JP3940348B2 - Virtual pet system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for configuring pets such as dogs and cats as virtual pets characterized by attribute parameters and displaying the images of the virtual pets on the screen for use in play, and in particular, shared by a plurality of players. The present invention relates to a technology for enabling communication between players through a virtual pet in a common space such as a playground.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various game devices using virtual pets have been known.
For example, with a portable device of a size similar to a pocket watch with a liquid crystal screen, an image of a virtual pet is displayed and operated, and the virtual pet is displayed in response to a player input from a button provided on the device. What is fostered is known.
[0003]
In addition, as a device installed in a common space such as a game hall, a magnetic card in which growth data of a virtual pet (dog) is recorded is inserted into the device, the growth data is read, and the virtual pet is displayed on a screen provided in the device. It is known that the virtual pet is nurtured in response to player input from a keyboard provided in the apparatus, and the growth data is recorded on a magnetic card so that the player can carry it. Yes. (For example, see Non-Patent Document 1)
[0004]
[Non-Patent Document 1]
“Dogstation (trademark)”, Konami Co., Ltd. [searched on August 22, 2002], Internet <URL: http://www.konami.co.jp/kmj/products/ac/am-dogstation.html>
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, when I looked at the real world of raising a live pet, when I went for a walk in a common space such as a park, I said that pet owners would have a conversation with each other and become friends I often see sights. This is mainly due to the fact that they can recognize each other that they have a common hobby that they like pets, and that it becomes an environment where strangers can easily talk with each other by the act of saying that they love each other's pets. It is done.
In other words, in the real world, breeding and nurturing pets not only provides the enjoyment of the owner alone, but also provides a contact with others through the pet.
[0006]
However, in the conventional game device using virtual pets, although it is possible to provide enjoyment only for the owner (player) of the virtual pet, it is not possible to realize contact with other people through the pet, It wasn't even considered to make this happen.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a player with a similar environment when a pet is bred and raised in the real world by raising and raising a virtual pet.
Further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is the creation of a technical idea based on the idea that virtual pets can realize contact with others in the real world through a pet, and these players share each virtual pet brought by a plurality of players. By operating in response to player input with a device that realizes an environment in which players can easily communicate with each other through a virtual pet, and to realize individualization of the virtual pet by such an operation. is there.
[0009]
The virtual pet system according to the present invention displays a storage medium such as a portable IC card that stores readable and writable attribute parameters that characterize the virtual pet, and displays an image of the virtual pet on the screen according to the attribute parameters read from the storage medium And a virtual pet device that reflects the player input to the virtual pet in the operation of the virtual pet.
[0010]
The virtual pet device has a screen shared by a plurality of players at the same time, an image display means for displaying an image of the virtual pet on the screen, and an input means provided on the screen of the image display means (for example, a screen) At least one of a microphone for receiving voice input from a player, an interface for reading and writing attribute parameters of the storage medium, and an image display means according to the attribute parameter read from the storage medium Control means for displaying an image and operating the virtual pet. The control means displays a plurality of virtual pet images on the screen according to a plurality of different attribute parameters read from the storage medium. The virtual pet is operated according to the input, and the virtual pet attribute Update the meter, a process is executed to write the updated attribute parameter in the storage medium.
[0011]
Further, the present invention reads an attribute parameter characterizing a virtual pet from a storage medium portable to a device having a screen shared by a plurality of players, and responds to the plurality of different attribute parameters read from the storage medium by the device. Screen that displays a plurality of virtual pet images on the screen, operates the virtual pet in response to player input, updates the attribute parameters of the virtual pet, and writes the updated attribute parameters to the storage medium. In this method, a plurality of virtual pet images are displayed on the screen to allow a plurality of players to play.
[0012]
The virtual pet device according to the present invention can also be configured by a dedicated circuit, but displays a plurality of virtual pet images according to a plurality of attribute parameters written from a portable external storage medium to the internal memory. And a program according to the present invention for causing a computer to realize a process of operating the virtual pet according to player input, updating the attribute parameter of the virtual pet, and writing the updated attribute parameter to the storage medium. Can be configured.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be specifically described based on examples.
