JP5295414B2 - Programs and computer systems - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a program for causing a plurality of avatars to appear and interact in a virtual society and a computer system that executes the program.

  In recent years, network games in which a large number of people participate via the Internet, such as MMORPG (MMORPG: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), have become widespread (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

  In this type of network game, a plurality of players can each operate a terminal device to cause an avatar, which is their own character, to appear in a virtual society and have a conversation with each other or play a game together.

  As a reward (affiliate) providing system using the Internet, systems such as Patent Documents 1 and 2 have been proposed.

JP 2001-202454 A

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-083202

“Han Game Guide”, [online], NHN Japan Co., Ltd. [Search February 9, 2007], Internet <URL: http://www.hangame.co.jp/guide/index.asp?Content=avatar >

  In the above network game, the player selects an avatar, which is his / her own character, from a plurality of basic shapes prepared in advance, and causes his / her favorite item to be worn from a plurality of items prepared in advance on the avatar. Create by. The avatar is 2D or 3D image data. As described above, since the avatar is image data obtained by combining those prepared in advance, no matter how the player combines the favorite items, the avatar does not completely have his / her favorite personality. By talking to other players, that is, by having their own avatar and another player's avatar (other person's avatar) conversing in the virtual space, the personality and personality of their own avatar can be determined from the other person's avatar. However, when you meet in the city, when you pass each other, without actively communicating, create a personality and personality of your own avatar by creating something like the atmosphere of a real person I couldn't get other people's avatars to understand.

  In addition, players may want to let others know what they like, but in network games, if they do not communicate actively, such as talking with other people's avatars, they will be notified to others (other players). I could not. In other words, I couldn't convey information to anyone.

Also, some players may want to obtain useful information about specific fields such as their hobbies and products that they want to purchase. However, in network games, it is necessary to communicate actively with other people such as avatars. Could not get. Even when communicating, it was necessary to check whether the other party had the information he wanted to know, which was a troublesome task for the player. In other words, it was impossible to accidentally and easily obtain information without searching for the desired information.
On the other hand, depending on the player of another avatar who was suddenly spoken during the game play, it may be uncomfortable.

  As described above, the exchange of information requires communication, but it is a burden for a player who does not like to communicate and is troublesome, and the fun of the game has been halved.

  In addition, other players may obtain the same product by informing other players of the product they like, but there is a disadvantage that no reward is given to their own or their own avatar.

  The present invention can easily convey information such as personality and personality of an avatar created as a virtual character in a virtual society to other avatars who have passed each other, and can give the enjoyment of accidental exchange of information. It is an object to provide a program and an object to provide a computer system that executes the program.

  The present invention also provides a program that facilitates the introduction and purchase of products in a network game, a program that can give a reward to the introduced player or avatar, and a computer system that executes these game programs. The purpose is to do.

  The program provided by the first aspect of the present invention includes a computer system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected via a network, a virtual society construction means for constructing a virtual society, and a plurality of terminal devices in the virtual society. Avatar control means for generating an avatar, which is a plurality of virtual characters to be controlled, and moving within the virtual society by control by each terminal device, and display means for displaying the virtual society and the avatar on the display unit of each terminal device A message registration means for registering a message input from the terminal device in association with the avatar to be controlled; a first avatar in which the message is registered in the virtual society; and the first The positional relationship with the second avatar, which is an avatar other than the avatar, satisfies a predetermined condition In the second terminal device that is the terminal device that controls the second avatar, the message output permission means that enables the first avatar to output the message in a mode in which the second avatar receives the message. And it is made to function as a message reception notification means which makes the said 2nd terminal device display that the said 2nd avatar received the message, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the above invention, the computer system causes the first terminal device, which is the terminal device that controls the first avatar, to display a message indicating that the first avatar has passed a message to another avatar. You may make it function further as a notification means.

  The program provided by the second aspect of the present invention includes a computer system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected via a network, a virtual society construction means for constructing a virtual society, and a plurality of terminal devices in the virtual society. Avatar control means for generating an avatar, which is a plurality of virtual characters to be controlled, and moving within the virtual society by control by each terminal device, and display means for displaying the virtual society and the avatar on the display unit of each terminal device A message registration means for registering a message input from the terminal device in association with the avatar to be controlled; a first avatar in which the message is registered in the virtual society; and the first The positional relationship with the second avatar, which is an avatar other than the avatar, satisfies a predetermined condition In the second terminal device that is the terminal device that controls the second avatar, the message output permission means that enables the first avatar to output the message in a mode in which the second avatar receives the message. And a first terminal device that is a terminal device that controls the first avatar to function as message transmission notification means for displaying that the first avatar has passed a message to another avatar. It is characterized by that.

  In the above invention, the message output permission procedure may include a procedure for determining that the positional relationship satisfies a predetermined condition when a distance between the first and second avatars is a predetermined distance or less.

  In the above invention, when the virtual society construction procedure constructs a virtual society having a plurality of stages that are small societies, and the message output permission procedure has the first and second avatars on the same stage, A procedure for determining that the positional relationship satisfies a predetermined condition may be included.

