JP2001009151A - Game system and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a selecting work itself enjoyable by a player by taking play elements in the work for selecting optional items. SOLUTION: When a roulette type character selection mini-game for selecting player characters in a first selection frame 412 is started, a thick frame for selection 422 starts to move at high speed in a character selection candidate item area displayed on a lower part of a screen. A player pushes a determination button by his eye pushing so as to stop the thick frame 422 at a desired character. At this time, if timing for pushing the determination button is excellent, the player can select the desired character. In this case, selection candidate items to be standard at the time of the selection may be presented and a mini- game may be performed. A plurality of selection items different in category may be selected at the mini-game.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a game system and an information storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a game in a field called a fighting game in which a player operates a character on a screen and enjoys a battle with a character operated by an opponent player (or a computer). ing. According to this fighting game, a virtual experience of real-world martial arts can be made, so that it is very popular as a game.

In such a fighting game, each player needs to perform a selection operation for selecting a character (selection item) to be operated by himself / herself from a plurality of characters (candidate items) prepared in advance before the battle. Becomes

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining conventional character selection.

FIG. 1A is an example of a character selection screen 200 of the individual fighting game. The player moves the cursor 212 in the selection candidate character 210 using the lever on the character selection screen as shown in FIG. Then, a cursor 2 is placed on a desired character of the player.
The character is selected by positioning No. 12 and pressing the enter button. However, in this case, the selection of the character is merely a task, and is not interesting.

FIG. 1B is an example of a character selection screen 250 for a team fighting game. When performing a team battle, the player must select a plurality of characters as shown at 260. Therefore, it is necessary for the players to perform the selection operation for the number of persons to be selected, which is very troublesome.

There is also a mode in which a mode in which a character is randomly selected by the system is provided.
The labor of selection can be saved, but the character selection itself has no element of play, and it is ugly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to incorporate a play element into the operation of selecting a selection item so that a player can enjoy the selection operation itself. It is to provide a game system and an information storage medium which can be used.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a selection mini-game providing means for providing a player with a mini-game for selecting a selection item in a game system having selection items selectable by the player; Means for determining a selection item based on the result of the mini-game performed.

[0010] An information storage medium according to the present invention is an information storage medium usable by a computer, and is characterized by containing information (a program or data, etc.) for realizing (executing) the above means. The program according to the present invention is a program usable by a computer (including a program embodied in a carrier wave),
It is characterized by including a processing routine for realizing (executing) the above means.

The mini-game provided in the present invention is different from the random selection, and is a mini-game in which a result reflecting the player's qualities such as the player's knowledge, skill, and reflexes is obtained. For example, the game includes a mini game in which a selection item is selected by eye, a mini game in which a user can answer a quiz and determine whether or not to make a selection based on the result.

The selection item may be, for example, a player character, an item, a course, a stage, or any other item in which the player is set to be selectable.

According to the present invention, the selection of the selection item includes not only a task but also a play factor. Therefore, it is possible to provide a game system, an information storage medium, and a program that allow the user to enjoy the selection operation itself.

[0014] Even if the player unfortunately obtains an undesired selection result, it provides an opportunity to enjoy a different game content with a different selection item than usual, thereby preventing the game from becoming monotonous. . Furthermore, by increasing the probability that the player will select more options,
This also prevents a situation in which the prepared items are not selected at all.

Further, the game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention are characterized in that a mini game for selecting a selection item by a player's eye pressing operation is provided.

A mini-game for selecting a selection item by a pushing operation is, for example, a slot system in which a selection candidate item is rotated in a slot format, a player stops the slot by a pushing operation, and the stopped selection candidate item is determined. And a roulette method in which a player stops a cursor or the like moving at a high speed on a selection candidate item displayed on the screen by eye pressing to determine the selection candidate item where the cursor is stopped.

Since the result of selection of the selected item greatly affects the progress of the game and the outcome of the game, the player seriously plays the mini-game of the push selection with a sense of tension, and feels delighted with the result of the selection. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy the same level of game feeling as that of performing the eye-catching game in the selection operation itself, and to excite before the game is started.