1 to 3 show different examples of the virtual pet device 1 according to the present invention.
In the following description, the virtual pet device 1 is configured as a device that realizes a predetermined process by executing the program according to the present embodiment by computer hardware. The electronic circuit may be configured.
[0014]
The external basic configuration of the illustrated virtual pet device 1 is a touch panel type screen 2 having a transmissive touch sensor on the surface and a plurality of operation posts 3 for a player. Are provided with a slot 5 for inserting a storage medium 4 made of an IC card, a microphone 6 for receiving voice input from the player, and an operation button 7 for receiving player operations such as taking out the IC card 4. Here, as is well known, the touch panel serving as a touch sensor is a thin transparent sheet-like pressure sensor, and detects the position and movement of the player touching the screen.
[0015]
Here, in this example, a touch panel is used as an input means for receiving the operation input of the player, but instead of or in addition to this, for example, the operation post 3 is provided with a joystick type operation lever or a direction key including a plurality of buttons. These operation levers or the like may accept operation inputs from the player (such as mixing as will be described later). More specifically, for example, an image of the player's hand is displayed on the screen, and the hand image is moved according to the movement of the operation lever or the like to display an operation such as kneading a virtual pet. Good.
In addition, when a touch panel is adopted as in this example, the operation mode is as if the player kneads the virtual pet directly using the hand, which is preferable in terms of more practical.
Such a virtual pet device 1 and the portable storage medium 4 constitute a virtual pet system.
[0016]
In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a seat for a plurality of players to sit, the operation post 3 is positioned in the vicinity of each player seated on the seat 8, and each player views the same screen 2 It becomes.
Reference numeral 9 in the figure denotes a speaker for outputting sound (such as a virtual pet's cry) to the player.
[0017]
Here, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of players seated on the seat 8 see the same flat screen 2 facing each other, and in the example shown in FIG. A plurality of display panels are arranged in a round shape, and the screen 2 configured substantially the same is viewed from the front, and in the example shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of players seated on the seat 8 are the same flat type. The screen 2 is viewed from the top.
[0018]
In this example, the device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 displays images of virtual pets (dogs in this example) D1, D2,... In side view, but the device 1 shown in FIG. An image in which a virtual space is viewed from the position of each player is displayed on each display panel, and an image is expressed in which the same virtual space where the virtual pets D1, D2,.
Further, in this example, the apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 displays the images of the virtual pets D1, D2,.
[0019]
In the virtual pet device 1 of this example, a storage medium 4 made of an IC card is detachably loaded in a slot 5, and a program installed in the device 1 is installed based on the attribute parameters read from the IC card 4. The virtual pets D1, D2,... Are displayed on the screen 2 and the virtual pet is operated. In the present invention, various portable storage media capable of reading and writing data can be employed. For example, magnetic cards, floppy (registered trademark) disks, sticks, card-type semiconductor memories, optical discs such as MD and CDROM, etc. A typical memory can be used. In addition, a mobile phone having an infrared communication function can be used as a storage medium, and the interface on the device side is an infrared communication device, and attribute parameters stored in the internal memory of the mobile phone are transmitted and received by infrared rays. Good.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows a more detailed configuration of the virtual pet device 1. Since the configuration of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is the same, the apparatus example shown in FIG. 1 will be described as a representative.
The main configuration of the virtual pet apparatus 1 includes a computer, and stores a control unit 11 that performs a central function of processing, a program PR that defines image display and operation of the virtual pet, and an attribute parameter P that characterizes the virtual pet. A plurality of card interfaces 13 for reading and writing attribute parameters P between the memory 12 and the IC cards 4 loaded in the plurality of slots 5 and a plurality of microphone interfaces 14 for performing voice input processing of the plurality of microphones 6 are provided. It has been.
