JP2000024305A - Game apparatus and information recorded medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game which allows the player to feel thrilling. SOLUTION: A main memory 104 holds individual limits of time serving as respective time limits in a plurality of individual games and a total limit of time as time limit for the whole of a game. A CPU 101 measures respective elapsed times after the starting points of individual games and the total elapsed time after the starting point of the first of the individual games. The CPU 101 judges whether the measured respective elapsed times exceed the individual limits of time stored in the main memory 104 or whether the measured total elapsed time exceeds the total limit of time stored in the main memory 104. When any of the elapsed time is judged to exceed any of the limits of time, the CPU 101 works to get the game over.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of games that can give players a sense of urgency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A player controls a character appearing in a game by operating a controller or the like, and solves a plurality of problems set in advance in a virtual world of the game, thereby giving a story to the game progress. So-called role-playing games (hereinafter referred to as RPG: Role Pla
ying Game). Such an RP
In some G, the concept of “time” is adopted, and the story of the game develops along the “time” in the game different from the flow of the actual time.

Hereinafter, the concept of “time” included in the conventional RPG will be specifically described. "time"
Is used to indicate the progress of the entire game. For example, the "time" sets the month, day, day of the week, time, and the like in the game. As the "time" elapses, the morning, day, and night shifts or the physical strength of the character is exhausted as in the real world. It has become.
The game progresses in connection with the progress of "time".

[0004] "Time" may be used to represent a time limit assigned to solve a predetermined problem in the progress of a game. In the RPG, an arbitrary task is set, and the player cannot advance to the next step of the game unless the player manipulates the character to solve the set task within the time limit. For example, a task of searching for a specific item is set within a time limit of three days (for example, three hours as an actual time) in a game determined by “time”, and a player manipulates a character and plays a character. There is a system in which information is gathered by talking to a user or a predetermined event is cleared to find an item and solve a problem.

[0005] Recently, an action RPG has also been provided, which is a fusion of elements of the PRG and elements of an action game in which a player operates a character in real time to conquer various devices in a virtual world. ing. The action RPG requires a player's motor nerve, such as a place where a delicate timing is required for the operation of the character, and is characterized in that the game has a sense of speed and a sense of realism compared to a simple RPG.

[0006]

However, such R
In PG, etc., there is not much relevance for each of the multiple tasks set for the player, and they are connected as a series of stories, but it is merely a collection of issues, and the player can solve each individual problem alone I just did. Therefore, "time" is merely a fixed period of time for solving the time and individual issues in the game world, and it is easy for a player who is accustomed to operating the game to easily accomplish the task, There was a problem that the whole was felt unsatisfactory.

[0007]

An object of the present invention is to provide a game device that gives a player a sense of urgency.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a game apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention executes execution means for sequentially executing a plurality of individual games, and executes end processing for the entire individual game. First end processing means, individual time storage means for storing an individual time limit until the execution means completes execution of each individual game, and total time limit for the execution means to complete execution of the entire individual game. Total time storage means for storing, individual time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time since the execution means started the execution of the individual game, and elapsed time since the execution means started the execution of the first individual game A total time measuring means for measuring time; and an individual time determining means for determining whether the individual elapsed time measured by the individual time measuring means exceeds the individual time limit stored in the individual time storing means. Means for determining whether or not the elapsed time measured by the total time measurement means exceeds the total time limit stored in the total time storage means, and execution means for executing each individual game. When the execution means completes the execution of all individual games, the execution control means causes the first end processing means to execute the end processing, and the individual time determination means or When the overall time determination means determines that the time limit has been exceeded, the apparatus is provided with a second end processing means for performing a predetermined end processing.

In this game apparatus, even if the elapsed time measured by the individual time measuring means does not exceed the individual time limit, if the elapsed time measured by the overall time measuring means exceeds the overall time limit, the second end processing is performed. Termination processing by means is performed. That is, in this game device, not only the individual time limit but also the entire time limit must be considered. Therefore, in the present game apparatus, even when the player can easily clear (solve) the individual game within the individual time limit, the player can be given a sense of urgency by the entire time limit. In the above-mentioned game device, the second end processing means may include means for causing the execution means to execute the first individual game of the plurality of individual games again. In this case, if the individual game is not cleared within the individual time limit and the overall time limit, the game is restarted from the first individual game, so that a greater sense of urgency can be given to the player.