Further, in such eye-pressing selection, a player who has an excellent skill in the eye-pressing operation has a higher probability of seeing a desired selection item than a player having an inferior skill in the eye-pressing operation. You can press and select. Therefore, the player can be more enthusiastic about the eye-pressing operation and can show his / her eye-pressing skills to the gallery through the selection operation.

Further, the game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention are characterized in that a mini-game is played by presenting selection candidate items as a guide for selection.

Here, the selection candidate item is a candidate item that can be selected as a selection item. Further, the selection candidate item serving as a guide may be desirable or undesired. The presentation method may be a method of specially displaying a selection item serving as a guide, or a method of marking a selection candidate item displayed in advance for selection.

Usually, the player has a strong tendency to select a selection item he or she is accustomed to, and the selection item to be selected is often biased. However, when a candidate selection item serving as a guide is presented as in the present invention, effective motivation for causing the player to select the selection candidate item can be given. Therefore, the probability that the player selects a selection item that is not normally selected can be increased.

It is preferable to give a special privilege when a selection candidate item is selected. This is because it is possible to give a strong motivation for the player to select the selection candidate item.

Further, the game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention are characterized in that a plurality of selection items are selected in a mini game.

Generally, the more items to be selected, the more time is required for the selection operation, and the more troublesome the operation. However, in this embodiment, since the selection operation is performed while enjoying the mini game,
Even if there are many selection items, the selection work can be performed while having fun without being bothered.

The game system, the information storage medium, and the program according to the present invention are characterized in that a plurality of selection items having different categories are selected in a mini game.

The selection items having different categories include, for example, a player car and a course in a drive game.

In particular, when a plurality of selection items having different categories are determined based on the result of the mini game, the combination itself becomes a variable element, so that the user can enjoy the mini game having higher game characteristics.

The game system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention are characterized in that a plurality of player characters constituting a team team are selected in a mini game.

In the case of characters constituting a team team, not only the individual members but also the team structure itself are important factors in determining the progress of the game and the outcome. Therefore, the team structure itself becomes a variable element, and the player can enjoy a mini game with higher game characteristics.

[0030] The game system, the information storage medium, and the program according to the present invention are further characterized in that the player further includes means for selecting whether or not to receive the provision of a mini game for selecting a selection item.

Since the mini-game has a great purpose of enhancing the element of play, if the player does not want to make a selection in the mini-game, it is desirable that there is room for a normal selection. According to the present invention, since the player includes means for selecting whether or not to receive the provision of a mini game for selecting a selection item, if the player does not want to select the mini game, another method, for example, Selection of a selection item can be performed by an ordinary method.

[0032]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case where the present invention is applied to a fighting game will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various games.

1. Configuration FIG. 2 shows an example of a block diagram of the present embodiment. In this figure, the present embodiment only needs to include at least the processing unit 100 (or may include the processing unit 100 and the storage unit 140 or the processing unit 100 and the storage unit 140 and the information storage medium 150), and other blocks. (For example, the operation unit 13
0, image generation unit 160, display unit 162, sound generation unit 17
0, sound output unit 172, communication unit 174, I / F unit 176,
The memory card 180 and the like can be optional components.

The processing unit 100 performs various processes such as control of the entire system, instruction of instructions to each block in the system, game calculation, and the like.
PU (CISC type, RISC type), DSP or AS
It can be realized by hardware such as an IC (gate array or the like) or a given program (game program).

The operation section 130 is for the player to input operation data, and its function can be realized by hardware such as a lever, a button, a cross key, and a housing.

The storage section 140 includes a processing section 100, an image generation section 160, a sound generation section 170, a communication section 174, and an I / F section 1.
It is a work area such as 76, and its function is RAM
It can be realized by hardware such as.

