JP2002325971A - Game information, character information administering information, information storage medium, game system, and server system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate such problems that conventionally, in a game wherein an adventure is advanced while a PC(playing character) and NPC(non-playing character) cooperate together, e.g. a role playing game or the like, the characteristics (the individuality and the human nature) of the NPC are set in advance and are standardized, and therefore, when the game is played several times, a player are gradually getting tired of the NPCs, and the NPCs become one of factors by which the interest to the game is spoiled. SOLUTION: The character information regarding the PC is transmitted to this server system 30 by a game terminal unit 20, and thus, the PC is registered as an NPC. Also, by obtaining the character information regarding the NPC which is registered in the server system 30, the NPC regarding the newly obtained character information becomes usable for following games at the game terminal 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to game information, character information management information, an information storage medium for storing the game information or character information management information, a game system, and a server system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a role playing game
(RPG) or other player character operated by the player
(There is a large number of players that cooperate with each other (referred to as “PC” throughout the present specification) and non-player characters controlled through a computer (referred to as “NPC” throughout the present specification) to advance the game. That is, for example, R
In PG, PCs and NPCs form a party (formation), capture various dungeons, etc., and proceed with adventure.

[0003]

However, in such a game, the character of NPC (personality and human smell)
However, it often greatly affects the fun of the game.
In a conventional game, the personality of these NPCs is either "none" or "set by the game creator when the game was created". For this reason, if the player plays the game several times, the player gradually gets tired of the NPC, which is one of the factors that detract from the interest in the game. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 performs an operation by a processor.
By controlling, the system (for example, the game terminal 20) controls a corresponding character in accordance with character information (for example, character data stored in the character DB 540), and includes a plurality of characters including at least one PC. Acquisition means (for example, a character lending unit 422) for acquiring character information from outside the system, and character information acquired by the acquisition means for executing a game in which a game can be advanced by a formation. And means for enabling the system to function as a new NPC in the formation (for example, the character lending unit 422).

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a corresponding character is controlled according to character information (for example, character data stored in a character DB 540), and a formation composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC. (For example, game terminal 20) that executes a game in which game progress can be performed by
Acquisition means for acquiring character information from outside the game system (for example, the character lending unit 422)
Means for configuring a new NPC in the formation based on the character information obtained by the obtaining means.
(For example, a character lending unit 422).

According to the first or thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure a new NPC in the formation based on character information obtained from outside the system, that is, to make a new NPC. Further, by acquiring character information from outside the system, the player can obtain a new NPC different from the NPC prepared in advance in the system.
PC can be a friend. As a result, it is possible to prevent the NPC as a companion from getting tired of the game and spoiling the interest in the game.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a system (for example, a game terminal 20) is operated and controlled by a processor.
To the character information (for example, character DB5
40, the corresponding character is controlled in accordance with at least one PC.
A server system (e.g., the server system 30) or another system that stores game information for executing a game in which a game can be advanced by a formation composed of a plurality of characters including NPC. Transmitting means (for example, the character registration unit 42) for transmitting character information relating to a PC (for example, character data of character number “T001”) stored in the system as character information relating to a new NPC.
And 1) information for causing the system to function.

[0008] The invention according to claim 14 controls a corresponding character according to character information (for example, character data stored in a character DB 540) and forms a formation composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC. (For example, game terminal 20) that executes a game in which game progress can be performed by
In a server system (for example, the server system 30) for storing character information relating to the NPC or another system, character information relating to the PC (for example, character data of the character number "T001") stored in the game system is stored. (For example, a character registration unit 421) for transmitting the character information as character information relating to a new NPC.

According to the second or fourteenth aspect of the present invention, by transmitting the character information relating to the PC to the server system, it becomes possible to register the character relating to the transmitted character information. Also, by transmitting character information relating to a PC to other systems as character information relating to a new NPC, it becomes possible to rent a character to the transmission destination.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the game information of the first aspect, the system stores the character information relating to the NPC in a server system (for example, the server system 30) or another system. PC
Character information (for example, character number “T0
01 ") as character information relating to a new NPC, and information for causing the system to function as a transmission unit (for example, a character registration unit 421).

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by transmitting character information relating to the PC to the server system, it becomes possible to register a character relating to the transmitted character information. Further, by obtaining the character information stored in the server system, for example, by the obtaining means, it becomes possible to realize the rental of the registered character. Also, by transmitting character information relating to a PC to other systems as character information relating to a new NPC, it becomes possible to rent a character to the transmission destination.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the game information according to the first or third aspect, the character information is obtained by performing data communication with the obtaining means through a server system storing a plurality of character information. Information for functioning as described above.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the character information stored in the server system is acquired by the acquiring means, so that the registered character can be lent. In addition, since a character to be lent is selected from a plurality of registered characters, the player can associate various different NPCs with each other. As a result, it is possible to prevent the NPC as a companion from getting tired of the game and spoiling the interest in the game.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the game information of the fourth aspect, information for causing the system to function as means for transmitting desired condition information relating to character information acquired by the server system is included. It is characterized by the following.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the desired condition can be transmitted to the server system, it is possible to configure the system so that character information meeting the desired condition can be obtained. That is, for example, a condition that the user has experience visiting a specific dungeon or a condition that the user has the same level as a PC is transmitted to the server system. Then, character information that meets the condition can be obtained from the server system.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the game information according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the character information includes personality information for determining a line of the character (for example, a line in FIG. 16). Data) and means for causing the system to function as a means for determining the words of the character based on the personality information of the character.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the words of the character are determined by the personality information included in the character information. This makes it possible to express the character's personality. Further, by setting the personality information by the registrant, the words intended by the registrant can be output according to conditions such as a specific place or an event. In other words, the personality desired by the registrant
This can be given to the character to be registered. Also,
By setting the ending of the character dialogue as the personality information, it is possible to give the registered character the personality desired by the registrant for all the character dialogues regardless of the above conditions.

The game information according to any one of the first to sixth aspects may be stored as in the information storage medium according to the eleventh aspect.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize an information storage medium having the effects described in any one of the first to sixth aspects.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game system for controlling a corresponding character in accordance with character information and executing a game in which a game composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC can perform a game. Receiving means (for example, character registration) for receiving character information transmitted from the game system to a server system (for example, server system 30) for performing data communication with a given communication line with a game terminal 20). Unit 710) and storage means for storing the character information received by the receiving means (for example,
Character DB 84) and transmission means (for example, a character lending unit 720) for transmitting at least one piece of character information among the character information stored in the storage means to the game system. is there.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game system for controlling a corresponding character in accordance with character information and executing a game in which a formation composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC can progress the game. (E.g., the game terminal 20) and a server system (e.g., the server system 30) that performs data communication via a given communication line, and a receiving unit (e.g., a character information transmitted from the game system) Character registration unit 710), and storage means for storing character information received by the reception means
(E.g., a character DB 840) and transmission means (e.g., character information stored in the storage means) for transmitting at least one piece of character information to the game system.
Character lending section 720).

