information 418, and an in-movie flag 419 are stored.

  The character ID 411 is identification information for uniquely identifying each player character present in the field. The transmission destination address 412 stores an IP address assigned to specify the video game apparatus 100 that operates each player character. The name information 413 is used as information for displaying the name of the player character on the display screen 122. The form information 414 is information used to represent the appearance (physical build, face, etc.) of the player character on the field.

  The attribute information 415 is information indicating whether the attribute of the player character is fire, water, or wind. The position information 416 is information indicating the position of the player character on the field or battle field. The HP information 417 is information indicating the value of the HP of the player character.

  The equipment information 418 indicates information on a weapon or the like that the player character is equipped with, so that the player character in a state of wearing the weapon or the like (a state of holding a sword, a state of wearing a bag, etc.) The appearance of the player is visually recognized by the player on the display screen 122. The in-movie flag 419 is information indicating whether or not a movie is being played back in the video game apparatus 100 that operates each player character. If the movie is playing, it will be ON (1), and if the movie has finished it will be OFF (0).

  By transmitting information for reproducing a movie in each video game apparatus 100, which will be described later, the in-movie flag 419 for all video game apparatuses 100 is updated to 1, and there is a skip input from each video game apparatus 100. When the server apparatus 200 receives information indicating that the movie has been played or the movie has been played to the end, the in-movie flag 419 of each video game apparatus 100 is updated to 0.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of data stored in the video game apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. In the video game apparatus 100, a character ID 501, a party ID 502, name information 503, form information 504, attribute information 505, position information 506, HP information 507, equipment information 508, an in-movie flag 509, and the like. , Other player character information 510 is stored.

  The character ID 501 is unique to the player character operated in the video game apparatus 100 in which the character ID 501 is stored, and is the same as the character ID 411 stored in the character management table 410. The character ID 501 and the character ID 411 uniquely identify the player character on the field and the battle field and the video game apparatus 100 that operates the player character.

  The party ID 502 is an ID of a party formed as a member of the player character operated by the video game apparatus 100, and corresponds to the party ID 401 stored in the party management table 400. By this correspondence relationship, it becomes possible to uniquely specify which party the player character of the video game apparatus 100 belongs to. Further, the name information 503, the form information 504, the attribute information 505, the position information 506, the HP information 507, and the equipment information 508 are information of the same contents as those stored in the character management table 410 described above. By transmitting and receiving information between the server devices 200, these information are kept consistent in the progress of the game.

  The in-movie flag 509 is updated to 1 by receiving the information for reproducing the movie transmitted from the server device 200, and the information indicating that the movie is to be reproduced has been subjected to the skip operation, or the movie is completed until the end It is updated to 0 by being reproduced.

  The other player character information 510 is used to store data necessary for displaying on the display screen 122 player characters other than the player character of each video game apparatus 100, and the other player transmitted from the server device 200 Store the information of the character. Information of other player characters forming the same party is managed by the character management table 410 transmitted from the server apparatus 200 as other player character information 510 for each player character, character ID 411, transmission destination address 412, name information 413, form information 414, position information 416, equipment information 418, and in-movie flag 419 are included.

  Next, the progress of the network game and the flow of data according to this embodiment will be described. In this network game, a party formed of a plurality of player characters battles with the enemy character on the battle field. In this battle, a battle may be started after playing a movie on the video game apparatus 100 in which each player character is operated, but the player can skip this movie on each video game apparatus 100. .

  However, even when the player skips the movie in his / her video game apparatus 100, the movie may still be reproduced on the video game apparatus 100 in which the player character forming the party is operated. Then, in the video game apparatus 100 of all player characters forming a party, the battle after the movie is not started until the movie is ended (not only when the movie is skipped or viewed to the end), The player character of the video game apparatus 100 whose movie has ended is put on standby.

  FIG. 6 describes the flow of data from when the movie is played before battle to when the video game device 100 of all the player characters forming the party finally finishes playing the movie. Here, in a party formed of three player characters, each video game device 100 ends the movie in order (not simultaneously).

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, information (hereinafter referred to as movie reproduction information) for causing each video game device 100 to execute reproduction of a movie is transmitted from the server device 200. By this, after the movie is reproduced in each video game apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), in the reproduction of this movie, the skip operation of the first movie of the player in one video game apparatus 100 is Then, information on skip input by the operation (hereinafter, skip input information) is transmitted from the video game apparatus 100 to the server apparatus 200.