[0021]
The control unit 11 executes various control functions necessary for the processing of the present invention by executing a control program (not shown), and executes the program PR based on the attribute parameter P to operate the virtual pet according to the player input. In addition to the processing to update the corresponding attribute parameter P written in the internal memory 12 according to the action of the virtual pet or the player instruction, the read / write control processing of the attribute parameter P between the IC card 4 and the internal memory 12, Processing for recognizing and capturing the voice input of the player received by the microphone 6, processing for capturing the instruction input from the player detected by the patch panel sensor provided over the entire surface of the screen 2, and sound such as the sound of a virtual pet Is output from the speaker 9 and in response to a play or instruction from the operation button 7.
[0022]
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the attribute parameters P (Pa, Pb, Pc,... Depending on the number of cards) that characterize the virtual pet owned by the player are connected to the card interface 13 for each IC card. 4 and written in the parameter storage area of the internal memory 12, and the program PR uses each attribute parameter Pa, Pb, Pc,... Written in the internal memory 12 to correspond to each attribute parameter. Perform virtual pet image display and motion control.
In this example, the attribute parameter P is read when the IC card 4 is connected to the card interface 13, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, this can be performed by a user instruction from the operation button 7. You may make it carry out, and you may make it carry out on condition on the payment for utilizing the said apparatus.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 6, the attribute parameter P characterizing the virtual pet is stored in the IC card 4 and can be carried by the player, and the IC card 4 is loaded into the virtual pet device 1 installed in a game hall or the like. Thus, it is possible to play by displaying an image of the virtual pet. That is, the player can own his / her virtual pet by storing and holding the attribute parameter in the IC card 4, and by displaying this virtual pet on the screen 2 shared with other players, the virtual pet As a medium, it is possible to share the same space with other players in the same time and place, and mutual communication is promoted.
[0024]
In this example, the attribute parameter P includes a display parameter that characterizes the form of the virtual pet and a personality parameter that characterizes the operation of the virtual pet. As will be described later, in this example, the name of the virtual pet is set as the individuality parameter in order to perform the process of specifying the virtual pet to be instructed by calling the name of the virtual pet by the player.
[0025]
The display parameter is data for specifying the virtual pet image, such as the type of virtual pet (dog breed such as Shiba Inu, Terrier, Chihuahua), the color of the virtual pet, the pattern of the virtual pet, etc. The image of the virtual pet corresponding to is displayed on the screen 2.
Many types of virtual pet images may be prepared in advance on the device 1 side, and an image corresponding to the display parameter may be displayed, or may be generated and displayed each time based on the display parameter. It may be.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image of the virtual pet corresponding to each attribute parameter is displayed on the screen 2 by the processing of the control unit 11 together with the scenery such as the park.
[0026]
The individuality parameter specifies the degree of friendship (person) that specifies the ease of use with other players, the degree of friendship (dog) that specifies the ease of use with other virtual pets, and whether the movement is running or walking slowly It is data that characterizes the character and behavior of a virtual pet, including the degree of activity, the degree of loyalty that specifies the degree of obeying the call and instructions of the owner's own player, the degree of timidity that specifies the degree of well-being.
Each of these degrees is set as, for example, 10 levels, and the default level (for example, 5) is displayed on the screen 2 to display and operate the virtual pet (that is, the experience obtained by the virtual pet). 11 is updated and written to the IC card 4 and the virtual pet is personalized through playing with the virtual pet.
[0027]
Here, the initial setting of the attribute parameter to the IC card 4 is performed by, for example, providing the virtual pet device 1 with a setting function and setting operation keys (further, a new IC card vending function). There are various modes such as performing a setting operation on the IC card 4 by the apparatus 1 or performing a setting writing device installed in a sales counter or the like by a player when purchasing a new IC card 4. Conceivable.
[0028]
Next, processing and operations by the virtual pet system will be described with reference to processing procedures shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and screen display examples shown in FIGS.
