JP3585481B2 - GAME DEVICE AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network game system, a game device, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for optimizing a font size when displaying a message character string input from each game device in a network game.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a game server is connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and the game server can be accessed from a plurality of game devices each composed of a home game machine, a personal computer, etc. A so-called network game (online game) system that allows players at a place to play a game together is becoming widespread.
[0003]
In such a network game system, when a game character that is an operation target of each player is arranged in a common three-dimensional game space and a message character string is input in association with a certain game character, In some cases, the message character string is displayed in association with the game character. According to such a system, communication between players can be promoted.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when displaying a message character string on the game screen provided in the game device, there is a problem that if all the message character strings are displayed with the same font size, the game screen becomes difficult to see.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its object is to provide a network game system, a game device, and a program that can make a game screen easy to see by determining an appropriate display font size for each message character string. Is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a network game system according to the present invention includes a first game device related to a first game character placed in a three-dimensional game space, the first game device, and a communication network. And a second game device related to a second game character arranged in the three-dimensional game space, the first game device comprising: A message character string input means for inputting a message character string in association with the first game character; and a message character string transmission means for transmitting the message character string, wherein the second game device comprises: Message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string, and message character string displaying means for displaying the message character string The network game system further includes font size determining means for determining a font size for the message character string based on positions of the first and second game characters in the three-dimensional game space, and the message The character string display means displays the message character string in a font size determined by the font size determination means.
[0007]
In the present invention, the first and second game characters are arranged in a three-dimensional game space (virtual three-dimensional space). A first game device is associated with the first game character, and a second game device is associated with the second game character. The first game device and the second game device are connected via a communication network. Then, in the first game device, when a message character string is input in association with the first game character and transmitted, the second game device receives it. The message character string may be transmitted directly from the first game device to the second game device, or may be relayed by another device such as a game server.
[0008]
In the second game device, the received message character string is displayed. For example, the first game character may be displayed on the second game device, and the received message character string may be displayed in association with the first game character. In the present invention, the font size of the message character string is determined based on the positions of the first and second game characters in the three-dimensional game space. This determination may be performed in, for example, the first or second game device, or may be performed in another device, such as a game server. And in the 2nd game device, when displaying the received message character string, it displays by the font size determined in this way.
[0009]
According to the present invention, when a message character string related to the first game character is displayed on the second game device, the position of the first game character in the three-dimensional game space and the second game device are displayed. Since the font size is determined based on the position of the related second game character, an appropriate display font size can be determined for each message character string, and as a result, the game screen should be easy to see. Will be able to.
[0010]
In the aspect of the invention, the font size determining unit may be configured to determine the three-dimensional game of the first and second game characters based on positions of the first and second game characters in the three-dimensional game space. A distance in the space is calculated, and a font size is determined for the message character string based on the distance. In this aspect, since the font size is determined based on the distance between the first and second game characters, for example, the font size is reduced as the distance between the two is increased, and the font size is increased as the distance is closer. The game screen can be made easier to see.
[0011]
In the aspect of the invention, the font size determining means may include the viewpoint that follows the second game character based on the positions of the first and second game characters in the three-dimensional game space and the first game character. A distance from the game character is calculated, and a font size is determined for the message character string based on the distance. In this aspect, since the font size is determined based on the distance between the position of the first game character and the viewpoint driven by the second game character, for example, the font size is reduced as the two are separated. The closer to the opposite, the larger the font size can be produced, and the game screen can be made easier to see. In the second game device, it is preferable to display a state of viewing the three-dimensional game space from the viewpoint.
[0012]
In the aspect of the invention, the first game device further includes basic information input means for inputting basic information for determining a font size for the message character string, and the message character string transmitting means. Transmits the basic information together with the message character string, the message character string receiving means receives the message character string and the basic information in association with each other, and the font size determining means is further based on the basic information. The font size is determined for the message character string. In this aspect, in addition to the positions of the first and second game characters in the three-dimensional game space, the basic information input in the first game device is also the basis for determining the font size for the message character string. . For this reason, the user (player) of the first game apparatus can directly or indirectly influence the determination of the font size.