An information storage medium (a storage medium usable by a computer) 150 stores information such as programs and data.
D, DVD), magneto-optical disk (MO), magnetic disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or semiconductor memory (ROM). The processing unit 100 performs various processes of the present invention (the present embodiment) based on the information stored in the information storage medium 150.
That is, the information storage medium 150 stores various information (programs, data) for realizing (executing) the means (particularly, the blocks included in the processing unit 100) of the present invention (the present embodiment).
Is stored.

A part or all of the information stored in the information storage medium 150 is transferred to the storage unit 140 when the power to the system is turned on. Information storage medium 1
The information stored in 50 is a program code for performing the processing of the present invention, image information, sound information, shape information of a display object, table data, list data, player information,
The information includes at least one of information for instructing the process of the present invention, information for performing a process according to the instruction, and the like.

The image generating section 160 generates various images according to an instruction from the processing section 100 and the like, and
The function is the ASI for image generation.
It can be realized by hardware such as C, CPU, or DSP, a given program (image generation program), and image information.

The sound generation section 170 generates various sounds in accordance with instructions from the processing section 100 and outputs the generated sounds to the sound output section 172. The function of the sound generation section 170 is as follows.
It can be realized by hardware such as a CPU or a DSP, a given program (sound generation program), and sound information (waveform data and the like).

The communication section 174 performs various controls for performing communication with an external device (for example, a host device or another game system).
It can be realized by hardware such as an IC or a CPU or a given program (communication program).

The information for realizing the processing of the present invention (this embodiment) is distributed from the information storage medium of the host device (server) to the information storage medium 150 via the network and the communication unit 174. Is also good. Use of the information storage medium of such a host device (server) is also included in the scope of the present invention.

Further, part or all of the functions of the processing unit 100 may be performed by the image generation unit 160, the sound generation unit 170, or the communication unit 1.
74 may be realized. Or,
Image generation unit 160, sound generation unit 170, or communication unit 174
Some or all of the functions may be realized by the function of the processing unit 100.

The I / F unit 176 exchanges information with a memory card (a portable information storage device including a portable game machine in a broad sense) 180 in accordance with an instruction from the processing unit 100 or the like. The interface functions as a slot for inserting a memory card, a controller IC for writing and reading data, and the like.
It can be realized by such as. When information exchange with the memory card 180 is realized using wireless communication such as infrared light, the function of the I / F unit 176 can be realized by hardware such as a semiconductor laser and an infrared sensor.

The processing section 100 includes a game calculation section 110.

Here, the game calculation section 110 receives coins (price), sets various modes, progresses the game, sets a selection screen, and positions and angles of objects (characters, moving bodies) around the axis. Processing to determine the rotation angle), processing to determine the viewpoint position and line-of-sight angle (line-of-sight direction), processing to reproduce the motion of the object, processing to place the object in the object space, hit check processing, game results (game results, game results) , A process for a plurality of players to play in a common game space, or various game calculation processes such as a game over process, by operating data from the operation unit 130, data from the memory card 180, a game program And so on.

The payment of the price in the present invention includes not only payment of money such as coins, but also payment by electronic money, a prepaid card, a postpay card, a credit card, or the like. When the terminals of the game system are connected via a network, it is desirable to pay the price using such electronic money.

The game calculation section 110 includes a selection mini-game providing section 112 and a selection item determination section 114.

Here, the selection mini-game providing unit 112
A process for providing the player with a mini game for selecting a selection item is performed.

The selection item determination unit 114 performs a process of determining a selection item based on the result of the mini game played by the player.

Here, the mini game providing section for selection 112
A mini game for selecting a selection item by a player's eye pressing operation may be provided. Alternatively, a mini-game may be performed by presenting selection candidate items as a guide when selecting. Also, a plurality of selection items may be selected in the mini game. A plurality of selection items having different categories may be selected in the mini game. Further, a plurality of player characters constituting the team team may be selected in the mini game.

The player may be allowed to select whether or not to receive a mini-game for selecting a selection item.

In the game system according to the present embodiment,
Both game play in a single player mode in which one player plays and game play in a multi-player mode in which a plurality of players play are possible.