According to the seventh or fifteenth aspect of the present invention, character registration transmitted by the game system can be realized by accumulating and storing the character information. Also, by transmitting the stored and stored character information to the game system, the registered character can be lent. That is, a server system for registering and lending a character can be realized. Therefore, in the game system, by acquiring the character information from outside the game system, the player can associate a new NPC different from the NPC prepared in advance in the game system. As a result, it is possible to prevent the NPC as a companion from getting tired of the game and spoiling the interest in the game.
Further, by performing data communication between the server system and a plurality of game systems, it is possible to rent a character registered from the game system to another game system.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the character information management information according to the seventh aspect, the storage means is made to function to store the character information in association with a given classification item. Means for receiving desired condition information transmitted from the game system to the server system, and selecting means for selecting character information based on the desired condition information and the classification item. , The selection result by the selection means,
Or means for transmitting the selected character information to the server system; and
It is characterized by including.

[0024] Further, the invention according to claim 16 is based on claim 1.
5. The server system according to claim 5, wherein the storage unit stores the character information in association with a given classification item, and receives desired condition information transmitted from a game system; A selection unit for selecting character information based on a classification item, and a unit for transmitting a selection result by the selection unit or the selected character information to the server system.

Here, the classification item is information serving as a reference for classifying character information, and means, for example, a history of a corresponding character and a fighting ability. In addition, the history is a place where a visit has been experienced, an enemy character having an encounter experience, and the like, and the battle ability is a level, an attack power,
Defensive power.

According to the invention described in claim 8 or 16, a character satisfying a desired condition of the player, for example, a character having experience of visiting a place desired by the player,
It is possible to select a character of a desired level. In addition, by transmitting the selection result or the selected character information to the game system, it is possible to rent out a character that meets the player's desired conditions.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the character management information according to the seventh or eighth aspect, a rating means (for example, a ranking management unit 740) for performing a given rating on the character information stored in the storage means, And means for causing the server system to function as a means for transmitting a rating result by the rating means to the game system (for example, a character lending unit 720).

Further, the invention according to claim 17 is based on claim 1
17. The server system according to 5 or 16, wherein a rating unit (for example, a ranking management unit 740) for performing a given rating on the character information stored in the storage unit, and a unit for transmitting a rating result by the rating unit to the game system ( For example, a character lending unit 720) is provided.

According to the ninth or seventeenth aspect of the present invention, for example, it is possible to rank a registered character in accordance with the number of lending times of the character. Then, in the game system, by displaying the received rating result, the player can
The displayed rating result can be used as a reference when lending a character.

[0030] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the character information management information according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the server system is provided with game information for evaluating the character information stored in the storage means. Means for receiving from the system, evaluation storage means for storing the received evaluation information in association with the character information to be evaluated, and evaluation information corresponding to the character information stored in the storage means, Means for reading from the means and transmitting the read evaluation information to the game system.

The invention according to claim 18 is the first invention.
The server system according to any one of claims 5 to 17, wherein the evaluation information for the character information stored in the storage means is received from a game system, and the received evaluation information corresponds to the character information to be evaluated. Evaluation storage means for attaching and storing; and reading means for reading evaluation information corresponding to the character information stored in the storage means from the evaluation storage means, and transmitting the read evaluation information to the game system. It is characterized by.

According to the tenth or eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the server system stores evaluation information for the stored character information, for example, evaluations and impressions by the registrant of the character or the lent player. Then, by reading and transmitting the stored evaluation information in response to, for example, a request from the game system, it becomes possible to transmit evaluations and impressions corresponding to the character desired by the player. In the game system, by displaying the received evaluation information, the player can use the displayed evaluation information as a reference when lending a character.

Further, the character information management information according to any one of claims 7 to 10 may be stored like an information storage medium according to claim 12.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, an information storage medium having the effects described in any one of the seventh to tenth aspects can be realized.

[0035]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a server system 30 to which the present invention is applied, and a plurality of game terminals 2 connected to the server system 30 via a given communication line.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a game system 10 composed of “0” and “0”.

In FIG. 1, a game terminal 20 sends a P to a server system 30 in accordance with a player's operation instruction.
The character data relating to C is transmitted, and a process of requesting the registration of the character is performed (character registration).
In addition, the server system 30
Requesting / receiving character data relating to a character registered in the (character lending).

The server system 30 receives character data transmitted from the game terminal 20 and performs a process of registering a character (character registration). Further, a process of transmitting character data relating to a character in response to a request from the game terminal 20 to the game terminal 20 is performed.
(Character lending).

The game terminal 20 normally executes a game by itself, but when registering or lending a character, the game terminal 20 is connected to the server system 30 via a communication line to establish a connection with the server system 30. Perform transmission / reception processing of character data. The game terminal 20 is physically connected to a communication line (for example, connected to a telephone line), and is electrically connected to the game server 30 via the communication line (for example, (Establishment of an electric communication path, etc.) is possible at any time.

Although FIG. 1 shows a state in which three game terminals 20 are connected to one server system 30, any number of game terminals may be connected. Also,
In the present embodiment, the game executed by the game terminal 20 will be described as a role playing game (RPG),
The game to be applied is not limited to this. Further, a description will be given below assuming that characters registered in the server system 30 and characters lent to the game terminal 20 are non-player characters (NPCs) that are not to be operated by the player.

Before registering and lending a character, the player needs to register the player with the server system 30. Specifically, at the game terminal 20, for example, at the start of the first adventure, a player for identifying each player by inputting the player's personal information such as the player's name, age, and gender in accordance with instructions on the display screen. Get the ID.

First, an outline of character registration and lending is displayed on a game screen displayed on the game terminal 20.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Registration of Character) During the game,
For example, when “register character” in the game command menu is selected, the adventure being executed is temporarily suspended, and subsequently, a character registration screen is displayed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the character registration screen. In FIG. 2, on the character registration screen, a message prompting input of a player ID and an instruction to register a character is displayed. On this character registration screen, when the player ID registered for the player is input and it is confirmed that the registration of the character has been instructed, the PC 50 which is the player's operation target
Are registered in the server system 30 as NPCs. Further, when it is confirmed in the server system 30 that the registration of the character has been normally performed, a message such as “Registration is completed!” Is displayed on the game screen. Then, the suspended adventure is resumed.