  A computer system provided by the third aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores the program and a control unit that executes the program stored in the storage unit.

  According to this invention, even if avatars do not actively communicate with each other, when the positional relationship between a plurality of avatars satisfies a specific condition, messages are transmitted and received between them. Further, at this time, the fact that the message has been received or the message has been sent is displayed on the terminal device, and the player who operates the terminal device can be notified of message transmission / reception.

The figure which shows an example of the virtual society used as the stage of the network game performed with the computer system to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the example of a screen display of the said virtual society The figure which shows the example which the avatar wears various items The figure which shows the structure of the computer system which performs the said network game The figure which shows the server database which is established in the portal server The figure which shows the server database which is established in the portal server Illustration showing examples of message categories and genres Flow chart showing operations at login and periodic data update Flow chart showing operation when moving avatar Flow chart showing the operation when registering a message Flow chart showing reception attribute designation processing and passing judgment operation Flowchart showing received message browsing operation Flow chart showing actual product sales / purchase procedure

<< Overview of the game >>
First, an online game developed in a computer system to which the present invention is applied will be described.
This game is a multiplayer network game executed on a computer system in which a portal server and a personal computer as a terminal device are connected via a network such as the Internet. The avatar, which is a virtual character that the player who is the user of each terminal device operates through the terminal device, appears in a virtual society created using functions (particularly the image processing function). Is a game that allows people to live in a virtual society and perform various activities. In the description of this embodiment, the player's operation may be appropriately expressed as an avatar activity.

  The virtual society is composed of a plurality of stages, and the avatar can move within one stage and can move between the stages. Each stage is uniquely characterized by its nostalgic town, modern town, coast and fields.

  In this computer system, the portal server operates a portal site and displays a game image of the game on the portal site. As a result, a game image linked with the portal function can be displayed, and a highly interesting portal site can be provided. For example, if a link is set to a store or item in a virtual society of the game, and the player selects the store or item by clicking the mouse or the like, the portal server connects the terminal device of the player to the link destination. When the player performs a search on the portal site, the virtual society region corresponding to the search content is displayed as a search result on the terminal device. For example, when searching for “game”, a list of sites related to the game is displayed, and a game center or the like in the virtual society is displayed.

  In this network game, the avatar moves in the virtual society in response to the operation of the terminal device by the player. The avatar wears various items such as clothes and glasses. This item is also a virtual item worn by the avatar in the virtual society. The player can activate the avatar in the virtual society with his / her favorite appearance by causing the avatar to wear various items. The player can obtain these items for his / her avatar by purchasing them at a store installed in the virtual society, or receiving or exchanging them from other avatars. For purchasing items, virtual currency that is valid in this virtual society is used.

  Furthermore, in addition to letting the avatar wear items, the player can send a message to the avatar as a method for expressing the personality and personality of the avatar that he / she operates (via the terminal device). Can be given. This message is for adding personality that can be said to be a player's alternation to the avatar that is the character created by the image, and the player writes his hobbies and opinions etc. and registers for his own avatar . When the user's own avatar passes the “other person's avatar”, which is an avatar operated by another player (via another terminal device) in the virtual society, the user's own message is transmitted to the other person's avatar. Then, the other person's avatar (the player of the other person's avatar) can get to know the personality and personality of his / her avatar by reading the message. Conversely, when your avatar passes another person's avatar, your avatar may receive a message from the other person's avatar. By reading the message, the player can know the personality and personality of the other person's avatar (or the other person's avatar). Hereinafter, a message sending side is called a first avatar, a first player, or a first terminal device, and a message receiving side is called a second avatar, a second player, or a second terminal device. Sometimes called.

  Also, the player can give his / her avatar a specific product evaluation (review) as a message. The review includes a link to a product sales server that sells the product being evaluated on the Internet. This link is a link that connects the terminal device to the merchandise sales server via the portal server. When the second player reads the review and becomes interested in the product, the second player connects the terminal device to the product sales server by operating the link on the terminal device, and purchases the product on the Internet. be able to. And when goods are purchased in this way, an affiliate (reward) for creating a chance to sell goods is given to the first avatar or the first player. Affiliates are generally granted in virtual currency.

<< Detailed explanation of the game >>
Hereinafter, the game will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
A virtual society created by the portal server and a plurality of terminal devices is composed of a plurality of stages. Each stage has a different aspect such as a town with a house and a store, a field where a river flows, and a coast.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye view of the city layout. In this town, a train station 100, a store 101 selling various products, a park 102, and the like are laid out. In this embodiment, one stage is composed of 40000 cells of 200 cells × 200 cells. The distance between the avatar and the avatar is measured in units of cells. Note that up to five avatars can enter one cell, and the distance between a plurality of avatars in the same cell is zero.

  When a player logs in to the network game, the game starts when the player's avatar is standing at the train station 100. The player can move his / her avatar in the city to visit the store 101, the park 102, and the like. It is also possible to move his / her avatar to another stage on the train 103.