[0013]
The game device according to the present invention is a three-dimensional game space in which a first player game character that is an operation target of a first player and a second player game character that is an operation target of a second player are arranged. Is a game device for displaying a state viewed from a given viewpoint, message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string corresponding to the first game character, and the first and second player game characters. Based on the position in the three-dimensional game space, the font size determining means for determining the font size for the message character string received by the message character string receiving means, and the font size determined by the font size determining means, Message string that displays the message string received by the message string receiving means Characterized in that it comprises a di character string display unit.
[0014]
In addition, the program according to the present invention includes a three-dimensional game space in which a first player game character that is an operation target of the first player and a second player game character that is an operation target of the second player are arranged. A program for causing a computer such as a home game machine, a portable game machine, a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a mobile phone to function as a game device that displays a state viewed from a given viewpoint, A message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string corresponding to the game character, and a message character received by the message character string receiving means based on the positions of the first and second player game characters in the three-dimensional game space. Font size determining means for determining the font size for the column, and At font size determined by serial font size determining means, a program for causing the computer to function as a message string display means for displaying a message string to be received by the message character string receiving means.
[0015]
According to the present invention, when a message character string related to the first game character is displayed, the font size is determined based on the positions of the first game character and the second game character in the three-dimensional game space. Therefore, an appropriate display font size can be determined for each message character string, and as a result, the game screen can be easily viewed.
[0016]
The game apparatus according to the present invention is a game apparatus that displays a state in which a three-dimensional game space in which a game character is arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint, and receives a message character string corresponding to the game character. A message character string receiving means; a font size determining means for determining a font size for the message character string received by the message character string receiving means based on the position of the game character and the viewpoint in the three-dimensional game space; Message character string display means for displaying the message character string received by the message character string receiving means at the font size determined by the font size determining means.
[0017]
In addition, the program according to the present invention is a game device that displays a state in which a three-dimensional game space in which game characters are arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint, for example, a home game machine, a portable game machine, a personal digital assistant, A program for causing a computer such as a computer or a mobile phone to function, the message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string corresponding to the game character, the position of the game character and the viewpoint in the three-dimensional game space Based on the message character string receiving means, the font size determining means for determining the font size of the message character string received by the message character string receiving means, and the message character string receiving means receiving the font size determined by the font size determining means. Message characters Message character string display means for displaying a program for causing the computer to function as a.
[0018]
According to the present invention, when the message character string related to the game character is displayed, the font size is determined based on the position of the game character and the viewpoint in the three-dimensional game space. As a result, it is possible to make the game screen easy to see.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network game system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the network game system 10 includes a plurality of game devices 16 and a game server 14. The plurality of game devices 16 and the game server 14 are all connected to a communication network 12 such as the Internet, and can exchange data with each other. The game apparatus 16 is a computer system configured by, for example, a conventionally known personal computer, home game machine, portable game machine, portable information terminal, or mobile phone. The game server 14 is also a computer system configured by, for example, a conventionally known server computer.
[0021]
The game device 16 can execute a game program for a network game. By executing the game program, a three-dimensional game space is constructed on a memory, and the state is displayed on a display as a game screen. Be able to. At this time, each game device 16 transmits the current situation of the player player game character, that is, the game character to be operated by the player in each game device 16, to the game server 14 as own situation data (see FIG. 6). ing. On the other hand, the game server 14 transfers the own situation data received from each game device 16 to the other game devices 16 as other situation data (see FIG. 7). Then, in each game device 16 that has received this other situation data, the current situation of the game character other than the own player game character, that is, the other player game character to be operated by another player in the other game device 16 is displayed. Set based on status data. Thus, in this network game system 10, the game space constructed on the memory in each game device 16 can be shared. Therefore, each player can play a game played in a common game space on his / her own game device 16 in a remote place.