(Character Lending) During play of the game, the PC 50 is moved to a “bar” provided in the game space, and an operation of entering the “bar” is performed.
On the game screen, a message prompting the player to input a player ID is displayed. Here, when it is confirmed that the player ID registered in the player has been input, the PC 5
0 can enter the "bar". Then, the state inside the “bar” is displayed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the interior of the “bar”. In FIG. 3, the PC 50 and a plurality of characters exist in the “tavern”. Characters existing in these “bars” are characters (NPCs) registered in the server system 30 from any of the game terminals 20. The character 70 is a character (master character) representing the master of the “bar” and is a character (NPC) that is not a lending target.

In this "bar", when the player moves the PC 50 so as to come into contact with any of the NPCs and selects the "speak" command, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19, the dialogue of the contacted NPC is displayed, and the conversation with the PC 50 is performed. In addition, PC
This action of 50 is referred to as "Talk to NPC".

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an NPC dialogue. In FIG. 4A, the NPC 52 displays a line such as “I have been to a forest of silence”. That is, it is suggested that the NPC 52 has experience of visiting Shizunomori (the name of the dungeon). In FIG. 4B, the NPC 52 displays a line such as "The guardian was strong." That is, it is suggested that the NPC 52 has experience of encountering a guardian (name of a boss character appearing in the game). In FIG. 4C, the NPC 52 displays a line such as "The attack power has finally reached 53." That is, NPC5
The attack power of 2 is suggested to be 53.

As described above, through the conversation with the NPC, the player can experience the NPC (the place where the player has visited or the enemy character having the encounter) and the NPC's own fighting ability (such as level, attack power, defense power, etc.). ) Can be known. Note that the displayed dialogue of the NPC may be output as a sound from a speaker built in or attached to the game terminal 20, for example. Further, the same goes for the dialogue in the following description, of course.

When the conversation between the PC 50 and the NPC ends,
Subsequently, a message is displayed that prompts the user to take out the NPC from the “bar” and select whether to make it a friend. And
If a friend is selected, this NPC will be
It becomes a 0 friend (hereinafter, referred to as a friend character), and accompanies the subsequent adventure of the game executed on the game terminal 20. That is, the character is lent.

When a predetermined maximum number of characters that can be lent to the player (hereinafter referred to as the maximum number of lent characters) has already been lent, no more characters are lent. Therefore, when it is selected that the NPC with whom the user has spoken is set as a friend, a message is displayed to ask which friend character to be separated from. Then, by separating from the selected fellow character, the NPC with whom he has spoken can be accompanied by a subsequent adventure as a new fellow character. Further, only one NPC may accompany one PC,
A plurality of NPCs may be accompanied. Furthermore, if multiple NPCs are to be accompanied, all NPs must be
C may participate in the battle, or may be replaced during the battle by limiting the number of participants.

Also, when “ranking” in the game command menu is selected in the “bar” shown in FIG. 3, for example, a ranking list of characters (NPCs) based on the number of rents is shown in FIG. Is displayed as follows.
The number of rents is the total number of times the character (NPC) has been taken out of the “bar” (total number of times), that is, the total number of lents.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the ranking list. In FIG. 5, the ranking list includes all characters (NPs) registered in the server system 30.
C), characters (NP
As for C), the character name and the number of rents are displayed. That is, FIG. 5 shows that the NPC “Keel” has the maximum number of lendings of 39 among the registered characters (NPCs).

In the “tavern” shown in FIG.
50 is moved to "Exit (not specifically shown)"
When the operation of going out of the “tavern” is performed, the display inside the “tavern” ends, and the adventure (game) in the game terminal 20 that has been temporarily suspended will be resumed. The adventure resumed here is accompanied by the NPC (friend character) taken out of the “tavern” as described above.

In addition, these NPCs (friend characters) are displayed at an arbitrary timing during the adventure, for example, as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a game screen during an adventure. In FIG. 6, NPCs 51 and 53 are fellow characters. In FIG. 6A, NPC 53 includes:
A line saying "Leave this area around! I just came!" That is, NPC5
No. 3 shows that there is experience of visiting this place in the past. Also, in FIG.
Words such as "Do you know? This area is scary ..." That is, it is indicated that the NPC 53 has experience visiting this place in the past.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the character's "decision dialogue" before and after the battle. In FIG. 7A, the NPC 53 has a message such as "Ikuyo!"
The dialogue just before the battle is displayed. Also,
In (b), the NPC 53 displays a dialogue line immediately after the battle (when a victory is made), such as "I did it!" FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the game screen when there is no speech for a certain period of time. In FIG. 8, NPC
At 53, a line such as "Taku-" is displayed.

Next, an example of functional blocks of the game terminal 20 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, functional blocks include an operation unit 100, a communication unit 200, a display unit 300, and a processing unit 40.
0 and the storage unit 500.

The operation section 100 is for the player to input operation data, and its function can be realized by hardware such as a lever, a button, and a housing. Also,
When an operation such as pressing the button is performed, the operation signal is output to the processing unit 400.

The communication section 200 exchanges information with the outside of the game terminal 20 (mainly the server system 30), such as transmission and reception of character data, via a given communication line. In addition, this communication line is a small network such as a LAN, a wide area network such as the Internet,
Any type of communication line, such as a public network, a dedicated line network, or a mobile communication network, may be used regardless of wired or wireless communication.

The display unit 300 displays a game image and the like generated by the image generation unit 410. The player may use a game screen displayed on the display unit 300, for example, as shown in FIGS.
The user inputs operation data (instructions, selections, determinations) and the like according to the game progress from the operation unit 100 while watching the game screen and the like shown in FIG.

The processing section 400 performs various processes such as control of the game terminal 20 as a whole, instructions to the respective functional sections in the game terminal 20, game progress processing, image processing, sound processing, and the like. Various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.),
Or hardware such as ASIC (gate array etc.),
It can be realized by a given program. The processing unit 40
0 includes the image generation unit 410 and the game calculation unit 420.

The image generation section 410 has a game calculation section 420
Is generated as an image based on a given viewpoint (virtual camera) and output to the display unit 300.

The game calculation section 420 performs processing for constructing a game space, processing for determining the position and orientation of each character, speed of movement, direction of travel, and the like, processing for calculating the position of a virtual camera in the game space and its line of sight, Various game processes, such as a game progress process such as development of a game, are executed based on an operation signal from the operation unit 100, a game program 510 read from the storage unit 500, and the like. In addition, the game calculation unit 420 includes a character registration unit 421 and a character lending unit 422.