  2 is a diagram showing a monitor display example of the stage “town” shown in FIG. On the monitor 26 of each terminal device, a part of the city shown in FIG. 1 is displayed with a substantially horizontal line of sight. This figure shows the scenery in the vicinity of the store 101A (cigarette) in FIG. Here, a self avatar 110 and a plurality of other avatars 111 are displayed. The player can move (walk) his / her avatar 110 in the direction of the mouse click by clicking the mouse on the screen. Further, when the player clicks the store 101A with a mouse, his / her avatar 110 can enter the store 101A. Furthermore, when the player clicks on the train 103, his / her avatar 110 can get on the train 103 and move to another stage.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an avatar wears various items. The male avatar has a basic shape as shown in its own avatar 110 in FIG. This basic shape is referred to as an element body, and is denoted by reference numeral 120 in FIG. The player can make the avatar have his or her favorite appearance by causing the avatar body 120 to wear various items. In FIG. 3, items such as a wig (hairstyle) 121, glasses 122, a T-shirt 123, a jacket 124, pants 125, and shoes 126 are worn on the element body 120 to finish the appearance as shown in the figure.

<< Description of system configuration >>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a computer system that executes the network game. This computer system is configured by connecting a portal server 1, a plurality of terminal devices 2, and one or a plurality of merchandise sales servers 5 via the Internet 3. Further, since the portal server 1 and the product sales server 5 may be configured by a general server computer or a workstation, and the terminal device 2 may be configured by a general personal computer, detailed description of the hardware configuration thereof. Is omitted.

  The portal server 1 includes a server database 11 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) that stores and stores data of a virtual society and a plurality of avatars, a game progress management unit 12 that controls and manages the overall progress of the network game, and items for avatars in stores. The item sales management unit 13 that controls and manages the sales and issue of affiliates, and the communication control unit 14 that controls communication with the terminal device 2 and the like. The game progress management unit 12 is a functional unit in which the game progress management process by the game progress management program is realized by hardware resources such as the CPU of the portal server 1. The item sales management unit 13 is a functional unit in which the item sales management process by the item sales management program is realized by hardware resources such as the CPU of the portal server 1. The communication control unit 14 is a functional unit in which communication control processing by the communication control program is realized by hardware resources such as the CPU of the portal server 1 and communication-related peripheral devices.

  The terminal device 2 is a local database 21 that stores data for advancing a network game on its own device, a display control unit 22 that displays a game screen on the monitor 26, and an operation that receives an operation of a player who is a user of the terminal device 2. A management control unit 24, a communication control unit 24 for controlling communication with the portal server 1 and the like, and a game progress management unit 25 for controlling the progress of the game in the own machine are provided. A monitor 26 is connected to the display control unit 22. The display control unit 22 is a functional unit in which display control processing by the display control program is realized by hardware resources such as the CPU of the terminal device 2. The operation management unit 23 is a functional unit in which operation management processing by the operation management program is realized by hardware resources such as peripheral devices such as a CPU of the terminal device 2 and a mouse / keyboard. The communication control unit 24 is a functional unit in which communication control processing by the communication control program is realized by hardware resources such as the CPU of the peripheral device 2 and communication-related peripheral devices. The game progress management unit 25 is a functional unit in which game progress control processing by a program for controlling game progress is realized by hardware resources such as the CPU of the terminal device 2.

  In the terminal device 2, this network game may be displayed by an Internet browser or may be executed by an independent application program. When displayed on an Internet browser, a game program (display control program, operation management program, communication control program, etc.) is provided as a plug-in for the Internet browser. These programs may be installed in advance in the terminal device 2 using a medium such as a CD-ROM. However, when the program is provided as a plug-in of an Internet browser, the terminal device 2 first loads the portal server 1. It may be automatically downloaded from the portal server 1 when logging in. The local database 21 may be constructed at the same time as the program. The local database 21 and each program are downloaded and updated from the portal server 1 every time the terminal device 2 logs into the portal server 1.

  The operation management unit 23 monitors the operation of the player, updates the data of the own avatar in the own device with the detected operation content, and transmits the operation information representing the operation content via the communication control unit 24 to the portal server 1. Send to. The portal server 1 (game progress management unit 12) manages the progress of the game so that each player's avatar is activated based on the operation information sent from each terminal device 2. Management of the progress of the game is performed by updating the contents of the server database 11 that stores all the states of the virtual society so as to match the state of the virtual society at that time. The game progress management unit 12 of the portal server 1 periodically transmits update information of the database 11 to each terminal device 2. Each terminal device 2 (each game progress management unit 25) updates the local database 21 based on the update information sent from the portal server 1, and advances the game by updating the screen display accordingly. .

  The item sales management unit 13 of the portal server 1 functions when an avatar operated by any player (terminal device 2) visits a store provided in a virtual society. When the item sales management unit 13 transmits detailed information of the sales item of the store to the terminal device 2 that operates the avatar that visited the store, or when the avatar (player) purchases the item, the item sales management unit 13 Is registered in the owned item table, and the price of the item is subtracted from the owned virtual currency, or if it is a sale through the above-mentioned visit, an affiliate is issued to Mr. Avatar B.