[0022]
At this time, each game device 16 is provided with means for inputting a message character string. This means is constituted by a keyboard, for example. Or it can also be comprised by the software which converts the audio | voice input by this microphone into a character string (text). Furthermore, it is also possible to configure such that a message character string is input by displaying all character types in advance on the display and then designating the characters in order by display position display means such as a mouse or a game controller.
[0023]
Furthermore, each game device 16 is provided with a means for inputting the utterance size (basic information) corresponding to the input message character string. The size of the utterance is information for distinguishing the level of the utterance size, such as “large”, “medium”, and “small”. This means is configured to include a pointing device such as a display and a mouse, for example, and is configured to specify the utterance size in the GUI format. In addition, a keyboard or a game controller can be used.
[0024]
Then, the message character string and the size of the utterance are transmitted to the game server 14 as a part of the own situation data. The game server 14 determines the display time based on the received message character string. At this time, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the character type of each character constituting the message character string is read from the weighting coefficient table (see FIG. 8), and the display time is determined by adding the values. Alternatively, the display time may be determined simply by the number of characters in the message character string.
[0025]
The display time thus determined is transmitted to each game device 16 as a part of other situation data together with a message character string and the like. Then, in the game device 16, when the other player game character is displayed on the display as shown in FIG. 2, a message character string input by the player operating the other player game character on the game device 16 is also displayed. I have to. Specifically, when the other situation data received from the game server 14 is received, the other player game character corresponding to the other situation data is determined, and the other player game character's current position, current posture, action (whether attacked or magic is detected). Whether the item is used or the item is used) is determined based on the received other situation data, and based on the determination, a three-dimensional game space image representing a state of viewing the three-dimensional game space from a given viewpoint is generated. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the game space image.
[0026]
Further, the game device 16 generates a balloon image that is the same size as the three-dimensional game space image and is transparent on the entire surface, reads a message character string and a display time included in the received other situation data, An opaque or translucent balloon corresponding to the other player game character corresponding to the data (a balloon in which the original part of the balloon faces each game character) is added to the balloon image. The message character string is rendered opaque (for example, black) in each balloon. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the balloon image. Thereafter, the game device 16 combines the game space image and the balloon image to generate a game space image with a balloon and displays it on the display.
[0027]
In the game apparatus 16, the display time of the balloon is controlled to be the display time included in the other situation data. Thus, the display time of the message character string displayed on each game device 16 is optimized.
[0028]
When the game device 16 draws a balloon and a message character string on the balloon image, the size (the size of the balloon and the font size of each message character string (the size of each character)) corresponds to the message character string. The determination is made based on the distance between the other player game character and the player game character in the three-dimensional game space and the utterance level corresponding to the message character string.
[0029]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, as the distance L between the other player game character 24 and the own player game character 22 increases in the three-dimensional game space 18, the message character related to the other player game character 24 is increased. Columns are displayed with a small font size. Conversely, as the distance L is shorter, the message character string related to the other player game character 24 is displayed in a larger font size. Also, the larger the value of the pronunciation received with the message character string, the larger the message character string is displayed. On the other hand, the smaller the value of the pronunciation, the smaller the message character string is displayed. In other words, the display font size of the message character string is a function that uses as arguments the distance between the other player game character 24 corresponding to the message character string and the player player character 22 and the pronunciation level corresponding to the message character string. Determined according to. This function is a continuous or discontinuous decreasing function with respect to the distance between the other player game character 24 and the own player game character 22, and is a continuous or discontinuous increasing function with respect to the magnitude of pronunciation. For example, when the distance between the other player game character 24 and the player player game character 22 and the size of the pronunciation are given, this function can be realized by a table from which a font size is obtained.