The character registration unit 421 operates the operation unit 100
Reads the character data of the PC 50 from the character DB 540 in accordance with the operation instruction from the
Processing related to character registration, such as transmission to 0, is performed.

The character lending unit 422 is operated by the operation unit 100
In accordance with the operation instruction from the server, character data transmitted from the server system 30 is additionally stored in the character DB 540, and processing related to lending of characters is performed.

The storage section 500 stores a game program 510 relating to the progress of the game and a character registration program 52.
0, a character lending program 530, and a character DB 540.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the character DB 540. Character data corresponding to each character is stored in character DB 540. FIG. 10 shows one of the character data.

In FIG. 10, character data includes
The character number, name, battle ability (level, attack power, defense power, physical strength, etc.), history, personality, and image data are stored in association with each other. The character number is a number for identifying a character, and is given by a serial number from “T001”. The history is information such as an enemy character that the character has encountered in the past and a visited place.
The personality is information for determining the personality of the character, such as dialog data shown in FIG. 16, for example, and details thereof will be described later. The image data is, for example, as shown in FIG.
This is information for displaying the character on the game screen. The image generator 410 generates an image of the character based on the image data.

The character DB 540 stores a plurality of character data in advance. The character data received from the server system 30 is assigned a character number thereafter, and the character DB 540
Will be additionally stored. That is, in FIG.
The character DB 540 has the character number “T00
The storage area is secured so that a total of 83 character data of “1” to “T083” can be stored, and the character data stored in the area of character numbers “T001” to “T080” This is character data stored in advance.
The area of “081” to “T083” is a storage area of the character data to be additionally stored, that is, the character data of the lent character (NPC) is an area of any of the character numbers “T081” to “T083”. However, since the area where additional storage is possible is only for three character data, four or more character data cannot be additionally stored.

In FIG. 10, the character data of the character number "T001" is the character data of the PC 50. Then, the character number "T00
The character data after 2 ″ is NPC character data that is not an operation target of the player, such as a friend character that can be a friend of the PC 50. The character data is PC50, NPC, or additional. The configuration is the same regardless of the stored NPC.

Next, a specific processing operation executed in the game terminal 20 will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. The player's various input operations performed in accordance with the display on the display unit 300 are more specifically recognized in the processing unit 400 based on operation signals output from the operation unit 100. In the following description, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Registration of Character) FIG. 11 shows the character registration section 42 according to the character registration program 520.
Character registration processing (game terminal) executed by 1
It is a flowchart explaining.

In FIG. 11, if “register character” in the game command menu is selected during game play, for example, the character registration section 421 temporarily suspends the adventure being executed and displays the character registration screen. Is displayed on the display unit 300 as shown in FIG. 2, for example. Then, on this character registration screen, the player ID
Is input and a character registration instruction is issued,
The character registration unit 421 transmits character data corresponding to the PC 50 to the server system 30 together with the input player ID, and requests registration of the character (step S11). That is, the character registration unit 421
Transmits the character data of the PC 50 (character data of the character number “T001” in FIG. 10) stored in the character DB 540 to the server system 30 together with the input player ID.

Next, when the completion of character registration is notified from the server system 30 (step S12: YE)
S), the character registration unit 421 causes the display unit 300 to display a message such as “registration completed!”. Then, the suspended adventure is resumed.
After performing the above processing, the character registration unit 421 ends this processing.

(Character lending) FIG. 12 shows the character lending section 4 according to the character lending program 530.
22 is a flowchart for explaining a character lending process (game terminal) executed by a user 22.

In FIG. 12, when entry of PC 50 into the “bar” is instructed (step S21), character lending section 422 causes display section 300 to display a message prompting input of player ID. Then, an electric communication path with the server system 30 is established, and the input player ID is notified to the server system 30.

Here, when the server system 30 notifies that the player ID cannot be authenticated (step S22:
NO), the character lending unit 422
The communication path that has been established with 0 is disconnected, and a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 300. Then, the present process ends.

When the server system 30 notifies that the player ID can be authenticated (step S22: YE
S), the character lending unit 422 displays the inside of the “bar” on the display unit 300, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (step S23). More specifically, the image generation unit 410
Based on the NPC data (including at least the registration number and the corresponding image data of the character data) transmitted with the authentication of the player ID.
An image inside the “bar” where the PC is arranged is generated.

Then, inside the “tavern”, for example, a PC
When the conversation with the NPC is instructed, for example, by bringing the NPC 50 into contact with the NPC and further selecting the "speak" command (step S24: YES), the character lending unit 422 sets the registration number of the "talked" NPC. To detect. Then, it notifies the server system 30 of the detected registration number and requests conversation data. Next, based on the conversation data transmitted from the server system 30, the dialogue of the spoken NPC is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is displayed on the display unit 300 (step S23).

After the conversation with the NPC is completed, subsequently, the character lending unit 422 displays a message prompting the user to take out the NPC and select whether or not to make it a friend.
To be displayed. Then, when the taking out of the NPC is instructed (step S26: YES), the character lending unit 42
2 refers to the character DB 540 and checks whether there is a free space in the additional storage area for character data (step S27).

If the character DB 540 confirms that there is a free space in the character data additional storage area, the character lending unit 422 determines that lending of the character is possible (step S27: YES), and an instruction to take out is given. The server system 30 requests the character data of the NPC.

If it is not confirmed in the character DB 540 that there is a free space in the character data additional storage area, the character lending unit 422 determines that lending of the character is impossible (step S27: N).
O) Then, a message is displayed on the display unit 300 to ask which companion character to leave. Then, the character data of the selected fellow character is
By deleting from the character DB 540, a free space is secured in the addable area. That is, by this, the character is separated from the selected fellow character (step S
28). Next, the character lending unit 422 requests the server system 30 for the character data of the NPC designated to be taken out in step S26.

When a request for character data is made to server system 30, character lending section 422 additionally stores character data transmitted from server system 30 in character DB 540. However, this character data is additionally stored in an empty storage area. That is, by this, NPC which talked
Becomes a new fellow character (step S29).

In the “bar” shown in FIG.
When “Ranking” is selected (Step S30: YE
S), the character lending unit 422 transmits an instruction signal to that effect to the server system 30. Then, based on the ranking data transmitted from the server system 30 in response to the instruction signal, a ranking list is displayed on the display unit 300, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (step S31).

