JP2006068197A - Combat simulation game machine for arcade - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure profitability as an arcade game machine by permitting game selecting operation by a player only in an important scene so as to improve the speed of game advance. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine is provided with: a game arithmetic means (11) for automatically advancing a simulation game according to a game program fixed in advance; a means (12) for temporarily stopping the advance of the game when the advanced situation of the game reaches the important scene meeting a prescribed condition; a player intervention permission means (13) for generating a signal of selectively permitting the player to select a plan on the game advance in the period of temporary stop of the game; and a game restart means (14) which makes the game arithmetic means (11) restart the simulation game by making a response to a selection signal when the player selects a desired plan and the selection signal is transmitted from a game terminal machine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an on-line business (arcade) battle simulation game apparatus.

In general, a battle-type game (for example, a baseball game) provided in an arcade game machine (also referred to as an “arcade game machine”) installed in a game center or the like is generally a game participant (hereinafter referred to as a “player”). However, most of them are so-called “reflex nerve type” games in which the game is progressed while frequently operating the levers and buttons.
Conventionally, there is a “thinking type (simulation type)” game that forms a genre paired with such a “reflexive type” game. For example, in a thinking-type baseball game, the player takes the standpoint of “director” or “owner” and decides player acquisition, trade, practice policy, or gives instructions to the player in the game. The game machine makes the game progress almost automatically by simulation according to this, and as a result, the team wins or loses. In this case, as in the “reflex nerve type” baseball game, the player does not act as a batter and operates the lever or button to swing the bat. The pleasure of winning the game with strategy alone is obtained.

However, such a “thinking type (simulation type)” game could not be adopted in conventional arcade game machines.
One of the main reasons for this is that if the game progress is slow and a game takes a long time, the turnover rate of the customer may deteriorate, making it unprofitable as an arcade game machine. is there.
In other words, in the conventional battle-type simulation game, it is basically a system that asks the player's judgment at all the judgment points, and even if the development is monotonous, the player makes an appropriate judgment one by one, The input operation of the selection result had to be performed. This was painful for the player, and the time required for one game was often long.
In order to solve the problem, an “auto mechanism” is provided, and a game in which the determination is left to the program using AI or the like and the player can intervene in the determination at an arbitrary timing (for example, see Patent Document 1 below) ), But the decision criteria are player-centered, and intervention that ignores game development is possible, so by repeating the intervention that ignores the points of victory or defeat, There was a situation where the “automatic mechanism” did not make sense.
In addition, there are games that limit the number of interventions to prevent this, but if the timing of the player's intervention decision is bad, it may become impossible to intervene at the really necessary timing .

As described above, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sports game apparatus configured such that the progress of a game is automatically performed by a program and the player can intervene when desired.
That is, Patent Document 1 describes a sports game apparatus including a “reproduction mode” in which actual sports results such as professional baseball are reproduced as a video as they are, and a “simulation mode” in which a player plays a role as a director. Yes. In the “reproduction mode”, past actual games are reproduced as videos as they are, while in the “simulation mode”, regardless of the result of the actual game, the player becomes a director and plays the game. It is described that the simulation game progresses, and it is described that the player can swing the director's desire of the player in an arbitrary situation (paragraphs [0007] and [0029] to [0032] of Patent Document 1. ] Etc.).
As described above, in the game device of Patent Document 1, since the player can intervene in the “reproduction mode” in an arbitrary situation, the play time may become unnecessarily long depending on the determination of the player.
Further, in the game device of Patent Document 1, “reproduction mode” and “simulation mode” can be switched at any time. However, the “reproduction mode” only reproduces the actual game result, and the player can enter the “reproduction mode”. There is no room to reflect this arrangement, and the “reproduction mode” and the “simulation mode” are completely unrelated. In other words, when switching to the “reproduction mode” from the middle of the “simulation mode” in which the player is assigned, all the simulation mode data is reset, and the “reproduction mode” at the time of the switching proceeds thereafter. For this reason (see paragraph [0046] of Patent Document 1), there is a problem that the player's position is not reflected in the game result.

JP 2001-347074 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to use the above-mentioned thinking type (simulation type) by using an arcade game machine nationwide connected online. In a business battle simulation game device capable of playing a battle game, the player is freed from the hassle of making selection operations one by one in detailed game development parts, and the player performs selection operations in important scenes, and the selection result is the game after that It is an object of the present invention to provide a game device that can enhance the interest of the game by being reflected in the development and the result, increase the game tempo, and ensure profitability as an arcade game machine.

The above purpose is
The game consists of a plurality of game terminals operated respectively by a plurality of players and a central game management device connected online to the plurality of game terminals. In the business battle simulation game device configured to perform
In the central game management device,
Game calculation means for generating a video signal for causing a simulation game to proceed in accordance with a predetermined game program and on the basis of item data selected by a player to be played and to display the progress of the game on the display of the game terminal. ,
Means for temporarily stopping the progress of the simulation game when a condition corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined game situations is satisfied.
When the game pause means pauses the progress of the game, a player intervention permission means for generating a signal that selectively allows the player to select a policy on the game progress;
When the player is allowed to intervene in the game based on the signal from the player intervention permission means, the player operates the operation unit of the game terminal to select a policy for progress of the game, and the selection signal is issued from the game terminal Responsive to the selection signal, game resuming means for causing the game computing means to resume the simulation game;
This can be achieved by the business battle simulation game apparatus described above.

In other words, in the present invention, the game basically proceeds automatically in accordance with a predetermined game program, and during the period, the game development status is always determined by the algorithm, and certain conditions are satisfied. Only when the game reaches the so-called “Yamaba” (a scene that will have a big impact on future game development), pauses the automatic progress of the game and allows the player to select important policies for the progress of the game. It is to be left (allowed). In other situations, the player does not need to make detailed selections or decisions in the course of the game. When the player's selection operation in “Yamaba” is completed, the game returns to the automatic progress state, the simulation development is performed according to the selection contents of the player, and the status of the game development is checked until the next “Yamaba” occurs. Switch to the mode again.
Such mode switching is performed by the game calculation means, the pause means, the player intervention permission means, and the game resumption means provided in the central game management device.
The number of times that the player should directly determine and operate (the number of “Yamaba”) can be changed according to system conditions.

  The battle simulation game that can be employed in the game device according to the present invention includes (1) sports games such as baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, boxing, etc., and (2) racing such as car racing, boat racing, horse racing, and bicycle racing. Games, (3) role-playing games, (4) war games, (5) playing cards, flower cards, mahjong, chess, dominoes, etc., (6) Go games, (7) Shogi games, and so on.

  Also, various types of items can be selected by the player. For example, as an item in the case where the battle simulation game is a sports game, the player belongs to a team, or an item in a racing game. Is at least one selected from racing car parts, driver or mechanic engineer, items for role playing games include weapons, armor, subordinates that can be used to achieve the purpose of the game, Various items such as minions can be used.

With the above-described configuration, the player's only when the condition corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined game situations (“Yamaba”) is satisfied, that is, when the game reaches a specific “Yamaba”. The following effects can be achieved by controlling the game apparatus so as to allow the intervention.
(1) Since the game device teaches the “Yamaba” of the game development, the burden on the player is reduced, and the player can concentrate and concentrate on the game without being bothered by detailed selection operations.
(2) Since the player's selection operation in an important scene is reflected in subsequent game development and results, the interest of the game is enhanced.
(3) The tempo of the game progress can be increased by suppressing wrong or unnecessary intervention by the player.
(4) By controlling and limiting the time and number of times that a player can intervene completely on the game device side, the play time per game can be controlled and adjusted to ensure profitability. It becomes easy to introduce a battle simulation game apparatus in the market.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the commercial battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an overview of the configuration of the central game management apparatus of the commercial battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a player's decision selection screen (intervention screen) in the commercial battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an illustration in the commercial battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a basic pattern of game progress, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of determination of an intervention permission condition of a player in progress of the game in the commercial battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the business (arcade) battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention is installed in a central game management apparatus C and game halls in Japan (in some cases, around the world, the same applies hereinafter). And a number of game terminals G1 to Gm connected online to the central game management device C via the communication line N. The player can enjoy a thought type (simulation type) game in online form with players all over Japan by operating these game terminals G1 to Gm.

  Each of the game terminals G1 to Gm has a game operation unit, a display, a sound effect generator, a communication circuit, and the like. Based on a game signal including a video signal sent from the central game management device C, a game video is displayed on the display. And an input signal generated by an operation applied to the game operation unit by the player is transmitted to the central game management device C.

The central game management device C is specifically a kind of server. As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 1, the database 2, the storage device 3, the communication circuit 4, the work RAM, and other various known configurations necessary for the computer. It has elements (omitted in the figure).
The database 2 cumulatively records data such as ID numbers, game results, item data used in the game, etc. of all players who have played games at game terminals G1 to Gm nationwide. ing.
The storage device 3 stores computer programs such as game programs and database management programs, as well as video data and audio data used in the game, and is read out as necessary during the game. The programs are executed and the results are transmitted to the game terminals G1 to Gm via the communication circuit 4 and the communication line N, so that the battle simulation game according to the present invention is developed on each game terminal. It has become.
The database 2 and the storage device 3 may be a large single storage device that is used as both.

As shown in FIG. 2, the central game management device C of the game device of the present invention is provided with a game calculation means 11, a game pause means 12, a player intervention permission means 13, and a game resumption means 14. .
The game calculation means 11 advances the simulation game according to a predetermined game program and based on the data of the player and other items selected by the player to play, and displays the progress of the game on the display of the game terminals G1 to Gm. A function of generating a video signal for generating the video signal.
The game pause means 12 has a function of suspending the progress of the simulation game when the progress of the game satisfies a condition corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined game situations.
The player intervention permission means 13 has a function of generating a signal that selectively allows the player to select a policy for the game progress when the game pause means 12 pauses the progress of the game.
Based on the signal from the player intervention permission means 13, the game resumption means 14 allows the player to enter the game, and the player operates the operation unit of the game terminal to select a policy for progressing the game. When issued from the game terminal, it has a function of causing the game calculation means 11 to resume the simulation game in response to the selection signal.
In the drawing, each of these means 11 to 14 is depicted so as to exist in the CPU 1 that plays a major role in performing their arithmetic processing functions. Since the game program installed in the storage device 3 is executed by the CPU 1 under the operation of the work RAM or the like not shown in the figure, its function is realized. Therefore, not only the CPU 1 but also the storage device 3 and the work RAM The above-mentioned means 11 to 14 are configured by coupling and cooperative action of various circuit elements such as the above.

Next, the operation of the business battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention will be described. Here, a baseball game will be described as an example.
When a player presses a button on a game terminal, selects an opponent displayed on the screen, starts a game, and wishes to trade players (items) currently belonging to his team, For that purpose, perform necessary operations to trade with players belonging to other teams, and then select and determine the players, starting pitchers, batting order, etc. in the game, and then the preparation is completed. The opponent is also ready after making the same selections and decisions.
As a result, a playball is displayed, the game is started, and the progress is sequentially displayed on the display screens of the game terminals of both players. In the game device of the present invention, the game itself proceeds automatically in a simulation format according to the item selected by the player by the function of the game calculation means 11 by the program installed in advance in the game device, and the result of the game Is coming out. That is, the game progresses without the player performing an operation of hitting the ball from the standpoint of the batter.
In that case, in the present invention, due to the function of the game pause means 12, the main scene, for example, when the score difference with the opponent team is 3 points or more, or the pitcher's pitching content is too bad, When the player is full, when the score difference is near due to the end of the match, the player will perform instructions such as changing the pitcher, throwing a pinch hitter, etc. from the manager's standpoint in the major scenes (Yamaba). Is now possible.
In other words, the game pause means 12 monitors the game development status during automatic progress of the game, and when a condition corresponding to one of several predetermined game situations (Yamaba) is satisfied, that is, The automatic progress of the game is paused only when the game reaches the so-called “Yamaba”.
Next, during the automatic progress pause period of the game, the player intervention permission means 13 is activated to generate a signal that the player should be allowed to select an important policy for the progress of the game. As a result, the player is temporarily in a state in which a selection operation can be performed during the game progress.
FIG. 3 shows an example of such a screen for allowing intervention. A message “Please select from the options for how to proceed with the game” is displayed at the top of the display screen of the game terminal. At the bottom of the screen, four instruction options for the players are displayed: “Fight as usual”, “Keep active”, “Fight carefully”, and “Don't think about tomorrow”. The player selects one of the four options that is determined to be optimal, and presses a “start game” button at the lower right of the screen.
The selection signal is sent to the central game management device C, where the game resuming means 14 issues a command to resume the game, and the game computing means 11 resumes the simulation game according to the conditions selected by the player.
Similarly, the player's intervention is allowed only when the game reaches a specific “Yamaba”, and in other cases, the game is automatically advanced in a simulation format.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic pattern of the game progress as described above in the commercial battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows an example of determination of the condition for allowing the intervention of the player in progress of the game in the commercial battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention. In each frame in the second row from the bottom of the figure, the probability of pausing the automatic progress of the game and allowing the player's intervention is described. It is set to increase the player's possibility of intervention.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said Example.
That is, for example, the battle simulation game that can be employed in the business battle simulation game apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned baseball game, in addition to sports games such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc., in which teams battle each other, racing games, Role playing games, war games, antique games, go games, shogi games, etc. are widely possible.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, according to the present invention, in the commercial battle simulation game apparatus capable of performing a thought type (simulation type) battle game using an arcade game machine nationwide connected online. The player is freed from the hassle of performing selection operations one by one in detailed game development parts, and the player performs selection operations in important scenes, and the selection results are reflected in subsequent game developments and results. As a result, the game tempo can be increased, and a game device capable of ensuring profitability as an arcade game machine can be provided.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the whole structure of the business battle simulation game apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a structure of the central game management apparatus of the business battle simulation game apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the player's judgment selection screen (intervention screen) in the business battle simulation game apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the basic pattern of the game progress in the business battle simulation game device according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of determination of a player's intervention permission conditions during the game progress in the business battle simulation game device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

C Central game management device 1 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Game calculating means 12 Game temporary stop means 13 Player intervention permission means 14 Game resumption means 2 Database 3 Storage device 4 Communication circuit G1-Gm Game terminal N Communication line

Claims (2)

From a plurality of game terminals (G1 to Gm) respectively operated by a plurality of game participants (hereinafter referred to as “players”) and a central game management device (C) connected online to the plurality of game terminals In the commercial battle simulation game apparatus configured to play a simulation game online between the players who compete with each other via the central game management device (C),
In the central game management device (C),
Generate a video signal to display the progress of the game on the display of the game terminal (G1 to Gm) in accordance with a predetermined game program and proceed with the simulation game based on the item data selected by the player Game calculating means (11) for performing;
Means (12) for temporarily stopping the progress of the simulation game when a condition corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined game situations is satisfied.
When the game pause means (12) pauses the progress of the game, a player intervention permission means (13) for generating a signal that selectively allows the player to select a policy for the game progress;
Based on the signal from the player intervention permission means (13), the player is allowed to intervene in the game, the player operates the operation unit of the game terminal to select a policy for the progress of the game, and the selection signal is emitted from the game terminal. And a game restarting means (14) for causing the game computing means (11) to restart the simulation game in response to the selection signal,
The business battle simulation game apparatus as described above.   The business battle simulation according to claim 1, wherein the battle simulation game is one selected from a sports game, a racing game, a role playing game, a war game, an antique game, a go game, and a shogi game. Game device.

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