[0030]
Note that the game device 16 displays a state in which the three-dimensional game space 18 is viewed from the viewpoint 20 that follows the player player game character 22 on the display. The viewpoint 20 is set, for example, so that the front of the player player game character 22 is desired behind the player player game character 22 at a position higher than the head of the player player game character 22 by a predetermined distance. When the player player game character 22 moves in the three-dimensional game space 18, the viewpoint 20 moves accordingly. At this time, the font size of the message character string corresponding to the other player game character 24 is other Player game character 2 4 It may be determined based on the distance between and the viewpoint 20. Even in this case, the font size can be optimized for each message character string.
[0031]
Further, when calculating the distance between the own player game character 22 and the other player game character 24 or when calculating the distance between the viewpoint 20 and the other player game character 24, the own player game character 22 and the other player game character 24 For each position, for example, the representative point coordinates set for the head object and the torso object and the coordinates of the feet may be used.
[0032]
Hereinafter, the data processing of the network game system 10 will be described in more detail.
[0033]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of own situation data transmitted from each game device 16 to the game server 14. The own situation data is data for notifying the game server 14 of the current situation of the player game character, that is, the own player game character in the game program in which each game device 16 is executed on its own machine, as shown in FIG. And ID, game character state, message character string, and utterance size. Here, the ID is data for identifying each game character or player. The game character state is, for example, data representing the current position, current posture, and action (whether attacked, used magic, or used an item) of the player game character in the game space. Further, the message is a message character string (text data) input by the player at each game device 16. The size of the pronunciation is used as basic information for determining the font size of the message character string transmitted together, and represents the voice size when the player player character speaks the message character string. Is.
[0034]
On the other hand, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of other situation data transmitted from the game server 14 to each game device 16. The other situation data is data for notifying each game device 16 of a game character other than the player game character in the game program being executed there, that is, the current situation of the other player game character. It is generated based on the received own situation data. As shown in the figure, the other situation data includes an ID, a game character state, a message character string, a utterance size, and a display time. The ID is data for identifying each game character and corresponds to the ID included in the own situation data. The game character state, message character string, and utterance size are the same as the game character state, message character string, and utterance size included in the own situation data. The display time is data newly added by the game server 14 and is generated based on a message character string included in the own situation data received from the game device 16. Specifically, based on the number of characters in the message character string, for example, the larger the number of characters constituting the message character string, the longer the display time.
[0035]
Or you may make it determine display time according to the character type of each character which comprises a message character string. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a weighting coefficient table stored in the hard disk storage device or the like of the game server 14 for this processing. As shown in the figure, the weighting coefficient table stores character types and weighting coefficients in association with each other. For example, each character “.”, “.”, “•”, “,”, “,” is stored in association with “1” as a weighting coefficient, and “!”, “?”, “−” "2" is stored in association with each of the characters "" and "~" as a weighting coefficient. Furthermore, “0.5” is stored in association with other characters as a weighting coefficient. When the game server 14 receives a message character string from the game device 16, the game server 14 reads the weighting coefficient corresponding to each character constituting the message character string from the weighting coefficient table shown in FIG. Then, the value is added to other situation data as a display time.
[0036]
When each game device 16 receives the other situation data generated in this way, the message table shown in FIG. 9 is generated. As shown in the figure, the message table stores game characters, messages, current timer values, and font sizes in association with each other. When the game apparatus 16 receives the other situation data, it sets the game character field based on the ID included therein, and sets the message character string in the message field. Further, the font size is determined as described above based on the distance between the other player game character corresponding to the data in the game character column and the own player game character and the size of the utterance included in the other situation data. Set it in the font size field. Furthermore, the display time is set to the current timer value. Then, the current timer value is subtracted based on, for example, a clock provided in the game apparatus 16, and when the value becomes zero, the record is deleted. In the game apparatus 16, the message character string stored in the message table is displayed in the vicinity of the corresponding other player game character.
