JP2000176153A - Game machine and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of preventing the contents of a race for becoming monotonous by changing the traveling speed of a moving body operated by anyone except the player according to the state of ambient moving bodies. SOLUTION: In the case that the horse 310 operated by a player is traveling within a predetermined radius ahead in the traveling direction of a horse 330 operated by a game computing part itself, the game computing part computes the difference between the actual traveling speed of a horse 310 and a reference speed and performs the control of adding the difference to the traveling speed of the horse 330 operated by itself.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine in which a moving body operated by a game machine itself and a moving body operated by a player compete with each other in a horse racing game or the like, and an information storage medium used in the game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a multi-player type game system in which a plurality of game machines are connected to each other and a plurality of players can play a game simultaneously has been put to practical use. For example, a game system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-235018 is known.

In this game system, a plurality of horse racing game machines are connected to each other via a transmission line, so that a horse operated by each player operates in the same virtual space as a horse operated by another player or the game machine itself. You can enjoy a multiplayer horse racing game that competes with the horses you operate. For example, each player operates his own horse in consideration of the pace distribution and positioning while grasping the running state of the horse operated by the other players. While playing, you can enjoy the game with a feeling similar to actual horse racing.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned game system, each player operates his own horse while monitoring the running state of the horse operated by another player or the horse operated by the game machine. Judgment can be made according to the running conditions of the surrounding horses and the running content can be changed as appropriate, but the horse operated by the game machine only runs according to a predetermined personality of each horse. Will run the same every time. Therefore, it becomes easy for the player to grasp his position and pace distribution, and after finding the winning pattern, the game becomes a relatively monotonous game, and the interest may be reduced by half. Especially in actual horse racing, all horses are operated by each jockey, so the existence of horses on game machines that always run according to fixed personality is when trying to reproduce the real thrill of actual horse racing May be disturbed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to change a traveling speed of a moving body operated by a person other than a player according to the situation of a surrounding moving body, thereby enabling a race. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game machine and an information storage medium which can prevent the contents of the game from becoming monotonous.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a game machine according to the present invention comprises one or a plurality of first moving bodies operated by a player in a virtual game space; When one or a plurality of second moving bodies move along the same direction, the first moving body detecting means in the game calculation means exists within a predetermined range around the second moving body. The first moving body is detected, and the moving speed of the second moving body is variably set by the first speed setting means in accordance with the detected moving speed of the first moving body. According to the present invention, when the first moving body operated by the player and the second moving body operated by the game calculation unit approach, the moving speed of the second moving body is variably set. Since the moving speed of the second moving body varies depending on the operation content of the player, it is possible to prevent the content of the race from becoming monotonous ignoring the operation status of the player.

In particular, the first speed setting means calculates the difference between the moving speed of the first moving body and a predetermined reference speed, and calculates the difference between the moving speed of the second moving body at that time and the calculated speed. It is desirable to set the new moving speed of the second moving body by adding the differences thus obtained. As described above, when the moving speed of the moving body operated by the player is faster or slower than the predetermined reference speed, the situation affects the second moving body moving around and causes the second moving body. Since the moving speed of the body changes, the moving pace of the surrounding moving body can be changed by the operation of the player, and the progress of the race can be changed.

Further, it is desirable that the first moving body detecting means detects only the first moving body located in front of the moving direction of the second moving body. For example, in a competitive game such as a horse racing game, a preceding racehorse, vehicle, or the like may determine the overall pace of the moving object group, but the first moving object located ahead of the moving direction of the second moving object in the moving direction. Detect the body and this second
By variably setting the moving speed of the first moving body, the moving speed of the first moving body operated by the player is changed to
Since the moving speed of the moving object can be adjusted, a game close to an actual race can be enjoyed.

Further, the game machine of the present invention has a feature that when the first moving body operated by the player and the second moving body operated by the game calculation means move along the same direction in the virtual game space, The second moving body detecting means in the game calculation means detects another second moving body present within a predetermined range around the second moving body of interest, and the second speed setting means The moving speed of the second moving body of interest is set variably. According to the present invention, when a plurality of second moving bodies operated by the game calculation means approach each other, their moving speeds are variably set, and thus are individually set in advance for each second moving body. As a result, the second moving body moves in a manner different from the moving pattern, so that the content of the race can be prevented from being monotonous.