When a plurality of players play,
The game image and the game sound to be provided to the plurality of players may be generated using one terminal, or may be generated using a plurality of terminals connected by a network (transmission line, communication line) or the like. Is also good.

2. Features of the present embodiment The features of the present embodiment will be described using an example of character selection in a team fighting game. In the present embodiment, first,
The player must choose the number of his team. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining selection of the number of teams.

FIG. 3A shows a team number selection screen 300.
This is an example. Reference numeral 310 denotes a team number selection frame.

FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining an operation for determining the number of teams by operating the cursor in the team selection frame. The cursor 320, which was positioned only in the first one frame in the team selection frame, can be positioned so as to include up to eight frames from two frames as shown by 322 to 234 by moving the lever to the left by the player. it can. The player operates the lever to move the cursor to a position including the desired number of teams.
Confirm with the decision button. For example, if the player wants four team members, the user may press the confirm button when the cursor is positioned at 226.

After the number of teams is determined, it is necessary to select player characters for the number of teams. The present embodiment is characterized in that this character selection is miniature game.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of character selection in a mini game. A bold frame shown at 410 is a character frame that must be selected by the player. At first, since the cursor is positioned on the first selection frame 412, if the player presses the enter button here, a roulette-type character selection mini game for selecting a player character in the first selection frame 412 is started. You.

That is, the thick selection frame 422 starts to move at a high speed in the character selection candidate frames K1 to K20 and the “?” Frame in the character selection candidate item area 420 displayed at the bottom of the screen. The player presses the enter button by eye pressing so that the selection thick frame 422 stops at the desired character. At this time, if the timing to press the enter button is good, the selection thick frame 422 stops at the desired character of the player, and the player can select the desired character. However, if the timing of pressing the enter button is shifted, the selection thick frame 422 stops before or after the desired character of the player or at an out-of-register position, and the player cannot select the desired character.

In general, in this type of fighting game, how to advance a technique (special technique), speed, physical strength, and the like are different for each character. Therefore, by selecting a character that is familiar with how to advance the technique (the operation sequence and timing of the buttons and levers), the player can advance the game to an advantage. In addition, players who are good at speed-oriented battles will select high-speed characters, and players who are good at physical strength-oriented battles will select high-character strength characters so that they can advance the game to an advantage. Become. Therefore, which character to select is an important matter that greatly affects the outcome of the game. In order to advance the game and defeat the opponent player, it is important to be able to select a character that is familiar to the player and familiar with the operation method.

Accordingly, the player plays the roulette-type character selection mini-game seriously with a sense of tension, and feels delighted with the result of the selection. In this way, the element of play is added to the character selection itself, which is normally merely a task, and the character can be excited before the game is started.

Further, in such a roulette-type character selection, a player who is excellent in the skill of the pushing operation is
As a result, the player can select and select a desired character with a higher probability than a player who is inferior in the pressing operation. Therefore, the element of play of character selection is
Can be more enhanced.

Even if the player unfortunately obtains an undesired selection result, it is possible to enjoy an unusual battle content that cannot be enjoyed by selecting only the character which the player is accustomed to each time, and the game is monotonously performed. It will also prevent that. Further, since the probability that the player uses more characters is increased, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the prepared character is not selected at all.

When the character in the first selection frame 412 is determined, the cursor is moved to the next selection frame 4 by lever operation.
14 and the roulette-type character selection mini-game is performed again. This operation is repeated to select frames 414 and 41.
6,418 characters are determined.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the player can select a character while playing the mini-game, so that even if the number of characters to be selected is large, it is possible to perform the character selection without difficulty. .

When the selection thick frame 422 is positioned at "?" 424, the system determines the player character selected, and it is not known which player character has been selected until the game is started. The player character to be selected may be randomly selected by the system from the player characters K1 to K20, or another new player character may be selected.

By setting uncertain selection elements in this way, elements of play can be further enriched.