[0037]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the game server 14. The processing shown in the figure is realized by executing a program in the game server 14. First, when receiving the own situation data from each game device 16 (S 101), the storage areas of the variables i and W are stored. The values are secured on the memory and the values are set to “1” and “0”, respectively (S102). Then, the i-th character of the message character string included in the received own situation data is acquired (S103). If this character is not an end character (EOF or the like) (S104), the weighting factor w corresponding to the character is read from the weighting factor table (S105). Then, the value of the variable W is increased by the weighting coefficient w (S106), and the value of the variable i is also increased by 1 (S107). And the process of S103 thru | or S107 is repeated about all the characters which comprise a message character string. If it is determined in S104 that all characters constituting the message character string have been completed, the value of W is set in the other situation data as the display time of the message character string (S108), and this is the sender of the own situation data. Transmission is made to a different game machine 16 (S109). As described above, the game server 14 transmits other situation data based on the own situation data to each game device 16.
[0038]
Next, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing of the game apparatus 16. The process shown in the figure is realized by executing a program in the game device 16. First, the game device 16 logs in to the game server 14 and transmits an ID and a password (S <b> 201). The game server 14 authenticates the player. If the authentication is successful, the game server 14 determines a game character to be operated by the player who uses the game device 16 and issues its ID. Thereafter, the game device 16 shifts to a state in which it can participate in the network game, and the game server 14 notifies the game device 16 to that effect (S202). Then, the other situation data received from the game server 14 is acquired (S203). The other situation data is stored in a reception buffer provided in the communication device of the game device 16 as needed. And a game space image (refer FIG. 3) is drawn based on the game character state of each game character contained in this other situation data (S204). Furthermore, the state of the player character generated in drawing the game space image at this time is transmitted to the game server 14 as own situation data (S205). Further, if there is a message character string newly input by the game device 16, it is also included in the own situation data and transmitted to the game server 14. Further, if the message character string is included in the other situation data acquired in S203 (S206), the message character string is stored in the message table (S207). At this time, the font size is determined based on the distance between the player player game character and the other player game character and the size of the utterance, and is also stored in the message table. The process of S207 will be described in detail later. Further, the current timer value of each message character string stored in the message table is updated (S208). If there is a message character string whose current timer value is less than or equal to zero (S209), a record including the message character string is deleted from the message table (S210). Then, the position of the balloon is determined for each message character string remaining in the message table, a balloon image (see FIG. 4) displaying each message string in the balloon is generated, and the game space in which it is drawn in S204. The image is synthesized (S211). The game space screen with a balloon is displayed on a display. When generating a balloon image, the value stored in the font size column of the message table is adopted as the font size of each message character string. Then, the process from S203 to S211 is repeated until the game is over due to game over or forced termination operation (S212). Thereafter, when the game is over, the game server 14 is logged off (S213). At this time, the game server 14 notifies the other game devices 16 of the withdrawal of the game character related to the player who has logged off, for example, from the game space. Thus, in each game device 16, each message character string has a font size determined based on the distance between the player player game character and the other player game character and the size of the utterance over the display time based on the message character string. Can be displayed on the game screen.
[0039]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a new message storage process executed by the game apparatus 16. The flowchart shows in detail the process of S207 in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in the figure, in this new message storage process, first, the current position (current position coordinates in the three-dimensional game space) of the other player game character corresponding to the new message character string is acquired (S301). Further, the current position (current position coordinates in the three-dimensional game space) of the player game character in the game device 16 is acquired (S302). Then, based on the position acquired in S301 and S302, the distance in the three-dimensional game space between the other player game character corresponding to the newly arrived message character string and the own player game character is calculated (S303). Furthermore, the size of the utterance received from the game server 14 together with the new message character string is acquired (S304). Then, the font size is calculated by substituting the distance calculated in S303 and the utterance size acquired in S304 into a predetermined function (S305). Then, the ID received from the game server 14 together with the new message character string, the message character string, the display time, and the font size calculated in S305 are respectively displayed in the game character field, message field, timer field, and font size of the message table. It stores in the column (S306).