In the above game machine, the plurality of individual games are each composed of the same kind of game, and the execution means comprises:
A condition setting unit for setting conditions for executing each individual game may be provided so that a game executed later has a higher difficulty level. In this case, since it becomes increasingly difficult to complete the individual game, it is possible to gradually increase the sense of tension given to the player.

In the above-mentioned game machine, the condition setting means may include means for setting a time limit to be stored in the individual time storage means. In the above game device,
The overall time limit stored in the overall time determination means is usually set shorter than the sum of the individual time limits corresponding to each of the plurality of individual games.

The above-mentioned game apparatus is not intended only for a case where one game is completed in the whole individual game. For example, the whole game may constitute one stage in a larger game. Good.
In such a case, the termination processing by the first termination processing means can be a transition processing to the next stage. The game device may display the elapsed time measured by the individual time measuring means and the overall time measuring means on a display device. Alternatively, the remaining time until the individual time limit or the entire time limit may be displayed on the display device. In the above-mentioned game device, the individual time recording means stores a time limit for each of the plurality of individual games, and the individual time half-way means stores the individual time in the individual time storage means corresponding to the individual game being executed by the execution means. It may be determined whether or not the stored time limit has been exceeded.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, an information recording medium in which a program executable by a general-purpose computer or a general-purpose game device having a display device, an input device, a storage device and the like is recorded is disclosed in claim 6. With this information recording medium, this can be easily distributed and sold as a software product independently of the device. In addition, by using this software using existing hardware resources, a game that can give a sense of tension to the player of the present invention as a new application can be implemented. Then, if the program recorded on the information recording medium of the present invention is executed by a general-purpose computer or a general-purpose game device, the game device according to claim 1 can be realized.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is realized as a home game machine as a platform will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external view of a system centered on a home game machine applied to this embodiment. This system includes a home-use game machine 1, a television receiver 2, and a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only).
Memory 3).

The consumer game machine 1 executes a program stored in the CD-ROM 3 and performs processing for outputting the result to the television receiver 2. The consumer game machine 1 includes a disc holder 11 for setting the CD-ROM 3, an open button 12 for opening the disc holder 11, a power button 13, and a reset button 1.
4 is provided. Further, the controller 116 having a plurality of operation buttons and the memory card 117 are detachably mounted on the consumer game machine 1. Household game machine 1
The circuit configuration of will be described later in detail.

The CD-ROM 3 stores a program that enables a player to play a game realized by the present embodiment. The CD-ROM 3 is set in the disk holder 11 of the consumer game machine 1. The program stored in the CD-ROM 3 is executed by the consumer game machine 1, and by performing processing described below in accordance with the program, it is possible to realize a game that can give the player a sense of urgency. .

The television receiver 2 has an AV cable 4
, And converts the video signal and the audio signal from the consumer game machine 1 into video and audio, respectively, and shows them to the player.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the consumer game machine 1 of FIG. The home game machine 1 has a CP
U (Central Processing Unit) 101, GTE (GeomeTric Engine; graphics data generation processor) 102, peripheral device 10
3. Main memory 104, OS-ROM (Operating Sy
stem ROM) 105, MDEC (Motion DEcoder; data decompression engine) 106, PIO (Parallel Input Out)
put; extended parallel port) 107, SIO (Serial I
nput Output; extended serial port) 108, GPU
(Graphics Processing Unit) 109, frame buffer 110, SP
U (Sound Processing Unit) 111, sound buffer 112, CD-ROM
Drive 113, CD-ROM decoder 114, CD-
A ROM buffer 115, a controller 116, a memory card 117, and a communication device 118 are provided.

CPU 101, peripheral device 103, main memory 104, OS-ROM 105, MDEC 10
6, PIO107, SIO108, GPU109, SP
The U111, the CD-ROM decoder 114 and the communication device 118 are connected to each other via the bus 100.

The CPU 101 executes a program shown in a later-described flowchart stored in the main memory 104, thereby realizing a desired game. CPU
101 also has an internal timer to measure the elapsed time from any point. The GTE 102 is a coprocessor of the CPU 101 and executes vector operations such as coordinate conversion and light source calculation by parallel processing.