In particular, the above-mentioned second speed setting means calculates a difference between the moving speed of another second moving body and a predetermined reference speed, and calculates the difference between the moving speed of the second moving body of interest at that time. It is desirable to add the calculated difference to the moving speed of the vehicle to obtain a new moving speed. Alternatively, it is desirable that the above-mentioned second speed setting means increases or decreases the moving speed of the second moving body of interest so that the second moving body of interest moves away from the other detected second moving body. In this way, when there is another second moving body nearby, the speed of the focused second moving body is set so as to follow the second moving body, or set to move away from it. Thereby, the moving state of each of the second moving bodies becomes complicated, and the fun of the game can be increased.

Further, the above-mentioned second moving body detecting means includes:
It is preferable to detect only other second moving objects located within a predetermined distance from the focused second moving object. In a competitive game, the distribution of the pace of a moving object of interest is often determined by the influence of another moving object, so that the second moving objects operated by the game calculation means are also different from each other. If the influence of the moving object is taken into consideration, a game closer to the actual race can be enjoyed.

In the virtual game space described above, the first
And a predetermined course in which the second moving body moves, and the second moving body detection means moves a predetermined range for detecting another second moving body from the start position of the course to the predetermined position. Therefore, it is desirable to gradually reduce the width. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to give a change to the content in the early stage of a game, a game can be enjoyed mainly by a player after a middle stage.

Further, the above-mentioned second moving body detecting means includes:
It is desirable to individually set the size of the predetermined range for detecting another second moving object in correspondence with each of the focused second moving objects. When considering an actual race,
Since it is considered that the extent to which a moving object is affected by a moving object is different for each moving object, a range for detecting the second moving object is set for each of the second moving objects of interest. Thereby, each player can enjoy a game close to an actual race.

Further, the information storage medium of the present invention can be used when the first moving body operated by the player and the second moving body operated by the game calculation means move in the same direction in the virtual game space. When the first moving object existing within a predetermined range around the second moving object is detected, the moving speed of the second moving object is variably set according to the moving speed of the first moving object. It is characterized by including a program to do. In another information storage medium of the present invention, when the first moving body operated by the player and the second moving body operated by the game calculation means move in the virtual game space along the same direction, A program for variably setting a moving speed of a focused second moving body when another second moving body present within a predetermined range around the focused second moving body is detected. It is characterized by including.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a game system constituted by connecting a plurality of game machines according to the present embodiment. The game system shown in FIG.
) Of game machines 100 are connected by a bus via a transmission line 200. Each game machine 100 is connected to the transmission line 200 via the communication interface unit 110, and game data is exchanged between the game machines 100.

Each of the game machines 100 included in the above-mentioned game system can enjoy the game in an arbitrary number up to the number of connected game machines. For example, a predetermined game can be executed by only one player, and one player can operate the single game machine 100 to enjoy the game. Also,
By transmitting and receiving game data between a plurality of game machines 100, a plurality of players can operate the corresponding game machines 100 to enjoy the same game in a common virtual game space.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of each game machine 100, and shows the appearance structure of a horse racing game in which each player operates a horse as a jockey. As shown in FIG.
Each game machine 100 is configured to include a racehorse main body 90 as a simulated animal device formed by using a racehorse as a model, and a display device 92 arranged at the line of sight of the player. The player swings the racehorse main body 90 back and forth by operating the reins 94 while watching the game image displayed on the display device 92 over the racehorse main body 90, and thereby the own horse included in the game image is displayed. Operate. For example, the running speed of the own horse is set so as to be proportional to the frequency and angle of the swing of the racehorse main body 90. The player can increase the running speed of the horse by increasing the number of swings and the swing angle of the racehorse main body 90 per unit time. However, if the player runs at a too fast pace, the stamina runs out during the race. Therefore, it is necessary to operate the own horse in consideration of the stamina of the own horse and a draw with the other horse.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the game machine 100 described above. As shown in FIG.
Comprises a player input unit 10, a coin insertion unit 12, a game calculation unit 20, an information storage medium 22, a work RAM 24, an image processing unit 30, a transmission / reception unit 40, a transmission RAM 42, a reception RAM 44, and a display device 92. Have been.

The player input section 10 is provided for a player straddling the racehorse main body 90 such as the reins 94 provided on the racehorse main body 90 and a rocking angle detecting section for detecting the rocking angle of the racehorse main body 90. It includes various operation units necessary for operating the own horse in the game space. The coin insertion unit 12
This is for players who want to participate in the game to insert coins. For example, when a coin is inserted only into the coin insertion unit 12 provided in one game machine 100, a horse racing game for one player using this one game machine 100 is executed. When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion unit 12 provided in each of the plurality of game machines 100, the game machine 1 in which the coin is inserted
A horse racing game in which 00 players of the number of 00 participate simultaneously is executed.