In the “bar” shown in FIG.
When leaving C50 is instructed (step S32: YE
S), the character lending unit 422 includes the server system 30
Disconnects the communication line (electric communication path) connected to Then, the suspended adventure is resumed. After performing the above processing, the character lending unit 422 ends the processing.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the server system 30. In FIG. 13, the functional blocks are a communication unit 600, a processing unit 700, and a storage unit 80.
It is composed of 0.

The communication section 600 transmits and receives character data via a given communication line.
Exchange information with the outside (mainly the game terminal 20). In addition, this communication line is a small network such as a LAN, a wide area network such as the Internet,
Any type of communication line, such as a public network, a private line network, or a mobile communication network, may be used regardless of whether it is wired or wireless.

The processing section 700 performs a game progress process and the like based on data obtained from the game terminal 20 via the communication section 600, a program stored in the storage section 800, and the like. The function of this processing unit 700 is a CPU (CISC
, RISC type), DSP, ASIC (gate array etc.), memory, etc. Further, processing unit 700 includes a character registration unit 710, a character lending unit 720, a conversation determination unit 730, and a ranking management unit 740.

The character registration unit 710 stores the game terminal 2
In response to the request from 0, processing related to character registration is performed, such as additionally storing character data transmitted from the game terminal 20 in the character DB 840.

The character lending section 720 is a game terminal 2
In response to a request from 0, processing related to lending of characters, such as transmitting character data stored in the character DB 840 to the game terminal 20, is performed.

[0091] The conversation determination unit 730 includes a conversation fixed phrase 860,
Based on the character data and the like stored in the character DB 840, a process of determining the NPC dialogue at the time of the conversation with the PC 50 in the “tavern” is performed.

[0092] The ranking management unit 740 operates at regular intervals.
The process of updating the lending ranking table 870 based on the character lending table 850 (for example, every day) is performed.

The storage unit 800 stores a character registration program 810, a character lending program 820, a player management table 830, a character DB 840, a character lending table 850, a conversation fixed phrase 860, and a lending ranking table 870. I do.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the player management table 830. In FIG. 14, a player management table 830 is shown.
Stores player-related information and character-related information in association with each player ID unique to each player. Player related information includes player name, age,
Information such as gender is stored. Then, a value input by the player at the time of player registration is set as the player-related information. Further, as the character-related information, the registration number (see FIG. 15; details will be described later) of the character lent to the player and the number of times the character has been lent are stored as a lending history. However, the number of lending is the number of lending only to the player. And
These character-related information is updated by the character lending unit 720 when lending a character.

For example, in FIG. 14, the player ID
It is stored in the player corresponding to “KI001” that the NPC whose registration number is “R0018” or “R0002” has been lent. Also, the registration number “R0018”
Has been lent twice to the player. The reason why the same NPC is lent to a player a plurality of times is that the character DB 540 of the game terminal 20 has an upper limit on the number of character data that can be additionally stored. This is because the character data can be additionally stored any number of times by deleting the character data.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the character DB 840. The character DB 840 stores, for each character (NPC) registered in the server system 30, character data corresponding to the character (NPC). FIG. 15 shows one of the character data. Also, this character DB8
The character data stored in 40 has almost the same structure as the character data stored in character DB 540 shown in FIG. This is because the character data of the PC in the game terminal 20 is stored in the character DB.
840.

In FIG. 15, character data includes
Its registration number, name, and combat ability (level, attack power,
Defense, physical strength, etc.), history, personality, image data,
The registrant and the registration date are stored in association with each other.

The registration number is a number for identifying a character managed in character DB 840.
It is given by a serial number from “R0001”. History, personality,
And the image data are the same information as the history, personality, and image data of the character data stored in the character DB 540 described in FIG. The registrant is the player ID of the player who registered the character.
The registration date is information indicating the date when the character was registered in the server system 30. That is, character DB8
Character data stored in 40 is a character DB
It has a structure in which information of a registrant and a registration date is added to the character data stored in 540.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of dialog data stored as individuality in the character data stored in the character DB 540 and the character DB 84. However, FIG. 16 shows dialog data stored as the personality corresponding to the NPC 53. In this dialogue data, you can see places you have visited, specific events,
Alternatively, a line of NPC according to a condition such as others is stored. According to the conditions set in the dialog data, for example, as shown in FIGS.
The words of the PC 53 are displayed.

For example, when a given dungeon is visited again during an adventure, the condition of “place (dungeon) where there is a visit experience” in the line data is satisfied, and NPC
In 53, there is a line corresponding to the condition, such as "Let's leave this area around! Just came!"
It is displayed as shown in FIG. In addition, when the place where the guardian who is the boss character exists is visited again, the condition of “the place where the visit experience has been made (the presence of the boss character)” in the line data is satisfied, and the NPC 53 includes:
A line corresponding to the condition, such as "Do you know? This side is scary ..." is displayed as shown in FIG. 6 (b). Whether or not these places are places where the character has experience visiting is determined based on the history stored in the corresponding character data.

Similarly, immediately before the battle, based on the dialog data, as shown in FIG.
Displays a line such as "I'll go!"
Furthermore, immediately after the battle (when the victory), a line such as “Yaaaa!” Is displayed on the NPC 53 as shown in FIG. 7B. In addition, when the mute continues for a certain period of time, as shown in FIG.

On the basis of the line data and the history, a line unique to the NPC, such as a habit, can be displayed. The dialog set in the dialog data may be arbitrarily set by the registrant, for example, when registering a character. This allows the registrant to display a line intended by the inventor at the lending destination according to conditions such as a place and an event after the character to be registered is lent to another player.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the character lending table 850. In FIG. 17, the character lending table 8
In 50, the registration numbers, names, and lending times of all the characters (NPCs) registered in the server system 30 are stored in association with each other.

The registration number is a number for identifying each character, and corresponds to the registration number in the character data (see FIG. 15). The total number of times the character has been lent (the total number of times) has been stored in the number of rents.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a conversation fixed form sentence 860. The conversation fixed phrase 860 stores the conversation contents of the NPC when talking to the PC 50 in the “tavern”.

That is, in FIG. 18, the conversation number is
The conversation about the “place that has experienced visiting” is the conversation about the “enemy who has encountered the encounter”. The conversation number is a conversation relating to “own combat ability (attack power)”, and the conversation number is a conversation relating to “own combat ability (defense power)”. The conversation number is a conversation relating to “its own fighting ability (physical strength)”. And
In the “tavern”, the NPC spoke to the PC 50 displays a line according to any of the conversation contents of the above conversation numbers. At that time, "○○○", "△△△", and "xxx" in these conversation contents are indicated by the NP
A word corresponding to the content of the character data corresponding to C (see FIG. 15) is entered.