First, when the player inserts his IC card 4 into any of the slots 5 of the virtual pet device 1, the attribute parameter P is read from the IC card 4 by the card interface 13 under the control of the control unit 11, and the program is executed. Stored in internal memory 12 for use by PR.
[0029]
By the processing of the control unit 11, the program PR executes a cyclic main flow as shown in FIG. 7 and a subroutine corresponding to each attribute parameter as shown in FIG. 8, and is characterized by the attribute parameters Pa, Pb,. The virtual pet image is displayed on the screen 2 shared by a plurality of players, the player input to the virtual pet is reflected in the operation of the virtual pet, and the corresponding attribute parameters Pa, Pb,... Pn are updated. Do.
That is, it is determined whether or not the attribute parameter is written in the internal memory 12 (steps S1, S2,...). If there is an attribute parameter, a virtual pet subroutine based on the attribute parameters Pa, Pb,. , S4 ··).
[0030]
Although the attribute parameter Pa is representatively shown in FIG. 8, in the subroutine processing based on each attribute parameter, it is determined whether an end instruction is input from the operation button 7 by the player who owns the attribute parameter Pa (step S11). When there is no end instruction, the program PR performs a predetermined step process based on the attribute parameter Pa (step S12). In this predetermined step, image display of the virtual pet and processing for changing its operation are performed in a short time unit, and the virtual pet displayed on the screen 2 performs its operation for each step.
Note that the execution cycle of the main flow including the execution of the subroutine can be performed at high speed (for example, 60 times per second) by the current technology, and the operation of the virtual pet is displayed on the screen 2 with natural smoothness. .
[0031]
Then, the experience of the virtual pet obtained in this step process is determined (step S12), and based on the predetermined experience, the attribute parameter Pa of the virtual pet held in the internal memory 12 (in this example, particularly individuality) Parameter) is updated (step S14).
Therefore, virtual pets are individually individualized by repeating processing flow cycles.
[0032]
For example, if the owner player loves his / her virtual pet displayed on the screen 2, the level of loyalty is increased by a predetermined range. The player moves the virtual pet displayed on the screen 2 to various locations on the screen. The number of other virtual pets displayed on the screen 2 increases the activity level by a predetermined width when instructed, decreases the timidity level by a predetermined width according to the time that the virtual pet is displayed on the screen and is playing. When the number is higher than a certain standard, an update such as increasing the friendship level (dog) by a predetermined width is performed. Further, since the screen 2 on which the virtual pet is displayed is shared by a plurality of players, the virtual pets of other players playing with the same device 1 can be loved (bullyed in some cases). Thus, for example, an update is performed to change the friendship degree (person) within a predetermined range.
Therefore, the virtual pet is personalized based on the experience close to reality.
[0033]
The player's instruction to the virtual pet displayed on the screen is such that the player can input the position designation on the screen by touching the screen 2 with his / her hand by detection by the touch panel. The contents of the instruction can be input by changing. Furthermore, when the player calls through the microphone 6, the position designation on the screen and the content of the instruction can be input to the virtual pet displayed on the screen by the voice recognition function of the control unit 11.
[0034]
In this example, whether or not the player who inputs the instruction is the owner is specified by calling the name of the virtual pet through the microphone 6 together with the instruction. For example, the instruction is input while pressing the operation button 7. By doing so, various methods such as detecting the association between the player and the virtual pet in relation to the operation post 3 being used can be adopted.
[0035]
As a specific example of this example, in this example, as shown in FIG. 9, the player hits a certain place on the screen 2 with his hand H while calling the name of his virtual pet (Taro) and returns. When instructed, an image is displayed in which the virtual pet D1 moves to a designated position by tapping with a hand.
As another example, as shown in FIG. 10, when a player calls the name of his / her virtual pet (Taro) and rubs the virtual pet image on the screen 2 with his hand H, his / her virtual pet D1 is tailed. Image display such as shaking, and the level of loyalty of the attribute parameter is updated.