Also, an advanced player who is familiar with the operation method of almost all characters can select this roulette mode to show his opponent that he is an all-round player or to intensify the battle. Will be able to do it.

When a team in a team battle is formed, the characters forming the team also have compatibility with each other, so it is necessary to select a character in consideration of the compatibility with the selected character. FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams for explaining an example of character selection in consideration of compatibility. For example, it is assumed that even-numbered characters or odd-numbered characters are compatible with each other, so that forming an even-numbered or odd-numbered team increases the winning rate.

As shown in FIG. 5 (A), the character combination desired by the player before character selection is (K
3, K5, K7, K9). However, FIG.
It is assumed that the character selected first by the player as a result of the mini game is K2 as shown in FIG. Here, the player may change the initial schedule and change the character of interest to (K2, K4, K6, K8) as shown in FIG. 5C. In this way, the strategy can be changed such as changing the character to be selected on the way while reflecting the result of the mini game, and the character selection situation can be enjoyed as an important element of the game.

The selection of the eye pressing is not limited to the roulette type.
It may be a slot type. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a character-selecting mini-game in which eye-pressing selection is performed in a slot format.

Since the cursor is positioned on the first selection frame 512, if the player presses the enter button, the first selection frame 512 becomes a slot type selection panel. Then, the character selection candidates of K1 to K20 and the picture of “?” In the character selection candidate item area 420 displayed at the bottom of the screen are displayed on the slot type selection panel 512 while being switched at high speed in a sequential manner. Then, when the player presses the enter button by eye,
The character displayed when the enter button is pressed is selected, and the player can operate the selected character to play a game. In the case of the slot format, the character selection candidate item area 4 at the bottom of the screen
20 may be omitted and the character selection candidates may be introduced by slowly turning the slot selection frame before the mini game starts.

When the character in the first selection frame 512 is determined, the cursor is moved to the next selection frame 5 by lever operation.
14 and the slot-type character selection mini-game is performed again. This operation is repeated to select frames 514 and 51.
6,518 characters are determined.

Each of the selection frames 512, 514, and 51 of the character frame 510 that must be selected by the player
6 and 518 may be slot type selection panels at the same time, and the player may determine the player character by sequentially pressing the determination button.

Next, a case where a plurality of selection items having different categories can be selected in the mini game will be described.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E are as follows.
It is a figure for explaining a case where selection of a plurality of selection items with different categories is selected by a slot type mini game in a drive game.

In a drive game, the player's car, course, weather, time, and the like are often set as selectable items by the player. FIG. 7A shows a slot-type selection panel when a slot-type mini-game is performed for such selection items having different categories.

When the player presses the decision button, each of the selection frames 610, 612 and 612 for the player's car, course, weather, and time is selected.
Reference numerals 614 and 616 are slot type selection panels for the respective selection items.

In the player car selection frame, as shown in FIG. 7B, the player cars C1 to C
10 are displayed on the slot type selection panel 610 while being switched at high speed in order.

In the course selection frame, as shown in FIG. 7C, the courses that can be selected by the player are displayed on the slot-type selection panel 612 while being switched at a high speed in order.

In the weather selection frame, as shown in FIG. 7D, pictures representing the weather that can be selected by the player are displayed on the slot-type selection panel 614 while being switched at high speed in a sequential manner.

In the time selection frame, as shown in FIG. 7 (E), the patterns representing the times that can be selected by the player are displayed on the slot type selection panel 616 while being switched at high speed in order.

The player presses the enter button in order of the player car, course, weather, and time so as to stop when a desired option is displayed on the slot selectable panel.

The player's car, course, time, etc., alone or in combination, are important factors for determining the game environment. When a plurality of selection items having different categories are determined based on the result of the mini-game,
It becomes a variable element of the combination situation, and it is possible to enjoy a mini game with high game characteristics.

Next, a case in which a mini-game is played by presenting selection candidate items as a guide for selection will be described.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining an example in which a mini-game is presented by presenting selection candidate items as a guide for selection.