The game operation unit 20 includes a player input unit 10
And a game program stored in the information storage medium 22 for the horse operated by the player to travel on a course set in a predetermined three-dimensional virtual game space. The game calculation is performed, and the calculation result is output to the image processing unit 30. The information storage medium 22 mainly stores a game program executed in the game calculation unit 20, image data for expressing a display object, audio data, and the like. For example, FIG.
In the case of an arcade game machine having the racehorse main body 90 shown in FIG. 1, a memory such as a ROM or a hard disk is used. Also, by replacing the racehorse main body 90 shown in FIG. 2 with a portable controller, the home game machine can have the same function as the game machine of the present embodiment. As the information storage medium 22 for storing programs and the like, a CD-ROM, a game cassette, a DVD, a hard disk, or the like is used. Also,
The work RAM 24 is used as a work area when the game calculation unit 20 performs various calculations.

The image processing unit 30 calculates a game image obtained by viewing a three-dimensional virtual game space used for game calculation by the game calculation unit 20 from a predetermined viewpoint position, and displays this on the screen of the display device 92.

The transmission / reception unit 40 transmits / receives game data to / from another game machine 100 connected to the transmission line 200 by controlling the transmission RAM 42, the reception RAM 44, and the communication interface unit 110. Yes, for example, by a dedicated custom IC. When game data is transmitted from another game machine 100 connected via the transmission line 200, the transmission / reception unit 40 receives the data via the communication interface unit 110, writes the data into the reception RAM 44, and A notification that the data has been received is sent to the game calculation unit 20. After receiving this notification, the game calculation unit 20 reads the game data stored in the reception RAM 44.
Conversely, when transmitting game data from the game operation unit 20 to another game machine 100, the game operation unit 2
0 stores the game data to be transmitted in the transmission RAM 42, and then sends a notification to the transmitting / receiving unit 40 that the transmission data is stored. Upon receiving this notification, the transmission / reception unit 110 reads out the game data stored in the transmission RAM 42 and sends it to another game machine 100 via the communication interface unit 110.

The above-described game calculation section 20 is based on game data indicating the current position of the own horse, game data indicating the current position of a horse operated by another player sent from another game machine 100, and the like. For example, as shown in FIG.
A horse 310 operated by a player on the course 300 is a virtual game space that competes with a horse 320 operated by another player and a horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 itself.
In addition to the calculation of the three-dimensional object space, the calculation is performed to set the viewpoint 340 in the running direction of the horse 310 at the position behind the horse 310 operated by the player. The relative position between the viewpoint 340 and the horse 310 is fixed during the game.

The image processing unit 30 is provided with a game operation unit 2
Based on the three-dimensional object space calculated by 0 and the position information of the viewpoint 340, a game image of the three-dimensional object space viewed from the viewpoint 340 is calculated. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the game image calculated in this manner. These game images show a situation in which the horse 310 operated by the player himself, the horse 320 operated by another player, and the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 are competing for the goal on the horse race course 300. Have been. In addition, the remaining amount of stamina is displayed at the lower right of the screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a horse race course 300 set in the virtual game space according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the horse racing course 300 of the present embodiment, the distance from the start position 400 to the goal position 410 is set to, for example, 3200 m. An intermediate point 402 is located 800 m from the start position 400, and a game point 4 is located 600 m before the goal position 410.
04 are respectively set. For example, when the first horse of the horse group approaches this intermediate point 402, the pace of this race is displayed on a part of the screen, and it is useful as a reference when assembling a game strategy taking into account the subsequent pace distribution. . In addition, the first horse in the group of horses has 40 game points.
When approaching 4, all the horses 330 operated by the game calculation section 20 enter the last spurt, and an effect of sprinting as long as stamina continues is performed.

The above-described game calculation section 20 includes game calculation means, first and second moving body detection means, first and second moving body detection means.
In the speed setting means, the first mobile unit is connected to the horses 310 and 320 operated by the player, and the second mobile unit is set to the game calculation unit 20.
Respectively correspond to the horses 330 operated.

FIG. 8 shows the game machine 1 of the present embodiment described above.
It is a flowchart which shows the operation procedure of 00, and shows the flow of the whole horse racing game.