As another example, as shown in FIG. 11, food F can be displayed on the screen 2 and given to a virtual pet by operation input or voice input. The level (person) may be updated.
[0036]
The attribute parameter updated by the operation control (step S14) is subjected to an end instruction (step S11), and then the original IC card 4 from the internal memory 12 by the card interface 13 under the control of the control unit 11. (Step S15), and the corresponding attribute parameter in the internal memory 12 is deleted (step S16).
Therefore, the virtual pet device 1 can be held while the virtual pet is nurtured in such a form that it is displayed and played by the virtual pet device 1 and is stored and held in the IC card 4 at other times.
[0037]
In the above example, a device that uses both voice input and touch sensor input has been described. However, since only one of voice input and touch sensor input can be used to input instructions to the virtual pet, It is good also as an apparatus structure which provided only any one of the means.
In the above example, a virtual dog pet is shown, but it can be realized by various kinds of pets such as cats, birds, mice, and insects.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, virtual pets owned by each player are displayed on the same screen shared by a plurality of players, and these players can give instructions to each other's virtual pets. , It is possible for multiple players to enjoy a game that is likely to be enjoyed by individuals individually in spite of being in a common space such as an amusement hall in a peaceful atmosphere with a pet as a medium. . Therefore, according to the present invention, there is an opportunity for a casual conversation even with a strange player who is present at the same place to become friends, and to make the game hall function as a new shared space called a place for communication between people. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a virtual pet apparatus according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a virtual pet device according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a virtual pet device according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a virtual pet device according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a program and attribute parameters according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating attribute parameters according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen display example according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen display example according to an example of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen display example according to an example of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Virtual pet device, 2: Screen,
3: Operation post, 4: IC card (storage medium),
5: Card slot, 6: Microphone,
7: Operation buttons, 11: Control unit,
12: Internal memory, PR: Program,
P, Pa, Pb, Pc: attribute parameters,
D1, D2: virtual pet,

Claims (7)

A virtual pet characterized by the attribute parameter is owned by a plurality of players, an image of the virtual pet is displayed on a screen shared by the plurality of players, and a player input to the virtual pet is reflected in the operation of the virtual pet A pet system,
A portable storage medium for storing virtual pet attribute parameters in a readable and writable manner;
Image display means for displaying a virtual pet image on the screen having a screen shared by a plurality of players simultaneously;
Input means for receiving player input for a virtual pet displayed on the screen of the image display means from a plurality of players;
An interface for reading and writing attribute parameters of the storage medium;
Control means for displaying an image of the virtual pet by the image display means according to the attribute parameter read from the storage medium and written in the internal memory, and operating the virtual pet,
The control means displays a plurality of virtual pet images on the screen according to a plurality of different attribute parameters read from a plurality of storage media for each player and written in the internal memory, and for a certain virtual pet received from the input means. The virtual pet is operated in response to a player input by any player, the attribute parameter of the virtual pet written in the internal memory is updated, and the updated attribute parameter is input by the player who owns the virtual pet as an end instruction Virtual pet system and deletes from the internal memory Nde written to read from the storage medium in accordance with. A virtual pet characterized by the attribute parameter is owned by a plurality of players, an image of the virtual pet is displayed on a screen shared by the plurality of players, and a player input to the virtual pet is reflected in the operation of the virtual pet A pet system,
A portable storage medium for storing virtual pet attribute parameters in a readable and writable manner;
Image display means for displaying a virtual pet image on the screen having a screen shared by a plurality of players simultaneously;
A microphone for receiving voice input from a plurality of players;
An interface for reading and writing attribute parameters of the storage medium;
Control means for displaying an image of the virtual pet by the image display means according to the attribute parameter read from the storage medium and written in the internal memory, and operating the virtual pet,