  Subsequently, when the server apparatus 200 receives the skip input information of the first movie, the video game apparatus 100 that has transmitted the skip input information is the other player character that forms the same party. According to the waiting information (hereinafter, simply waiting information) including the character ID 411, the transmission destination address 412, the name information 413, the form information 414, the equipment information 418, the in-movie flag 419, and the order of ending the movie The position information 416 updated to the position information concerning the battle arrangement of the player character of the player character is transmitted from the server device 200 together. In this case, since the video game apparatus 100 is the video game apparatus 100 that has finished reproducing the movie earliest, the updated position information 416 is received as the position information of the battle arrangement in which the distance to the enemy character is long.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, in the video game apparatus 100 for operating another player character forming the same party, the skip operation of the second movie is performed, and the skip input information is the video game. It is transmitted from the device 100 to the server device 200. Then, in the server device 200 from which the skip input information has been received, the video game device 100 where the movie is skipped and the video game device 100 which has finished the movie first The waiting information including the position information 416 updated with the position information of the battle position according to the ending order is transmitted. Since the end of this movie is the second after the video game device 100 which ended the movie first, in the video game device 100 which transmitted this skip input information, the position where it is a battle arrangement in which the distance to the enemy character is close. Information is received.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), the skip input information related to the skip operation of the last movie, or the movie last information by watching the movie to the last continues the movie playback to the last The video game device 100 transmits the data to the server device 200. Subsequently, in the server device 200 having received it, waiting information including position information 416 updated with position information of battle positions according to the end order of the movie is transmitted to all the video game devices 100. Be done. Here, since it is the end of the last movie, the video game apparatus 100 whose movie is finally ended receives position information in a battle arrangement in which the distance to the enemy character is long.

  In the video game apparatus 100 related to all player characters forming a party, since the reproduction of the movie is ended, the battle is subsequently started. As shown in FIG. 6 (e), after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the last waiting information has been transmitted in order to cause all of the video game devices to execute processing relating to the battle at the start of the battle. As such, battle start information is transmitted from the server device 200 to all the video game devices 100.

  Hereinafter, processing executed in each of the server device 200 and the video game device 100 configuring the network system according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing battle processing performed in each of the server device 200 and the video game device 100.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in the battle process of the server device 200, first, the control unit 203 of the server device 200 stores a battle flag stored in the party management table 400 for a party performing a battle related to the battle process. The switch 403 is turned on (updated to 1) (step S101). Subsequently, the control unit 203 determines whether playback of a movie is to be executed in the battle (step S102). If it is a battle in which the reproduction of the movie is executed, the movie reproduction for causing the video game apparatus 100 to simultaneously reproduce the movie with respect to the video game apparatus 100 relating to all the player characters forming the party performing the battle The information is transmitted (step S103). Here, the movie reproduction information is not the data of the movie itself but information for reproducing the data of the movie stored in the recording medium 131 of each video game apparatus 100.

  When the movie reproduction information is transmitted, the control unit 203 subsequently turns on the pre-battle flag 404 stored in the party management table 400 for the party performing the battle (update to 1) (step S104). Subsequently, the control unit 203 turns on the in-movie flag 419 stored in the character management table 410 for all player characters of the party (update to 1) (step S105).

  Subsequently, the control unit 203 performs a battle standby process (step S106). In the battle standby process, the movie is skipped first and the battle is started first (until the movie is ended in all the video game devices 100) in the case where the movie is not ended in all the video game devices 100. A process to be performed is performed in relation to the video game device 100 in the standby state. For example, in the case where processing related to transmission and reception of a message in the chat function or the equipment of the player character is changed, the contents of the equipment information 418 stored in the character management table 410 of the server apparatus 200 regarding the change. In order to change, the process of receiving the data of the change content and the change is executed.

  After the battle standby process of step S106, the control unit 203 determines whether or not the skip input information related to the movie skip operation by the player transmitted from the video game apparatus 100 has been received (step S107). If it is determined that the skip input information is not received, the control unit 203 receives the movie last information transmitted from the video game apparatus 100 because the reproduction of the movie is completed without being skipped and ended. It is determined whether or not it has been made (step S108). If it is determined that the movie last information is not also received, the control unit 203 returns to the process of step S106 again.

  If it is determined in step S107 that the skip input information is received, or if it is determined in step S108 that the movie last information is received, the control unit 203 transmits the received information to the video game apparatus 100. The in-movie flag stored in the character management table 410 is turned OFF (updated to 0) for the player character of (step S109). Further, the control unit 203 causes the position information 416 stored in the character management table 410 of the player character relating to the video game apparatus 100 whose movie has been skipped or played back to the end, in the order in which the movie is ended. It updates with the position information of the battle arrangement determined based on.

  Subsequently, the control unit 203 transmits the waiting information from the updated character management table 410 to the video game apparatus 100 related to all the player characters in the waiting state (step S110). Subsequently, the control unit 203 determines whether or not the in-movie flag stored in the character management table 410 is OFF (updated at 0) for all player characters forming a party (step S111). . If it is determined that the in-movie flag is not OFF for all player characters, the control unit 203 returns to the process of step S106 again.

  If it is determined that the in-movie flag is OFF for all player characters, the control unit 203 turns off the pre-battle flag 404 stored in the party management table 400 (update with 0) (step S112). . After that, or after it is determined that the reproduction of the movie is not executed in the battle in step S102, after a certain period of time has elapsed, the control unit 203 sends the video game apparatus 100 to all the player characters forming the party to be battled. On the other hand, battle start information for executing the process in the battle is simultaneously transmitted (step S113). Subsequently, the control unit 203 executes a process during battle (step S114), and ends the process relating to the actual battle. The processing during the battle is not related to the present invention, so the description is omitted.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the battle process of the video game apparatus 100, first, whether the control unit 103 of the video game apparatus 100 has received battle start information transmitted from the server apparatus 200 or not. The determination is made (step S201). If it is determined that the battle start information has not been received, then the control unit 103 determines whether the movie reproduction information transmitted from the server device 200 has been received (step S202). If it is determined that the movie reproduction information is not also received, the control unit 103 returns to the process of step S201 again.