  For example, a plurality of merchandise sales servers 5 are connected to the Internet 3 for each type of merchandise to be sold and each store. This merchandise sales server 5 is a server computer that operates a general Internet mail order site, and has a function of performing merchandise sales contract processing (and credit payment processing) online to a visitor who has visited the site. have. In general, the product is shipped by an attendant. This product sales server 5 is different from a conventional product sales server in that a product that operates an Internet mail order site via a message (review) received from the first avatar in the network game described above. When a customer (second player) visiting the sales server 5 purchases a product, an affiliate is issued to the first avatar or the first player that triggered the customer to visit this site To do. This affiliate is issued by the portal server 1 by an application from the merchandise sales server 5 to the portal server 1.

  5 and 6 are diagrams showing the configuration of the server database 11. The server database 11 includes a virtual society data storage unit 30 that stores the configuration of the virtual society, an avatar data storage unit 40 that stores data about a plurality of avatars, and a plurality of items that are sold, owned, and worn in the virtual society. It has the item data storage part 50 which memorize | stores the data about.

  The virtual social storage unit 30 includes a stage data storage unit 31 that stores the configuration of each of a plurality of stages, a building data storage unit 32 that stores data of a building such as a house, a station, or a park standing at each stage. The sales item data storage unit 33 manages items to be sold. The avatar data storage unit 40 is an avatar body data storage unit 41 that stores information on a plurality of avatars registered in the portal server 1 and the amount of virtual currency owned, and an avatar body image data storage that stores an avatar body image. The unit 42 has a transmission message data storage unit 43 for storing a message held by each avatar, that is, a message (transmission message) registered by each player for his / her avatar.

  The stage data storage unit 31 stores stage data set for each stage for each stage. Each stage data includes stage name data indicating the name of the stage (for example, “nostalgic city”, etc.), map data in which the layout of the building or the like in the stage is written, and a building that designates a building arranged on the map data Includes specified data.

  The building data storage unit 31 stores building data set for each building for each building. Each building data includes building name data indicating the name of the building (for example, “XX department store”, etc.), building image data that is an image of the exterior of the building, building type data (whether store, private house, room can be entered, etc.) ), Internal layout data in the case of a building that can be entered, and item designation data that designates a sales item in the case of a store that sells items. The building data is set not only for structures but also for roadside street stalls.

  The sales item data storage unit 33 stores sales item data provided for each item sold at any store in the virtual society. Each sales item data includes item designation data for designating the item from items stored in the item data storage unit 50 and price data indicating the price of the item.

  The item data storage unit 50 stores item data set for each item. Each item data includes an item ID for identifying the item, item name data indicating the name of the item (such as “red umbrella”), item image data indicating the appearance of the item, and where the item is worn on the avatar. The item type data etc. which instruct | indicate such are included.

  The avatar body data storage unit 41 stores player data set for each avatar (player) registered in the portal server 1. Each player data includes avatar name data indicating the name of the player's avatar, element selection data for designating an image of the avatar element selected by the player, and on which stage of the coordinates the avatar exists. A message received from another person's avatar, including position data to be shown, an item table in which items owned or worn by this avatar are registered, possession amount data representing the possession amount of virtual currency used in the virtual society, etc. Receiving attribute specifying data for specifying the attributes of the message and a received message list 45 for storing the bibliographic data of the messages received from other avatars. The message attribute is a category indicating the field of the message content, and will be described later with reference to FIG. Details of the received message list 45 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The avatar element image data 42 stores a plurality of avatar element images selected by the element selection data of the avatar body data 41. The avatar element image is, for example, an image such as the avatar 110 shown in FIG. The transmission message data storage unit 43 is an area for storing message data registered by each player in association with his / her avatar.

  The structure of message data will be described with reference to FIG. Here, there are two types of messages: a review, which is an evaluation of a specific product, and a general message other than a review. A general message other than this review (a narrow message) is called a general message, and a broad message including a review and a general message is simply called a message. The message data includes a message ID for identifying the message, type information for identifying whether the message is a review or a general message, category information indicating the field of the message, and subdivision of the category The genre information indicating the selected genre is included.

  Here, categories and genres will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing examples of categories and genres of general messages. As the category, a field that is likely to be of interest to players participating in the online game is selected. In this example, music, movies, games, personal items, and other categories are selected. A plurality of genres are set in each category. In the category “music”, current popular songs, JPOP, Western music, jazz classical music, and other genres are set. In the category “movie”, Western movies, Japanese movies, action, love / comedy, suspense / horror, SF / fantasy, etc. are set. In the category “game”, action games, RPG, sports games, table puzzle games, adventure games, online games, and others are set. In the category “What's around you”, genres such as newsletters, hobbies / my booms, romance, family / friends, work / school, etc. are set this week. In the category “others”, genres such as sports / entertainment, politics / economics, television, and fashion are set.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram showing examples of review categories and genres. The set genre and category are almost the same as the general message above, but when writing a review, it is necessary to have a specific product, so there are products sold as items in this virtual society. Only the three categories of music, movies and games included can be selected.