The game calculation section 20 in each game machine 100
Monitors whether or not a coin has been inserted into the coin insertion unit 12 (step 100). When a coin is inserted by the player, data necessary for displaying a selection screen of the horse is stored in the information storage medium. 22 and the image is sent to the image processing section 30, and the display screen of the own horse selection screen is displayed on the display device 92 (step 101). For example, the selection screen includes the names of the horses to be selected and their characteristics, and the player can select the horse that he or she wants to ride from among the plurality of horses included in the display screen, You can select a horse that fits. When the player's own horse selection is completed while watching the horse selection screen displayed on each game machine 100 (step 102), the game calculation unit 20 of each game machine 100 starts a horse racing game (step 103).

First, the game calculation unit 20 includes a transmission / reception unit 40
To send and receive game data to and from another game machine 100 (step 104). For example, game data including at least data for identifying the horse 310 selected by the player and data indicating the current position of the horse 310 is sent to another game machine 100. Also, data for identifying the horse 320 selected by the player operating each game machine 100 and the horse 320
Game data including at least data indicating the current position of the game.

Next, the game calculation section 20 sends the game data on the horse 320 sent from the other game machine 100 in this way, the game data on the horse 310 held by itself, and the game calculation section 20 itself. Based on the game data relating to the horse 330 operated by the player, the horse 310 operated by the player on the horse race course 300 performs a horse racing game calculation process in which the horse 310 competes with the other horses 320 and 330 (step 105). The result of this calculation is sent to the image processing unit 30, and from the viewpoint position 340 shown in FIG.
00 is displayed on the display device 92 (step 106).

The processing from the transmission and reception of the game data (step 104) to the display of the game image (step 106) is repeated at predetermined time intervals until the game ends (step 107). For example, assuming that the display interval of the game image is 1/60 second, the transmission and reception of the game data and the arithmetic processing of the horse racing game are performed in accordance with the display interval, and the horse 310 operated by the player himself or the other player operates A moving image of the running horse 320 or the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 running while competing is displayed from the display device 92.

Next, the details of the operation of changing the running speed of the horse 330 by the operation of the game calculation section 20 itself performed in the above-described game calculation will be described.

In the actual horse race, each horse rarely runs at its own pace, ignoring the existence of other horses, and is often dragged by the pace of horses running around itself. . In consideration of this point, when another horse is running in the vicinity of the horse 330 operated by itself, the game calculation unit 20 considers the presence of the horse and controls the speed of the horse 330 operated by itself. Alternatively, the running pattern is controlled. Hereinafter, when the horses 310 and 320 operated by the player are running immediately before the horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20, the game operation unit 20 itself operates near the horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20. The case where another horse 330 is running will be described separately.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a control operation when the horse 310 (or 320) operated by the player is in front of the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 itself. In the figure, G indicates the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20, and P indicates the horse 310 or 320 operated by the player. Note that the horse operated by the player is the case of the own horse 310 operated by the player corresponding to the game machine 100 including the game calculation unit 20 and the other horse 320 operated by the player corresponding to the other game machine 100 But the game operation unit 20
Is controlled as the horse operated by the player without discriminating between the two. Hereinafter, the horses 310 and 320 operated by the player will be collectively described as the horse 310.

The game calculation section 20 controls the horse 3 operated by itself.
When the horse 310 operated by the player is running ahead of the traveling direction of the vehicle 30 and within a predetermined radius R1 (for example, within 4 m), the running speed of the horse 310 is changed to the running speed of the horse 310 (hereinafter referred to as the running speed). The horse operated by the game calculation unit 20 itself, which is the speed control target, is referred to as a “horse of interest”.
Control is performed such that the traveling speed of 0 is adjusted. 9, when the speed of the horse 310 operated by the player is v _P , the predetermined reference speed is v ₀ , and the speed of the horse of interest 330 is v _G , the game calculation unit 20 runs forward within a radius R1. Running speed v _P and reference speed v of a running horse 310
₀ difference between the Δv (= v _P -v ₀₎ is calculated, and attention horses 33
This difference Δv is added to the running speed v _{P of} 0. By performing such control, when the running speed of the horse 310 operated by the player running in the vicinity is higher than the reference speed, the speed of the horse 330 of interest also increases, and conversely, the player running in the vicinity When the running speed of the horse 310 operated by the horse is slower than the reference speed, the speed of the horse of interest 330 also becomes slow. Therefore, the horse 3 operated by the game calculation unit 20 follows the running pace of the horse 310 approaching and running ahead.
A game effect in which 30 runs is performed.