For example, when a conversation number is selected, the history stored in the character data (the place where the user has visited)
Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the words of the NPC 52 are displayed. When a conversation number is selected, a line of the NPC 52 is displayed as shown in, for example, FIG. 4B, based on the history stored in the character data (the enemy character who has experienced the encounter). When the conversation number is selected, the NPC 52 words are displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. 4C, based on the battle ability (attack power) stored in the character data.

More specifically, the game terminal 20 is connected to the PC 5
0 is the server system 30
Send to Then, the conversation determining unit 730 of the server system 30 selects and determines a conversation alternatively based on the character data corresponding to the registration number and the conversation fixed phrase 860. Then, the determined conversation data is transmitted to the game terminal 20. Thus, the dialogue is displayed on the NPC spoken to the PC 50.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the lending ranking table 870. This lending ranking table 870 includes all characters registered in the server system 30.
The order of (NPC) based on the number of lending times is stored. That is, in FIG.
Of all characters (NPCs) registered in, the characters (NPCs) whose lending frequency is within the top 20 are
The registration number, the name, and the number of rents are stored in association with each other.

Based on this lending ranking table 870,
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a ranking list is displayed. The value stored in the lending ranking table 870 is updated to the latest information by the ranking management unit 740 at regular time intervals (for example, every day).

Next, a specific operation performed by the server system 30 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Note that the server system 30 simultaneously performs the same processing on each of the plurality of game terminals 20. Hereinafter, only the processing on one game terminal 20 will be described.

(Registration of Character) FIG. 20 shows a character registration section 71 according to a character registration program 810.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a character registration process (server system) executed by No. 0

In FIG. 20, when a registration of a character is requested from the game terminal 20, a character registration unit 71
0 is character data transmitted with this request,
And the player ID (step S41). Then, by referring to the received player ID and the player management table 830, it is confirmed that the player has been registered.

Next, character registration section 710 adds the registrant and the registration date information to the received character data, and stores the registration number “T” in character DB 840, for example.
0046 ", where character D
Player ID received in item of registrant in B840
, And the current date in the registration date field.

At the same time, character registration section 710
Performs an initial setting of an item corresponding to the registration number in the character lending table 850. That is, for example, the “name” corresponding to the registration number “R0046” is set to the name stored in the received character data, and the “lending count” is set to the initial value “0” (step S4).
2).

Thereafter, character registration section 710 notifies game terminal 20 of the completion of character registration.
(Step S43). After performing the above processing, the character registration unit 710 ends this processing.

FIG. 21 shows the character lending section 7 according to the character lending program 820.
20 is a flowchart for explaining a character lending process (server system) executed by the server 20.

In FIG. 21, when a communication line (establishment of an electric communication path) is connected from the game terminal 20 and entry to the “bar” is requested, the character lending unit 720 transmits the player ID notified together. And the player management table 830 to confirm that the player has been registered (step S51). If it is not confirmed that the player has been registered (step S51: NO), this is notified to the game terminal 20, and the process is terminated.

If it is confirmed that the player has been registered (step S51: Yes), the character lending unit 720
Transmits the NPC data including the registration number and the corresponding image data to the game terminal 20 for the stored character data with reference to the character DB 840 (step S52).

Thereafter, when conversation data is requested from the game terminal 20 together with the notification of the registration number (step S53: YES), the conversation determination unit 730 sets the conversation fixed phrase 8
Reference is made to the character data corresponding to the registered number 60 and the notified registration number, and a process of determining the words of the character is performed. Then, the character lending unit 720 converts the conversation data based on the dialogue determined by the conversation determination unit 730 into
This is transmitted to the game terminal 20 (step S54).

After transmission of the conversation data, if character data is subsequently requested from game terminal 20 (step S55: YES), character lending section 720 refers to character DB 840 and stores the corresponding character data in the game. Transmit to terminal 20. At the same time, in the character lending table 850 and the player management table 830,
The value of the corresponding item is updated (step S56).

More specifically, in the player management table 830, the registration number of the transmitted character data is added to the lending history corresponding to the received player ID,
The lending number is set to “1”. However, if the registration number is already stored, the lending number is set to “1”.
Update to the added value. In addition, the character lending table 850
, The “lending count” corresponding to the registration number of the transmitted character data is updated to a value obtained by adding “1”.

When the transmission of the ranking data is requested from the game terminal 20 (step S57: YE
S), the character lending unit 720 sets the lending ranking table 8
The ranking data based on 70 is transmitted to the game terminal 20 (step S58).

In the game terminal 20, the PC 50
Is instructed to exit from the “bar”, and it is confirmed that the connected communication line (electrical communication path) has been disconnected (step S59: YES), the character lending unit 720 ends this processing. .

Next, FIG. 22A shows an example in which the game terminal 20 of the present embodiment is applied to an arcade game device. The player looks at the game image displayed on the display 1100 while watching the lever 1102 and the button 11.
Enjoy the game by operating the 04 etc. Various processors, various memories, and the like are mounted on a built-in system board (circuit board) 1106. Information (program, data) for executing the present invention is stored in a memory 1108 which is an information storage medium on the system board 1106. Hereinafter, this information is referred to as storage information.

FIG. 13B shows the game terminal 20 of this embodiment.
Is applied to a home-use game device. The player looks at the game image displayed on the display 1200 while watching the game controllers 1202 and 1204.
To enjoy the game. In this case, the stored information is stored in a CD (D
VD) 1206, or memory cards 1208, 120
9 and the like.

Further, specific examples of realizing the game terminal 20 of the present embodiment are not limited to the arcade game device or the home game device, but include, for example, a portable game device, a personal computer, and a portable terminal (portable telephone). ), And can be applied to a kiosk terminal or the like.

An example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the game terminal 20 and the server system 30 will be described with reference to FIG. In the device shown in FIG.
000, ROM 1002, RAM 1004, information storage medium 1006, sound generation IC 1008, image generation IC 101
0 and I / O ports 1012 and 1014 are connected to each other by a system bus 1016 so that data can be input / output. Then, the display device 101 is provided in the image generation IC 1010.
8 is connected, and the speaker 102 is connected to the sound generation IC 1008.
0 is connected, the control device 1022 is connected to the I / O port 1012, and the communication device 1024 is connected to the I / O port 1014.