The peripheral device 103 is constituted by an interrupt controller or the like. The main memory 104 is
It is constituted by a semiconductor memory, and stores a processing program to be executed by the CPU 101 and data necessary for executing the processing program, for example, a variable table to be described later. The OS-ROM 105 is an OS (Operatin
g System) Stores the kernel and boot loader.

The MDEC 106 has an inverse DCT (Discrete C
It executes a discrete cosine transform (Josine) operation, and reads a JPEG (Join Transform) read from the CD-ROM 3.
t Photographic Expert Group) or MPEG (Moving Pi
data that has been compressed by a method such as the “Cture Expert Group”. The PIO 107 is an extension port for parallel data. The SIO 108 is an expansion port for serial data.

The GPU 109 is a subprocessor that operates independently of the CPU 101, and draws a polygon image of a character or the like based on the coordinates and color information obtained by the GTE 102 in accordance with a polygon drawing command from the CPU 101. . The frame buffer 110 is a GPU1
09 is a memory in which the polygon image drawn by the CPU 09 is expanded, and is a dual port RAM (Random Access Memory).
ry). Frame buffer 110
The polygon image developed on the TV receiver 2 is provided with a synchronization signal by the GPU 109, and is used as a video signal in the television receiver 2
Is output to

The SPU 111 is a sub-processor which operates independently of the CPU 101, and is a PCM (Pulse Code
Modulation) A sound source device is built in, and the audio data transferred to the sound buffer 112 is output to the television receiver 2 in accordance with a command from the CPU 101. The sound buffer 112 stores the audio data transferred from the CPU 101 or the audio data transferred from the CD-ROM decoder 114.

The CD-ROM drive 113 has a CD-R
OM3 is driven to read data stored in CD-ROM3. The CD-ROM decoder 114 is a CD-ROM decoder.
The ROM drive 113 decodes data read from the CD-ROM 3 and stores audio data in the sound buffer 1.
In step 12, the processing program of the CPU 101 and processing data therefor are transferred to the main memory 104. CD-RO
Data and the like for such transfer are temporarily stored in the M buffer 115.

The controller 116 is an input device for giving instructions to the CPU 101 by operation of the player, and includes a start button, a direction key, a □ button, a ○ button,
A button for performing various other inputs is provided. The memory card 117 is configured by, for example, a flash memory, and stores data processed by the CPU 101.
It can be used at the next system startup. The communication device 118 controls data transfer between the controller 116 and the memory card 117 and the bus 100.

Hereinafter, variable data and the like read from the CD-ROM 3 by the CPU 101 and stored in the main memory 104 to implement the game in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, in the present embodiment, in a state where one task having a time limit (hereinafter referred to as an entire task) is imposed, a task having a plurality of time limits (hereinafter referred to as individual tasks).
Will be described. If all individual tasks are cleared (solved) within the time limit of the entire task, it is considered that the entire task has been cleared.

The main memory 104 has a program area, a variable table area, an image data area, a viewpoint data area, and the like, as shown in FIG. Each area has a CP
A program, a variable table, image data, and viewpoint data read from the CD-ROM 3 via the CD-ROM buffer 115 by U101 are stored.

First, the variable table stored in the variable table area shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The variable table is an individual time table including the time limit and the elapsed time of each task shown in FIG. 4A, the entire time table including the time limit and the elapsed time of the whole task shown in FIG.
Further, it has a state table including a state flag of the solution of the problem and a problem number shown in FIG.

The time limit in the tables shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is the time allocated for solving the problem read from the CD-ROM 3. FIG. 4 (a)
Are limited in the order of assignment 1 to assignment 6. It should be noted that a value smaller than the total value of the individual time limits shown in FIG. 4A is assigned to the time limit for the overall task shown in FIG. 4B. That is, FIG.
Even if within the individual time limit shown in FIG. 4A, if the total elapsed time from the start time of starting the execution of the first individual task exceeds the time limit of the entire task shown in FIG. Time is over.

The elapsed time in the individual time table shown in FIG. 4 (a) is the elapsed time from the start of the execution of each task. The elapsed time in the overall time table shown in FIG. 4B is the total elapsed time from the start time when the execution of the first individual task is started. Note that these elapsed times are values obtained based on the time acquired by the internal timer of the CPU 101.

The status flag in the status table shown in FIG. 4C indicates the progress status of the task currently being executed.
The status flag indicates the progress status of each task by values of 0, 1, 2, and 9, respectively. That is, when the status flag is 0, it indicates that an individual task is being executed,
1 indicates that the individual tasks have been cleared (solved), 2 indicates that all the individual tasks have been cleared, 9 indicates that the entire elapsed time exceeds the time limit, and the time is over. It is shown that. The assignment numbers shown in FIG. 4C are the values of the individual assignments being executed, and start from 1, and are incremented by one each time each assignment is cleared.
That is, the assignment number indicates the number of the individual assignment being executed by a value of 1 to 6, and a value of 7 indicates that all the assignments have been cleared.

Next, the image data stored in the image data area shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The image data includes image data of a hero character and image data such as a background of a field which is a moving area of the hero character. For example, the image data of the hero character is image data for displaying an operation of climbing a ladder, an operation of running, and an operation of operating a machine in order to solve a problem.

Next, the viewpoint data stored in the viewpoint data area has a viewpoint position and a field of view. The viewpoint position is a reference position for looking over the main character and the like arranged in the field. The field of view indicates an area of a field to be displayed, which is determined by the viewpoint position.

Hereinafter, a game operating on the home-use game machine 1 will be described as an example of a game in which a character closes six sluice valves to protect a village from flood damage.
The overall issues mentioned above were "protecting villages from floods"
As an individual issue, "close one sluice valve"
Is applicable.

In the following description, the processing executed by the CPU 101 includes a coprocessor or a subprocessor other than the CPU 101 (GTE 102, GPU 10
9, SPU 111). In addition, various data stored in the CD-ROM 3 are actually sequentially read out from the CD-ROM 3 under the control of the CPU 101 in accordance with the progress of the processing.
After being decompressed by the EC 106, it is transferred to the main memory 104. In the following description, a detailed description of reading, decompression, and transfer of the processing program from the CD-ROM 3 to the main memory 104 is omitted. Further, in order to facilitate understanding, a process related to audio output is also omitted.

When playing the game, the player operates the open button 12 to open the disc holder 11 and
After setting the ROM 3 in the CD-ROM drive 113 of the consumer game machine 1, the disc holder 11 is closed.
In this state, when the player presses the power button 13 or presses the reset button 14 while the power is on, the processing of the main routine shown in FIG. 5 is started.

In the processing of the main routine, the CPU 101
First, execute the program for the opening process,
The opening video and audio are output from the television receiver 2 (step S101). The CPU 101
In this state, it is determined whether or not there has been an input from the start button of the controller 116 (step S102).

If it is determined in step S102 that there is no input from the start button (step S10
2; No), the CPU 101 executes steps S101 and S1.
02 is repeated, the opening video and audio are continuously output from the television receiver 2, and the input of the start button is awaited.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S102 that there is an input from the start button (step S1)
02; Yes), the CPU 101 transmits the panoramic image of the tower that manages the sluice having six rooms 201 to 206 serving as a game start screen as shown in FIG.
(Step S103). The room 201
To 206, one each, that is, six sluice valves are arranged in an open state. The hero character 21 climbs the ladder 207 or the like, and
Enter ~ 206 and close each floodgate valve. An individual game as shown in FIG. 7 is set for each valve of each lock. Completing this individual game is considered as closing the valve.

The CPU 101 sets a time limit for the entire task (step S104). That is, the CPU 101
Reads the time limit of the entire task set in advance in the CD-ROM 3 via the CD-ROM buffer 115 and sets the time limit of the variable table area stored in the main memory 104 to the entire time limit shown in FIG. Remember.

The CPU 101 sets initial values for the status flag and the task number (step S105). That is, the CPU 101 sets 1 to the state flag and the task number in the state table shown in FIG. 4C stored in the main memory 104.

The CPU 101 determines whether or not the status flag is 1 (step S106). That is, CP
U101 determines whether or not the individual game as an individual task has been cleared (solved) based on the state flag of the state table shown in FIG. 4C.