It is unnatural to follow the pace of the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 until the player accelerates the pace of the horse 310 operated by himself / herself because it is unnatural. If the speed of the horse 310 traveling forward is too high, the above control is not performed. For example, the reference speed of each horse is 60 (km / s).
When the speed of the horse 310 running ahead is 70 (km / s) or more, which is more than 10 (km / s), the speed is not followed. When there are a plurality of horses operated by the player in a predetermined range around the target horse 330, the above-described operation is performed on the horse 310 running at a position closest to the target horse 330. In addition, when there is a horse 330 other than the horse of interest operated by the game calculation unit 20 other than the horse 310 operated by the player 330 around the horse of interest 330, the horse closest to the horse of interest is extracted. Horse 310 operated by the player
The above-described operation is performed when.

By the way, considering that the horse 310 operated by the player runs to make the pace of the succeeding horse, the game operation unit 20 immediately follows the horse 310 operated by the player.
When the horse 330 operated by the player runs and another horse 330 operated by the game calculation section 20 runs immediately behind the horse 330, it is desirable that the entire group of these horses be adjusted to the running pace of the horse 310 operated by the player. . For this reason, in the present embodiment, even if another horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20 itself is running immediately before the horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20, the horse 330 moves further forward. When the running player is affected by the horse 310 operated by the player, the running speed is set in the same manner as the horse 310 operated by the player. In this way, when the horse 310 operated by the player is at the head of the horse group, it is possible to perform an effect such that the horse 310 determines the pace distribution of the entire horse troop.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a control operation when another horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20 is present around the horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20 itself.

When another horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20 itself is running around the horse 330 of interest and within a predetermined radius R2, the following two patterns are used. Is performed.

In the first pattern, similar to the case where the horse 310 operated by the player is running at the above-described close position, the target horse 3 is controlled to follow the running speed of the other horse 330.
This is a case where the speed of 30 is variable. It should be noted that how close the control is to be performed does not need to be the same as when the horse 310 operated by the player is nearby. For example, the distance R2 is individually set by the horse of interest 330, and is set in advance within a range of 2 to 8 m.

The second pattern is a case where the speed of the target horse 330 is varied so that the target horse 330 and other horses 330 move away from each other. In this case, there are two types of control, that is, the target horse 330 is controlled to increase the speed in order to move away from the other horses 330 in the vicinity, and is controlled to decrease the speed. , Are individually set in advance by the horse of interest 330.

By the way, if the above-described control is performed on the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20, for example, a plurality of horses 330 of the above-described pattern 1 approach each other, and the running speed of the first horse 330 In such a case, there is a problem that the entire horse group other than the horse 310 operated by the player runs at a speed as long as the stamina continues, and thus the horse of interest in the case shown in FIG. The variable control of the traveling speed of the 330
It is desirable that the distance be from 00 to a position where the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance. In the present embodiment, it is set such that the control of the first pattern or the second pattern described above is gradually released until the vehicle starts traveling from the start position 400 and reaches a predetermined position around the intermediate point 402. ing.

For example, the distance from the start position 400 to this predetermined position (for example, set within the range of 800 to 1200 (m)) is set to L (m), and the current distance of the target horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 is set to L (m). When the traveling position of X is set to X (m) from the start position 400, the distance R2 around the target horse 330 and serving as a reference for determining the presence or absence of another horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 is defined as: What is necessary is just to make it small as it approaches a predetermined position.

R2 = R × (L−X) / L Here, R is a fixed value and is individually set for each horse of interest 330 within a range of 2 to 8 (m).

As described above, the distance R2 for setting a range for detecting another horse 330 running in the vicinity of the target horse 330 is defined as:
In the vicinity of the start position 400, R is substantially close to the upper limit value, and as the position approaches the predetermined position, the distance R2 is linearly reduced so as to become zero at the predetermined position.
For this reason, the mutual influence of the horses 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 is almost eliminated when the horse 330 reaches a predetermined position separated by the distance L from the start position 400, and thereafter, the horse 310 operated by the player takes the initiative. It will be possible to realize race development that holds the right.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of the game calculation by the game calculation unit 20. In the game calculation of step 105 shown in FIG. 8, the game calculation unit 20 determines the speed of each horse and the running state of the surrounding horses. The operation procedure is shown in the case where it is changed in accordance with. For example, the maximum number of players participating in the horse racing game is eight, and the horse 3 operated by the game calculation unit 20 so that a total of 16 horses always run.
30 numbers are set. In addition, serial numbers (horse numbers) of “0” to “15” are assigned to each of the 16 horses that run.
The game calculation unit 20 identifies each horse using the horse number.

First, the game calculation unit 20 sets the horse number n to be calculated to “0” (step 200), and the horse corresponding to the horse number n (= “0”) is determined.
It is determined whether or not the horse 330 is operated by itself (step 201). When the horse corresponding to the horse number n is not the horse 330 operated by the arithmetic unit 20 itself, that is, the horse 310 operated by the player of the game machine 100 provided with the game arithmetic unit 20 or operated by the players of the other game machines 100 In the case of the horse 320, 1 is added to the current horse number n (step 213), and the new horse number n is 16
It is determined whether it is less than (Step 214). If there is a horse that has not been processed, the horse number n is less than 16. In this case, the process returns to step 201 and the horse corresponding to the horse number n is determined by the game calculation unit 20 itself. The process of determining whether or not the horse 330 is to be operated is repeated.

If the horse corresponding to the horse number n of interest is the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20, an affirmative determination is made in step 201, and the game calculation unit 20 then focuses. It is determined whether there is another horse in front of the horse 330 of the horse number n (step 202). If there is another horse ahead, then the game operation unit 20
Calculates the distance A to the horse running at the nearest position in front of the horse 330 of the horse number n of interest (step 203), and then determines whether the horse is the horse 310 or 320 operated by the player. Is determined (step 204).

When the horse running immediately before is the horse 310 or the like operated by the player, the distance A from the horse 330 of the horse number n of interest to the horse 310 or the like affects the horse of interest 330. It is determined whether or not the distance is less than a predetermined distance R1 (step 205). Note that this predetermined distance R1
Is constant for all the horses 330 regardless of the value of the horse number n of the horse 330 of interest, and the start position 4
It is constant regardless of the running distance from 00. When the distance A is less than the predetermined distance R1 (when A <R1), the game calculation unit 20 calculates a difference Δv between the speed v of the horse 310 immediately preceding and the reference speed v ₀ (step S1). 20
6) performs an operation for adding the speed difference Δv to the running speed v _n of the horse numbers n horse 330 (step 207).

If the horse running immediately before is not the horse 310 operated by the player, that is, the horse 330 having a horse number other than n operated by the game operation unit 20 itself,
A negative determination is made in the above determination of step 204, and then the game calculation unit 20 determines whether the horse running immediately before is affected by the horse 310 or the like operated by the player (step 204). 208). For example, when the horse 310 operated by the player is running further in front of the horse running immediately before, the speed of the horse 330 running immediately before is changed and the horse 3 operated by the player is changed.
Since it is affected by 10 or the like, an affirmative determination is made in the determination in step 208, and the process proceeds to the operation in step 205 (operation for determining whether or not the distance A is less than R1).
That is, even if the horse running immediately before is another horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20, if the horse 330 is affected by the horse 310 operated by the player, the horse operated by the player is not affected. 310 and so on.

When the calculation processing of the running speed of the target horse 330 in step 207 described above is completed, or when there is no other horse in front of the target horse 330 (step 20).
2), there is a horse 310 operated by the player in front of the horse of interest 330, but if the distance A between them is equal to or greater than R1 (if a negative determination is made in step 205), the player When the horse 330 that is not affected by the operating horse 310 or the like is in front of the target horse 330 (when a negative determination is made in step 208)
Next, the game calculation unit 20 sets the target horse 33 of the horse number n.
It is determined whether or not the current position of “0” is between the start position 400 and the predetermined position (step 209). If the current position is before the predetermined position, the target horse 330 and its nearest surroundings are determined. The distance B to the horse running at the position is calculated (step 210). In the operation of calculating the distance B, the horses 33 that are affected by the horses 310 and 320 operated by the player and the horses 310 operated by the player.
0 is excluded from the target of processing, and the other horses running at the position closest to the target horse 330 are extracted.

Next, the game calculation section 20 determines whether or not the calculated distance B is less than a predetermined distance R2 affecting the horse 330 of interest (step 211). The predetermined distance R2 can be set to a different value for each horse number n as described above.
When the vehicle is traveling from 00 to a predetermined position, a value calculated according to the traveling distance is used. Therefore, immediately after the start, a value close to the large initial value R is used as the distance R2, and the value gradually decreases as approaching the predetermined position.

When the distance B is less than the predetermined distance R2 (B <R
2), the game calculation unit 20 determines that each horse of interest 330
Horse number n based on a pattern preset for each
The speed of the horse 330 is calculated (step 212). As described above, the first pattern is a case where control is performed in accordance with the traveling speed of another horse 330, as in the case where the horse 310 operated by the player is traveling at a close position.
The same calculation processing as in steps 206 and 207 described above is performed, and the difference Δv between the speed v of the horse 330 traveling around and the reference speed v ₀ is calculated, and the running speed v of the horse 330 with the horse number n is calculated.
An operation of adding the difference Δv to _n is performed.

In the second pattern, two horses 330
In this case, when the target horse 330 to be controlled is controlled to increase in speed in order to move away from the surrounding horse 330, the target horse 330 of the horse number n is controlled. A predetermined value Δv ′ (for example, 1 km / h) is added to the traveling speed v. Alternatively, in the case of controlling in a decelerating direction, a predetermined value Δv ′ is subtracted from the current traveling speed v.

Thereafter, 1 is added to the current horse number n (step 213). If the value of this n is less than 16 (Yes at step 214), the process returns to step 201 and returns to this horse number n. Horse corresponding to the game operation unit 20
The process of determining whether or not the horse 330 is operated by itself is repeated. In this way, the process of changing the speed v of the horse of interest is performed until the horse number n becomes 16. Note that the calculation process of changing the running speed of the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 itself according to the presence of another horse does not necessarily have to be performed in accordance with the display interval. Performing every second is sufficient.

As described above, the game machine 100 of the present embodiment
Then, the running speed of the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 is changed to the horse 3 operated by the player at a position in front of the horse 330.
When the horses 10 and 320 are running or when another horse 330 affected by the horses 310 and the like is running, the horses 310 and the like are changed to follow these horses 310 and the like. Therefore, when the horses 310 and 320 operated by the player increase or decrease the pace, the running pace of the horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20 running behind the horse 310 or 320 is dragged up or down by the drag. This makes it possible to perform an effect close to an actual running pattern, such as performing the game, prevent the race from becoming monotonous, and increase the fun of the game.

For example, a player who performs a horse racing game using such a game machine 100 can enjoy the following manner. (1) Immediately after the start, the running speed of the horse operated by the player is increased, and the running speed is slowed down after the horse is once at the head.
Aim for escape after the game point 404. (2)
By increasing the running speed of the horses operated by the player and the running pace of the entire horse group including the horses operated by the other players, the respective horses are intended to fall together due to lack of stamina. Even in this case, the horse operated by the driver may run away at the head and run away, resulting in a goal in the first place. (3) A message is displayed on the screen indicating that the pace of the race is fast when the horse operated by the player is located near the middle and the time when the leading horse passes the middle point 402 is short. However, in this case, it is possible to reduce the pace of the horse operated by the user and to reduce the traveling pace of the horse group traveling thereafter. In this case,
The player can intentionally make a running pace of the horse group different from the content of the message.

Also, in the game machine 100 of the present embodiment,
Even when the horses 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 are approaching each other, control is performed to vary the speed of the horses 330 running in the vicinity, and the running pace is adjusted to the approaching horse, or the speed is increased or decreased. Thus, it is possible to perform an effect close to the actual running pattern, such as trying to pull out the horse, to prevent the progress of the race from becoming monotonous, and to increase the fun of the game.

In particular, the horse 33 operated by the game calculation unit 20
By performing such speed control of the 0s at the beginning of the race, the content developed at the beginning of the race will be diversified, so that the player can enjoy a complicated race development. Also, by reducing the influence of the speed control as the vehicle approaches the intermediate point 402, each player can take the initiative in the race development in the middle stage and thereafter, so that each player can play with other horses. You can enjoy the same real pleasure as a real horse race, such as running your own horse while dragging.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, only the front of the horse of interest 330 is set as the detection range for the horse 310 or the like operated by the player, and the horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 other than the horse of interest 330 is not limited to only the front thereof. Although the entire surrounding area including the rear side is set as the detection range, it is possible to appropriately set the detection range. For example, the detection range may be a predetermined angle in front in consideration of the viewing angle of the horse.

In the above-described embodiment, the horse running at the closest position around the target horse 330 operated by the game calculation unit 20 is the horse 310, 3 operated by the player.
20 or the other horse 330 operated by the game operation unit 20 itself, the method of setting the speed of the horse of interest 330 was considered separately, but one of the setting methods was selected,
The selected setting method may be applied to all the horses 310, 320, and 330.