The information storage medium 1006 mainly stores programs, image data for expressing a display object, sound data, play data, and the like.
0 or the storage unit 800 in FIG.
For example, in a home game machine, a game program 510
CD-ROM as an information storage medium 1006 for storing
For example, a memory card or the like is used as the information storage medium 1006 for storing the character DB 540. In a personal computer, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a hard disk, or the like is used. In the arcade game device, R
A hard disk such as an OM is used. In this case, the information storage medium 1006 is the ROM 1002.

The control device 1022 is equivalent to a game controller, an operation panel, and the like, and is a device for inputting a result of a determination made by a user in accordance with the progress of a game to the main body of the device. This control device 1022
Corresponds to the operation unit 100 in FIG.

According to the programs and data stored in the information storage medium 1006, the system program (initialization information of the device main body) stored in the ROM 1002, the signals input by the control device 1022, etc.
000 controls the entire apparatus and performs various data processing. RA
M1004 is storage means used as a work area of the CPU 1000, and temporarily stores one frame of image data and play data,
06 or ROM 1002 given content or CPU 10
00 and the like are stored.

Further, this kind of device includes a sound generation IC 100
8 and an image generating IC 1010 are provided so that a suitable output of game sounds and game images can be performed.

The sound generation IC 1008 is provided in the information storage medium 10
06 and an integrated circuit that generates game sounds such as sound effects and background sounds based on information stored in the ROM 1002, and the generated game sounds are output by the speaker 1020.

Further, the image generation IC 1010 has a RAM 1
004, an integrated circuit that generates pixel information to be output to the display device 1018 based on image information sent from the ROM 1002, the information storage medium 1006, and the like. The display device 1018 is realized by a CRT, LCD, TV, plasma display, projector, or the like, and corresponds to the display unit 300 in FIG.

The communication device 1024 exchanges various information used inside the game device to the outside.
It is connected to another game device to send and receive given information according to the game program 510, and is used to send and receive information such as the game program 510 via a given communication line. This communication device 1024 is the communication unit 2 of FIG.
00 or corresponds to the communication unit 600 in FIG.

Various processes including the game progress process and the like include the game program 510, the character registration program 520, and the character lending program 530 in FIG. 9, or the character registration program 810 and the character lending program 820 in FIG. Storage medium 1006 storing the information, etc., CPU 1000 operating according to the program, image generation IC 1010, sound generation I
This is realized by C1008 or the like. The CPU 1000 and the image generation IC 1010 correspond to the processing unit 400 in FIG. 9 or the processing unit 700 in FIG.
1000 is an image generation IC 10
10 corresponds to the image generation unit 410.

The image generation IC 1010 and the sound generation IC 1
The processing performed in step 008 or the like may be performed by software using the CPU 1000 or a general-purpose DSP. In this case, the CPU 1000 corresponds to the processing section 700.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following changes are possible.

(1) According to the player's input conditions, a character that satisfies the input conditions is searched from the characters registered in the server system 30 and presented as candidate characters. Specifically, for example, in the “tavern” shown in FIG. 3, when talking to the master character 70, a character search screen is subsequently displayed. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of the character search screen. In FIG. 24, on the character search screen, search conditions such as a place where an adventure is scheduled, the number of characters to be made friends, and their levels are prepared. On this character search screen, the player inputs search conditions for a character he wants to be a friend. Then, when "search for a fellow character" is selected, the input content is transmitted to the server system 30, and the server system 30 extracts candidate characters.
Subsequently, a list of candidate characters is displayed on the game terminal 20.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a candidate character list. The candidate character presented here is a character that satisfies the search condition input on the character search screen among the characters registered in the server system 30. The player selects a desired character from these presented candidate characters. Then, the selected character accompanies the subsequent adventure as a friend character.

As a result, the player can select from a plurality of characters registered in the server system 30
Characters that match the desired conditions can be easily found and made friends. This search means is more effective as the number of registered characters is larger.

Further, on the character search screen (see FIG. 24), search conditions desired by the player can be input in text. In this case, a character that satisfies a search condition is extracted from registered characters based on a keyword included in an input sentence, and is presented as a candidate character. Also, this character search screen can be displayed at the start of the adventure. Further, personal information of the player such as a game progress (play history) can be used as a search condition.

(2) When registering a character, a comment for that character is added. Specifically, a comment input area for inputting a comment for the character to be registered is displayed on the character registration screen (see FIG. 2). Then, a character is registered together with the comment input to the comment input area. That is, in the game terminal 20, the input comment is transmitted to the server system 30 together with the corresponding character data, and the registration of the character is requested. In the server system 30, these transmitted comments are stored in association with the character data transmitted together. The comment added in this way is, for example, “bar” (see FIG. 3) or a list of candidate characters.
(See FIG. 23), it is displayed together with the corresponding character. Thus, the player can use the registrant's comment displayed together with the character as a reference when selecting a friend character.

(3) Input the evaluation, impression, etc. of the lent character. Specifically, the game terminal 20 displays an evaluation input screen for the player who has lent the character to input evaluations, impressions, and the like of the character. Then, in the server system 30, the game terminal 20 stores the input evaluations and impressions in association with the target character data. The evaluation, impression, and the like input in this manner are displayed in, for example, a “bar” (see FIG. 3) and a list of candidate characters (see FIG. 23). Thus, the player can use the evaluation, impression, and the like displayed together with the character as a reference when selecting a character to be a companion.

(4) The ending of the line of the character is set. Specifically, for example, at the time of character registration, the player sets the ending of the character to be registered. Then, the game terminal 20 stores the set ending data as individuality included in the corresponding character data. That is, for example, it is assumed that the ending is set to “Nyo”. Then, the dialogue in which "Please!" Is set in advance as an initial value will be displayed as "Please, please!" For the character.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the character (N
The personality of the character is expressed, but by setting the ending, it is possible to reflect the personality of the character in all the words of the character. The ending can be set in advance before the registration of the character, for example, during an adventure.

(5) The ranking list (see FIG. 5) is classified into the age, gender, and the like of the player, and is counted and displayed. Specifically, the ranking management unit 740 sets the player management table 83
0, for example, by age (10s, 20s, 30s)
The lending ranking table 870 is created and updated in accordance with more detailed items such as teens, gender, and gender (male, female). Further, based on the player-related information in the player management table 830, for example, a ranking list corresponding to the age and gender of the player can be selected and displayed. This makes it possible for the player to easily know, for example, a character that is popular with the player corresponding to his / her age, and can refer to the selection of a character to be a friend.

In this embodiment, the PC is
Although the PC has been registered in the server system 30, a character (NPC) newly created by the player may be registered.