  If it is determined that the movie reproduction information has been received, the control unit 103 turns on the in-movie flag 509 stored in the video game apparatus 100 (updates it to 1) (step S203). Subsequently, the control unit 103 starts the reproduction of the movie based on the instruction of the reproduction of the movie indicated by the received movie reproduction information (step S204). Subsequently, the control unit 103 determines whether or not there is a skip input of a movie by the player's skip operation (step S205). If it is determined that there is a skip input, the control unit 103 transmits the skip input information to the server device 200 (step S206).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the skip input has not been made, the control unit 103 determines whether the movie has been reproduced to the end (step S207). If it is determined that the movie has not been reproduced to the end, the control unit 103 returns to the process of step S205 again. If it is determined that the movie has been reproduced to the end, the control unit 103 transmits movie end information to the server device 200 (step S208).

  After the movie last information is transmitted because the movie is played to the end, or after the skip input information is transmitted in step S206, the control unit 103 sets the in-movie flag 509 stored in the video game apparatus 100. Is turned off (updated to 0) (step S209). Subsequently, the control unit 103 determines whether or not the waiting information transmitted from the server device 200 is received (step S210). If it is determined that the waiting information is received, the control unit 103 updates the information related to the player character of the player stored in the video game apparatus 100 in the content included in the waiting information and the other player character information 510. (Step S211).

  Subsequently, the control unit 103 determines whether 1/30 seconds have elapsed since the battle process or 1/30 seconds before (step S212). If it is determined that 1/30 second has elapsed, the control unit 103 generates a display image to be displayed on the display screen 122 by performing perspective transformation on the space on the battle field in which the player character of the player is present. (Step S213). After that, or after it is determined in step S212 that 1/30 second has not elapsed, the control unit 103 determines whether or not the battle start information transmitted from the server device 200 has been received (step S214). .

  If it is determined that the battle start information has not been received, the control unit 103 performs a battle standby process (step S215). In the battle standby process in the video game apparatus 100, for example, when the process related to the input of the message related to the chat function, the process related to transmission / reception, or the change of the equipment of the player character is performed, the equipment information 508 related to the change. In the case of updating of the content, transmission processing of the change contents to the server device 200, or in the case of practicing the player character's action in the battle, the player character according to the input information related to the operation of the input device 163 of the player. Processing associated with the operation of is to be executed. After the battle standby process, the control unit 103 returns to the process of step S210 again.

  If it is determined in step S201 or step S214 that the battle start information has been received, the control unit 103 executes a process during battle (step S216) and ends the battle process. The processing during the battle is not related to the present invention, so the description is omitted.

  Hereinafter, a specific example of a display image displayed on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 constituting the network system according to this embodiment will be described, and the reproduction of the movie before the battle of the network game, the end thereof, The waiting mode will be described. FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the display screen 122 of each video game apparatus 100 at each timing (timing (a) to (e)) in which reproduction of a movie is executed before battle with an enemy character. It is a thing. Here, for convenience, the number of player characters forming a party is 3, and the players operating each video game apparatus 100 are described as player A, player B, and player C.

  In this specific example, after the playback of the movie is started, the player B performs the skip operation at the earliest, so that the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player B is in a battle standby state, and so on. Then, the player A performs a skip operation as a secondary point, and the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player A is in a standby state. In the movie after the player A performs the skip operation and the playback of the movie is finished, a hint relating to the attribute of the enemy character that battles is to be visually recognized. Then, in the video game apparatus 100 related to the player C, the movie is reproduced to the end, so that the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 of the player C finally becomes in a standby state.

  First, at timing (a), the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player B who performed the skip operation is already in the standby state, and the message board 810 used for chat and the battlefield 801 are enemies. The character 822, and the player character 821B of the player B are displayed on the display screen 122. On the other hand, on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the other players A and C, the movie continues to be reproduced.

  At this time, since the player B is the first to finish the movie, the player character 821 B related to the player B is at a distance from the enemy character 822 on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 operated by the player B. It is arranged in battle arrangement, and the display picture of the mode is displayed. The player characters 821A and C of the players A and C who are still playing the movie in each video game apparatus 100 are displayed smaller than the player character 821B outside the battle field 801.

  Subsequently, at timing (b), since the player A has performed the skip operation by (b), the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player A and the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 of the player B A mode is displayed in which the player character 821A of the player A is moving from outside the battle field 801 to the battle arrangement in the battle field 801.

  At this time, in the video game apparatus 100 operated by the player C, reproduction of the movie is continued, but at this timing (b), a display image serving as a hint concerning the attribute of the enemy character 822 is displayed. Is the only way to see this hint.

  Subsequently, at timing (c), the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 operated by the player A displays a standby state in which the player character 821A of the player A is disposed in the battle arrangement. In this battle arrangement, the end of the movie due to the skip operation of the player A is the second after the player B, so the battle arrangement is a distance close to the enemy character 822. Then, the player character C of the player C whose movie reproduction has not been completed in the video game apparatus 100 is displayed smaller than the player characters A and B which are already in the standby state and arranged in the battle arrangement of the battle field 801. It has been done.