  Many of the items sold in this virtual society are used only in the virtual society, such as clothes worn by avatars, but items that can be used by players are also sold. Examples of items available to the player include downloadable music data, on-demand Internet video data, and online games. Purchase and use of these items is executed in the form of avatars purchased and used in a virtual society in games, but in reality, the player downloads and listens to music data or plays video data. Or play online games. The item data of an item that can be used by the player in the real world includes link data of an address (URL) of a product sales server that sells the item to the player.

  The player can also use items that can be used by the avatar only in the virtual society. In addition, the player can review not only the music data, moving image data, and games such as software, but also actual products (things). For that purpose, the virtual item which imitates the said real goods should just be registered into the item data storage area 50 of a server database. Also in this case, the item data includes link data of an address (URL) of a merchandise sales server that sells the item to the player.

  When a player registers a message for his avatar, the player selects this category and genre from a pull-down menu displayed in the registration window. When each player specifies an attribute of a message received from another person's avatar, one or more categories and / or genres are specified. In the present embodiment, the type of general message and review cannot be specified, but may be specified.

  Returning to FIG. 6A, the message body is composed of a title and a body. The body text is about 200 characters. The title may be freely input by the player, but when a review is input, it is necessary to input a specific product name (CD title, movie title, etc.). Similarly, the player may select from the pull-down menu.

  The received message list 45 shown in FIG. 6B stores message ID, sender (avatar name), message type, category, genre, and title as bibliographic data of the received message.

  The player can display the message on the monitor 26 by displaying the received message list 45 of his / her avatar on the monitor 26 of the terminal device 2 and selecting it with a mouse or the like. Further, it is possible to perform an operation such as deleting a received message while the received message list 45 is displayed.

  In this embodiment, the message is text, but the message is not limited to text. For example, anything that can be output from a terminal device, such as audio, still images, and moving images, may be used.

  The portal server 1 always stores the data group shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as the server database 11. The local database 21 of the terminal device 2 has almost the same configuration and contents as the server database. The difference between the server database 11 and the local database 21 is that the local database 21 does not have player data of other avatars. Of the local database 21, the standard parts of the virtual social data (30) and the item data (32) are installed together with the program. And a new part is downloaded as update data, whenever the terminal device 2 logs in to the portal server 1 by operation of a player.

  When the user's avatar moves on the stage, the player data of the other person's avatar located on the destination stage is downloaded. At this time, the player data of the other avatar that was located on the stage before the movement is discarded.

  In addition, since the user's avatar and other people's avatars always move and the items to be worn or possessed may be changed, the portal server 1 can change the player data such as the avatar position change from each terminal device 2. When the information indicating the change is received, the player data of the server database 11 is updated, and the updated data is periodically transmitted to each terminal device 2 as update information.

≪Description of operation≫
The operation of the computer system shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing an operation during login. When the player performs a login operation such as inputting an ID and a password using the terminal device 2 (S1), the terminal device 2 transmits this login operation information to the portal server 1 (S2).

  When the portal server 1 receives the login operation information from the terminal device 2 (S3), the portal server 1 logs in and registers the player (assuming that the login operation information is correct), and performs processing to make the avatar appear in the virtual society. (S4). Then, the latest data is transmitted to the terminal device 2 operated by the player (S5).

  The terminal device 2 receives the data sent from the portal server 1, and updates the local database 21 of the own device with this data (S6). Then, the virtual society is displayed on the monitor 26 based on the data written in the local database 21 and the avatar (including its own avatar) appearing in the virtual society at this time is displayed. A game is started in the device 2 (S7).

The progress of the game is managed by the game progress management unit 12 of the portal server 1 based on operation information transmitted from the plurality of terminal devices 2, and is transmitted from the portal server 1 in the terminal device 2 that has logged in. Based on the update data, the game progress management unit 25 manages the progress of the game.
FIG. 8B is a flowchart showing a game progress process in the terminal device 2. The game progress management unit 12 of the portal server 1 periodically transmits update data for updating the local database, such as movement of each avatar and possession / wearing of items, to each terminal device 2 (S10). The terminal device 2 receives the update data sent from the portal server 1 (S11), updates the local database 21 (S12), and updates the monitor screen display based on the update data (S13). ) To advance the game. If the other person's avatar is moving in the progress of this game (S14), a passing determination process for determining the passing between the other person's avatar and the own avatar is executed (S15).

  The passing determination process is to determine whether or not the own avatar and the other avatar are closer than a predetermined distance, that is, pass each other, and if they pass each other, the other avatar (first avatar) has, This is a process of determining whether or not to receive a message registered for the first avatar by the first player. This process will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the computer system corresponding to the avatar movement operation by the player.
FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device 2. When the player moves his / her avatar, the player clicks on the screen of the terminal device 2 with an appropriate position in the direction in which he / she wants to move, or the store he / she wants to enter or the vehicle he / she wants to ride. The terminal device 2 accepts these movement operation inputs (S20). When an appropriate position in the direction to be moved or a store to be entered is clicked, its avatar is controlled to move within the same stage, and when a vehicle such as the train 103 in FIG. The avatar is controlled to move to another stage.