The control means displays images of a plurality of virtual pets on the screen according to a plurality of different attribute parameters read from a plurality of storage media for each player and written to the internal memory, and any one of the virtual pets received from the microphone is displayed. The virtual pet is operated in response to a player voice input by the player, the attribute parameter of the virtual pet written in the internal memory is updated, and the updated attribute parameter is input by the player who owns the virtual pet Virtual pet system and deletes from the internal memory Nde written to read from the storage medium in accordance with. A virtual pet device that displays an image of a virtual pet on the screen in accordance with an attribute parameter that characterizes the virtual pet stored in a portable storage medium so as to be readable and writable, and reflects a player input to the virtual pet in the operation of the virtual pet Because
Image display means for displaying a virtual pet image on the screen having a screen shared by a plurality of players simultaneously;
Input means for receiving player input for a virtual pet displayed on the screen of the image display means from a plurality of players;
An interface for reading and writing attribute parameters of the storage medium;
Control means for displaying an image of the virtual pet by the image display means according to the attribute parameter read from the storage medium and written to the internal memory, and operating the virtual pet,
The control means displays a plurality of virtual pet images on the screen according to a plurality of different attribute parameters read from a plurality of storage media for each player and written in the internal memory, and for a certain virtual pet received from the input means. The virtual pet is operated in response to a player input by any player, the attribute parameter of the virtual pet written in the internal memory is updated, and the updated attribute parameter is input by the player who owns the virtual pet as an end instruction Virtual pet apparatus characterized by deleting from the internal memory Nde written to read from the storage medium in accordance with. The virtual pet device according to claim 3,
A transmissive touch sensor is provided on the surface of the screen,
A virtual pet apparatus using the touch sensor as the input means. A virtual pet device that displays an image of a virtual pet on the screen in accordance with an attribute parameter that characterizes the virtual pet stored in a portable storage medium so as to be readable and writable, and reflects a player input to the virtual pet in the operation of the virtual pet Because
Image display means for displaying a virtual pet image on the screen having a screen shared by a plurality of players simultaneously;
A microphone for receiving voice input from a plurality of players;
An interface for reading and writing attribute parameters of the storage medium;
Control means for displaying an image of the virtual pet by the image display means according to the attribute parameter read from the storage medium and written to the internal memory, and operating the virtual pet,
The control means displays images of a plurality of virtual pets on the screen according to a plurality of different attribute parameters read from a plurality of storage media for each player and written to the internal memory, and any one of the virtual pets received from the microphone is displayed. The virtual pet is operated in response to a player voice input by the player, the attribute parameter of the virtual pet written in the internal memory is updated, and the updated attribute parameter is input by the player who owns the virtual pet Virtual pet apparatus characterized by deleting from the internal memory Nde written to read from the storage medium in accordance with. A method of displaying a plurality of virtual pet images on a screen and enabling a game by a plurality of players,
Device in which a plurality of players had a screen to be shared simultaneously, Nde write read attribute parameters characterizing the virtual pet from portable storage medium written in the internal memory,
The device displays an image of a plurality of virtual pet on the screen in accordance with different attribute parameters to the internal memory read from a plurality of storage media each player, one for the virtual pet displayed on the screen The virtual pet is operated in response to the player input by the player, the attribute parameter of the virtual pet written in the internal memory is updated, and the updated attribute parameter is input to the end instruction by the player who owns the virtual pet. Virtual pet game wherein the deletion from the internal memory Nde written to read from the storage medium in accordance. A program for causing a computer to execute a process for displaying images of a plurality of virtual pets on a screen shared by a plurality of players at the same time based on a plurality of attribute parameters written to an internal memory from a portable external storage medium Because
A plurality of virtual pet images are displayed on the screen in accordance with a plurality of attribute parameters read from a plurality of storage media for each player and written to the internal memory, and a player input by any player for the virtual pet displayed on the screen The virtual pet is operated in accordance with the virtual pet, the attribute parameter of the virtual pet written in the internal memory is updated, and the updated attribute parameter is read according to the input of the end instruction by the player who owns the virtual pet . program for causing achieved Nde written to the storage medium processing to remove from the internal memory to the computer.

Images