When the CPU 101 determines that the status flag is 1 (step S106; Yes), it sets conditions for each task (step S107). That is, the CPU 101 reads, via the CD-ROM buffer 115, the time limit of the individual game corresponding to the task number shown in FIG. It is stored in the table area at the time limit shown in FIG. Also,
The rotation speed and the like of the rotating drum of the slot machine operated to clear an individual game described later are set. on the other hand,
When it is determined that the status flag is not 1 (step S10
6; No), the conditions and the like of the individual tasks are left unchanged.

Next, the player operates the direction keys of the controller 116 to sequentially move the main character to the rooms 201 to 206. That is, C
When the PU 101 determines in step S108 that there has been an input from the direction key (step S108; Ye)
s) The main character is moved according to the input from the direction key (step S109). In addition,
The CPU 101 determines a viewpoint position and the like required for screen display,
According to the position of the moved hero character, the position is set to satisfy a predetermined relationship. on the other hand,
When it is determined that there is no input from the direction key (Step S108; No), the CPU 101 does not change the position of the main character.

The player places the hero character in room 2
The sluice valves in each room, which is an individual task, must be closed in order from 01 to 206. That is, C
The PU 101 determines in step S110 that the controller 11
When it is determined that there is an input from the operation button 6 (step S110; Yes), the slot machine required to close the sluice valve is operated (step S1).
11).

The slot machine is provided with a triple rotating drum on which numbers 1 to 7 are arranged. For example, the slot machine is rotated by inputting a □ button, and is stopped in order from the left by inputting a ボ タ ン button. As shown in FIG.
Displays the value of a digit. When the same three-digit value is displayed on the panel 22, the indicator 23 rises by a predetermined scale,
When a value different from all three digits is displayed, the indicator 23 is lowered by a predetermined scale. When the scale of the indicator 23 rises to the maximum value, it is considered that the valve of the sluice has been closed, and each task has been cleared. Also, each time each task is completed, the rotation speed of the rotating drum of the slot machine may be increased to make it difficult to display the same three-digit value, thereby increasing the difficulty of the game. Also,
The rising amount of the indicator 23 may be reduced. on the other hand,
When it is determined that there is no input from the operation button of the controller 116 (Step S110; No), the operation of the slot machine is not performed.

The CPU 101 measures the elapsed time up to the present, and performs a time limit process for determining whether or not the time is within the time limit (step S112). That is, the CPU 101 determines whether the elapsed time of the currently executed task is within the time limit or the total elapsed time after the start of the first individual task is within the time limit shown in FIG. Make a determination. The details of the time limit process in step S112 will be described later.

The CPU 101 determines whether the status flag after the time limit processing is 2 or 9 (step S).
113). That is, the CPU 101 determines that all the problems have been solved (status flag = 2) or time-over (status flag) based on the status flags shown in FIG. 4C in the variable table area stored in the main memory 104 changed by the limiting process. = 9) is determined.

When the status flag after the time limit processing is 2 or 9
If it is determined that it is not (Step S113; No), C
The PU 101 repeats the processing from step S106. That is, if the CPU 101 determines that the status flag shown in FIG. 4C is not 2 or 9,
If the individual task is in progress (status flag = 0) or if the individual task has been solved (status flag = 1), the process returns to step S106 to repeat the above processing.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the status flag after the time limit processing is 2 or 9 (step S113; Yes)
s), the CPU 101 further determines whether or not the status flag is 2 (step S114). That is, CP
U101 determines from the status flag shown in FIG. 4C whether or not all problems have been solved.

When it is determined that the status flag after the time limit processing is 2 (step S114; Yes), the CPU 1
01 calculates a predetermined score according to the elapsed time until all the problems are solved (step S115). The CPU 101 performs end processing such as displaying that the calculated score and the village have been protected from the flood, and ends the game (step S116). On the other hand, when it is determined that the status flag after the time limit processing is not 2 (step S114; No), the CPU 101 indicates that the problem could not be solved within the time limit (the village could not be protected from flood damage). An end process such as display is performed, and the game is ended (step S116).

Next, the time limit process in step S112 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows the CPU
4 is a flowchart illustrating a time limit process performed by a user.

First, the CPU 101 measures two elapsed times (step S201). That is, the CPU 10
1 measures the individual elapsed times that have elapsed since the start of the currently executing task and the total elapsed time that has elapsed since the start of the first individual task. Each elapsed time is measured based on the time acquired by the internal timer of the CPU 101.