  The terminal device 2 determines whether the moving operation by the player is a moving operation within the same stage or a stage moving operation (S21). In the case of a moving operation within the same stage (NO in S21), the avatar is moved to the updated position according to this moving operation (S22), and this moving operation information is transmitted to the portal server 1 (S23). Thereafter, a passing determination process is executed (S24: see FIG. 11B).

  If the moving operation in step S20 is a stage moving operation (YES in S21), the terminal device 2 transmits this stage moving operation information to the portal server 1 (S25). Thereafter, the data of the new stage of the movement destination (player data of other avatars existing in the new stage, etc.) is received from the portal server 1 (S26), and the local database 21 is updated with this data (S27). The image and avatar of this stage are displayed, and the game is resumed at this stage (S28). Then, a passing determination process is executed at the avatar position of this stage (see S29: FIG. 11B).

  FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing the operation of the portal server 1 when the movement operation information within the stage is received from the terminal device 2. The portal server 1 receives the movement operation information in the stage transmitted by the terminal device 2 in step S23 of FIG. And the position data of the avatar data corresponding to this terminal device 2 are updated based on this movement operation (S32). The updated position data is transmitted to the other terminal devices 2 at the time of periodic data update shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4C is a flowchart showing the operation of the portal server 1 when receiving operation information indicating that the stage is moved from the terminal device 2. The portal server 1 receives the stage movement information transmitted from the terminal device 2 in step S25 of FIG. 5A (S34), and uses the position data of the player data corresponding to the terminal device 2 as this stage movement information. Update based on (S35). The position data is set to a default position when entering a new stage. Then, the new stage data is transmitted to the terminal device 2 (S36). The updated location data of the avatar is transmitted to each other terminal device 2 at the time of periodic data update shown in FIG.

  As described above, the terminal device 2 transmits the movement operation information to the portal server 1 and updates the position of its own avatar (without waiting for reception of update data from the portal server). Also, it may be moved after receiving update data from the portal server 1.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the message registration operation. This process is started by the player's message registration operation. The terminal device 2 displays a message registration window corresponding to the player's message registration operation (S40). This message registration window is provided with a pull-down menu for selecting a message type, category, genre, and title.

  First, a selection input of the type of message to be registered this time is accepted (S41). As described above, the message type is a general message type or a review type. When a message type is selected and input, a pull-down menu listing categories corresponding to the message type is validated and a category selection input is accepted (S42). When the category is selected and input, the selection input of the pull-down menu listing the genre corresponding to the category is validated, and the selection input of the genre is accepted (S43).

  When a genre is selected and input, in the case of a general message, a title input area is displayed to allow free input of a title (S44). On the other hand, in the case of review, the selection input of the pull-down menu listing the product names of the genre is validated and the selection input of the title is accepted (S44). The product name displayed in the pull-down menu is item name data included in the item data (see FIG. 5). The game progress management unit 25 of the terminal device 2 selects an item corresponding to the selected genre based on genre data (not shown) included in the item data, and uses name data of the selected item as a product name. Display in the pull-down menu. Thereafter, the input of the message body by the player is accepted (S45). When the input of the message body is completed, the message data input by the above operation is transmitted to the portal server 1 (S46), and the operation is terminated. For example, a keyboard can be used to input a title and a message body.

  The portal server 1 receives the message data transmitted from the terminal device 2 (S47). Then, this message data is registered in the transmission message data storage unit 43 in association with the avatar corresponding to the terminal device 2 that has transmitted this data (S48). The bibliographic data of the registered message data is transmitted to the other terminal devices 2 at the time of periodic data update shown in FIG. This bibliographic data corresponds to the identification information (of the message). The identification information is not limited to this bibliographic data. For example, it may be a part of bibliographic data (for example, only a message ID).

  FIG. 11A is a flowchart showing an attribute designation process for a received message. This operation is executed when the player performs a received message attribute designation operation on the terminal device 2. The terminal device 2 displays an attribute designation window in response to the received message attribute designation operation by the player. This attribute designation window is provided with a pull-down menu for selecting a category and a genre. First, a pull-down menu listing all categories of messages is enabled, and category selection input is accepted (S101). When the category is selected and input, the selection input of the pull-down menu listing the genre corresponding to the category is validated, and the selection input of the genre is accepted (S102). The attribute designation data of the received message selected by the above processing is registered in the local database 21 (S103). The above processing is repeated until the end operation is performed by the player (NO in S104). Thereby, a plurality of attribute designation data can be set collectively.

  When the end operation is performed by the player (YES in S104), the attribute designation data of the received message registered in the local database 21 is transmitted to the portal server 1 (S105), and the processing of the terminal device 2 is ended.

  The portal server 1 receives the attribute designation data transmitted from the terminal device 2 (S106). And this attribute designation data is registered as reception attribute designation data of corresponding avatar body data (S107).

  In this online game, when the attribute designation data of the received message is not set, the avatar executes message reception processing assuming that all messages can be received.

  FIG. 11B is a flowchart showing a passing determination (message reception) processing operation. This operation is an operation executed in each terminal device 2, and calculates the distance between an avatar (own avatar) controlled by the terminal device 2 and another avatar (other avatar), and the distance is equal to or less than a certain value. This is a process for setting the message registered by the other person's avatar so that it can be displayed on its own device.

  First, a distance is calculated from the position data of its own avatar and the position data of another avatar to be determined (S51). Here, the selection method of the other person's avatar to be determined is arbitrary. For example, when this process is executed in response to the movement of the own avatar (S24 and S29 in FIG. 9A), all other avatars on the same stage are targeted for determination, and the other avatar moves. When this process is executed in response to this (S15 in FIG. 8B), only the moved other person's avatar may be determined. Moreover, it is good also considering only the other person's avatar contained in the area | region currently displayed on the monitor 26 of the terminal device 2 as a determination target.

  Next, it is determined whether the calculated distance is equal to or less than a predetermined reference distance (S52). If it is equal to or less than the reference distance, it is determined that the other person avatar is passing, and the transmission message data storage area is searched to determine whether the other person avatar has a transmission message (S53). If there is a transmission message (YES in S53), it is determined whether the attribute (category or genre) corresponds to the reception attribute designation data set for the own avatar (S54). If applicable (YES in S54), the bibliographic data of the message is registered in the received message list of its own player data (S55) and can be viewed.

  In the game progress, when your avatar passes another person's avatar, the message is sent (received) from the other person's avatar. However, in the game progress that the computer system is running in advance, The bibliographic data of the message has been downloaded to the terminal device 2, and the terminal device 2 determines the passing, transfers the bibliographic data of the message to the received message list, and publishes it when the player performs a browsing operation. Processing is being executed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing received message browsing processing. When the player performs a browsing operation of the received message on the terminal device 2, the terminal device 2 displays the received message list of FIG. 6B on the monitor 26 as a window (S60). Then, a message selection operation by the player is accepted (S61). When a message is selected from the received message list by the player, the message ID is transmitted to the portal server 1 (S62).

  The portal server 1 receives this message ID (S57), reads the message body of the message data identified by this message ID (S58), and transmits the message body to the terminal device 2 (S59). ).

  The terminal device 2 receives the text of the message transmitted from the portal server 1 (S63), and displays this text on the monitor 26 together with the title (S64). This display is continued until an erasing operation is performed (NO in S65). If an erasing operation is performed (YES in S65), the title and body of this message are erased (S66), and the operation is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the displayed message is a review (YES in S67), when the displayed title portion is clicked by the player (YES in S68), the terminal device 2 communicates with the product sales server to communicate the product. Proceed to purchase process. This merchandise purchase processing will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the product purchase process of the terminal device 2, the product sales process of the product sales server 5, and the relay process of the portal server 1.
In response to the review title clicked by the player (YES in S68 of FIG. 12), the terminal device 2 transmits information indicating that the product has been selected (product selection information) to the portal server 1. (S71).

  The portal server 1 receives the product selection information transmitted from the terminal device 2 (S81), and sets the URL linked to the title, that is, the item name (product name) included in the product selection information as the item data storage area. 50, the terminal device 2 is connected to the product sales server 5 that sells the designated product (S82). With this connection, the merchandise sales server 5 transmits the detailed information (stock information, etc.) of the review merchandise to the terminal device (S91), and the terminal device 2 receives the detailed information and displays it on the monitor 26. (S72).

  In the meantime, the portal server 1 transmits information of the first avatar (introducer) that is the transmission side of the review and the second avatar (visitor) that is the reception side to the merchandise sales server 5 (S83). . The merchandise sales server 5 receives this introducer / visitor information and registers it in the via-visit table (S92).

  The player who sees the detailed information operates the terminal device 2 to purchase the product (put it in the cart) or quit the purchase (delete the window) (S73). This operation is also transmitted to the merchandise sales server 5.

  When the player performs an operation to purchase the product (YES in S73), the operation information is also received by the product sales server 5 (S93), and the product information is received between the terminal device 2 and the product sales server 5. Sales / purchase procedures are executed (S74, S94). That is, when the terminal device 2 performs a product purchase procedure with respect to the product sales server 5 in accordance with the operation of the player (S74), the product sales server 5 performs product sales processing such as payment for the price and arrangement for shipping ( S94). This completes mail order via the Internet.

  Thereafter, the merchandise sales server 5 applies to the portal server 1 to issue an affiliate to the introducer, that is, the first player (first avatar) who wrote the review, with reference to the route visit table (S95). ). In response to this application, the portal server 1 increases the value of the possessed currency of the introducer's avatar body data as an affiliate by a predetermined value (S84). Note that the increase value of the possessed currency amount is not a predetermined value, and may be an amount corresponding to the purchase price of the product of the player who is the referee. In this case, information indicating the purchase price of the product is included in the application for issuing an affiliate, and the increase value is calculated based on the information.

After that, the terminal device 2 deletes the message and the detailed product information (S75), and the product sales server 5 deletes the current introducer / visitor information from the route visit table (S96), and performs the processing. finish.
When the player performs an operation not to purchase the product in step S73 (NO in S73), the terminal device 2 deletes the message and the detailed information of the product in S75 without performing the purchase procedure process in S74. The merchandise sales server 5 deletes the current introducer / visitor information from the route visit table in S96 without performing the sales process in S94 and the affiliate application process in S95, and ends the process.

  In the present embodiment, the server constituting the computer system executes a portal function, and the game content is associated with the portal function, but is not limited to this configuration. The game according to the present embodiment may be a role-playing game, another type of game such as an action game, or a game that can activate an avatar that allows an item to be displayed in a virtual society. That's fine.

  Note that the system configuration of the computer system is not limited to this, and the portal server may be configured by a plurality of devices, and also has a function as a product sales server, so that actual products can be sold by the portal server. Also good.

  In this embodiment, the avatar passing determination is performed by the terminal device 2, but may be performed by the portal server 1. Moreover, although the bibliographic data is regularly distributed to each terminal device as the transmission message data of each avatar (player), all data including the text may be distributed.

  Note that when the pass determination is performed by the portal server 1, only a message actually received by the avatar due to the pass may be transmitted to the terminal device 2. Further, in this case, only the message identification information is transmitted to the terminal device 2 when passing each other, and when the player performs a message browsing operation, the identification information (message ID) is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the portal server 1. In response to this, the portal server 1 may transmit message data including a message body to the terminal device 2. The identification information transmitted to the terminal device 2 in advance may be bibliographic data, but is not limited to this. For example, it may be a part of bibliographic data (for example, only a message ID).

  In the passing determination, if the distance between the avatars is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the message can be exchanged. However, the criterion for this determination is not limited to this. For example, messages may be exchanged between all avatars on the same stage, and for example, a positional relationship that can be seen through each other regardless of distance (displayed on both or one display screens of the first and second terminal devices) Messages) may be exchanged as long as they are related.

  In this embodiment, the attribute designation data preset by the player is used as a condition for determining whether or not to exchange messages when passing each other (S54 in FIG. 11B). In addition, an avatar attribute itself such as age and sex may be used as a condition.

  When a message is received by passing, an output informing the player that the message has been received may be performed. For example, in the second terminal device on the message receiving side, when the own avatar (second avatar) receives the message, the own avatar is flashed or a mark such as “!” Is displayed on the head of the own avatar. You may make it do. Further, in the first terminal device on the message transmission side, when the own avatar (first avatar) transmits a message, the own avatar is flashed or a mark such as “!” Is displayed on the head of the own avatar. You may make it do. Further, the output notifying the reception / transmission of the message is not limited to the first and second terminal devices, but may be performed by all the terminal devices logged into the game.

  The “avatar” generally does not include a game character, but in the present invention includes a game character that is operated by a player's operation.

43 ... transmission message data storage unit 45 ... received message list 100 ... train station 101 (101A, 101B, 101C) ... store 102 ... park 103 ... train 110 ... own avatar 111 ... others avatar

Claims (6)

A computer system in which multiple terminal devices are connected via a network.
Virtual society building means to build a virtual society,
Avatar control means for generating avatars, which are a plurality of virtual characters controlled by a plurality of terminal devices, in the virtual society, and moving in the virtual society by control by each terminal device,
Display means for displaying the virtual society and the avatar on a display unit of each terminal device;
Message registration means for registering a message inputted in association with the avatar to be controlled from the terminal device,
In the virtual society, when the positional relationship between the first avatar that is the avatar in which the message is registered and the second avatar that is an avatar other than the first avatar satisfies a predetermined condition,
In a second terminal device that is a terminal device that controls the second avatar, a message output permission means that enables the first avatar to output a message in a mode in which the second avatar receives the message, and ,
Message reception notifying means for causing the second terminal device to display that the second avatar has received the message;
Program to function as.   Message transmission notification means for causing the first terminal device, which is a terminal device that controls the first avatar, to display that the first avatar has passed a message to another avatar on the computer system. The program according to claim 1, further causing the program to function. A computer system in which multiple terminal devices are connected via a network.
Virtual society building means to build a virtual society,
Avatar control means for generating avatars, which are a plurality of virtual characters controlled by a plurality of terminal devices, in the virtual society, and moving in the virtual society by control by each terminal device,
Display means for displaying the virtual society and the avatar on a display unit of each terminal device;
Message registration means for registering a message inputted in association with the avatar to be controlled from the terminal device,
In the virtual society, when the positional relationship between the first avatar that is the avatar in which the message is registered and the second avatar that is an avatar other than the first avatar satisfies a predetermined condition,
In a second terminal device that is a terminal device that controls the second avatar, a message output permission means that enables the first avatar to output a message in a mode in which the second avatar receives the message, and ,
A message transmission notification means for causing the first terminal device, which is a terminal device that controls the first avatar, to display that the first avatar has passed a message to another avatar;
Program to function as.   The message output permission procedure includes a procedure of determining that the positional relationship satisfies a predetermined condition when a distance between the first and second avatars is a predetermined distance or less. The program according to any one. The virtual society construction procedure constructs a virtual society having a plurality of stages which are small societies,
The message output permission procedure includes a procedure for determining that the positional relationship satisfies a predetermined condition when the first and second avatars exist on the same stage. The program described in   A computer system comprising: a storage unit that stores the program according to any one of claims 1 to 5; and a control unit that executes the program stored in the storage unit.

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