  In the standby state, the update information of the equipment information 418 stored in the character management table 410 of the server device 200 by changing the equipment of the player character 821 is the video game device 100 with battle start information immediately before the start of the battle. It will not be sent until it is sent. As a result, even if one of the players A and B changes the equipment of the player character 821 of his or her own, the other player operates even if the form of the player character 821 on the display screen 122 changes accordingly. The display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 may not display the change in form accompanying the change of the equipment.

  Then, at timing (d), the movie is played to the end on the video game apparatus 100 operated by the player C until (d) and the movie ends, and the video game apparatus of the players A and B is displayed on the display screen 122 Similar to the display screen 122 of 100, a mode is displayed in which the player character 821C of the player C is moving from outside the battle field 801 to the battle arrangement in the battle field 801.

  Subsequently, at timing (e), a display image in which all player characters 821 including the player character 821C of the player C are arranged in the battle arrangement of the battle field 801 is displayed on the display screen 122 of all video game devices 100. Ru. In this battle arrangement, the movie is reproduced to the end in the video game apparatus 100 of the player C, and therefore, the battle arrangement is at a distance from the enemy character 822.

  As described above, in the network game according to this embodiment, the server apparatus 200 manages the progress of the battle between the party formed by the player characters 821 of which the plurality of players operate and the enemy character 822. It has become. When the battle involves the playback of the movie as the pre-processing, the server device 200 sends the movie playback information to each video game device 100 in order to cause the video game device 100 of each player who forms the party to play the movie. Send to.

  The video game apparatus 100 having received the movie reproduction information displays the movie on the display screen 122, and when reproduction of the movie is completed, transmits information indicating that to the server apparatus 200. The server apparatus 200 battles simultaneously in all the video game apparatuses 100 on the condition that the information that the reproduction of the movie is finished is received from the video game apparatuses 100 of all the players forming the party concerning the battle. Battle start information for causing the process to be executed is simultaneously transmitted to all the video game devices 100.

  Here, in each video game apparatus 100, when each player performs a skip operation on the input device 163, the reproduction of the movie can be ended halfway at a desired timing of each player. Then, until the battle process is executed in each video game apparatus 100, each video game apparatus 100 is in a standby state. As a result, in the progress of the game by the party, it is possible to ensure that all the players who belong to the same party who should originally cooperate with each other and advance the game perform the battle.

  Also, in this standby state, the player can use the chat function to talk with other players, so for a player who is an advanced game player who has watched the movie many times, until a battle takes place. You can spend your time without getting bored. Further, in the standby state, the player can practice not only the chat function and the change of the equipment of the player character 821 but also the player's character of the player character 821 in the battle by operating the input device 163. This is because, for example, the player character 821 can perform an operation requiring a difficult operation in the battle (for example, like a special move), so that the player can spend the time until the battle is performed without getting bored. it can.

  Also, for the beginner player of the game, even if watching the movie to the end, it does not bother the player of the advanced player, so even the beginner player can actively participate in the game It will be. Further, since the player can change not only the chat but also the equipment of his / her player character 821 in the standby state, careful preparation in the battle with the enemy character 822 can be performed.

  In addition, the player character 821 forming a party is displayed on the display screen 122 of each video game apparatus 100 in the standby state, and the player character 821 in the standby state is disposed in the battle field 801. The player character 821 whose movie reproduction is not yet completed in the video game apparatus 100 is arranged outside the battle field 801 and displayed smaller than the player character 821 arranged in the battle field 801. The player character 821 arranged outside the battle field 801 moves in a mode that appears in the battle field 801 when the reproduction of the movie in the video game apparatus 100 is finished, and the order in which the reproduction of the movie is ended is performed. It will be deployed to the battle arrangement.

  Such a state of the standby state is the same as displayed on the display screen 122 of any video game apparatus 100 in the standby state (however, the player character reflected by the operation by each player in the standby state) (The display changes due to the exercise of 821's movement, the change of equipment, etc. are not displayed.) Which of the players forming the party is the player of the video game apparatus 100 in the standby state or the player during the movie playback? Can be easily viewed through the display device. Conversely, the player character not displayed on the screen in the standby state means that the player has not finished watching the movie, so other players who are still watching the movie can easily recognize it.

  Furthermore, if the members of the same party have been playing the game for a long time and have played the above battle many times, each player is a player who finishes the movie early every time, watching the movie until late every time It becomes possible to grasp the tendency of being a player. Then, for example, prompting the player who is watching the movie to always skip the movie early, etc., the display of the screen on which only the player character of the player who has already watched the movie appears , It will be useful to make communication between players.

  In addition, since the player characters 821 appearing in the battle field 801 appear in the order in which the playback of the movie ended, the player can obtain a sense of reality for the battle starting from now, and waits while waiting for the start of the battle. Also in the state, the game can be enjoyed.

  Furthermore, depending on the order in which the movie ended, the player character 821 appearing in the battle feel 801 may be placed in an advantageous battle arrangement with respect to the enemy character 822 (the first and third ends of the movie) or a disadvantageous battle. Whether it is arranged in the arrangement (the end of the movie is the second) is different. As a result, strategicity is generated at the timing when the player ends the movie (when skipping in the middle of the movie or when playing back to the end), so that the interest of the game is improved.