[0040]
As described above, in the network game system 10, when a message character string related to another player game character is displayed on the display, it is based on the distance in the three-dimensional game space between the other player game character and the own player game character. Since the font size is determined, an appropriate font size can be determined for each message character string, and the message display can be optimized.
[0041]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
[0042]
For example, in the above description, when a new message character string is acquired, the distance between the other player game character corresponding to the message character string and the own player game character is calculated at that timing, and the message character string is based on the calculated distance. The font size is determined. For this reason, each message character string continues to be displayed with the same font size until it disappears from the game screen. On the other hand, the font size may be updated by recalculating the distance between the other player game character and the own player game character every predetermined time. Further, the font size may be determined by the game device 16 on the reception side as described above, or may be determined by the game device 16 on the transmission side. Further, it may be performed by the game server 14.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a message character string related to the first game character is displayed on the second game device, the first game character position in the three-dimensional game space, and the first The font size is determined based on the position of the second game character related to the second game device. When a message character string related to the game character is displayed, the font size is determined based on the position of the game character and the viewpoint in the three-dimensional game space. Therefore, an appropriate display font size can be determined for each message character string, and the game screen can be easily viewed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network game system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen displayed on the display of the game device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game space image serving as a basis for generating a game screen.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a balloon image serving as a basis for generating a game screen.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional game space.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of own situation data transmitted from the game device to the game server.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of other situation data transmitted from the game server to the game device.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a weighting coefficient table.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message table.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing of the game server.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing of the game device.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail a new message storage process in the game device.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 network game system, 12 communication network, 14 game server, 16 game device, 18 3D game space, 20 viewpoint, 22 own player game character, 24 other player game character.

Claims (4)

In a game device connected to a communication network,
A three-dimensional game space in which a first game character related to the game device and a second game character related to another game device connected to the communication network are viewed from a given viewpoint Means for displaying an image representing the situation;
Message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string transmitted from the other game device ;
Based on the position in the first and three-dimensional game space of the second Gate arm character, and font size determining means for determining a font size for a message string to be received by the message character string receiving means,
Message character string display means for displaying a message character string received by the message character string receiving means at a font size determined by the font size determining means;
A game apparatus comprising: In a game device connected to a communication network,
Means for displaying an image representing a state in which a three-dimensional game space in which game characters related to other game devices connected to the communication network are arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint;
Message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string transmitted from the other game device ;
Font size determining means for determining a font size for the message character string received by the message character string receiving means based on the position of the game character and the viewpoint in the three-dimensional game space;
Message character string display means for displaying a message character string received by the message character string receiving means at a font size determined by the font size determining means;
A game apparatus comprising: A program for causing a computer to function as a game device connected to a communication network ,
A three-dimensional game space in which a first game character related to the game device and a second game character related to another game device connected to the communication network are viewed from a given viewpoint Means for displaying an image representing the situation,
Message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string transmitted from the other game device ;
Wherein based on the position in the first and three-dimensional game space of the second Gate arm characters, the message character string receiving means font size determination means for determining a font size for a message string to be received by and,
Message character string display means for displaying a message character string received by the message character string receiving means at a font size determined by the font size determining means;
A program for causing the computer to function as A program for causing a computer to function as a game device connected to a communication network ,
Means for displaying an image representing a state in which a three-dimensional game space in which game characters related to other game devices connected to the communication network are arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint;
Message character string receiving means for receiving a message character string transmitted from the other game device ;
A font size determining means for determining a font size for the message character string received by the message character string receiving means based on the position of the game character and the viewpoint in the three-dimensional game space; and
Message character string display means for displaying a message character string received by the message character string receiving means at a font size determined by the font size determining means;
A program for causing the computer to function as

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