The CPU 101 uses the measured individual elapsed time as the elapsed time of the currently executing task shown in FIG. 4A and the measured overall elapsed time as the elapsed task time shown in FIG. 4B. Update to time and remember. The CPU 101 causes the television receiver 2 to display the remaining time obtained by subtracting the elapsed time from the time limit as shown in FIG.
That is, the CPU 101 sets the individual remaining time 24 in FIG.
The time obtained by subtracting the elapsed time from the time limit of the task currently being executed shown in FIG.
The time obtained by subtracting the entire elapsed time from the time limit of the overall task shown in (b) is displayed. For this reason, it is possible to inform the player in real time that the displayed two remaining times are gradually reduced, and it is possible to give the player a sense of crisis and to give a sense of urgency such as inducing an operation error.

The CPU 101 determines whether the elapsed time exceeds the time limit and the time is over (step S202). That is, the CPU 101
The elapsed time of the currently executing task shown in FIG.
It is determined whether any of the elapsed times of the overall task shown in (b) exceeds the time limit. As described above, the time limit for the overall task shown in FIG.
Since a value smaller than the total value of the individual time limits shown in (a) is assigned, even if the individual elapsed time is within the time limit, the time is over when the entire elapsed time exceeds the time limit. .

If it is determined that any elapsed time is time over (step S202; Yes), the CP
U101 updates the state flag shown in FIG. 4 (c) by updating the value 9 indicating the time over (step S101).
203). The CPU 101 ends the time limit processing, and returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when it is determined that none of the elapsed times is over (Step S202; No), C
The PU 101 determines whether or not the individual game currently being executed has been cleared (step S204). That is, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the scale of the indicator 23 shown in FIG. 7 necessary to clear the task currently being executed is the maximum value.

If it is determined that the task currently being executed has not been cleared (step S204; No), the CPU 10
1 updates the state flag shown in FIG. 4C to 0, which is a value indicating that the individual game is being executed, and stores it (step S205). The CPU 101 ends the time limit processing, and returns to the main routine shown in FIG. on the other hand,
When it is determined that the task currently being executed has been cleared (step S204; Yes), the CPU 101 proceeds to FIG.
Is updated and stored in the status flag shown in (1), which is a value indicating that the task currently being executed has been cleared, and a value obtained by adding 1 to the task number (step S206).

The CPU 101 determines whether all problems have been solved (step S207). That is, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the value of the updated assignment number shown in FIG. When it is determined that all the problems have not been solved (step S207; N
o), the CPU 101 ends the time limit process, and returns to the main routine shown in FIG. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the problems have been solved (step S207; Ye
s), the CPU 101 updates the state flag shown in FIG. 4C with a value indicating that all the individual games have been cleared, and stores it (step S208). CPU
101 ends the time limit processing and returns the processing to the main routine shown in FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is determined whether not only the time limit for each task but also the entire time limit is over. The overall time limit is shorter than the sum of the time limits of individual tasks, so even if you clear individual tasks within the time limit, the game will be over if the total elapsed time exceeds the total time limit . Therefore, it is possible to give a player who has become accustomed to the game, who has become easier to clear the task within the individual time limits, to have a sense of urgency by setting the double time limits.

Even if the player can clear the first task within a time limit with a margin,
If you are too slow here, the time left to complete the whole task will decrease rapidly.
In other words, there are cases where the entire task cannot be cleared because the first task has been performed too slowly. For this reason, it is necessary to clear the tasks in as short a time as possible, even if there is room for the time limit for each task. Therefore, in the game according to the present embodiment, it is possible to give the player a sense of urgency by "time" from the first of a plurality of tasks.

If each task is not cleared within the individual time limit and the total time limit, the player will start over from the first individual task again, so that a greater sense of urgency can be given to the player. In addition, as for each individual task, the individual time limit becomes shorter as the later one becomes shorter, and the rotation of the slot machine becomes faster, and it becomes more difficult to complete each individual task, so that the tension exerted on the player gradually increases. You can make it bigger.

Further, the difficulty of each of the tasks 1 to 6 is changed only by setting the conditions, so that the same program can be used. For this reason, the main memory 10 for storing programs
4 can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the time limit for six tasks is set, but the type and number of tasks are arbitrary. For example, different types of tasks such as climbing a tree and digging a hole may be set. In addition, when multiple tasks are divided into groups and all the tasks in the group are cleared, the tasks in the group are cleared, and when the tasks in all groups are cleared, the entire task is cleared. It may be.