  Further, each player character 821 and the enemy character 822 have attributes respectively, and the attributes have a so-called three freezing relationship. As a result, depending on the attributes possessed, the relationship between the player character 821 and the enemy character 822 is also advantageous or disadvantageous. As a result, even if the battle arrangement is disadvantageous to the enemy character 822, it may be advantageous in the relationship between the attributes of the player character 821 and the enemy character 822. Furthermore, the strategic nature is brought about at the timing of the end of the movie, and the interest of the game is further improved.

  Here, in the middle of the reproduction of the movie, an image serving as a hint (attribute possessed by the enemy character 822) may be displayed regarding the enemy character 822 performing a battle to shift thereafter. For this reason, a player who has viewed an image serving as a hint may be able to advance the battle in a more advantageous manner than a player who has performed a skip operation before the image serving as the hint is displayed. Therefore, in the strategicity at the timing of the end of the movie, it is added that the player decides whether to skip the operation before watching the hint image and end the playback of the movie or see the hint image So, the interest of the game will be further improved.

  Here, in each video game apparatus 100, if the player performs a skip operation, if the skip input information is reproduced to the end of the movie, the movie last information indicates information indicating that the movie has ended, respectively. Sent to The server device 200 transmits information such as an aspect of each player character 821 until battle start information is transmitted, except that the standby information is transmitted to each video game device 100 in the standby state every time it is received. Information on operation, equipment, etc. is not transmitted to each video game device 100. This makes it possible to determine whether the player character 821 forming a party in each video game apparatus 100 is in the middle of playing a movie or in a standby state while reducing the amount and the number of transmissions of information related to display in the standby state. The processing load of the server apparatus 200 can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment applicable to the present invention will be described.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the server device 200 receives information related to the end of movie playback from the video game device 100 that has finished playing the movie last, and the player character 821 of the video game device 100 receives the information. After transmitting such waiting information to the video game apparatus 100 of all player characters forming a party, battle start information is synchronized by transmitting battle start information subsequently after a predetermined period has elapsed. The present invention is not limited to this, and after receiving waiting information on the player character 821 of the video game apparatus 100 which has finished the movie last, a predetermined period from the transmission time included in the received information is The timing of the battle start may be taken after the predetermined period is counted. By doing this, it is possible to reduce the amount of data transmitted by the server device 200, and to reduce the processing load on the server device 200.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the server apparatus 200 transmits standby information to each video game apparatus 100 in the standby state along with skipping a movie, but the present invention is limited thereto. Alternatively, the waiting information may be transmitted also to the video game apparatus 100 which is playing a movie. At this time, with respect to the video game apparatus 100 which is playing a movie, when the waiting information is received, only updating of various data based on it is performed, and playback of the movie is continued.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the player is supposed to perform the skip operation using the input device 163 in order to skip the movie without playing it all the way to the end. The player may be able to set in advance to automatically execute operation of a movie on the game device 100. Alternatively, the server apparatus 200 may be set in advance to make it unnecessary to play back a movie in its own video game apparatus 100.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the reproduction of the movie before the battle is skipped and ended, and when the player character 821 is in the standby state, the change of the equipment of the player character 821, the practice of the operation, etc. It was possible. In the network game of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and if there is another player character 821 in a standby state, it is possible to exchange the equipment of the player of the player character 821 with the player of the player character 821. Good. Further, in the network game according to the above embodiment, when an item or the like for recovering the HP of the player character can be used in addition to the equipment, such item can be used together with the player of the other player character 821 in the standby state. It may be exchangeable.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the battle arrangement of the player characters 821 forming a party is determined by the order in which the playback of the movie on the video game apparatus 100 of each player character 821 ended (skip operation, reproduction to the end). The player character 821 that has finished playing the movie is in a standby state until the playback of the movie is completed in all the video game apparatuses 100. In the network game of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is assumed that each player sets the equipment of his / her player character 821 before the battle, in the order in which the setting of this equipment is finished The battle arrangement may be determined in the order in which the input information transmitted based on the input information is processed in the server apparatus 200).

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the type of the battle arrangement in the battle is not particularly described, but there may be a plurality of battle arrangement modes. In the above embodiment, an example is shown only in the case where the number of player characters 821 is three, but it may be four or more, thereby diversifying the types of battle arrangements and the player The interest of the game is improved by increasing the choice of the battle arrangement in which the player character 821 of his own is arranged.

  In addition, when there are multiple types of battle arrangement modes as described above, it may be possible to determine one of the battle arrangement modes before the movie is reproduced in each video game apparatus 100. In addition, it may be randomly determined for each battle to determine which aspect of the battle arrangement. Also, the aspect of the battle arrangement randomly determined may be displayed as a hint on the display image during movie reproduction.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the number of enemy characters 822 is one, and the battle is performed. The network game of the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of enemy characters 822 when performing a battle can be applied even if there are a plurality. At this time, the battle arrangement of the player character 821 may be different in advantage or disadvantage in the battle with respect to each enemy character 822 depending on the arrangement of the plurality of enemy characters 822 in the battle field 801.

  For example, when performing a battle in which the number of player characters 821 forming a party is 3 and the number of enemy characters 822 is 2, the player character 821 is far from one of the enemy characters 822, but the other is A more complex battle arrangement may be considered, such as a battle arrangement in which the enemy character 822 is a short distance, a battle arrangement in the opposite direction, or a battle arrangement in which both enemy characters are close or distant. Become. By this, the interest of the game is improved by increasing the strategic nature of which battle arrangement the player character 821 of the player decides, that is, the timing of ending the reproduction of the movie.

  Also, multiple types of enemy characters 822 may exist, and the height of the attack power and the value of the HP may be different, and the arrangement of such multiple types of enemy characters 822 on the battlefield 801 is It may be determined according to the combination when performing a battle. Also, such battle arrangement may be randomly determined for each battle. Thus, the type and arrangement of the enemy character 822 may be displayed as a hint on the display image during movie reproduction.

  In the above embodiment, the plurality of player characters 821 forming a party battles against the enemy character 822 in battle and defeats them, but in addition to or instead of this, a plurality of player characters The parties formed in 821 may battle each other. In this case, the same event (reproduction of movie, etc.) may be executed for all player characters 821 participating in the battle, or different events may be executed for each party. At this time, it is assumed that the battle is started by the end of the events related to all the player characters 821.

  As a result, the arrangement of the player characters 821 of the party of the battle opponent makes the advantage and disadvantage of the battle arrangement of the player character 821 of the own party different, and the interest as a game is further increased.

  In the above embodiment, on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 whose movie is still being played back, something other than the image related to the movie being played back (for example, the message board 810 for chat etc.) is displayed Alternatively, for example, the number of players who have already skipped the movie may be displayed in the corner of the display screen 122 as long as the visibility of the movie is not reduced. Since the timing at which the player skips the movie is related to the determination of the battle arrangement of the player character 821 of his own, by displaying the number of skipped movies in this way, it is possible to more skip the movie skip operation. Strategy will be increased, and the interest of the game will be improved.

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that there is a battle to play an actual battle after playing a movie before the battle. However, the network game of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to performing a battle tutorial instead of or together with movie playback. As a result, although the tutorial for the beginner player is confirmed once, the player of the player character who forms the same party who confirmed it once does not have to confirm again, and the player can be freed from the annoyance of restraining freedom. In addition, since the period during which the tutorial is skipped and waiting for another player can be performed to change equipment and practice the operation, it is possible to make effective use of the waiting period without causing the player to get bored.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, a plurality of player characters 821 cooperate to advance the game and play a movie and then battle with the enemy character 822 but an event such as a movie reproduction The present invention can be applied to any game that needs to be synchronized for the subsequent game progression. For example, in the case of a race (car, horse, etc.), after an event pertaining to the race, an actual race will be conducted, or in the case of a sport (soccer, baseball, etc.), an event pertaining to the game will be conducted. It may be a game.

  In addition, such a race or sport may be implemented as a mini game separately from the battle execution in the network game according to the above-described embodiment, and in this case, the above tutorial may be performed before this mini game. It may be performed. Further, the arrangement of the start of the race may be determined in the race according to the order in which the event at this time is ended, and the position of the race may be determined in the sport.

  In the above embodiment, the network game has been described as being limited to the MMORPG, but this is a network game that involves changes in game progress such as battles and events (movie playback, tutorials, etc.). It may be a simulation game in which players of the above can participate.

  In the above embodiment, the video game apparatus 100, which is a game dedicated machine, is applied as an apparatus serving as a platform for executing a video game. On the other hand, the present invention may be realized as a platform using a general-purpose personal computer or the like as long as it has the same components as the video game apparatus 100 and has a network connection function. A portable game machine (including a portable telephone having an application execution function) having a configuration in which the display device 121 and the sound output device 125 are housed in the same case as the video game main body 101 may be applied.

  As the recording medium 131, a semiconductor memory card can be applied instead of a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM. A card slot for inserting this memory card can be provided instead of the DVD / CD-ROM drive 113. In the case of a general-purpose personal computer, the program and data according to the present invention may not be stored and provided in the recording medium 131, but may be stored and provided in advance in the HDD 107. A recording medium for storing and providing the program and data according to the present invention may be any one according to the physical form and distribution form of the hardware.

In the above embodiment, the program and data of the video game apparatus 100 are stored in the recording medium 131 and distributed. On the other hand, these programs and data may be stored in a fixed disk device of a server device existing on the network and distributed to the video game main unit 101 via the network. In the video game apparatus 100, the program and data received by the communication interface 115 from the server device 200 can be stored in the HDD 107 and loaded into the RAM 105 at the time of execution.
[Supplementary note]
In the description of the above-described embodiment, at least the following invention has been described so that those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs can practice.
[1]
In order to achieve the above object, a network game system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a server device and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the server device via a network, and the server device provides the same. A network game system in which a player who uses each of a plurality of terminal devices jointly performs an event in a game, wherein the server device is configured to execute the plurality of terminal devices when a predetermined event occurrence condition is established in the game. Event occurrence information transmitting means for transmitting event occurrence information to each of the preparation end notification information receiving means for receiving preparation end notification information transmitted from each of the plurality of terminal devices, and the preparation end notification information receiving means All of the plurality of terminal devices on condition that the preparation completion notification information has been received from all of the plurality of terminal devices Event start information transmitting means for simultaneously transmitting event start information to the event occurrence information receiving means for receiving the event occurrence information transmitted from the event occurrence information transmitting means, respectively. And, when the event occurrence information receiving unit receives the event occurrence information, the terminal device receives an event preparation image capable of terminating display at a desired timing according to an end instruction from a player using the terminal device Event preparation image display means for executing processing to be displayed on a display device provided in the device; preparation completion notification information transmission means for transmitting preparation completion notification information to the server device when display of the event preparation image is ended; The event opening to receive the event start information sent from the event start information sending means A standby process of executing a predetermined standby process until the event start information receiving unit receives the event start information after the information receiving unit and the preparation completion notification information transmitting unit transmit the preparation completion notification information An execution means and an event transition means for shifting to a process for performing the event when the event start information reception means receives the event start information are characterized.
[2]
In the network game system, when each terminal device receives the event occurrence information transmitted from the server device, the terminal device displays an event preparation image on a display device included in each terminal device. Then, when the display of the event preparation image is completed, each terminal device transmits preparation completion notification information to the server device. The server device simultaneously transmits event start information to all the terminal devices on the condition that the preparation completion notification information has been received from all the terminal devices, and each of the terminal devices having received this performs an event. Become.
[3]
Here, in each terminal device, the display of the event preparation image can be ended at the timing desired by the player, but the event is not performed until the event start information is received, and the period until the event is performed. Is supposed to be subjected to a waiting process. Therefore, the display of the event preparation image is ended early, and it is possible to ensure that the players are all together to play the game in each of the terminal devices until the event is started.
[4]
In addition, for example, when the display of the event preparation image is the playback of a movie and the chat function can be executed as a standby process until the event is performed, the upper level of the game in which the movie has been viewed many times For the player of the person, even if the movie is ended early, since it is possible to chat and talk with other players, it is possible to effectively utilize the period until the event is performed without getting bored. Also, for the player who is the beginner of the game, even if the movie is watched to the end, it does not bother the player of the advanced player thereby, the player of the beginner in the progress of the game according to this network game system Even then, you will be able to actively participate in the game.
[5]
In the network game system, the game provided by the server device is a game in which each player using the plurality of terminal devices moves his or her player character by moving according to an input from an input device of the terminal device. The server device transmits the event occurrence information from the event occurrence information transmission unit until the preparation termination notification information reception unit receives the preparation termination notification information from all of the plurality of terminal devices. A standby image in which a player character of a player who uses the received terminal device appears on the already received terminal device of which the preparation completion notification information receiving means has already received the prepared end notification information among the plurality of terminal devices Standby information transmitting means for transmitting standby information for causing the display device of the already received terminal device to display Each of the plurality of terminal devices further includes standby information receiving means for receiving the standby information transmitted from the standby information transmitting means, and the standby process execution means is received by the standby information receiving means A standby image display unit may be included that executes, as the standby process, a process of causing the display device included in the terminal device to display the standby image based on the standby information.
[6]
In this case, the player character of the player who uses each of the terminal devices that has finished reproducing the event preparation image in the terminal device (already received terminal device) on which the display of the event preparation image has already been completed and standby processing has been performed. Is displayed on the display device. In the case where there are a plurality of terminal devices that have already finished displaying the event preparation image, a standby image in which a plurality of player characters appear is displayed on each of the terminal devices. By this, among the players who perform this event together, the display of the event preparation image is ended, and the player of the terminal device related to the standby process can easily recognize through the display device, and considering the opposite, the event preparation still The player who is looking at the image can be easily recognized.
[7]
In the case where the end of the display of the event preparation image is sequentially performed at different timings in each of the terminal devices, the display screen of the terminal device which has ended the display of the event preparation image first sequentially displays the events. The standby image on which the player character relating to the terminal device whose display of the preparation image is finished will be displayed, and the display of the event preparation image of all the other terminal devices is ended, and the standby while waiting for the start of the event Also in the processing, the player can further obtain the interest of the game.
[8]
In addition, such an event is repeatedly performed, and the standby process after ending the display of the event preparation image is repeatedly performed, whereby the display of the event preparation image is ended early for each player who plays the game together. It will be understood whether there is a tendency or not, and it will be useful for communicating among players in the game (for example, prompting the player to finish the display of the event preparation image late at any time etc. early). .
[9]
In the above-mentioned network game system, the standby process execution means is a standby system for causing the player character of the player contained in the standby image displayed on the display device of the terminal device to operate in the standby image according to the input from the input device. A character operation means may be included.
[10]
In this case, although the display device included in the terminal device used by itself can not display the event preparation image, the display of the event preparation image of all the other terminal devices is ended during the standby processing, and the event While waiting for the start, the display device can display a standby image in which the player is moving his / her player character. As a result, the player can not only look at the action of the player character displayed on the display device while waiting for the start of the event, but can obtain a feeling of operation, so that the game does not go hand-held, and It will be an interesting thing [11]
For example, when the event is a battle, it may be possible to practice for inputting the motion of the player character in the battle in the standby image until the battle is started. In this case, the player can effectively use the period until the battle is performed without getting bored.
[12]
In the above network game system, the standby information is information indicating an already received terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices, and the preparation completion notification information receiving means is the notification of the completion of preparation from any of the plurality of terminal devices. Every time information is received, it is transmitted to all the already received terminals, and the standby image display means generates the standby image based on the information indicating the already received terminals received as the standby information, and generates the standby image. The standby image can be displayed on a display device provided in the terminal device.
[13]
In this case, each time the display of the event preparation image is completed on the terminal device, standby information for displaying a standby image on which the player character appears is transmitted to the terminal device on which the display of the event preparation image has already been completed. The standby image is generated in each of the terminal devices based thereon and displayed on the display device. By this, even if the server apparatus does not constantly transmit the standby information relating to the standby image to the terminal apparatus, each terminal apparatus can display the standby image with only the standby information at each end of the display of the event preparation image. This can reduce the processing load on the server device.
[14]
In the above network game system, the event start information may be information indicating, among the plurality of terminal devices, the already received terminal device from which the preparation completion notification information receiving means has finally received the preparation completion notification information.
[15]
In this case, for example, the standby information transmitted to the terminal device that has already displayed the event preparation image every time the display of the event preparation image described above ends can be used as the event start information. At this time, a predetermined period (may be 0) from the transmission indicated by the standby information can be timing to shift to the processing for performing an event. Thus, the amount of data transmitted from the server device can be reduced, so that the processing load on the server device can be reduced.
[16]
In order to achieve the above object, a game device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a game provided by the server device in one game device of a plurality of game devices connected to the server device via a network. A game device in which a player using the game device performs in cooperation with a player using another game device among the plurality of game devices, and a predetermined event occurrence condition is established in the game An event occurrence information receiving unit for receiving event occurrence information transmitted from the server device; and when the event occurrence information is received by the event occurrence information receiving means, the game device is requested by an end instruction from the player. The game device is provided with an event preparation image that can terminate display at the timing of Event preparation image display means for executing processing to be displayed on a display device; preparation end notification information transmission means for transmitting preparation end notification information to the server when display of the event preparation image is ended; and the server Event start information for receiving event start information simultaneously transmitted from the server device to all of the plurality of terminal devices on condition that the device has received the preparation end notification information from all of the plurality of terminal devices A standby process is executed to execute a predetermined standby process until the event start information receiving means receives the event start information after the receiving means and the preparation end notice information transmitting means transmit the preparation end notice information Means, and when the event start information receiving means receives the event start information, processing is performed to perform the event. Characterized in that it comprises an event transition means for.
[17]
In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a third aspect of the present invention is executed in each of a plurality of computer devices connected to a server device via a network, and an event in a game provided by the server device is A program for causing a player using the computer device to perform jointly with a player using another computer device among the plurality of computer devices, and when a predetermined event occurrence condition is established in the game, Event occurrence information receiving means for receiving event occurrence information transmitted from the server device, and when the event occurrence information is received by the event occurrence information reception means, the computer device is given a desired timing by an end instruction from the player Event that can end display Event preparation image display means for executing a process of displaying a preparation image on a display device included in the computer device; preparation completion notification for transmitting preparation completion notification information to the server device when display of the event preparation image is ended Information transmitting means, event start information transmitted simultaneously from the server device to all of the plurality of terminal devices on condition that the server device has received the preparation end notification information from all of the plurality of terminal devices Event start information receiving means for receiving the preparation end notification information, transmission means for transmitting the preparation end notification information, and a predetermined standby process until the event start information reception means receives the event start information information. When the standby process executing means to be executed and the event start information receiving means receive the event start information And characterized by causing the computer to function device as an event shifting unit to shift to processing for the event.
[18]
The program according to the third aspect can be provided by being recorded on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium may be a recording medium which is configured to be removable from the computer device and provided separately from the computer device. The computer readable recording medium may be a recording medium such as a fixed disk device provided in the computer device and provided with the computer device. The program according to the third aspect can also be delivered from the server device present on the network to the computer device via the network with the data signal superimposed on a carrier wave.
[19]
In addition, the server device and the terminal device constituting the network game system according to the first aspect described above are each included in the scope of the present invention as a single unit. Further, a method of executing processing executed by each means included in the game apparatus according to the second aspect as processing of each step, and processing executed by each means included in the program according to the third aspect are each The method of performing as processing of the steps is also included in the scope of the present invention.

100 video game apparatus 101 video game main unit 103 control unit 105 RAM
107 HDD
109 sound processing unit 111 graphic processing unit 112 frame memory 113 DVD / CD-ROM drive 115 communication interface 117 interface unit 119 internal bus 121 display device 122 display screen 125 sound output device 131 recording medium 200 server device 201 server main unit 203 control unit 205 RAM
207 HDD
213 DVD / CD-ROM drive 215 communication interface 231 recording medium

Claims (1)

A program executed on a computer device,
Said computer device
A reproduction function for causing a display means included in the computer apparatus to reproduce a movie whose reproduction can be ended without waiting for a predetermined period according to an input from a user of the computer apparatus;
When a predetermined event including the reproduction of the movie is executed on a plurality of computer devices including the computer device and computer devices of other users who have formed a party with the user of the computer device, the reproduction of the movie is performed on each computer device Implement a transition function to shift to processing for performing the same event on each computer device after the
The program for causing the display unit to display an image representing the reproduction status of the movie or the end of reproduction in the computer device of the other user in the reproduction function.

Images