FIG. 8A shows an example of a player character selection screen when a single player game is played. 71
0 is a character selection frame to be selected by the player;
Reference numeral 30 denotes a selection candidate item that can be selected by a player, and is configured so that a character can be selected by a slot selection type mini game.

That is, when the cursor is positioned on the character selection frame 710 and the player presses the decision button, the 7
Reference numeral 10 denotes a slot type selection panel. Then, the character selection candidate item area 730 displayed at the bottom of the screen
Are displayed on the slot type selection panel 730 while the character selection candidates of K1 to K20 and the picture of "?" Then, when the player presses the enter button with his / her eyes, the character displayed when the enter button is pressed is selected, and the player can operate the selected character to play a game.

The feature here is that as shown in 720, “Today's Lucky Character”
Is presented to the player. Characters presented as "Today's Lucky Characters" have more power than they usually have today, have unusual game developments, or have special benefits It is configured to be replaced on a daily basis.

The player can refer to “Today's lucky character” when making a selection. Usually, the player has a strong tendency to select a character that he or she is good at, and the character to be selected is often biased. However, when "Today's lucky character" is presented, effective motivation for causing the player to select the present character can be given. Therefore, the probability that the player selects a character that is not normally selected can be increased.

FIG. 8B shows another example of a player character selection screen when a single player game is played.
740 is a character selection frame to be selected by the player, and 750 is a selection candidate item that can be selected by the player, and is configured so that a character can be selected by a roulette selection type mini game.

That is, when the cursor is positioned on the character selection frame 740 and the player presses the enter button, the character selection candidate frames K1 to K20 and the "?" The thick frame for selection 756 starts to move at high speed. The player presses the enter button by eye pressing so that the selection thick frame 756 stops at the desired character. At this time, if the timing to press the enter button is good, the selection thick frame 756 stops at the desired character of the player, and the player can select the desired character.

The feature here is that, as shown at 752 and 754, "Dora" and "Uradora" marks are attached to items to be used for selection. When the characters presented as "Dora" and "Uradora" are selected, unexpected reverse play can be performed, and other game developments can be enjoyed.

The player can refer to the "Dora" and "Uradora" marks when making the selection.

3. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example of the present embodiment.

When the player inserts a coin, FIG.
The character selection screen as described in (A) is output (step S10). Here, the player is as shown in FIG.
As described in (B), the number of teams is selected (step S20).

After the selection of the number of teams is completed, a selection is made as to whether or not to select a character in the mini game (step S30). When the player has selected not to perform character selection in the mini game, normal character selection processing is performed (step S40).

If it is selected to perform character selection in the mini game, the processing of steps S50 to S110 is performed.

First, n, which is a counter for performing a character selection mini-game for the number of teams, is initially set to 1 (step S50).

When the n-th character selection start button is pressed, the character selection slot is rotated (steps S60 and S70).

When the determination button of the slot stop is pressed, the character displayed on the slot type selection panel at the time of pressing is selected (step S90).

If the selection of characters has been completed for all the team members, the character selection processing is terminated. If not completed, n is updated and step S6 is performed again.
0 to S110 (Steps S100 and S11)
0).

4. Hardware Configuration Next, an example of a hardware configuration that can realize the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the system shown in the figure, a CPU 1000, a ROM 1002, a RAM 10
04, information storage medium 1006, sound generation IC 1008, image generation IC 1010, I / O ports 1012, 1014
Are connected to each other via a system bus 1016 so that data can be transmitted and received therebetween. And the image generation IC 1010
Is connected to the display 1018, and the sound generation IC 10
08 is connected to a speaker 1020, and the I / O port 1
012 is connected to the control device 1022,
A communication device 1024 is connected to the O port 1014.

The information storage medium 1006 mainly stores programs, image data for expressing a display object, sound data, and the like. For example, in a home game system, a DV is used as an information storage medium for storing a game program and the like.
D, a game cassette, a CDROM, or the like is used. In the arcade game system, a memory such as a ROM is used. In this case, the information storage medium 1006 is stored in the ROM 100
It becomes 2.

The control device 1022 corresponds to a game controller, an operation panel, and the like, and is a device for inputting a result of a determination made by a player in accordance with the progress of a game to the system main body.

The program stored in the information storage medium 1006, the system program (initialization information of the system main body) stored in the ROM 1002, the control device 1
CPU 22 according to a signal or the like input by
00 controls the entire system and performs various data processing. R
The AM 1004 is storage means used as a work area or the like of the CPU 1000.
The given contents of the OM 1002 or the calculation results of the CPU 1000 are stored. A data structure having a logical configuration for realizing the present embodiment is constructed on the RAM or the information storage medium.

Further, this type of system includes a sound generation IC 1
008 and an image generation IC 1010 are provided so that game sounds and game images can be suitably output. The sound generation IC 1008 includes the information storage medium 1006 and the RO
An integrated circuit that generates game sounds such as sound effects and background music based on the information stored in M1002, and the generated game sounds are output by a speaker 1020. Further, the image generation IC 1010 includes a RAM 10
04, an integrated circuit that generates pixel information to be output to the display 1018 based on image information sent from the ROM 1002, the information storage medium 1006, and the like. Note that a so-called head-mounted display (HMD) can also be used as the display 1018.

The communication device 1024 exchanges various kinds of information used inside the game system with the outside. The communication device 1024 is connected to another game system to send and receive given information according to the game program. It is used for transmitting and receiving information such as a game program via a communication line.

The various processes described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 are performed by the information storage medium 1006 storing information such as programs and data, the CPU 1000 operating based on the information from the information storage medium 1006, the image generation IC 10
10 or a sound generation IC 1008 or the like.
Note that the processing performed by the image generation IC 1010, the sound generation IC 1008, and the like may be performed by software using the CPU 1000, a general-purpose DSP, or the like.

FIG. 11A shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to an arcade game system. The player enjoys the game by operating the lever 1102, the button 1104, and the like while watching the game image projected on the display 1100. A CPU, an image generation IC, a sound generation IC, and the like are mounted on a built-in system board (circuit board) 1106. Information for executing (realizing) the processing of the present embodiment (means of the present invention) is stored in the semiconductor memory 1 as an information storage medium on the system board 1106.
108. Hereinafter, this information is referred to as storage information.

FIG. 11B shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to a home game system. The player enjoys the game by operating the game controllers 1202 and 1204 while watching the game image projected on the display 1200. In this case, the stored information is stored in a DVD 1206, which is an information storage medium detachable from the main system,
It is stored in a memory card 1208, 1209, or the like.

FIG. 11C shows a host device 1300,
A terminal 1304-1 connected to the host device 1300 via a communication line (small network such as LAN or wide area network such as the Internet) 1302.
An example in a case where the present embodiment is applied to a game system including １1304-n. In this case, the stored information is stored in the information storage medium 1 such as a magnetic disk device, a magnetic tape device, or a semiconductor memory that can be controlled by the host device 1300.
306. Terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n
Has a CPU, an image generation IC, and a sound processing IC, and can generate a game image and a game sound in a stand-alone manner.
A game program or the like for generating a game sound is transmitted to the terminal 1.
It is delivered to 304-1 to 1304-n. On the other hand, if it cannot be generated stand-alone, the host device 1300 generates a game image and a game sound, and transmits them to the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-1.
1304-n and output at the terminal.

In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 11C, the processing of the present invention may be performed in a distributed manner between the host device (server) and the terminal. Further, the storage information for implementing the present invention may be distributed and stored in an information storage medium of a host device (server) and an information storage medium of a terminal.

The terminal connected to the communication line may be a home game system or an arcade game system. When the arcade game system is connected to a communication line, a portable information storage that can exchange information with the arcade game system and can exchange information with the home game system. It is desirable to use a device (memory card, portable game machine).

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can be variously modified.

For example, in the invention according to the dependent claims of the present invention, a configuration in which some of the constituent elements of the dependent claims are omitted may be adopted. In addition, a main part of the invention according to one independent claim of the present invention may be made dependent on another independent claim.

In the present embodiment, the case where the selected item is mainly a character has been described. However,
As the selection items of the present invention, various items (cars, tanks, airplanes, robots, teams, weapons, armor, tools, etc.) that need to be selected in order to proceed with the game can be considered.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the mini-game format is a push selection such as a roulette selection type or a slot selection type, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a quiz type character selection mini game may be used. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of a quiz format character selection mini game.

The player first tentatively selects a desired character from the selection candidate item area 830 at the bottom of the screen. For example, a cursor is moved by a lever or the like, and the cursor is temporarily positioned on a desired character in the selection candidate item area and the determination button is pressed, thereby temporarily selecting the character.

Then, as shown at 820, a question corresponding to the temporarily selected character is set. The player must respond to the problem by positioning the cursor at "YES" or "NO" and pressing the confirm button. If the answer is correct, the temporarily selected player can be selected. In the case of an incorrect answer, this character cannot be selected and the player will play the selection mini game again.

If the user wants to select the time required for the selection mini-game, the character "?" Or another character may be automatically selected in the case of an incorrect answer.

The present invention can be applied to various games other than fighting games (sport games, car games, flight simulation games, shooting games, competition games, robot battle games, role playing games, music playing games, dance games, etc.). it can.

The present invention can be applied to various game systems such as arcade game systems, home game systems, large attraction systems in which many players participate, simulators, multimedia terminals, and system boards for generating game images. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining conventional character selection. FIG.

FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram of the game system of the embodiment.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining selection of the number of teams. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of character selection in a mini game.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams for explaining an example of character selection in consideration of compatibility. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a character selection mini-game in which a push selection is performed in a slot format.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E are diagrams for explaining a case where a plurality of selection items having different categories are selected in a slot-type mini game in a drive game; It is.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining an example in which a mini-game is presented by presenting selection candidate items as a guide when selecting.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the present embodiment.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are diagrams showing examples of various types of systems to which the present embodiment is applied; FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of a character selection mini game in a quiz format.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 processing unit 110 game calculation unit 112 mini game providing unit for selection 114 selection item determination unit 130 operation unit 140 storage unit 150 information storage medium 160 image generation unit 162 display unit 170 sound generation unit 172 sound output unit 174 communication unit 176 I / F section 180 Memory card

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A game system having selection items selectable by a player, a selection mini-game providing means for providing the player with a mini game for selecting the selection items, and Means for determining a selection item. 2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein a mini game for selecting a selection item by a player's eye pressing operation is provided. 3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein a mini-game is performed by presenting a selection candidate item as a guide when making a selection. 4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of selection items are selected in a mini game. 5. The game system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of selection items having different categories are selected in a mini game. 6. The game system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of player characters constituting a team team are selected in a mini game. 7. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising means for allowing a player to select whether or not to receive a mini-game for selecting a selection item. 8. An information storage medium that can be used by a computer, a selection mini-game providing means for providing a mini-game for selecting a selection item to a player, and selection based on a result of the mini-game performed by the player. An information storage medium comprising: means for determining an item; and information for realizing: 9. The information storage medium according to claim 8, including information for providing a mini game for selecting a selection item by a pushing operation of a player. 10. The information storage medium according to claim 8, wherein information for performing a mini-game by presenting a selection candidate item as a guide for selection is provided. 11. The information storage medium according to claim 8, comprising information for selecting a plurality of selection items in a mini game. 12. The information storage medium according to claim 8, including information for selecting a plurality of selection items having different categories in a mini game. 13. The information storage medium according to claim 8, comprising information for selecting a plurality of player characters constituting a team team in a mini game. 14. A method according to claim 8, further comprising information for realizing a means for allowing a player to select whether or not to receive a mini game for selecting a selection item. Information storage medium.