In the above embodiment, the predetermined time read from the CD-ROM 3 via the CD-ROM buffer 115 is set as the time limit, but the predetermined time is generated at the start of the game, and the time limit is generated. You may set as. For example, a time generated randomly so as to fall within a predetermined time range may be set as the time limit.
In addition, the time limit of the individual game as the task may be set one by one at each start time. Furthermore, the individual and overall time limit may be set according to the player's preference.

In the above embodiment, the individual remaining time and the entire remaining time are displayed on the television receiver 2. However, the elapsed time from the start of each task and the elapsed time from the start of the first task are shown. The time may be displayed on the television receiver 2. In this case, the individual time limit and the entire time limit may also be displayed on the television receiver 2 together.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is realized by using a home game machine as a platform. However, the present invention may be realized by a personal computer, an arcade game machine, or the like.

In the above embodiment, the program for realizing the present invention is distributed using the CD-ROM 3 as a medium. However, the program for implementing the present invention may be stored in another computer-readable information recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a ROM card and distributed. Further, it may be preinstalled and distributed to the magnetic disk device of the system to which the present invention is applied. Alternatively, a program for implementing the present invention may be stored in a large-capacity storage medium provided in a Web server and distributed via the Internet.

[0072]

According to the present invention, the player can be given a sense of urgency by a plurality of tasks for which the time limit is set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a system centered on a home game machine applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the consumer game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing various data areas stored in a main memory.

4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a variable table stored in a variable table area in FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 4A is an individual time table, FIG. 4B is an overall time table, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a main routine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a start screen.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a slot machine and an indicator necessary for solving each problem in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating time limit processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a display example according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Consumer game machine 2 Television receiver 3 CD-ROM 4 AV cable 11 Disk holder 12 Open button 13 Power button 14 Reset button 21 Main character 22 Panel 23 Indicator 24 Individual remaining time 25 Total remaining time 100 Bus 101 CPU 102 GTE 103 Peripheral device 104 Main memory 105 OS-ROM 106 MDEC 107 PIO 108 SIO 109 GPU 110 Frame buffer 111 SPU 112 Sound buffer 113 CD-ROM drive 114 CD-R
OM decoder 115 CD-ROM buffer 116 controller 201-206 room 207 ladder

Claims (2)

[Claims] An execution unit that sequentially executes a plurality of individual games; a first end processing unit that executes end processing of the entire individual game; and an individual restriction until the execution unit completes execution of each individual game. Individual time storage means for storing time; total time storage means for storing a total time limit until the execution means completes execution of the entire individual game; and elapse since the execution means started execution of the individual game. Individual time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time, total time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time since the execution means started the execution of the first individual game, and individual time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time. The individual elapsed time is
An individual time determination unit that determines whether or not an individual time limit stored in the individual time storage unit is exceeded; and an elapsed time measured by the overall time measurement unit is stored in the overall time storage unit. A total time determining unit for determining whether or not the total time limit has been exceeded; and when the execution unit completes execution of each individual game, the execution unit executes the next individual game, and the execution unit executes all of the individual games. When the execution of is completed, execution control means for causing the first end processing means to execute the end processing; and predetermined end processing when the individual time judgment means or the entire time judgment means judges that the time limit has been exceeded. And a second end processing means for performing the following. 2. A step of sequentially executing a plurality of individual games; a step of executing an end processing of the entire individual game; and a step of measuring an elapsed time since the execution of the individual game in the execution step. Measuring the elapsed time since the start of the execution of the first individual game in the execution step; and measuring the elapsed time in the individual time measurement step until the execution of each individual game is completed. A step of determining whether the time limit has been exceeded; and a step of determining whether the elapsed time measured in the overall time measurement step has exceeded the overall time limit for completing the execution of the entire individual game. When the execution of each individual game is completed in the execution step, the next individual game is executed in the execution step, and all the individual games are executed in the execution step. When the execution is completed, a step of executing the end processing in the first end processing step, and a step of performing a predetermined end processing when it is determined that the time limit has been exceeded in the individual time determination step or the entire time determination step. An information recording medium for recording a program including: