JP2003325985A - Network game system, video game device, game server device, collection method and counting method for answer in network game, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make progress of a game smooth by allowing a questioner to easily obtain a counted result of answers to a question to a plurality of other answerers from the questioner in the network game. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of video game devices are connected to a server device. A 'nominate' command showing a specific question for obtaining the counted answers, a 'say' showing a question notice range, the question and choices of the answers are sequentially inputted in the video game device of the questioner (a). The commands, the question notice range, the question and the choices of the answers are sent to the server device, and the question and the choices of the answers are transferred to the video game devices of the answerers according to the question notice range (b). In the video game device of the answerer, the desired answer is selected from the choices of the answers to the displayed question and is inputted (c). The selected and inputted answers are sent to the server device and are counted. The counted result of the answers is sent to the video game devices of the questioner and the answerers, and is displayed (d). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for efficiently collecting answers to questions from one player to a plurality of other players in a network game in which a plurality of players participate in the game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A network game is a game in which a plurality of players participate to progress the game, and there is also a game in which each player can communicate by using chat. Further, for example, it is possible to form a party with player characters of a plurality of players and act by the party to proceed with the game. Here, when deciding the action of the party, one of them (leader)
Asks other players questions about what to do next,
The action can be decided based on the response from each member.

Questions and answers are exchanged between members as chat messages via the server device. That is, the player (questioner) as the party leader
Broadcasts a question message from its own terminal device (such as a video game device) to the terminal devices of other players via the server device. The other player (responder) inputs an answer to the received question message, and returns the answer message to the questioner's terminal device via the server device. The questioner will refer to the message returned from the respondent and decide what to do next.

[0004]

The answers from the respondent to the interrogator are sent as separate messages and displayed on the interrogator's terminal device. If the number of respondents is small, it is not so difficult for the interrogator himself to collect what kind of response was sent and by whom. However, when the number of respondents is large, it is not easy to count them. For this reason, it takes time to determine the next action to be taken from the sent reply, which hinders the smooth progress of the game. If multiple answers can be made to one question, the questioner's own aggregation would be more difficult.

Further, messages including reply messages are generally scroll-displayed in the terminal device in the order in which they are received, and old messages are deleted when some new messages are received in order.
Here, when there are a plurality of respondents, the reply message of each respondent reaches the terminal device at almost the same time. Again, if the number of respondents is small, there is not much problem. However, when the number of respondents increases, the previously received answer is immediately displayed and deleted, and the previously received answer becomes unclear.

Further, each chat message is displayed with the name (handle name) of the person who sent the message added. When the answers to the questions are divided, the name added to the message of each answer makes it possible to know who made what kind of answer.
Therefore, depending on the content of the question, it may be difficult to answer, which may hinder the smooth progress of the game.

According to the present invention, the questioner can easily obtain the total result of the answers to the questions from the questioner to the plurality of other respondents in the network game, and the network game system, etc., which can smooth the progress of the game. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention provides a network game system or the like which can maintain anonymity with respect to an answer selected by each respondent when the questioner obtains answers to the question from a plurality of other respondents in the network game. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, in a network game system according to a first aspect of the present invention, a server device and a plurality of client devices respectively connected to the server device via a network are provided. The plurality of client devices include a first client device for use by a player asking a question to obtain an answer from another player, and a plurality of first client devices for use by a player as an answer to the question. And two client devices, the first client device comprising:
A question input means for inputting the question and options for answering the question, and a question and an answer option entered from the question input means via the network for sending to the second client device of the answer target person. A question sending means for sending to the server device, and an aggregated result of answers selectively input in the second client device with respect to the question and answer options sent from the question sending means,
The second client device is provided with a counting result receiving unit that receives the counting result from the server device, and a counting result output unit that outputs a counting result of the answers received by the counting result receiving unit. Displayed on the question display means, a question receiving means for receiving the question and answer options transmitted from the server device, a question output means for outputting the question and answer options received by the question receiving means, and a question display means. In response to the question, an answer input means for selecting and inputting a desired answer from answer options displayed together with the question, and an answer selected and input from the answer input means are transmitted to the server device via the network. And a question receiving means for receiving the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmitting means. The question and answer options received by the question receiving means are transmitted from the question transferring means for transferring via the network to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question, and the answer transmitting means. Answer receiving means for receiving an answer, an answer counting means for counting the answers received by the answer receiving means, and a counting for transmitting the counting result of the answer counting means to the first client device via the network And a result transmitting means.

In the above network game system, in response to the question entered in the first client device,
The answers selected from the options in the second client device are totaled in the server device and then sent to the first client device. The first client device does not output the answer selected and input by each of the plurality of second client devices as it is,
The totalized result is output. Since you only need to output the aggregated results, you will not lose track of the answers that arrived earlier. Therefore, the questioner can easily obtain the result of collecting the answers and smoothly advance the game to the next stage.

Further, since the answer selected and input by each of the plurality of second client devices is not output as it is, the player who participates in the network game from each second client device does not receive the answer. In, you never know what kind of answer you chose. That is, it is possible to maintain anonymity with respect to the answer selected by each player.

In order to achieve the above object, a video game device according to a second aspect of the present invention is connected via a network to a server device connected to one or more other video game devices via a network. And a question input means for inputting a question for obtaining an answer from a player of the one or more other video game apparatuses, and an option for answering the question, and the question input means. Select the question and answer options from the above 1
In the other one or more video game devices for the question transmission means for transmitting to the server device via the network to transmit to the above video game device, and the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmission device. It is characterized by further comprising: totalization result receiving means for receiving, from the server device, totalization results of the respective selectively input answers, and totalization result output means for outputting the totalization result of the answers received by the totalization result receiving means. .

In the above video game device, the question input means may further input range designation information for designating a range of players who are in a game state to obtain an answer to the question. In this case, the question sending unit may add the range designation information and send the question and answer options input from the question input unit.

In the above video game device, the question inputting means may further input specific information indicating that the question is a specific type of question which requests the server device to collect results of answers. . In this case, the question transmitting means may add the specific information and transmit the option of the question and the answer inputted from the question inputting means.

In the above video game device, the totalization result output means displays the scrolled messages in the display means for sequentially scrolling and displaying the messages generated or collected by the server device and sent from the video game device. As one, the total result of the answers may be displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, a game server device according to a third aspect of the present invention is connected to a plurality of client devices via a network, and the plurality of client devices obtain answers from other players. A first client device for use by a player asking a question for questioning, and a plurality of second client devices for use by a player asking the question,
Question input means for receiving a question and an answer option to the question entered in the client device from the first client device via the network, and a question and answer option received by the question receiving means, A question transfer unit for transferring via the network, and a choice of the answer to the question transferred from the question transmitting unit are selectively input to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question. An answer receiving means for receiving the respective answers from the plurality of second client devices via the network, an answer summing means for summing the answers received by the answer receiving means, and a counting result of the answer summing means. , Totalizing result transmitting means for transmitting to the first client device via the network. And butterflies.

The game server device may further include game state management means for managing the game state of each player of the plurality of client devices.
In this case, the question and answer options received by the question receiving unit may be added with range designation information designating a range of players in a game state in which an answer to the question is to be obtained, The question transfer means specifies a player to be the answer target of the question from the game state of each player managed by the game state management means based on the range designation information, and determines the second player of the specified players. The question and answer options may be forwarded to the client device.

In the game server device, the question and answer options received by the question receiving means include specific information indicating that the question is a specific type of question for which the server device is requested to collect results of answers. The answer received by the answer receiving means may be added with specific information indicating that the answer is to the question in the specific format. In this case, the answer collecting means When the reply to which the specific information is added is received, the reply can be totaled.

In the above game server device, the question receiving means receives a question including a plurality of questions and an answer option for each question, and the answer receiving means,
The answers selectively input to each of the plurality of questions may be received, and the answer aggregation unit may receive the answers received by the answer receiving unit for each of the plurality of questions. .

In the above game server device, the answer to the question is 1 or 2 from the answer options.
It may be possible to select any number above.

In the above game server device, the totalized result transmitting means may transmit the totaled result of the answers to each of the plurality of second client devices via the network.

In the above game server device, the counting result transmitting means may transmit the counting result of the answer counting means to the first client device each time the answer receiving means receives the answer. .

In the above game server device, the totaling result transmitting means totalizes the answer totalizing means after the reply receiving means receives the answers from the second client devices of all the players who are the answer target persons. The result may be transmitted to the first client device.

In the game server device, the question and answer options may be input by the player of the first client device when a specific event occurs as the game progresses. In this case, the totalization result transmitting means may transmit a command indicating a mode of an event to be generated subsequent to the specific event, as the totalization result of the answers.

In order to achieve the above object, the answer collecting method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is applied to a video game device applied to a network game in which a game is progressed by connecting to a server device via a network. A method to be executed, wherein a question for obtaining an answer from a player of one or more other computer devices and options for answering the question are input, and the entered question and answer options are input to the other one. In order to send to one or more computer devices, it is transmitted to the server device via the network, and the other one is selected for the transmitted question and answer options.
The above-mentioned computer device receives the totalization result of the responses selected and input from the server device, and outputs the totalization result of the responses received by the totalization result receiving means.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an answer summarizing method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention comprises: a first client device used by a player who makes a question for obtaining an answer from another player; A method executed in a server device connected to a plurality of second client devices for use by a player who answers a question via a network, the method including a question input in the first client device and Answer options for a question are received from the first client device via the network, and the received question and answer options are sent to the second client device of the player who will be the answer target of the question by the network. Via the Internet, and the answer selected and input from the answer options for the transferred question is transferred to the net. A plurality of second client devices are respectively received via the network, the received answers are totaled, and the total result of the answers is transmitted to the first client device via the network. .

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a computer device connected via a network to a server device connected to another one or more computer devices via a network. The question input means for inputting a question for obtaining an answer from the player of one or more other computer devices and the choices of answers to the question, the question and answer choices inputted from the question input means, In order to send to one or more other computer devices, the question transmitting means to be transmitted to the server device via the network, the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmitting means to the other one
Functions as totalization result receiving means for receiving the totalization result of the answers respectively selected and input in the above computer device from the server device, and totalization result output means for outputting the totalization result of the answers received by the totalization result receiving device. It is characterized by

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a seventh aspect of the present invention provides a first client device used by a player who asks a question to obtain an answer from another player, and an answer to the question. A computer device connected via a network to a plurality of second client devices for use by a player performing a question, a question entered in the first client device, and options for answering the question, Via the network, the question receiving means received from the first client device via the network, and the question and answer options received by the question receiving means to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question via the network. Question transfer means for transferring by means of the above, options for answering the question transferred from the question transmitting means Answer receiving means for respectively receiving the answers selectively input from the plurality of second client devices via the network, answer collecting means for collecting the answers received by the answer receiving means, and the answer collecting It is characterized in that it is caused to function as a totalization result transmitting means for transmitting the totalization result of the means to the first client device via the network.

In order to achieve the above object, a computer-readable recording medium according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is
A question for obtaining an answer from a player of the one or more other computer devices regarding a computer device connected via the network to a server device connected to the other one or more computer devices via a network; The question input means for inputting the choices of answers to the question, the choices of the questions and answers entered from the question input means,
Question sending means for sending to the server device via the network to send to the other one or more computer devices, and one or more other computer devices for the question and answer options sent from the question sending device. A program for functioning as a totalization result receiving means for receiving the totalization result of the answers respectively selected and input from the server device and a totalization result output means for outputting the totalization result of the answers received by the totalization result receiving means. Is recorded.

In order to achieve the above object, a computer-readable recording medium according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is
A first client device used by a player asking a question to obtain an answer from another player and a plurality of second client devices used by a player asking a question for the question are connected via a network. And a question receiving means for receiving the question entered in the first client device and an answer choice for the question from the first client device via the network, and the question receiving means. Question transfer means for transferring the question and answer options to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question via the network, and the answer options for the question transferred from the question transmitting means. The answer selected and input from among the plurality of second clients is transmitted via the network. The answer receiving means respectively receiving from the response device, the answer collecting means for counting the answers received by the answer receiving means, and the counting result of the answer counting means are transmitted to the first client device via the network. It is characterized in that a program for causing it to function as a counting result transmitting means is recorded.

[0031]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a network game system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, this network game system includes a plurality of (only four are shown here) video game devices 1.
00 and the game server device 200. Each of the video game devices 100 has a game server device 2
00 via the network 151.

In the network game provided by this system, 4 users who are users of each video game device 100.
The four player characters operated by the respective human players form a party as necessary to develop the game. When acting as a party, one player (for example, a person who advances the game with a player character who is the leader of the party) asks other players what kind of action to take as a party, and each player You can then decide what to do next.

Here, in the question from one player to another player, there is one in which one player shows an answer option and allows the other player to select an answer from there. When an answer is selected from the options, the answer result can be aggregated by the game server device 200 and obtained by the video game device 100 of one player. In the following, a question that can obtain the aggregated result of answers will be referred to as a specific question.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video game device 100 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the video game apparatus 100 is built around the video game main body 101. The video game main body 101 includes a control unit 103 connected to an internal bus 119, a RAM (Ra
ndom Access Memory) 105, hard disk drive (HDD) 107, sound processor 109, graphic processor 111, DVD / CD-ROM drive 11
3, a communication interface 115, and an interface unit 117.

The sound processing section 109 of the video game main body 101 includes a sound output device 12 which is a speaker.
5, the graphic processing unit 111 is connected to the display device 121 having the display screen 122. Also, DVD
The / CD-ROM drive 113 includes a recording medium (DVD
-ROM or CD-ROM) 131 can be installed. The communication interface 115 is connected to the network 151. An input unit (controller) 161 and a memory card 162 are connected to the interface unit 117. Here, a keyboard (not shown) may be connected as the input unit 161.

The control unit 103 is a CPU (Central Process).
sing unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and executes a program stored on the HDD 107 or the recording medium 131 to control the video game device 100. The control unit 103 also includes an internal timer.
The RAM 105 is a work area of the control unit 103.
The HDD 107 is a storage area for storing programs and data. The sound processing unit 109 includes the control unit 10
When the program executed by 3 instructs to output sound, the instruction is interpreted and a sound signal is output to the sound output device 125.

The graphic processor 111 includes a controller 10
3 according to the drawing command output from the frame memory 1
The image is expanded to 12 and the display screen 122 of the display device 121 is displayed.
Outputs a video signal for display on. One frame time of an image included in the output video signal is, for example, 1/30 second. DVD / CD-ROM drive 1
Reference numeral 13 reads and writes programs and data from the recording medium 131. The communication interface 115 is connected to the network 151 and communicates with other computers such as the game server device 200.

The interface section 117 includes an input section 16
The input data from 1 is output to the RAM 105, and the control unit 1
03 interprets it and performs arithmetic processing. Input unit 16
Reference numeral 1 is provided with direction keys (four directions of up, down, left and right) and a plurality of operation buttons (four of ○, □, △, ×), the character to be described later is moved by operating the direction keys, and predetermined by operating the operation buttons. The processing is performed. The direction keys are also used for moving the cursor, scrolling messages, etc., and the operation buttons are used for inputting a predetermined instruction. The interface unit 117 also stores the RAM 105 based on an instruction from the control unit 103.
The data indicating the progress of the game stored in the memory card 162 is stored in the memory card 162, and the game data at the time of interruption stored in the memory card 162 is read out.
Transfer to the RAM 105.

Programs and data for playing a network game on the video game apparatus 100 are initially stored in, for example, the recording medium 131. Then, this program and data are read by the DVD / CD-ROM drive 113 at the time of execution and loaded into the RAM 105. The control unit 103 processes the program and data loaded in the RAM 105, outputs a drawing command to the graphic processing unit 111, and outputs a sound output instruction to the sound processing unit 109. Intermediate data while the control unit 103 is performing processing is stored in the RAM 105.

The video game main body 101 of the video game device 100 may be a general-purpose personal computer or the like as long as it has the same components. A mobile phone having the same function as the video game main body 101 may be applied. In addition, the display device 121
And the sound output device 125 to the video game body 101.
A portable game machine housed in the same housing as the above may be configured. In the case of a portable game machine, a semiconductor memory card is applied as the recording medium 131 instead of a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM, and a card slot for inserting this memory card is provided in the DVD / CD-ROM drive 1.
It may be provided instead of 13.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the game server device 200 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the game server device 200 is built around the game server main body 201. The game server main body 201 includes a control unit 203 connected to the internal bus 219, a RAM 205,
Hard disk drive (HDD) 207, DVD
/ CD-ROM drive 213 and communication interface 215 are included. The DVD / CD-ROM drive 213 includes a recording medium (DVD-ROM or CD-ROM) 2
31 can be worn.

The control unit 203 includes a CPU (Central Process).
sing unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and executes a program stored in the HDD 207 or the recording medium 231 to control the game server device 200. The RAM 205 is a work area of the control unit 203. The HDD 207 is a storage area for storing programs and data. The communication interface 215 is
The video game device 10 is connected to the network 151.
Communication with each of the 0s.

Programs and data for playing a network game on the game server device 200 are initially stored in, for example, the recording medium 231. Then, this program and data are read by the DVD / CD-ROM drive 213 at the time of execution and loaded into the RAM 205. The control unit 203 processes the program and data loaded in the RAM 205, and controls the video game device 100.
Based on the messages sent from each of the. Intermediate data during the processing of the control unit 203 is stored in the RAM 205.

Next, various data necessary for executing the network game according to this embodiment will be described. The data processed in the video game device 100 is displayed on the display screen 122 of the video game device 100.
By being displayed as, each player is made to recognize the progress status of the network game.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen 122 displayed as the game progresses on the video game apparatus 100. As shown, on the display screen 122,
A field 30 that is a space in which characters (including player characters and non-player characters) can move
0 is displayed. The field 300 is composed of topographical data according to the scene of the game.

On the field 300, the user of the four video game devices 100 is moved by operating the input unit 161, and player characters 321 to 324 forming a party are present. Field 3
On 00, there are also player characters other than the party, non-player characters that operate under the control of the game server device 200 (things that provide information to the player character, enemy characters that perform a battle with the player character (so-called monsters, etc.)). Existing.

A status window 330 for displaying the current status of each of the player characters 321 to 324 is provided on the lower right side of the display screen 122. Further, on the left side of the lower center portion of the display screen 122, a chat window 350 in which messages distributed from the game server device 200 to the video game device 100 as the network game progresses is sequentially scrolled from bottom to top is displayed. It is provided. In addition, when the player inputs a message from the input unit 161, the chat window 350 and the status window 33 are displayed.
A message input window 340 different from 0 is provided.

FIG. 5 shows the RAM of the game server device 200.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a player management table provided in 205 or HDD 207. Player management table 410
Is the login ID of the video game device 100, the position of the player character (PC) on the field 300, the presence / absence and type of an item for establishing a communication link between the players regardless of the location of the player character, and the player. It is a table in which a party to which the character belongs is associated and registered. The player management table 410 is referred to when identifying a person (member) who is an answerer to a specific question.

FIG. 6 shows the RAM of the game server device 200.
It is a figure which shows the question management table provided in 205 or HDD207. The question management table 420 is generated in response to the specific question each time the specific question and the answer options thereof are received, receives the answers from all the members who have sent the specific question, and obtains the final aggregation result. Is released when is issued.

The question management table 420 includes information (login ID, etc.) for specifying the video game device 100 of the questioner of the specific question, and the question notification range specified by the questioner (which player should the question be sent to). The contents of choices of questions and answers, and each member identified according to the question notification range and their selected answers are registered. In addition, the question notification range that can be specified is "sa
y "(specify another player character that is close enough to be displayed on the same screen)," shout "(field 300
Specify another player character in the same area), "linkshell" (item links that can be communication link
Specify another player character with hell), "part
y "(specify another player character in the same party)
There are four types.

The processing in the network game system according to this embodiment will be described below. In a network game, players exchange messages to advance the game. One form of message exchange is exchange of questions and answers. Messages input by the players from the video game device 100 (including question and option messages and answer messages) are once collected in the game server device 200 and distributed to all video game devices 100.

Until one player asks a question to a plurality of other players and receives answers from the other players, the video game device 100 on the question side and the video game device 100 on the answer side,
And the game server device 200 exists. Here, the process regarding the exchange of the question and the answer is performed by the video game device 100 on the question side and the video game device 10 on the answer side.
0 and the game server device 200 will be described separately.

FIG. 7 shows the video game device 100 on the question side.
It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by. The process of the video game device 100 on the question side is roughly divided into a process for inputting and transmitting a question and an answer option, and a process for receiving and displaying a total result of answers to the transmitted question. Flow charts of the respective processes are shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b).

In the processing shown in FIG. 7A, first, a player who participates in a network game using the video game device 100 on the question side indicates from the input unit 161 to the message input window 340 that the question is a specific question. Input the command "nominate" (step S101). Next, from the input section 161 to the message input window 340, the question notification range is "say", "shout", "links".
Either "hell" or "party" is input (step S102).

Furthermore, the question that the player wants to send as a specific question and the answer options are input from the input unit 161 to the message input window 340 (step S10).
3). If the questions and answers entered here have no problem in terms of content, the player performs a confirming operation such as operating the ○ button of the input unit 161, but the CPU 101
It is determined whether a confirmation operation is input from the input unit 161 (step S104). While the confirmation operation is not input, the question and answer options can be arbitrarily input in step S103.

When the confirmation operation is input, the CPU
101 adds the command input in step S101 and the question notification range input in step S102 to the question and answer options input in step S103 (step S105). Here, in the message input window 340, the command, the question notification range, and the question and answer options may be continuously displayed. The CPU 101 causes the communication interface 115 to transmit the question and answer options to which the command and question notification range are added to the game server device 200 via the network 151 (step S10).
6). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.

On the other hand, the process shown in FIG. 7 (b) is performed as one process each time the result of totaling the answers to the specific question is sent, and as will be described later, the game server device will be described. The communication interface 115 receives the counting result of the replies sent from the computer 200 (step S121). Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the result of totaling the answers to the same specific question has been sent from the game server device 200 and displayed in the chat window 350 (step S122).

The result of totaling the answers is displayed in the chat window 35.
If not displayed in 0, CPU 101 causes chat window 350 to display the result of totaling the answers received in step S121 (step S123).
Then, the process of this flowchart is ended. on the other hand,
If the result of totaling the answers to the same specific question is displayed in the chat window 350, the CPU 10
1 updates and displays the total result of the displayed answers (especially the numerical value indicating the number of each answer) (step S12).
4). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.

FIG. 8 shows the video game device 100 on the answer side.
It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by. The process of the video game device 100 on the question side is a process for selectively inputting and transmitting a desired answer from the received question and answer choices, and a process for receiving and displaying a total result of the answers to the transmitted question. Can be roughly divided into Flow charts of the respective processes are shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). The process shown in FIG. 8B (step S221)
~ S224) is the same as that of the video game device 100 on the question side.

In the process shown in FIG. 8A, the communication interface 115 of the video game device 100 on the receiving side is
The options of the question and the answer, which are transmitted from the video game apparatus 100 on the transmission side and transferred from the game server apparatus 200 and to which the command and question notification range are added, are received (step S201). The command added here indicates that the question is a specific question, and the CPU 101 causes the chat window 350 to display the question and answer options as the specific question (step S202).

The player who participates in the network game using the video game device 100 on the receiving side inputs the desired answer from the displayed answer options.
To the message input window 340 (step S203). In step S202, each option is displayed with a code such as a, b, c, ... (1, 2, 3, ... May be added) displayed, and here, the code is input from the input unit 161. May be.

If there is no problem with the answer entered here,
Although the player performs a confirming operation such as operating the ○ button of the input unit 161, the CPU 101 determines whether the confirming operation is input from the input unit 161 (step S
204). While the confirmation operation is not input, the answer can be arbitrarily selected and input in step S203.

When the confirmation operation is input, the CPU
101 communicates the answer input in step S203 (displayed in the message input window 340) with the received question and the command added to the answer options (one that can identify individual specific questions) From the interface 115 to the game server device 200 via the network 151 (step S20)
5). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the game server device 200. The process of the game server device 200 includes a process of identifying a destination of a question and an answer option received from the question-side video game device 100 and transmitting the same to the answer-side video game device 100, and a process of answering the video-game device 100. It is roughly divided into a process of totaling the answers selected and input in (1) and transmitting the answers to the question-side and answer-side video game devices 100. Flow charts of the respective processes are shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b).

In the process shown in FIG. 9A, first, the communication interface 215 transmits the question and answer options to which the command indicating the particular question sent in step S106 and the question notification range are added. It is received from the video game device 100 on the side (step S301). Next, the CPU 201 secures an area in the RAM 205 or the HDD 207 for the newly received specific question, and creates a new question management table 420 (step S30).
2).

The CPU 201 refers to the player management table 410 according to the question notification range added to the received question and answer options, and determines the member who is the answer target (the video game device of the player who should send the question and answer options). 100) is specified (step S303). Next, the CPU 201 registers, in the question management table 420, the questioner of the specific question received in step S301, the question notification range, the contents of the question and answer options, and the member identified in step S303 (step S304).

Further, the CPU 201 adds a command that can specify up to individual specific questions to the question and answer options received in step S301 (step S30).
5), the question and answer options to which this command is added are selected from the communication interface 215 to the network 151.
Is transferred to the video game device 100 of the person identified as the member (step S306). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.

The process shown in FIG. 9B is performed as a process each time an answer is sent. First, at step S205, the process is sent from the video game device 100 on the answer side. The communication interface 215 receives the answer (step S321). CPU2
01 specifies which particular question is the answer according to the command added to the received answer (step S322). The CPU 201 associates the answer with the member who is the sender of the answer and manages the question management table 420.
And the answers registered in the question management table 420 are newly added up (step S323).

Next, the CPU 201 sends the result of totaling the answers from the communication interface 215 to the network 15
1 through 1, the video game device 1 of the interrogator and each member
00 (step S324). Further CPU2
01 refers to the question management table 420 and determines whether or not the answers have been received from all the members who have transmitted the question and answer options (step S325).

If the answers have not been received from all the members, the process of this flowchart is ended. On the other hand, when the answers have been received from all the members, the CPU 201 identifies the specific question based on the command added to the answer at the time of the reception, and sets the question management table 420 for the specific question. The area is erased and the area of the RAM 205 or the HDD 207 is released (step S326). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.

Next, in the network game system according to this embodiment, messages (questions and questions) exchanged between the question side video game apparatus 100 and the answer side video game apparatus 100 via the game server apparatus 200. Examples of choices and answers) will be described according to the messages displayed in the message input window 340 and the chat window 350 in the video game device 100 on the question side and the answer side. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a message display example in the chat window 350 and the message input window 340 of the video game device 100 on the question side and the answer side.

First, as shown in FIG. 10A, the player on the question side inputs a "nominate" command from the input unit 161 to indicate that the question is a specific question for obtaining the aggregated answers, and the question is notified. The “say” indicating the range is input from the input unit 161. Here, the message input window 340
It has been entered in. After inputting the command and the question notification range, the choices of the question and the answer are input to the message input window 340.

The options of question and answer are added to the command and question notification range and sent to the game server device 200. The game server device 200 identifies the member according to the question notification range, adds a command (“vote taru” shown in FIG. 10C) capable of individually identifying the specific question, and specifies the question and answer options. It is transferred to the video game device 100 of the player who made the request. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10B, the question and answer options are displayed in the chat window 350 of the answering side video game apparatus 100.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10C, the member on the answering side selects a desired answer from the answer options for the question displayed in the chat window 350, and the message from the input unit 161. Input in the input window 340. Here, a command "vote teru" for individually specifying a specific question is also shown in the message input window 340.

The answer selected and input in the answering video game device 100 is sent to the game server device 200. The game server device 200 not only registers the answers in the question management table 420 but also collects the answers up to that point. The total result of this answer is the game server device 2
00 to the video game device 100 on the question side and the answer side. Then, as shown in FIG. 10D, the result of totaling the answers (numerical values in parentheses following the options for each answer) is displayed in the chat window 350.

The processing executed in the video game device 100 on the question side and the answer side and the game server device 200 is as described above. Based on the aggregated result, it is possible to decide the action to be taken as a party in the future. In other words, although the aggregated result of the responses does not restrain the action of the party, it reflects the opinions of each player, and thus can be said to have a sufficiently high utility value as the action guideline. .

As described above, in the network game system according to this embodiment, in response to the question input by the video game device 100 on the question side, the answer selected from the options on the video game device 100 on the answer side. Are not returned to the video game device 100 on the question side as they are, but are once collected in the game server device 200. In the game server device 200, the collected answers are totaled, and the totaled result is sent to the video game devices 100 on the question side and the answer side for display.

Since the player can easily obtain the result of totaling the answers without counting the answers sent by himself, the player can smoothly proceed to the next stage. In addition, the game server device 200
Each time a new answer is received, the total result is issued, but the numerical value indicating the number of each answer is only updated and displayed. Therefore, unlike the conventional example in which an answer is sent as an individual message, the previously sent answer is not erased from the chat window 350 and disappeared.

Further, in the question side and answer side video game devices 100, it is not possible to display in the chat window 350 even who has selected and input which type of answer. If the answers are divided among the players, it is impossible to know who answered what and how. That is, in the network game system according to this embodiment, one player can ask a question to a plurality of other players while ensuring the anonymity of the answer.

By the way, the question-side video game device 10
When the question and answer options are transmitted from 0 to the game server device 200, the command "nominate" indicating that the question is a specific question is input in advance and this command is added. In addition, the question and answer options transferred from the server device 200 to the video game device 100 on the answering side will be accompanied by a command capable of individually specifying the specific question. The same command is attached to the reply sent from the responding video game device 100 to the game server device 200. With these commands,
It is possible to easily identify various messages regarding a specific question from other types of messages.

When the game server device 200 receives a message to which a command indicating that it is a specific question is added (contents are question and answer options),
The question management table 420 may be generated. When the answers from all the members are received, the question management table 420 can be erased and the RAM 205 or the HDD 207 can be released. Therefore, the RAM 205 or H is used to collect the answers and then send them to the video game device 100.
The storage capacity required for the DD 207 can be minimized.

Further, four question notification ranges are added to the question and answer options transmitted from the question side video game apparatus 100 to the game server apparatus 200, and the question is referred to by referring to the player management table 410. And the destination of the answer options is determined. Therefore, when one player needs to ask a question to another player, by deciding one of the question notification ranges depending on the situation,
Answers can be obtained from appropriate persons according to the progress of the game.

Further, the answers selected and input by the answering player are totaled every time they are received from any answering video game device 100. The totalized result (on the way or in the end) is transmitted not only to the question side but also to the video game device 100 on the answer side. Therefore, for example, a player who is uncertain about the answer to a question can select and input his / her answer after seeing the answer situation of another player.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications and applications are possible. Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment applicable to the present invention will be described.

In the above embodiment, the question management table 420 is erased after the answers from all the members are obtained, and the area of the RAM 205 or the HDD 207 is released. However, the information for the player to make a decision based on the result of totaling the answers does not necessarily require the answers of all the members, and it is sufficient that the answers are obtained to the extent that the tendency can be judged. Therefore, for example, when the leader of the party decides the subsequent action and the information regarding this is sent to the server device 200 in the state where the counting result in the middle of answering is displayed, the question management table 420 at this point. May be erased and the area of the RAM 205 or the HDD 207 may be released.

In the above-described embodiment, the game server device 200 collects the answers every time it receives the answers selectively input from the answer-side video game device 100, and collects the answers (in the middle or at the end). (A thing) is transmitted to the video game device 100 on the question side and the answer side. On the other hand, if only the questioner needs the totalized result of the answers, the totaled result of the answers may be transmitted only to the video game device 100 on the question side.

Further, the answers are not aggregated every time an answer is received from the video game device 100 on the receiving side, and the aggregated result is not transmitted, but the video game devices 100 of all members.
It is also possible to transmit only the final result of totaling the answers from the video game device 100 on the question side (and the answer side). FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process of this modification. The process of this flowchart is shown in FIG.
It is executed instead of (b), and only one process is executed regardless of the number of answers.

First, the communication interface 215 receives one response sent from the responding video game device 100 in step S205 (step S401).
The CPU 201 specifies which specific question is the answer according to the command added to the received answer (step S402). The CPU 201 registers the answer in the question management table 420 in association with the member who is the sender of the answer (step S403).

Next, the CPU 201 refers to the question management table 420 and determines whether or not the answers are received from all the members who have transmitted the question and answer options (step S404). If the answers have not been received from all the members, the process returns to step S401, and the answer sent from the video game device 100 of another member is received next.

When the answers have been received from all the members, the CPU 201 totals the answers registered in the question management table 420 (step S405). CPU
The 201 transmits the result of totaling the answers from the communication interface 215 to the interrogator and the video game device 100 of each member via the network 151 (step S406). The CPU 201 identifies the specific question based on the command added to the answer at the end of reception, deletes the question management table 420 for the specific question, and releases the area of the RAM 205 or the HDD 207 (step). S407). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.

In the processing of the modified example described above, when it is necessary to obtain the answers from all the members, only the aggregated results of the answers collected from all the members are displayed in the video game device 100 on the question side and the answer side. Will be displayed. Therefore, it is possible to show the result of totaling the answers to the player in an easy-to-understand manner within a necessary range. It should be noted that the members who have not sent an answer even after a certain period of time has passed since the question and answer options were transferred in step S306 may be urged to answer.

The above embodiment has been described on the premise that there is only one question as a specific question and only one answer can be selected from the options. On the other hand, one specific question may include a plurality of questions, and an answer may be selected from answer options for each question. The answer transmitted from the responding video game device 100 to the game server device 200 may be added with information indicating which question the answer is (though,
Not required unless the same options are included between the questions). Since the answers of each question are aggregated and displayed in the chat window 350, the player can easily obtain the aggregated result of the answers without mixing the answers of different questions.

There may be a plurality of answers that can be selectively input for one question. If multiple answers are possible, the video game device 10 on the answer side
Although the number of reply messages transmitted from 0 is very large, only the totalized result is displayed in the chat window 350. Therefore, the previously received answer is not erased from the chat window 350 and the previously transmitted answer is not lost, and
The player can easily obtain the total result of the answers.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the total result of the answers to the questions is only used as a reference for the player to decide the subsequent action, and does not directly influence the subsequent development of the game. On the other hand, the total result of the answers may directly affect the subsequent development of the game. Further, the specific question that directly affects the development of the game may be indispensable.

For example, in a place on the field 300 where an enemy character (monster) who battles at a party of a plurality of player characters will appear, the party leader will battle other members with this enemy character. You may be required to ask whether or not to do it. If many of the answers are "fight", it is assumed that this enemy character must appear and have a battle, but if many of the answers are "avoid", the enemy character does not appear and the place is changed. You may be able to pass by. Not just such a simple distinction, but "fighting"
The type of the appearing enemy character may be changed depending on the ratio of "to avoid".

Further, when a party of a plurality of player characters approaches a fork in the course formed on the field 300, which way the leader of the party should proceed to other members (there is also the option of returning). )
May be required to ask. When the results of totaling the answers from all the members are obtained for this question, the paths other than the multiple answers may disappear and the other paths may not be taken.

In this way, when at least a part of the specific questions which each player's answer directly affects the development of the game is included, each player cannot easily select the answer. . If it is not clear which specific question directly influences the development of the game, there is no easy answer to the specific question that does not affect the development of the game. This makes it possible to develop the game by reflecting the true intentions of many players.

In the above-described embodiment, when the question and answer options are displayed on the answer side video game device 100, or the answer totaling result is displayed on the question side and answer side video game devices 100. It did not consider that other messages other than this are received and displayed in the chat window 350 when the user is present. For example, when the question and answer options are displayed and many other messages arrive from the game server device 200, the question and answer options are scrolled out from the chat window 350 and the player cannot confirm them. In some cases, it may happen.

Therefore, when the question and answer options are displayed in the chat window 350, the display may be locked and scrolled out until the answer is input. However,
Depending on the number of lines displayed in the chat window 350, the question and answer options may be scrolled to the uppermost line. Also regarding the display of the total result of the answers, it is also possible not to be scrolled out from the chat window 350 while the intermediate result is being displayed instead of the final result.

In the above embodiment, the network game in which the respective players of the plurality of video game devices 100 move their own player characters 321 to 324 to advance the game has been described as an example. However,
It can be applied to all network games in which a plurality of players progress while chatting via the net regardless of whether or not a player character appears.
In addition to the above-described dedicated video game device 100, a general-purpose personal computer or a mobile phone having a network connection function and an application execution function may be applied to the client-side device belonging to each player's use. You can These devices also function as a video game device. The types of devices used by the players may be mixed.

In the above embodiment, the program and data of the video game apparatus 100 are stored in the recording medium 131 and distributed. The program and data of the game server device 200 are stored in the recording medium 231 and distributed. On the other hand, these programs and data may be stored in a fixed disk device included in a server device existing on the network 151 and distributed to the video game body 101 or the game server body 201 via the network 151. Good. The program and data of the video game device 100 may be stored in the HDD 207 of the game server device 200 and distributed. In the video game device 100, the programs and data received by the communication interface 115 from the server device are stored in the HDD 10
7 and can be loaded into RAM 105 at run time. In the game server device 200, the programs and data received by the communication interface 215 are
It can be saved in the HDD 207 and loaded into the RAM 205 at the time of execution.

[0103]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The questioner can easily obtain the total result of the answers to the questions from the questioner to the plurality of other respondents in the network game, and the game can be smoothly progressed. Further, it is possible to maintain anonymity regarding the selection of the answer by each respondent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network game system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the video game device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the game server device of FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen displayed on the video game device of FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a player management table provided in the game server device of FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a question management table provided in the game server device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the video game device on the question side in the network game system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the answering video game device in the network game system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the game server device in the network game system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a message display example of a chat window and a message input window of the question-side and answer-side video game devices.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a modification of the answer totaling process executed by the game server device.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 video game devices 101 Video game body 103 control unit 105 RAM 107 HDD 109 sound processor 111 Graphic processing unit 112 frame memory 113 DVD / CD-ROM drive 115 Communication interface 117 Interface section 119 Internal bus 121 display device 122 display screen 125 sound output device 131 recording medium 151 network 161 Input section 162 memory card 200 game server device 201 Game server body 203 control unit 205 RAM 207 HDD 213 DVD / CD-ROM drive 215 Communication interface 231 recording medium 340 Message input window 350 chat window 410 player management table 420 Question management table

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A network game system comprising a server device and a plurality of client devices respectively connected to the server device via a network, wherein the plurality of client devices receive answers from other players. A first client device provided for use by a player asking a question for obtaining and a plurality of second client devices provided for use by a player asking for an answer to the question; And a question input means for inputting an answer option for the question, and a question and an answer option inputted from the question input means, for sending to the second client device of the answer target person,
A question transmitting means for transmitting to the server device via the network; and a total result of the answers selectively input in the second client device for the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmitting means, the server An aggregate result receiving unit for receiving from the device, and an aggregate result output unit for outputting an aggregate result of the answers received by the aggregate result receiving unit, wherein the second client device is transmitted from the first client device. A question receiving means for receiving the question and answer options transferred from the server device, a question output means for outputting the question and answer options received by the question receiving means, and a question displayed on the question display means The answer input means for selecting and inputting a desired answer from the answer options displayed together with the question; Response transmitting means for transmitting an answer selected and input from the force transmitting means to the server device via the network, wherein the server device receives the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmitting means. And a choice of questions and answers received by the question receiving means,
Question transfer means for transferring via the network to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question, answer receiving means for receiving the answer transmitted from the answer transmitting means, and the answer receiving means. A network game system comprising: an answer totaling means for totaling the answers received by the user; and an aggregated result transmitting means for transmitting the totalized result of the answer totalizing means to the first client device via the network. . 2. A video game device connected via a network to a server device connected to another one or more video game devices via a network, the player being one or more other video game devices. A question input means for inputting a question for obtaining an answer from the question and choices of answers to the question, and sending the question and answer choices inputted from the question input means to the one or more other video game devices. A question transmitting means for transmitting to the server device via the network, and aggregating the answers respectively selected and input in the other one or more video game devices with respect to the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmitting device. Outputting the result of counting from the server device and the result of counting the answers received by the counting result receiving unit. A video game device, comprising: totalization result output means. 3. The question inputting means further inputs range specifying information for specifying a range of players in a game state in which an answer to the question is to be obtained, and the question transmitting means stores the range specifying information. 3. The video game device according to claim 2, further comprising transmitting the question and answer options input from the question input means. 4. The question inputting means further inputs specific information indicating that the question is a specific type of question that requests the server device to collect results of answers, and the question transmitting means, The video game device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the specific information is added and the question and answer options input from the question input means are transmitted. 5. The totalization result output means, in the display means for sequentially scroll-displaying messages generated or collected by the server device and sent from the video game device,
5. The result of totaling the answers is displayed as one of the scroll-displayed messages.
The video game device according to any one of 1. 6. A game server device connected to a plurality of client devices via a network, wherein the plurality of client devices are used by a player asking a question for obtaining an answer from another player. Client device and a plurality of second client devices provided for use by a player who answers the question, and the question input in the first client device and options for answering the question are assigned to the network. A question receiving unit that receives from the first client device via the question receiving unit and a question and answer option received by the question receiving unit;
A question transfer unit for transferring via the network, and a selection and input from the answer options for the question transferred from the question transmitting unit are input to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question. Answer receiving means for receiving the respective answers from the plurality of second client devices via the network, an answer collecting means for collecting the answers received by the answer receiving means, and a collecting result of the answer collecting means. And a totaling result transmitting means for transmitting the total result to the first client device via the network. 7. A game state management unit for managing a game state of each player of the plurality of client devices, wherein the question and answer options received by the question receiving unit include an answer to the question. Range specification information designating the range of the players in the game state to be obtained is added, and the question transfer unit determines the game state of each player managed by the game state management unit based on the range designation information. The player to be the answer target of the question is identified, and the second client device of the identified player is
The game server device according to claim 6, wherein the question and answer options are transferred. 8. The question and answer options received by the question receiving means are added with specific information indicating that the question is a specific type of question that requests the server device to collect results of answers. When the answer received by the answer receiving means is added with specific information indicating that it is an answer to the question in the specific format, and when the answer collecting means receives the answer to which the specific information is added, The game server device according to claim 6, wherein the answers are totaled. 9. The question receiving means receives a question including a plurality of questions and an answer option for each question, and the answer receiving means is selectively input to each of the plurality of questions. 9. The game according to claim 6, wherein the answer collecting unit receives the answer received by the answer receiving unit for each of the plurality of questions. Server device. 10. The answer to the question can be selected from any number of 1 or 2 from the choices of the answer, according to any one of claims 6 to 9. The described game server device. 11. The totalization result transmitting means also transmits the totalization result of the answers to each of the plurality of second client devices via the network, respectively. The game server device according to the item. 12. The counting result transmitting means transmits the counting result of the answer counting means to the first client device each time the answer receiving means receives a reply. The game server device according to any one of 1. 13. The totalization result transmitting means includes the second of all the players whose answer receiving means is the answer target person.
12. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that, after receiving the answers from the client device, the result of counting by the answer counting means is transmitted to the first client device.
The game server device according to the item. 14. The question and answer options are to be input by the player of the first client device when a specific event occurs as the game progresses, and the aggregation result transmitting means includes: As a result of collecting the answers,
The game server device according to any one of claims 6 to 13, which transmits a command indicating an aspect of an event to be generated subsequent to the specific event. 15. A method executed in a video game device applied to a network game in which a game is progressed by connecting to a server device via a network, wherein the method is answered by a player of one or more other computer devices. A question for obtaining a question and an option for answering the question, and the entered question and answer options are sent to the server device via the network to be sent to the one or more other computer devices. A total result of the answers received by the total result receiving means, the total result of the answers selectively input by the other one or more computer devices with respect to the transmitted question and answer options are received from the server device. A method of collecting answers in a network game, which is characterized by outputting. 16. A network for a first client device for use by a player asking a question for obtaining an answer from another player and a plurality of second client devices for use as a player for answering the question. A method executed in a server device connected via a network, wherein a question input in the first client device and an option for answering the question are received from the first client device via the network. Then, the received question and answer options are transferred to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question via the network, and the transferred question is selected from the answer options. The entered answers are respectively received from the plurality of second client devices via the network. Aggregates the received reply, the counting result of the answer, the first through the network
A method of totaling answers in a network game, which comprises transmitting the answers to the client device. 17. A computer device connected via a network to a server device connected via a network to one or more other computer devices, to obtain an answer from a player of the one or more other computer devices. Question input means for inputting the question and answer choices for the question, and the question and answer choices input from the question input means are sent via the network to the one or more other computer devices. Question transmitting means for transmitting to the server device, and receiving, from the server device, the aggregated results of the answers respectively selected and input in the other one or more computer devices for the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmitting means. Totaling result receiving means, and totaling for outputting the totaling result of the answers received by the totaling result receiving means A program that functions as a result output means. 18. A network for a first client device for use by a player asking a question to obtain an answer from another player and a plurality of second client devices for use as a player for answering the question. A question receiving means for receiving a question inputted in the first client apparatus and an answer choice for the question from the first client apparatus via the network, The choices of questions and answers received by the receiving means,
A question transfer unit for transferring via the network to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question, and a question transferred from the question transmitting unit is selected and input from the answer options. An answer receiving unit that receives an answer from each of the plurality of second client devices via the network, an answer tallying unit that tallies the answers received by the answer receiving unit, and a tallying result of the answer tallying unit, A program for functioning as a totalization result transmitting means for transmitting to the first client device via the network. 19. A computer device connected via a network to a server device connected to another one or more computer devices via a network, in order to obtain an answer from a player of the one or more other computer devices. Question input means for inputting the question and answer choices for the question, and the question and answer choices input from the question input means are sent via the network to the one or more other computer devices. Question transmitting means for transmitting to the server device, and receiving, from the server device, the aggregated results of the answers respectively selected and input in the other one or more computer devices for the question and answer options transmitted from the question transmitting means. Totaling result receiving means, and totaling for outputting the totaling result of the answers received by the totaling result receiving means A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing it to function as result output means is recorded. 20. A first client device for use by a player asking a question to obtain an answer from another player, and a plurality of second client devices for use as a player for answering the question. A question receiving means for receiving a question inputted in the first client apparatus and an answer choice for the question from the first client apparatus via the network, The choices of questions and answers received by the receiving means,
A question transfer unit for transferring via the network to the second client device of the player who is the answer target of the question, and a question transferred from the question transmitting unit is selected and input from the answer options. An answer receiving unit that receives an answer from each of the plurality of second client devices via the network, an answer tallying unit that tallies the answers received by the answer receiving unit, and a tallying result of the answer tallying unit, A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for functioning as a totalization result transmitting means for transmitting to the first client device via the network.