In the above-described embodiment, the game machine 100 that performs a horse race is described. However, other types of games in which moving bodies participating in the game race while paying attention to each other's stamina, for example, a bicycle race game The present invention can be applied to a game simulating a car race.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of game machines 100 are connected by a bus via the transmission line 200, but the connection form is another form such as a loop form or a star form. Or a connection via a predetermined network via a public line or a dedicated line. For example, by connecting a plurality of home-use game machines and personal computers via a telephone line,
A multi-player type game system may be configured.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the first moving object operated by the player and the second moving object operated by the game calculation means approach, the second moving object Since the moving speed is set to be variable, the moving speed of the second moving body varies depending on the operation of the player,
It is possible to prevent the content of the race from becoming monotonous ignoring the operation status of the player.

Further, according to the present invention, when a plurality of second moving bodies operated by the game calculation means approach each other, their moving speeds are variably set, so that each second moving body is set in advance. Therefore, the second moving body moves so as to be different from the movement pattern set individually for each race, so that it is possible to prevent the content of the race from becoming monotonous.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a game system configured by connecting a plurality of game machines according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of the game machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the game machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a game 3 calculated by the game machine according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional virtual space and a viewpoint position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a horse racing course set in a virtual space according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the game machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a control operation when a player operates a horse in front of a horse operated by the game calculation unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a control operation when another horse operated by the game operation unit itself is in front of a horse operated by the game operation unit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of a game calculation by a game calculation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Player input part 12 Coin insertion part 20 Game operation part 22 Information storage medium 24 Working RAM 30 Image processing part 40 Transmission / reception part 42 Transmission RAM 44 Reception RAM 90 Racehorse main body 92 Display device

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A game machine in which a first moving body operated by a player and a second moving body operated by game calculation means move in a virtual game space along a same direction, wherein the game calculation means A first moving body detecting means for detecting the first moving body existing within a predetermined range around the second moving body; and the first moving body detected by the first moving body detecting means. And a first speed setting means for variably setting the moving speed of the second moving body in accordance with the moving speed of the first moving body when is detected. . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first speed setting means calculates a difference between a moving speed of the first moving body and a predetermined reference speed, and calculates a difference between the moving speed of the second moving body and the predetermined reference speed. A moving speed of the second moving object by adding the difference to the moving speed of the second moving object. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first moving body detecting unit detects only the first moving body located in front of the moving direction of the second moving body. game machine. 4. A game machine in which a first moving body operated by a player and a second moving body operated by a game calculation means move in a virtual game space along the same direction, wherein the game calculation means A second moving body detecting means for detecting another second moving body present within a predetermined range around the second moving body of interest; and a second moving body detecting means. And a second speed setting means for variably setting a moving speed of the second moving body of interest when the other second moving body is detected. . 5. The second speed setting means according to claim 4, wherein the second speed setting means calculates a difference between a moving speed of the other second moving body and a predetermined reference speed, and focuses on the second speed. A game machine wherein the difference is added to the moving speed of the moving object at that time, thereby setting the moving speed of the second moving object of interest as a new moving speed. 6. The second speed setting unit according to claim 5, wherein the second speed setting unit focuses on the detected second moving body so as to move away from the detected other second moving body. A game machine, wherein the moving speed of the second moving body is increased or decreased. 7. The second moving object detecting means according to claim 4, wherein the second moving object detecting means is located within a predetermined distance from the second moving object of interest.
A game machine for detecting a moving object. 8. The virtual game space according to claim 4, wherein the virtual game space includes a predetermined course on which the first and second moving objects move, and wherein the second moving object detection is performed. The game machine, wherein the means gradually narrows the predetermined range for detecting the other second moving body from a start position of the course to a predetermined position. 9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second moving body detecting means focuses on a size of the predetermined range for detecting another second moving body. A game machine characterized in that it is set individually for each of the two moving objects. 10. When the first moving body operated by the player and the second moving body operated by the game calculation means move in the virtual game space along the same direction, the second moving body A program for variably setting a moving speed of the second moving body in accordance with a moving speed of the first moving body when the first moving body present in a predetermined range in the vicinity is detected. An information storage medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 11. The second mobile unit, which is focused on when the first mobile unit operated by the player and the second mobile unit operated by the game calculation means move in the virtual game space in the same direction. A program for variably setting the moving speed of the focused second moving body when another second moving body present in a predetermined range around the moving body is detected. Characteristic information storage medium.