It is also possible to realize search conditions input by the player and input of words and the like set to characters (NPC) by voice input through voice input means such as a microphone.

The present embodiment is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a game called a network game. As a form of realizing a network game, for example, a form in which a personal computer or a home game system installed at home is used as a game terminal and connected to a server through a communication line such as the Internet network or a dedicated line network,
A configuration in which a plurality of game terminals are connected to each other via a communication line to have a configuration like a master unit and a child device, a configuration in which a plurality of game terminals are connected to each other via a communication line, and one of them has a server function One system as a whole (for example, an arcade game system) in which two game terminals are physically connected
And the like. Although the present invention can be applied to any of the embodiments, in the present embodiment,
The description has been made on the assumption that the game terminal and the server are connected by a given communication line.

[0151]

According to the present invention, in the game terminal 20, character data relating to a PC is transmitted to the server system 30.
, The registration of the character can be realized. Further, by obtaining the character information stored in the server system 30, it is possible to rent out registered characters. Also, by acquiring character data from outside the game terminal 20, a new NP different from the NPC prepared in advance in the game terminal 20 is provided to the player.
C can be a friend. As a result, it is possible to prevent the NPC as a companion from getting tired of the game and spoiling the interest in the game.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a game system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character registration screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a state inside a “bar”.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conversation with an NPC.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a ranking list.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game screen during an adventure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game screen during an adventure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game screen during an adventure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the game terminal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character DB (game terminal).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a character registration process (game terminal).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a character lending process (game terminal).

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a server system.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a player management table.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character DB (server system).

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of dialog data.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character lending table.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conversation fixed phrase.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a lending ranking table.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a character registration process (server system).

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a character lending process (server system).

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an application example of the game device.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing a game terminal and a server system.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a character search screen.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a candidate character list.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 game system 20 game terminal 100 operation unit 200 communication unit 300 display unit 400 processing unit 410 image generation unit 420 game calculation unit 421 character registration unit 422 character lending unit 500 storage unit 510 game program 520 character registration program 530 character lending program 540 character DB 30 server system 600 communication unit 700 processing unit 710 character registration unit 720 character lending unit 730 conversation determination unit 740 ranking management unit 800 storage unit 810 character registration program 820 character lending program 830 player management table 840 character DB 850 character lending table 860 conversation Fixed Form 870 Lending Ranking Table

Claims (18)

[Claims] An operation and a control by a processor allow a system to control a corresponding character in accordance with character information and a game in which a formation composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC can perform a game. Acquisition information for acquiring character information from outside the system, which is game information to be executed; and means for configuring a new NPC in the formation based on the character information acquired by the acquisition means; For causing the system to function. 2. A game which allows a system to control a corresponding character in accordance with character information by means of arithmetic and control by a processor and allows a game formed by a formation including a plurality of characters including at least one PC. Transmitting means for transmitting the character information relating to the PC stored by the system as character information relating to new NPC to a server system or another system which stores character information relating to NPC, which is game information to be executed. , For causing the system to function as the game information. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the character information on the PC stored by the system is transmitted as character information on a new NPC to a server system or another system storing the character information on the NPC. Game information including information for causing the system to function as a transmission unit. 4. The information according to claim 1, further comprising: a function for causing the acquisition unit to acquire character information by performing data communication with a server system storing a plurality of character information. Game information characterized by the fact that: 5. The game information according to claim 4, further comprising information for causing said system to function as means for transmitting desired condition information relating to the character information to be obtained to said server system. 6. The character information according to claim 1, wherein the character information includes personality information for determining a character line of the character, and the character line is determined based on the character personality information of the character. Game information including information for causing the system to function in the system. 7. A game system for controlling a corresponding character in accordance with character information and executing a game in which a game composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC can perform a game, and a given communication line. Receiving means for receiving character information transmitted from a game system to a server system performing data communication via the storage means; storing means for accumulating and storing the character information received by the receiving means; And transmitting means for transmitting at least one of the character information to the game system. 8. The server system according to claim 7, further comprising information for causing the storage means to store the character information in association with a given classification item. A means for receiving desired condition information transmitted from a game system; a selecting means for selecting character information based on the desired condition information and the classification item; a selection result by the selecting means or the selection Character information management information comprising: means for transmitting the generated character information to the game system; and information for causing the game system to function. 9. The server system according to claim 7, further comprising: a rating unit that performs a given rating on the character information stored in the storage unit; and a unit that transmits a rating result by the rating unit to a game system. Character information management information, including information for causing the information to function. 10. The server system according to claim 7, wherein: the server system receives, from a game system, evaluation information for the character information stored in the storage unit; An evaluation storage unit that stores the evaluation information corresponding to the character information stored in the storage unit from the evaluation storage unit, and stores the read evaluation information in the game system. Character information management information, comprising: means for transmitting the character information; and information for causing the character information to function. 11. An information storage medium storing the game information according to claim 1. 12. An information storage medium storing the character information management information according to claim 7. 13. A game system for controlling a corresponding character in accordance with character information and executing a game in which a game composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC can proceed. A game system comprising: an obtaining unit that obtains character information from a computer; and a unit that can configure a new NPC in the formation based on the character information obtained by the obtaining unit. 14. A game system for controlling a corresponding character in accordance with character information and executing a game in which a game composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC can perform a game. A game system, comprising: a server system or another system that stores information, transmitting means for transmitting character information on a PC stored by the game system as character information on a new NPC. 15. A game system for controlling a corresponding character in accordance with character information and executing a game in which a game composed of a plurality of characters including at least one PC can perform a game, and a given communication line. A server system for performing data communication through the game system, receiving means for receiving character information transmitted from a game system, storage means for accumulating and storing the character information received by the receiving means, and storing in the storage means Transmitting means for transmitting at least one character information among the character information to the game system. 16. The storage device according to claim 15, wherein the storage unit stores the character information in association with a given classification item, and receives desired condition information transmitted from a game system; And selecting means for selecting character information based on the classification items; and means for transmitting a selection result by the selecting means or the selected character information to the game system. Server system. 17. The rating system according to claim 15, further comprising: a rating unit for performing a given rating on the character information stored in the storage unit; and a unit for transmitting a rating result by the rating unit to a game system. Characteristic server system. 18. A game apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: a means for receiving evaluation information for the character information stored in the storage means from a game system; and transmitting the received evaluation information to the character information to be evaluated. Evaluation storage means for storing the evaluation information corresponding to the character information stored in the storage means from the evaluation storage means, and transmitting the read evaluation information to the game system. A server system comprising: